Industry News

The 2002 New England Booksellers Association Fall Trade Show will be held from September 27 - 29 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Once again, attendees will find a wide range of educational and topical programming, popular authors featured at numerous events, and a bustling exhibit floor.

Spicy Old Favorites, Tasty New Treats (and Glimpses of Crazy Uncles in the Parlor)

A panel has been added to the program at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Fall Trade Show, which will run from September 13 - 15 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. On Friday, September 13, from 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., show goers can attend a combined session of "What's New at Book Sense" and "How to Use the New Electronic Book Buyer's Handbook."

By Carl Lennertz

Tip of the Week:
Like the Car Guys and their Puzzler, Tip Guy is taking the week off, devoting himself only to sales stuff.

Sales news from data gathered this week from 350 indies, and some regional highlights, too:
Look at what news-making book hits SEBA's list!

Book Sense recently welcomed Creative Publishing international to its ever-growing family of Publisher Partners.

The Great Lakes Booksellers Association Trade Show will be held September 27 - 29 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan. The show will feature a broad range of educational programming, author events, and a full-day trade exhibit from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28.

'Giant' in Chicago Bookselling Community Dies

Anne Waddington Leonard, proprietor of Anne W. Leonard Books in Chicago, died on July 31 at her home in Beverly, Illinois. She was 67. "We heard her reading light was still on when she was found; she worked at her store during the day and died in her sleep," John Presta, co-owner of nearby Reading on Walden Bookstore, told BTW.

On August 21, two days after House Judiciary Committee Chair F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin) threatened to subpoena Attorney General John Ashcroft over the Justice Department's refusal to divulge information on the USA Patriot Act, civil liberties groups filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the department.

The 2002 Upper Midwest Booksellers Association (UMBA) Trade Show will be held at the RiverCentre complex in St. Paul, Minnesota, from September 27-29. Susan Walker, executive director for UMBA, told BTW that this year's show is particularly important to UMBA booksellers, as many did not have the opportunity to attend BookExpo America this past May. As a result, she said, UMBA is gearing up for a strong turnout.

After refusing a Congressional demand to reveal, among other things, how many subpoenas the Justice Department has issued under the USA Patriot Act to bookstores, libraries, and newspapers, Attorney General John Ashcroft might find himself served with a subpoena. That, at least, was a threat levied by Representative F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.

The 2002 Southeast Booksellers Association (SEBA) Fall Trade Show will be held this year at the Broward County Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, from September 20-22. SEBA Executive Director Wanda Jewell told BTW that there was once again an emphasis on education and event programming that showcased a wide range of authors. And this year, she said, "I feel it's an especially good lineup of authors."

Here's the complete list of the September/October Book Sense 76 to give you a heads up for planning and ordering. Watch future coverage in BTW for the complete list with booksellers’ quotes.

1. THE LAST GIRLS, by Lee Smith (Algonquin, $24.95, 1565123638; in stores Sept. 17) Also Highbridge Audio (1565117018; CD, 1565117026)

2. MIDDLESEX, by Jeffrey Eugenides (Farrar, $27, 0374199698; Sept. 4) Also Audio Renaissance (1559277807)

Houghton Mifflin on the Block

Paris-based Vivendi Universal SA grew fast amidst a two-year buying spree by former chairman Jean-Marie Messier. Unfortunately, so did the company's debt. Messier was subsequently fired in July, and on August 14, Messier's replacement, Jean-Rene Fourtou, announced that the company is looking to shed some of its 19 billion euros in debt: First on the block -- U.S. publishing giant Houghton Mifflin.

In early August, some residents of Pampa, Texas, handed the Pampa Independent School District school board a petition containing 750 signatures requesting a ban of the Harry Potter series, as reported by www.kamr.com. On August 5, the board voted 5-2 to deny the petition and keep the Potter series in the school curriculum.

Since late June, on an almost weekly basis, BTW has included a Book Sense category bestseller list. These lists, based on sales from over 300 independent bookstores across America, are provided to help booksellers check inventory, to alert publishers about what's selling, and to provide the media with lists of interest that acknowledge the diverse specialty titles sold by independents.

Lists are currently available in the following subject categories: