BEA 2015: Bookseller/Publisher Connections, Special Author Events & More

Hundreds of booksellers were in New York City from May 27 to 29 for BookExpo America at the Javits Convention Center. Throughout the three-day event, members took advantage of American Booksellers Association programming to meet face-to-face with publishing staff, enjoy special author signings in the ABA Member Lounge, and network with fellow booksellers.

The exclusive ABA Member Lounge was a respite from the busy show floor, with association staff at the ready to discuss advocacy, education, member benefits, or IndieCommerce websites and upgrades. Also in the lounge to chat with booksellers were representatives from LIBRIS, the ABA insurance program; Kobo; the Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation; W.G. Ellerkamp paper company; and Shelf Awareness.

Bookseller events at BEA kicked off on Tuesday, May 26, at the Grand Hyatt New York with the ABFE Art Auction to Benefit Free Speech in Children’s Books, sponsored by Random House Children’s Books. More than 100 pieces of artwork were on display for bidding and a dozen items were raffled, including two doodle posters that illustrators decorated with colorful sketches throughout the evening.

This year’s auction honored author Judy Blume, a stalwart advocate for free expression and the rights of young readers. Chris Finan, director of the American Booksellers for Free Expression, presented Blume with a special plaque and praised Blume’s role in defending the First Amendment. “It is entirely appropriate that we honor you today as the pioneer who expanded the frontiers of children’s literature and then bravely refused to retreat when you were viciously attacked,” said Finan. “So, thank you, Judy Blume, the defender of a kid’s right to read.”

An online portion of ABFE’s Art Auction is continuing through June 8 on eBay. Proceeds from both auctions go toward supporting the Kids’ Right to Read Project and Banned Books Week.

Following the auction, many booksellers remained at the Grand Hyatt New York for nightcaps at an event hosted by Penguin Random House.

Booksellers started off the day on Wednesday, May 27, with visits to publishers’ offices around New York City as part of the popular Meet the Editor program, which gave them an inside look at the participating houses’ acquisitions and editorial processes.

The Opening Day Spotlight with Jonathan Franzen launched BEA events at the Javits Center on Wednesday afternoon. Following the talk, Franzen visited the ABA Member Lounge for an autographing session for his upcoming novel, Purity (FSG, September).

On Thursday, May 28, Adult Book & Author Breakfast speakers Kunal Nayyar (Yes, My Accent Is Real, Atria, September), Lee Child (Make Me, Delacorte, September), and Brandon Stanton (Humans of New York: Stories, St. Martin’s, October) autographed books in the ABA Member Lounge.

At the 15th annual Celebration of Bookselling and Author Awards Luncheon, authors and illustrators extended their gratitude for indie booksellers’ efforts in supporting their books, and ABA’s current CEO, Oren Teicher, honored former CEO Avin Mark Domnitz with the help of ABA presidents past and present. Booksellers packed the ABA Member Lounge following the event to meet Indies Choice Book Award winners and honorees, including Mac Barnett, Jon Klassen, Jory John, Holly Black, Roz Chast, Matt de la Peña, Doug Preston, Jacqueline Woodson, and others.

ABA’s Annual Meeting and Town Hall closed out the day, with outgoing ABA President Steve Bercu looking back at his eight years on the board, incoming ABA President Betsy Burton using growing membership numbers to highlight the renaissance in indie bookselling over the past several years, and CEO Oren Teicher praising the hard work of indie booksellers that has led to this resurgence.

Booksellers lined up in the ABA Member Lounge on Friday, May 29, to meet Children’s Book and Author Breakfast speakers Nathan Lane (Naughty Mabel, S&S Books for Young Readers, October), Oliver Jeffers (The Day the Crayons Came Home, Philomel, August), Rainbow Rowell (Carry On, St. Martin’s, October), and James Patterson (Public School Superhero, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers).

ABA members had the opportunity to promote their stores and discuss author events at one-on-one meetings with publicists on Friday morning during the association’s inaugural Publicists Speed Dating event. Friday also offered kids-oriented events, including the ABC/CBC Speed Dating Lunch With Children’s Authors and the ABC/CBC Tea with Children’s Authors and Illustrators.

After a full day of programming, booksellers filled the ABA Member Lounge to toast the 2015 Summer/Fall Indies Introduce titles and authors, an event featuring book signings and champagne.

BookExpo America 2016 will be held May 11–13 in Chicago.