A Letter to Booksellers from ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz on the Economy

October 16, 2008 essential to try to remain proactive rather than reactive. Now is the TABLE OF CONTENTS: time to look at your business carefully, to first identify trends, and, • Meeting the Challenge: A Letter to Booksellers then, to find ways to enhance those that are positive and to soften those that are negative. From ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz on the Economy -- Plus Other Resources for Tough None of us has a crystal ball, and no one can predict exactly how the economic downturn will affect sales this fall. Now more than Times ...... 1 ever, it's important to hearken back to business fundamentals. A • Bookselling in Tough Times: Staffing ...... 2 basic business tenet -- especially when credit is tight -- is that • Books to Spur Impulse Buys at the Cashwrap "Cash is King." The key to being in control of your business is ...... 3 to be in control of cash. Think in terms of cash even more than • Peace. Love. Books. Reusable Bags ...... 4 profitability. • BTW News Briefs ...... 4 With that in mind, immediately revisit your sales and inventory budgets. Look at how your actual sales over the last 60 days • Around Indie Bookstores ...... 4 compare to last year's sales and to your budget for this year. Is there • ABFFE Urges Booksellers to Post Free a trend? Because most of you will do about 40 percent of your Speech Pledge ...... 5 business in the fourth quarter, it is essential to make sure that you • Harper Creates State by State Essay Contest are positioned to be able to make the business decisions necessary for Booksellers ...... 5 to maximize your holiday season, especially decisions regarding inventory purchases. • RiverRun Hosts Second Annual Read-a-Thon ...... 6 Remember the goal is to control cash. And to control cash means to control inventory and to control payroll. • Bookstore Sales Bounce Back in August ...... 6 • Main Street, Not Wall Street Initiative to The reason to focus on these two items is that they comprise the bulk of each dollar spent in the operation of your business. Launch in Lehigh Valley ...... 6 Inventory constitutes approximately 60 percent of each dollar spent • The Indie October Baseball Bestseller List ...... 7 and payroll constitutes approximately 20 percent. To take control • Bookstore Gift Cards Near Top of Holiday Lists of both payroll and inventory means you can control 80 percent of ...... 8 every dollar spent, which means you have a much better chance of controlling your business. Again, the point is to be proactive rather • National Book Award Finalists Announced ...... 8 than reactive. • Free Classifieds Available to ABA Bookstore The first step is to go back 60 days and determine what sales were Members ...... 9 during that period and, then, compare them with the same time-period last year. Again, are there any trends? Are sales higher MARKETPLACE or lower? How do sales compare to your original budget for this year? If sales are five to 10 percent lower than last year, but you • Classifieds ...... 9 budgeted for that -- fine. But if you budgeted for a flat year or an • Other Advertising ...... 9 increase in sales, you need to make a midcourse correction to keep control. Inventory Meeting the Challenge: A Letter to Look at inventory. Was your inventory plan based on original sales Booksellers From ABA CEO Avin Mark projections that are now lower than expected? You might have more inventory than is justified by sales. There's nothing wrong Domnitz on the Economy -- Plus Other with doing returns now. Returns are your ultimate control device. Resources for Tough Times I'm not talking about a full-scale pillaging of your inventory. I am October 16, 2008 -- Dear Booksellers, talking about adjustments to keep control of inventory levels. Remember, inventory is nothing more than cash in another form -- With almost-daily reports forecasting a challenging holiday season and we'd rather have cash in our pockets than in someone else's. for the nation's retailers, I know that many of you are focused on how to achieve the continued good health of your businesses. In the We may think we know what the hot books are going to be this midst of these turbulent times, please know that ABA is here to season, but inevitably there are one or two (or 10!) titles that help you. explode that we didn't plan for. You will need to get those books on a moment's notice. You don't want to be in a situation where you're We understand the challenges facing you. Hopefully, many of you over-inventoried and don't have cash on hand to buy those books. will meet or exceed your goals, but, even if business falters, it's Also, it's important to keep in mind that in hard economic times

