A Bookseller's Odyssey in China

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Karl Pohrt of Shaman Drum Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is currently visiting China as part of a group of U.S. booksellers and librarians attending the Beijing Book Fair, and he's been sharing his adventure with booksellers via Omnibus, the bookselling blog on BookWeb.org. Pohrt has so far posted three dispatches from China, covering everything from the book fair, the ubiquitous Harry Potter, and "Naughty Boy Ma Xiaotiao."

Karl Pohrt, Author of book on homelessness in China, Allison HillBookExpo America (BEA) is leading the trip, which was facilitated by Show Director Lance Fensterman. The other booksellers in China are Rick Simonson of the Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle; Sarah McNally, owner of McNally Robinson in New York City; Allison Hill of Vroman's Bookstore in Los Angeles; and Paul Yamazaki of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. The delegation also includes Barbara Genco of the Brooklyn Public Library and Nancy Pearl, librarian, author, and book reviewer.

The revolution is not a dinner party.In addition to attending the Beijing Book Fair, the group will also take part in a panel discussion focusing on bookselling and other book industry issues and will visit two Chinese publishing houses and four Chinese bookstores. The invitation was presented to BEA officials by Sichuan Xinhua Winshare Chainstore Co., Ltd and China Publishing Today.

Read Pohrt's latest Omnibus blog posting.