Next month’s Winter Institute, sponsored by the Ingram Content Group, will feature a record-breaking number of new and established authors, thanks to the support of Wi7’s Publisher Sponsors.

Participants in Wi7 in New Orleans will have an opportunity to support the free speech rights of children and young readers by bidding on a dozen original pieces of children’s art by some of the book industry’s top artists and illustrators.

Booksellers are invited to join Amy Cortese, author of Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit From It; Rebecca Fitting, co-owner of Greenlight Bookstore; and Janet Geddis, owner of Avid Bookshop; for a discussion of alternative financing options on Thursday, January 19, at the Winter Institute.

To share some of the rich historical and literary heritage of New Orleans, the host city for the 2012 Winter Institute, at the suggestion of several members, ABA has launched One Institute, One Read.

Author James Patterson will be part of a featured panel at the  Winter Institute that will discuss both his innovative College Book Bucks program and how the book industry can better encourage and engage young readers.

With dozens of booksellers still on the 2012 Winter Institute waiting list, it is crucial for registered booksellers whose plans have changed to contact ABA staff regarding cancellations as soon as possible.

Booksellers should schedule appointments now to meet with representatives from more than 15 service providers at the Winter Institute’s Consultation Station on Thursday, January 19.

Emily Adams, buyer and book club coordinator at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Washington, has been named the winner of the second annual Joe Drabyak Frontline Fellowship, sponsored by Workman Publishing.

This week, ABA announced that the 2013 Winter Institute will be held in Kansas City, Missouri. Wi8 will begin with an opening reception on Friday, February 22, 2013, and will feature programming from Saturday, February 23, to Monday, February 25.

Thirty-seven booksellers have been named the winners of publisher-sponsored scholarships to the American Booksellers Association’s Seventh Annual Winter Institute, sponsored by the Ingram Content Group.