© 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 1 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK October 16, 2008 publishers, like other businesses and banks, are more likely to October 16, 2008 -- During tough times, it's imperative that tighten credit, even for good customers. Without ready cash, you booksellers control costs. Payroll represents approximately 20 may not be able to get the very books that could maximize your percent of a store's costs (while inventory constitutes 60 percent), season. so taking control of staffing is crucial for stores looking to weather Here's more great information on inventory management 2 and economic turmoil. Today, in a letter to booksellers, ABA CEO marketing 3 in tough times from Bookselling This Week . Avin Mark Domnitz recommended taking "a look back at last year's payroll for the holiday season and comparing it with sales. If Payroll [this year's] sales are down 10 percent, then payroll should be Over the course of the whole year, profitable bookshops operate trimmed. There is no one-size-fits all solution here, but, again, the with a total compensation percentage of about 18 to 20 percent of object is to staff the store at the level that maximizes sales. If sales sales. At a time when sales are lower, the percentage will be higher. are below budget, you must adjust controllable expenses." During the holiday season, the percentage of compensation This week, Bill Reilly of The River's End Bookstore 13 in Oswego, expenses should then be lower. Take a look back at last year's New York; Dan Chartrand of Water Street Bookstore 14 in Exeter, payroll for the holiday season and compare it with sales. If sales are New Hampshire; Carla Jimenez of Inkwood Books 15 in Tampa, down 10 percent, then payroll should be trimmed. There is no Florida; and Chuck Robinson of Village Books 16 in Bellingham, one-size-fits-all solution here, but, again, the object is to staff the Washington, share their insights on staffing during economic store at the level that maximizes sales. If sales are below budget, uncertainty. you must adjust controllable expenses. And here's more good 4 information on staffing in tough times from Bookselling This Be More Deliberate in Scheduling Week. In uncertain economic times, fundamentals of good business One way to minimize compensation costs is through better management apply more than ever. And to help provide the tools scheduling. "We're going to try to spread staff out more evenly," for determining trends and building a strategy on those trends, said Village Books' Robinson. "Due to staff requests, we might please look at the Budgeting and Monitoring Worksheets 5 on have been overstaffed at times simply because we wanted to BookWeb.org. accommodate the request of staff members, rather than the needs of the store." Again, I want to stress that we at ABA are here to help you. It can feel as if each day brings a new economic rumble or dip, but with Chartrand noted that he will look at overlapping shifts at Water proactive planning and analysis, you can put yourself in the best Street Bookstore in an attempt to minimize costs and maximize possible position to maximize the potential for this holiday season. staffing efficiency. Also, "the owner is going to take some shifts, Feel free to contact me, and let's work together to help achieve the too. There's nothing like leadership from the front. When you start best holiday season we can. To help with logistics, please contact adding up $10 here and $10 there, it makes a difference." ABA's Member Services Director, Jill Perlstein, at [email protected] 6 , so that we can set up a time to talk. Don't Understaff -- Properly Staff Sincerely, Cutting payroll without understanding how it will impact the Avin Mark Domnitz customer experience can lead to a downward spiral -- especially at Chief Executive Officer an indie bookstore, where consumers are very much accustomed to American Booksellers Association receiving excellent customer service. Fewer staff to shelve, merchandise, and sell can lead to unhappy customers, and that can lead to a further decrease in sales... "You need to be careful not to cut staff dramatically," Chartrand Other Resources for Tough Times said, explaining that staff is the store's "heart and soul" and "drives" an independent bookstore. "[A good staff] brings people into the Links to all of these resources have been gathered on a single page 7 on store. I'm not resistant to making strategic cuts in staffing, but there BookWeb.org. In the coming days, ABA will be posting even more is a delicate balance." He suggested studying the patterns of information to help booksellers meet today's economic challenges. customers flowing into the store, and the ability of currently • scheduled employees to meet their needs, and then making Budgeting & Monitoring Worksheets to Help Create Budgets With an Eye 8 decisions about staffing levels based on that knowledge. Towards Managing Cash Flow • "Cutting staff is not the best thing if customers can't get the help Bookseller Insights From BTW 's Tough Times Series 9 they need -- you will lose sales," Robinson stressed. "The key is being properly staffed. Restaurants send people home during slow • Especially Relevant Materials From ABA's Education Sessions 10 times -- you need flexibility in hours."

