Industry Voices

In her bimonthly letter to members, ABA President Becky Anderson looks at some of this spring’s opportunities for booksellers to come together to learn, share ideas and concerns, and take part in special events.

The number one choice of booksellers for this spring’s Kids’ Indie Next List is Stephan Pastis’ Timmy Failure, a chronicle of one the world’s most unfortunate — and funniest — kid detectives. Here, Pastis talks about what it’s like to write humor and prose for kids as well as how he crafts his comedic commentary.

ABA CEO Oren Teicher writes about the Spring Forums and BEA, where booksellers will find some great enhancements and new benefits to the ABA members’ lounge. Teicher also encourages members to take part in a new round of multi-publisher promotions.

Bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell will share insights from his forthcoming book, David and Goliath (Little, Brown, October 2013), with booksellers at Wi8’s Sunday morning plenary session. Here, Gladwell talks about what drew him to the theme of David and Goliath and some of the opportunities for bookselling “Davids.”

ABA President Becky Anderson’s bimonthly letter to members looks at some of the highlights of this weekend’s Winter Institute and notes that some of booksellers’ best ideas will also be featured in an education session at the association’s upcoming Spring Forums.

ABA Membership and Marketing Officer Meg Smith provides a suggested itinerary for getting the most out of next week’s Winter Institute in Kansas City, Missouri.

“Indie booksellers are innovative agents of change,” ABA CEO Oren Teicher told an audience at the O’Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference on Thursday morning in New York City.

Laurie Halse Anderson, a featured panelist at the Wi8 session “Banned Books, Censorship, and YA Literature,” speaks to ABFFE President Chris Finan about how she chooses the subjects for her books and why people try to ban them.

Wi8 bookseller registrants will soon receive a complimentary copy of Alex George’s A Good American (Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam),  this year’s One Institute, One Read title. George recently spoke to BTW about what it means to be a “good American,” the importance of finding a place to call home, and what it has meant to his work to have the support of indie booksellers.

ABA President Becky Anderson writes about the kickoff of the holiday season and some of the special events and initiatives at Anderson’s Bookshops in Naperville, Illinois.

Newbery Medal-winner Rebecca Stead, author of  “Liar & Spy,” a featured title in Thanks for Shopping Indie promos beginning November 24 at participating ABA member stores around the country, talks to BTW about middle school friendship, her writing process, and her own personal spy experience.

This week, Black Dog & Leventhal announced the winners of its “Why My Bookstore Matters” Winter Institute scholarship contest, launched in September in celebration of this month’s publication of “My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop.”

William Kuhn, author of “Mrs. Queen Takes the Train,” a featured title in the multi-publisher Thanks for Shopping Indie promotion beginning November 24, talks about Queen Elizabeth, his writing process, and the public’s fascination with powerful people.

ABA CEO Oren Teicher shares a final update on several important association initiatives with member stores before all attention turns to the holiday selling season.

In her bimonthly letter, ABA President Becky Anderson encourages booksellers to take a look at some new programs and intiatives available to all member stores; however, she notes, deadlines are approaching soon.