Specialty Bookselling

Based on four weeks of sales from over 400 independent bookstores across America.

It’s summertime and, as thoughts turn to travel, Book Sense presents the top 25 best-selling travel literature titles as reported by over 400 independent bookstores across America.

Past Category Bestseller lists are available at www.bookweb.org/read/5677.

Writing is a solitary endeavor, it's said. But for those writing children's books, there are all sorts of collaborators -- before, during, and after a work is done -- to help a writer produce a book.

BlackBoard African-American Bestsellers, Inc. has announced its 2003 Books of the Year. The awards, presented at this year's BookExpo America in Los Angeles and hosted by Cee Cee Michaela of the UPN series Girlfriends, recognize outstanding African-American writers of fiction, nonfiction, and children's books.

The Lambda Literary Foundation has announced the winners of the 15th Annual Lambda Literary Awards, or "Lammies," which honor "the best and the brightest" in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered publishing. The awards were presented at a gala banquet and awards ceremony at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on May 29 in conjunction with BookExpo America.

Children's booksellers have much to look forward to at this year's BookExpo America (BEA), as the American Booksellers Association (ABA), Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), and Children's Book Council (CBC) team up once again to offer exciting author discussions, workshops, roundtables, and other events focused on children's literature.

Based on sales reports from nearly 400 independent bookstores across the U.S. for the four weeks ending May 11, 2003.

From golf to the Iditarod to hiking, and, of course, baseball -- sports, exercise, and physical recreation are winning subjects with book buyers.

To reprint this list, please contact Kristen Gilligan at [email protected]. Thanks to all loyal reporters!

The Lambda Literary Foundation will announce the winners of the 15th Annual Lambda Literary Awards, honoring "the best and the brightest" in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered publishing, at a gala banquet at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, on May 29. An authors' reception will begin at 6:00 p.m., with dinner at 7:30 p.m.

With an eye toward enjoyable summer listening for adults and kids -- and recognizing that June is National Audiobook Month -- here are the Book Sense top 10 audiobook picks.

Look for the pad of fliers coming to you in the May white box. And, again, many thanks to all the booksellers who sent in nominations and helped create this strong list.

Based on the last four weeks of sales of nearly 400 independent bookstores across America.

After a month of activities in honor of National Poetry Month, Book Sense is pleased to publish Part 2 of Chapter and Verse: The Book Sense Poetry Bestseller List. (Part 1 can be found at http://news.bookweb.org/read/1297).

Thanks to all the stores that report!

On Saturday, May 31, at BookExpo America (BEA) in Los Angeles, ABA will be offering a full plate of Specialty Bookseller-to-Bookseller Roundtables, giving specialty booksellers an excellent opportunity to get together with their colleagues and chat about their specific niche market. ABA will conduct 12 different specialty roundtables designed for booksellers who are predominantly engaged in selling books in specialty areas; roundtable sessions are not intended for general stores with specialty sections.

Based on the last four weeks of sales from nearly 400 independent bookstores across the United States.

Attention Media: Please contact Kristen Gilligan at [email protected]for reprint guidelines for your newspaper or magazine.

(To view previous Book Sense category bestseller lists, click here.)

Based on the last four weeks of sales from nearly 400 independent bookstores across the United States.

It's snowing in the East, sunny in the West, and thawing in the middle. What is a gardener to do?

The answer can be found in the titles on the new Book Sense Gardening Bestseller List. Thanks to all stores that report!

Attention Media: Please contact Kristen Gilligan at [email protected] for reprint guidelines for your newspaper or magazine.

Former Wisconsin bookseller (and database software manager of the San Francisco Giants) Nick Glass has introduced a free Web site, TeachingBooks.net, useful for anyone involved with children's books. The comprehensive site offers useful links for all booksellers -- original multimedia information about authors, tour schedules, reading guides, and more arcane bits.

The Audio Publishers Association (APA) recently announced the names of the 130 finalists for the Eighth Annual Audie Awards. This year, the Audie Awards, which honor excellence in audio publishing, will be presented in 27 categories. A panel of over 150 judges representing all areas of the audiobook world selected the finalists. All titles submitted must have been released between November 1, 2002 and October 31, 2002. The awards will be presented on Friday evening, May 30, at the Petersen Car Museum in Los Angeles, in conjunction with BookExpo America.

Based on the last four weeks of sales of nearly 400 independent bookstores across America.

In honor of National Poetry Month, Book Sense is publishing a poetry bestseller list at the beginning and the end of April. Thanks to all the stores that report! Please check back in four weeks to see how customers respond to poetry events all around the country. (To view previous lists, click here.)