• Hire Seasonal & Part-Time Workers Always Valuable Information From the BTW Archives 11 • Many booksellers use seasonal workers and/or part-timers, and BookWeb's Forums, A Booksellers-Only Place to Discuss Your Concerns 12 how they make use of these employees can make a big impact on the bottom line. "We reduced staff at the end of the summer," said Reilly. "Traditionally, we would have two college students on staff, but when two left after the summer, we only replaced one. So there will be fewer of us doing the same amount of work. Everyone has Bookselling in Tough Times: Staffing to shoulder more responsibility." River's End generally has a staff

© 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 2 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK October 16, 2008 of eight people, but the store has reduced it to six. "That's a 25 At Maria's Bookshop 23 in Durango, Colorado, Joe Foster observed percent reduction, which is significant for us." that with cashwrap books, the "more twisted the humor, the better For Inkwood Books, summer is a slow season, and the store cuts the sales." Their all-time bestseller is the Book of Bunny Suicides back on staff during that time. However, Jimenez said she's not (Andy Riley, Plume). Foster added, "People would laugh and talk ready to increase staffing just yet. "Going into the fall, there will be about how gross this book was... And then buy five copies." a little more of keeping staffing at the same levels as the summer. Hilary Emerson Lay at Spirit of '76 24 bookstore in Marblehead, We're going to play it by ear -- it's been pretty darn quiet for the Massachusetts, gives her recommendations for funny cash register last few weeks." books with a caveat -- "I should forewarn you that for every 10 customers we made laugh, and for every 10 copies we'd sell of Find Creative Ways to Compensate Employees these books, one righteous person would complain as to their content (usually people that had children with them)." That said, If you're anticipating a decrease in sales, it would be irresponsible her tips are: English as a Second F*cking Language (Sterling to budget an increase in staff pay, but you do want to retain your Johnson, St. Martin's Griffin); That's Queen Bitch to You (Ed staff and keep them happy -- after all, they're one of the keys to Polish and Darren Wotz, Ten Speed); and Bitter With Baggage staying competitive in the marketplace. When an increase in salary Seeks Same (Sloane Tanen, Bloomsbury). is not in the cards, other incentives, including employee discounts, 25 Spellbinder Books in Bishop, California, has done well with The flex-time, and special rewards for a job well done, can show Official Karma Violation Ticket Book (Good Karma Factory), employees they are valued. Some retailers have even replaced which co-owner Lynne Almeida described as a pad-style book with regular wage increases with profit-sharing programs that tie tickets to mark 'violations' on and tear off, like parking tickets. In a monetary rewards to the success of the store. word "Funny!" Some sample violations: "Borrowing With Intent to For more on employee incentives, read the January BTW article Keep," "Hopelessly Spaced-Out and Dangerously Unaware." "Creating a New Solution for Compensation 17 " and see ABA's "Well it's not funny or cute, but I've sold 124 copies of The growing list of resources 18 to help booksellers weather the current 19 Constitution of the United States , hardcover," said Andy Lacher of crisis, featured on BookWeb.org. --David Grogan 26 BookStacks in Bucksport, Maine. "People like it a LOT. Many say they'd like to send a copy to Washington." Lacher prescribed a Books to Spur Impulse Buys at the stack on the counter for every bookstore and a copy for every Cashwrap household and high school graduate. 