BookExpo

Booksellers and publishers alike are praising the Meet the Editor and Publicists Speed Dating programs held at BookExpo America this year, which provided a unique opportunity for networking.

Hundreds of booksellers who were in New York City last week for BookExpo America took advantage of ABA programming to meet face-to-face with publishing staff, enjoy special author signings in the Member Lounge, and network with bookselling colleagues.

During Thursday’s Celebration of Bookselling Lunch, Oren Teicher, current CEO of the American Booksellers Association, honored former CEO Avin Mark Domnitz with the help of ABA presidents past and present.

The continuing renaissance of independent booksellers made for an upbeat ABA Annual Membership Meeting, while issues ranging from educational programming and minimum wage increases to ABA Board diversity were among the topics of discussion at the Town Hall.

The 15th annual Celebration of Bookselling and Author Awards Luncheon recognized the authors and illustrators who have helped to make bookselling meaningful, rewarding, fulfilling, and fun for independent booksellers over the past year.

The Corrections author Jonathan Franzen discussed his new book Purity in a conversation with Salon staff writer and co-founder Laura Miller at BookExpo America’s opening event on Wednesday, May 27.

ABA member booksellers began Wednesday morning at BEA with visits to “Meet the Editor” at various publishers’ offices around New York City. “It was just an incredible, incredible session with some very high caliber editors,” said Matt Miller of Tattered Cover about his experience.

The award for this year’s Children’s Book Week Display Contest goes to Elm Street Books in New Canaan, Connecticut, for its creative window display inspired by the official Children’s Book Week poster.

Bookseller essays sought for new series; Children’s Book Council to receive BEA’s Industry Ambassador Award; PEN to stage “Shadow Expo” during BEA to shed light on Chinese censorship; Los Angeles preliminarily approves $15 minimum wage 

Booksellers attending BEA are invited to schedule a time to talk to ABA Senior Public Policy Analyst David Grogan at the show about any advocacy issues of concern — whether it’s minimum wage, access to capital, e-fairness, healthcare, or other public policy issues impacting their business.

BookExpo America is presenting a wide array of educational programming and special events at next week’s industry-wide convention, including several sessions specifically developed with indie booksellers in mind.

As always, the ABA Member Lounge at BEA will be the exclusive place for booksellers to relax, have a snack, and meet with their colleagues from across the country. But this year’s lounge offers so much more.

Five of this year’s Indies Choice and E.B. White award-winning authors and illustrators will be at next week’s Celebration of Bookselling and Author Awards Lunch, along with a number of honor award recipients and Indie Next List favorites. The event will also feature a special tribute to former ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz.

ABA is encouraging all members to attend its 2015 Annual Membership Meeting, to be held on Thursday, May 28, from 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., in Room 1E15/16 of the Javits Convention Center in New York City during BEA.

Artwork by more than 125 artists and illustrators will be up for bidding at the May 26 ABFE Art Auction to Benefit Free Speech in Children’s Books. Tickets for the event are on sale now, and ABFE is seeking volunteers from the bookselling and publishing world to help out at the auction.