Book Sense

More independent booksellers than in previous years will serve as judges for the 70th annual National Book Awards. Submissions are now open for the awards.

Here, ABA CEO Oren Teicher shares some of the backstory about the creation of the association’s e-commerce service for indie bookstores, now known as IndieCommerce.
 

ASAE urges action on 1099 repeal; BEA embraces all things digital; Ingram to open POD operation in Australia

When Judy Nelson and her husband, Byron, built a location for their children's bookstore, Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop, in La Verne, California, they made it as inviting to kids as possible. "The current location looks much like a home from the outside, with a lawn, flowers, and bay windows," said store manager Andrea Vuleta.

The Summer 2008 Book Sense Children's Picks list is available now for preview. The list will be arriving at independent bookstores with Book Sense by the end of this month.

When Julie Swayze was exploring places in Southern California to open a bookstore, a friend suggested she check out the historic core of Los Angeles. In December 2006, Metropolis Books became a part of the revitalization of Skid Row. "What people wanted most was a bookstore," Swayze said. "I originally wanted to open in Pasadena or Altadena, but that really is a market that has plenty of bookstores.

Based on sales in independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending Tuesday, May 13, 2008.

Murder By The Book Wins PageTurner Award

To celebrate the publication of On a Scary Scary Night (Cartwheel Books), the sixth book in Walter Wick's Can You See What I See? series, Scholastic Inc. and the American Booksellers Association are teaming up to sponsor the Can You See What I See? store window contest.

1. SAVVY, by Ingrid Law (Dial, $16.99, 9780803733060/ 0803733062) "Mississippi Beaumont (Mibs, for short) is about to turn 13, and in her unusual family that's when a 'savvy' arrives. One brother can produce electricity. Another causes hurricanes. The special talent that arrives, for her, however, is not at all what she expects. This rollicking novel is full of charm and energy." --Joanne R. Fritz, Chester County Book & Music Company, West Chester, PA

San Diego's Mysterious Galaxy has issued an invitation to all "fellow lovers of Martians, Murder, Magic, Mayhem, as well as those who devour [the store's] more recent genres of Metro Mythos and Munchkins," to join in a 15th anniversary celebration. The party on Saturday, May 10, will feature author signings, birthday cake, and an auction to benefit local nonprofits.

This week, BookSense.com announced that it will be providing LibraryThing, the popular cataloguing and social networking website for bibliophiles, with an events feed from all BookSense.com member stores. The events will be listed on LibraryThing Local, the place where LibraryThing members go to add their favorite bookstores, connect with friends, and keep track of interesting book-related events.

Here is the full listing of June Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments, as well as a preview of the month's Notables. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will be receiving their June Picks fliers in the May Red Box.

From 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, until midnight on Tuesday, May 13, BookSense.com participating stores are offering customers free downloads of Betrayal, Book One of the Del Rey series Star Wars: Legacy of the Force.

The May 2008 Book Sense Notables flier is now available in a downloadable PDF on BookWeb.org. The flier includes jacket images, bibliographic information, and bookseller quotes. In addition, all 20 Notables titles are featured in an electronic file of shelf-talkers for in-store use.