27 October 16, 2008 -- Jamie Robinson of Bestsellers Books & Coffee Gary Robson of Red Lodge Books in Red Lodge, Montana, said he also stocks pocket-sized copies of the Constitution and the 20 , knows that the right "funny or cute books put near the cash counter" can bump up the bookstore's bottom line. The Mason, Declaration of Independence at the counter, which he was "happy Michigan, bookseller recently shared some of her successes and to say" weren't far behind You Say I'm a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing asked fellow booksellers to share theirs in BookWeb's (Ed Polish and Darren Wotz, Ten Speed) in sales. Also popular was Bookseller-to-Bookseller Forum 21 . Robinson seeded the thread a blank book entitled Everything Men Know About Women (Alan with Gallop (Rufus Butler Seder, Workman), Bad Cat (Jim Edgar, Francis, Andrews McMeel). Workman), and Bird Songs (Les Beletsky, Ed., Chronicle). Susan Richmond at Inklings Bookshop 28 in Yakima, Washington, Booksellers from Maine to Montana answered the call with a range seconded Robson's recommendation of Everything Men Know of titles that ran from very low- to very highbrow, with low often About Women -- "It is a sure sale." Other good ones: Shrinklits: taking the lead. As Stephanie Anderson of Moravian Book Shop 22 Seventy of the World's Towering Classics Cut Down to Size explained, "Poo books do really, really well." (Maurice Sagoff, Workman) and The Golden Rule: As Expressed Anderson reported that cashwrap books have a strong fan base at by Cultures Around the World (Sandra Darling and Harold Darling, Moravian. "Our head buyer is particularly enamored of these types Eds., Laughing Elephant). "This little book is roughly the shape of books so we have many! We named the section 'Louise' after an and size of a ruler -- really cute. Great at Christmas as it is perfect older retired bookseller who did not like to leave the area behind to stuff a stocking." the register, so I think of this sort of book as a 'Louise book.'" To share your top-selling titles at the cashwrap with other ABA member stores, visit the BookWeb's Bookseller-to-Bookseller Probably the bestselling recent "Louise books" at the Bethlehem, 29 30 Pennsylvania, bookstore, have been What's Your Poo Telling You? Forum . -- Karen Schechner (Anish Sheth and Josh Richman) and its companion, The Poo Log (Anish Sheth, et. al, both Chronicle). "People love them!," said Anderson. Bestsellers of the year include: The Lexicon of Stupidity Bookseller Recommendations for the Cashwrap; Or, "Louise Books": (Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, Workman), Chinglish (Oliver • Bad Cat (Jim Edgar, Workman) Lutz Radtke, Gibbs Smith); the 1913 guides Don'ts for Husbands • Bird Songs (Les Beletsky, Ed., Chronicle) and Don'ts for Wives (both Blanche Ebbutt, A&C Black); Cat Yoga • Bitter With Baggage Seeks Same (Sloane Tanen, Bloomsbury) (Rick Tillotson, Clarkson Potter); Porn for Women and Porn for • Book of Bunny Suicides (Andy Riley, Plume) New Moms (both Susan Anderson, Chronicle); and Wabi-Sabi • Cat Yoga (Clarkson Potter, Rick Tillotson) • Chinglish (Oliver Lutz Radtke, Gibbs Smith) (Leonard Koren, Imperfect). • The Constitution of the United States "They're not all super-new, but they all still sell very well," said • Don'ts for Husbands and Don'ts for Wives (both Blanche Ebbutt, A&C Black) Anderson. "The nice thing about these particular titles, too, is that • English as a Second F*cking Language (Sterling Johnson, St. Martin's Griffin) • Everything Men Know About Women (Alan Francis, Andrews McMeel) people always comment on them, so you can have a fun • Gallop (Rufus Butler Seder, Workman) conversation (which only adds further to how many we sell, as • The Golden Rule: As Expressed by Cultures Around the World (by Sandra people often end up buying them after that!)." Darling, Harold Darling, Eds., Laughing Elephant)

• I Can Has Cheezburger?: A LOLcat Colleckshun (Professor Happycat, According to NRF's 2008 Holiday Consumer Intentions and icanhascheezburger.com, Gotham) Actions Survey , conducted by BIGresearch, U.S. consumers plan • The Lexicon of Stupidity (Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras, Workman) to spend an average of $832.36 on holiday-related shopping, up • The Official Karma Violation Ticket Book (Good Karma Factory) • The Poo Log (Anish Sheth, et. al, Chronicle) only 1.9 percent over last year's $816.69. This represents the lowest • Porn for Women and Porn for New Moms (both Susan Anderson, Chronicle) increase in planned consumer spending since the survey began in • Shrinklits: Seventy of the World's Towering Classics Cut Down to Size 2002. According to the survey, 40.2 percent of consumers will start (Maurice Sagoff, Workman) their holiday shopping before Halloween. This figure is consistent • That's Queen Bitch To You (Ed Polish and Darren Wotz, Ten Speed) with numbers from previous years and demonstrates