Industry Voices

Last weekend, the Opinion Pages of the New York Times’ Sunday Review featured “Tumult in the Book World,” a dialogue in letters, including one from ABA President Steve Bercu, that were solicited by the paper to answer the question “Can traditional bookstores survive the digital marketplace?”

A consequence of Edward Snowden’s NSA revelations is that a real battle is brewing to restore the privacy rights taken away by Section 215 of the Patriot Act, writes ABFFE President Chris Finan.

This week, ABA CEO Oren Teicher offers both perspective on recent events and resources to help member bookstores share with customers facts about Amazon that tell a story they might not know.

Author Boris Kachka talks about Hothouse: The Art of Survival and the Survival of Art at America’s Most Celebrated Publishing House, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, which holds the top spot on this month’s Indie Next List.

ABA CEO Oren Teicher pays tribute to former Board member Karl Pohrt, the founder and owner of Shaman Drum Bookshop in Ann Arbor, Michigan, till its closure after 29 years, in June 2009. Pohrt died on Wednesday, July 10, of cancer at age 65.

Newly elected ABA President Steve Bercu asks members to share their thoughts about any of the myriad issues affecting their businesses, encourages participation in the ABACUS-12 survey, and gives a shout-out to Stephen King and Hard Case Crime.

As part of last week’s Independent Booksellers Week celebrations in the United Kingdom, bookseller Nic Bottomley, co-owner of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath, offered “a personal, undoubtedly incomplete manifesto for 21st century independent bookselling.” 

Philipp Meyer has earned the number one spot on June’s Indie Next List with his bold and compelling novel The Son. Meyer recently spoke to BTW about his research process and the experiences he lived in order to write what Scott Kinberger of Books Inc. called “the best kind of historical fiction.”

In his bimonthly letter to members, ABA CEO Oren Teicher shares the renewed sense of optimism about indie bookselling that was evident at last week’s trade show, looks at some of the important changes of the past year, and reminds booksellers about several new programs and initiatives.

Joelle Charbonneau, an accomplished author of mysteries for adult readers, talks to BTW about The Testing, a dystopian thriller for young adults that explores the ramifications of some truly high-stakes tests in a post-apocalyptic world. The book is the number one pick on the Summer Kids’ Indie Next List flier, in stores now.

At the ABA Annual Membership Meeting at BEA, outgoing President Becky Anderson and ABA CEO Oren Teicher looked back at some of the accomplishments of recent years, expressed hope in the future, and thanked members for their support and participation in ABA programs and initiatives. At the earlier Town Hall, members shared their concerns on topics ranging from publisher best practices and e-book release dates, to sales tax fairness and World Book Night.

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression has released several videos of bestselling authors Sherman Alexie and Laurie Halse Anderson discussing how to fight the censorship of young adult books.

As ABA President Becky Anderson prepares for her last Board meeting, she looks back at some of the changes over the past seven years, reminds booksellers of some work yet to be done, and extends sincere thanks to both her fellow Board members and bookselling colleagues.

In his bimonthly letter to members, ABA CEO Oren Teicher offers congratulations to booksellers for their years of hard work that led to the recent passage of the Main Street Fairness Act in the Senate, but he notes, with opposition to the bill ratcheting up in the House, more action is required.

Anthony Marra, author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena (Hogarth), talks about his inspirations, research process, and what lies at the heart of his debut novel, which Anderson McKean of Alabama’s Page & Palettte said “expertly balances the pain and suffering inflicted during the Chechen conflict with exquisite moments of loyalty, sacrifice, humility, and enduring love.”