that bargain • Wabi-Sabi (Leonard Koren, Imperfect) • What's Your Poo Telling You? (Anish Sheth and Josh Richman, Chronicle) hunters are looking for ways to spread out spending over a period • You Say I'm a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing (Ed Polish and Darren Wotz, Ten of time. Speed) Forty percent of survey respondents said that sales or promotions are most important to them when determining where to shop, while another 12.6 percent stated that everyday low prices are most Peace. Love. Books. Reusable Bags important. Other consumers rated selection (21.5 percent) and October 16, 2008 -- W.G. Ellerkamp Inc., the official supplier of merchandise quality (13.4 percent) as the primary factor. Only a IndieBound bags to ABA member bookstores, is now taking orders handful of consumers said they are making buying decisions based for new reusable bags bearing the movement's popular "Peace. on a convenient location (5.6 percent) or helpful customer service Love. Books." slogan. Orders placed now will be filled in (5.2 percent) this year. And, although the number of people buying November. gifts online is expected to remain flat over last year (44.2 percent in 2008 vs. 44.3 percent in 2007), shoppers said they will rely on the The attractive tote, which can be used over and over again, is great Internet more than ever to browse for holiday gifts and research for resale and for promotional giveaways. The bag, which is red products. with white print, measures 13" x 5" x 13". Bags are priced at $1.80 each, and have a suggested retail price of The White Tiger Wins the 2008 Man Booker Prize for Fiction $3.95. Booksellers can order bags customized with their store logo On Tuesday, October 14, Aravind Adiga was named the winner of on the reverse side at a price of $2.30 each. There's a 300-bag 36 minimum and a $75 set-up charge for customized bags. the Man Booker Prize for Fiction for The White Tiger (Free Press). Adiga was one of two first-time novelists on the 2008 Man Orders can be placed directly with W.G. Ellerkamp by calling Booker shortlist of six. The other was Steve Toltz. Only three other 31 (800) 805-0012; sending an e-mail to [email protected] ; debut novelists have achieved this in the past -- Keri Hulme in 32 or by faxing the Resuable IndieBound Tote order form to (603) 1985 for her novel The Bone People , DBC Pierre in 2003 with 924-0044. Vernon God Little and Arundhati Roy in 1997 for The God of Small Ellerkamp also offers a line of recycled paper bags 33 . Things . Thirty-three year old Adiga was born in Madras and now lives in BTW News Briefs Mumbai. He is the fourth Indian born-author to win the prize, joining compatriots Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, and Kiran October 16, 2008 -- Desai who won the prize in 1981, 1997, and 2006 respectively. A fifth winner, V.S. Naipaul is of Indian ancestry. In addition, The South Carolina's Booksmith Subjected to Politically-Charged White Tiger is the ninth winning novel to take its inspiration from Verbal Attacks India or Indian identity. Upstate Today 34 reported that Booksmith 35 in Seneca, South Carolina, and store owner Tricia Lightweis have recently been the University of Nebraska Press Goes to Lightning Source for center of "politically-charged verbal attacks." Lightweis told the Two Le Clezio Titles newspaper: "You can put your thumb right on when it started. It was the week of the Democratic National Convention. Since then On Wednesday, October 15, the University of Nebraska Press there have been at least 30 people who don't want to see anything announced that it had selected Lightning Source Inc. to print and that goes against their opinion." distribute two books by the 2008 Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio. At the Frankfurt Book Fair this Lightweis has owned the bookstore for 20 years and has seen week, the University of Nebraska Press will exhibit two of Le heated elections cycles before. But this year, she told Upstate Clezio's titles through its European distributor, Combined Today , the level of animosity directed at her and her employees is Academic Publishers, Ltd. Two Le Clezio titles, The Round and unprecedented. The books that are primarily inciting the attacks are Other Cold Hard Facts and Onitsha (both Bison, an imprint of at Barack Obama's Change We Can Believe In , and Joe Quint's 72 University of Nebraska Press), both published in English, are in Things Younger Than John McCain . increased demand since the Nobel announcement last week. Lightweis said that the overwhelming majority of those who shop at her store are regular customers and know that she carries books Around Indie Bookstores that represent a wide spectrum of beliefs. It is only a small, but vocal, percentage that is demanding censorship and harassing her October 16, 2008 -- employees. Former Cody's Manager Founds New Author Events Series 37 NRF Survey Confirms Holiday Shopping Season Will Be On Sunday, October 12, the Mercury News reported on the Challenging efforts of former Cody's manager Melissa Mytinger to bring author

© 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 4 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK October 16, 2008 events and signings to Berkeley via a new series, Berkeley Arts & Adding to last week's BTW story 43 about what bookstores are doing Letters 38 , launching this week at the First Congregational Church to promote the upcoming presidential election is San Diego's of Berkeley. Mytinger is teaming up for the venture with Praveen Mysterious Galaxy Books 44 . On Wednesday, October 8, the Madan, co-owner of San Francisco's The Booksmith 39 . bookstore held a mock election based on the sales of IDW's graphic According to the Mercury News , the series is being structured novels Presidential Material: Barack Obama and Presidential along the lines of the large-scale events Cody's held at the church in Material: John McCain . the past. "Books will be available for sale and for author signings at Mysterious Galaxy's Patrick Heffernan reported that "the results the readings, and a $10 suggested donation will be taken at the door were tallied and Sen. Barack Obama won in an apparent landslide to offset the church's costs, with no one turned away for lack of (though a few folks may have voted twice)." Also possibly funds." The series was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October influencing "the election" was the fact that the Obama graphic 15, with an "Art of the Memoir" program. Three other author novel was written by none other than Jeff Mariotte, the store's events are planned for October. Mytinger told the newspaper that co-owner, with drawings by Tom Morgan. The McCain book is she expects the program's full launch to come in January, "with written by Andy Helfer and drawn by Stephen Thompson. between six and 10 events a month, both at [the church] and at the Berkeley City Club." ABFFE Urges Booksellers to Post Free Kepler's Membership Drive Opens With Paperback Dreams Speech Pledge Screening 40 October 16, 2008 -- With passions growing in the final weeks of Kepler's kicked off its Literary Circle membership drive on the presidential campaign (as evidenced by reports of attacks on Sunday, October 12, with a wine reception and screening of 45 41 Booksmith in Seneca, South Carolina), the American Booksellers Paperback Dreams , noted a report in The Almanac . The Literary 46 42 Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) is reminding Circle program was launched in 2005 , following Kepler's brief booksellers that one way to try to handle complaints about the closing and an outpouring of support from the Menlo Park, content of the books they carry is to post a statement proclaiming California, community. Paperback Dreams , a documentary film their support for free speech. by Alex Beckstead, chronicles Kepler's struggle for survival, along with that of the now-closed Cody's Books. ABFFE provides a model for such a statement -- "To Our Customers" -- that explains why booksellers believe it is important "They (Literary Circle members) were vital to our re-opening three to carry a wide diversity of books, including works that some years ago and continue to enable us to renovate the store and people may find offensive. It also promises customers that the sustain our many and varied programs for adults and children," bookstore will protect the privacy of their book purchases. owner Clark Kepler told the paper. The program encompasses 47 about 1,500 members, ranging from students at the $20 level to "There are many good reasons for making a clear statement of Platinum Circle members at $2,500, and family memberships at store policy on First Amendment issues," said ABFFE President $100. Each membership level offers varying benefits to participants Chris Finan said. "It makes the point that one of the most important and must be renewed yearly. roles of a bookstore is to protect free speech. This can be useful in dealing with complaints by reminding people that bookstores exist The evening, sponsored by Kepler's, KQED, and Hometown to serve the entire community." Peninsula, a local independent business alliance, also featured Clark Kepler, filmmaker Beckstead, and a member of Hometown "To Our Customers" is available in two versions that can be 48 49 Peninsula. "Paperback Dreams" will air in mid-November on downloaded from the ABFFE Web site, www.abffe.com . One KQED as part of the "Truly CA" series, and nationwide throughout version superimposes the statement on a photograph of a child the Public Broadcasting System. peeking into a book. The other features attractive drawings of books. The statements are available in color or in black and white. The BookMark Celebrates a New Look "To Our Customers" is an updated version of a statement that ABFFE has been distributing since its founding in 1990. It now The BookMark in Atlantic Beach, Florida, which completed includes language from the model privacy statement that it began significant remodeling in August, celebrated its new look, as well recommending in 1998. The model privacy statement was as its 18th anniversary, with an all-day party on Saturday, October published as part of an ABFFE pamphlet, "Protecting Customer 11. The event featured Florida authors, prizes, giveaways, a Privacy in Bookstores," which contains advice on handling sidewalk sale, and refreshments. customer records. To order a copy of the pamphlet, send an e-mail Renovations included tearing down interior walls to replace a series to Rebecca Zeidel 50 . of separate rooms with an open space, which, owners Rona and Buford Brinlee said, has customers asking whether the store "got Harper Creates State by State Essay bigger." The newly configured space will allow the bookstore to host larger authors events and provides greater visibility for Contest for Booksellers inventory. October 15, 2008 -- HarperCollins is soliciting entries exclusively The October 11 party included book signings with Frances and from booksellers for regional versions of Ecco's State by State: A Hugh Keiser (Pelican Pete series, Sagaponack Books); Mark Lane ( Panoramic Portrait of America (edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Sandspurs: Notes From a Coastal Columnist , University Press of Wilsey), which is on sale now in stores around the country. Florida); and Ad Hudler ( Man of the House , Ballantine Books). Carl Lennertz, HarperCollins' vice president of independent retailing, explained the genesis of the idea for regional versions of Mysterious Galaxy Tallies the Presidential Vote the book: "After a few of us saw the screening of the Powell's film

© 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 5 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK October 16, 2008 of State by State 51 , Josh Marwell of Harper said to me that the book is 'heartland hip,' and then my assistant Marcus Opsal, Bookstore Sales Bounce Back in August formerly of Village Books in Bellingham, Washington, suggested, October 15, 2008 -- After a two-month downward trend, retail sales 'How about a booksellers' writing contest?'" at bookstores bounced back in August. Preliminary figures recently Interested booksellers are encouraged to send Lennertz an essay released by the Bureau of the Census show bookstore sales in about any state they desire, and Harper will pick the best and August 2008 increased 5.4 percent compared to August 2007. publish all-bookseller regional versions in paperback in the next Sales during August are estimated at $2,436 million, compared to year. A percentage of the proceeds from sales of the books will be sales of $2,311 million for the same period last year. For the year to donated to the American Booksellers Foundation for Free date, bookstore sales are up 2.5 percent. Expression 52 (ABFFE). Total retail and food service sales fared worse than bookstore sales Chris Finan, the foundation's executive director, told BTW : "We're in August. Retail sales were $390.5 billion in August 2008, delighted that HarperCollins has invited ABFFE to be a beneficiary compared to $392.1 billion in August 2007, a decrease of 0.4 of this project. We really appreciate the support." percent. Essays of about 2,500 words should be submitted in Word format 53 by e-mail only to [email protected] . The deadline for Period 2007 Final 2008 % Change submissions is February 1, 2009. (Millions of (Millions of 2008 Over 2007 Dollars) Dollars) Lennertz' instructions to booksellers: "Take a look at some of the pieces in the book now to see the flavor of what we're looking for, okay? Warm up your Corona or #2's before the holiday season hits. January 2,195 2,285 4.1

"As you'll see, some authors once lived in the state they wrote February 1,030 1,144 11.1 about, or do now, but some were sent to the state for a first, fresh look. I don't think you have time for the latter, but really, anything March 1,019 1,019 0.0 goes -- including drawings!" 54 Questions about the essay contest should be directed to Lennertz . April 926 1,002 8.2

RiverRun Hosts Second Annual May 1,125 1,154 2.6 Read-a-Thon June 1,152 1,074 (6.7) October 15, 2008 -- RiverRun Bookstore 55 held its second "Great Expectations: A July 1,213 1,124 (7.4) Reading Marathon" (GERM), a 24-hour, customer read-a-thon from October 10 through October 11. Local college and high August 2,311 2,436 (p) 5.4 school students and other volunteers participated at RiverRun's 56 used bookstore, SecondRun , to benefit a local nonprofit. YTD 10,971 11,240 (p) 2.5 "Once again, most of the participants were predominantly high school students, and the fact that teenagers obviously care so much (p) Preliminary figure about reading and supporting a great cause makes me happy," said Note: Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstore, events coordinator, Michele Filgate, who read Bryan Talbot's Alice including trade, college, religious, chain stores (including in Sunderland and Joe Hill's short story collection, 20th Century superstores), and others. A bookstore is defined as any retail Ghosts (Harper Paperbacks). "We had a lot of fun playing literary establishment with sales comprised of more than 50 percent new trivia from 3:00 to 4:30 in the morning, and it helped us stay awake books and periodicals, and estimates include sales of all products in in the wee hours." these stores. RiverRun developed the read-a-thon to do its part to counter the decline in reading, as cited by the 2004 National Endowment for Main Street, Not Wall Street Initiative to the Arts survey Reading at Risk 57 , by bringing attention to reading Launch in Lehigh Valley and independent bookstores, while raising money for local nonprofits and celebrating October as National Reading Group October 15, 2008 -- Although most pundits are predicting a Month. Volunteers read more than 4,500 pages combined and lackluster holiday shopping season, there's at least one local raised more than $700 in pledges to support The Birchtree Center, a business group that's hoping to turn the current economic situation nonprofit that offers educational programs for children and youth to its advantage. The Sustainable Business Network of the Greater with autism. Participants also answered literary trivia questions, Lehigh Valley 60 (SBN) in southeast Pennsylvania plans to launch a played Scrabble, and heard a local author read from his work. Main Street, Not Wall Street campaign to highlight to consumers Local food purveyors provided refreshments throughout the event. the advantages of spending their dollars at local independent businesses. In addition to RiverRun, nine other bookstores 58 are participating in GERM events this month, among them The King's English "There is a limited number of dollars out there, and we're trying to Bookshop in Salt Lake City; Northshire Bookstore in Manchester let consumers know how they can make the most impact with their Center, Vermont; and Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Pittsburgh, money," said Stephanie Anderson of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania's Pennsylvania. -- Karen Schechner 59 Moravian Book Shop 61 , which is a member of SBN Greater Lehigh Valley. "It's deceptively simple, what you can do [for your

© 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 6 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK October 16, 2008 community] with a slight change of habits." 2. Moneyball Michael Lewis, Norton, $13.95, 9780393324815 Lehigh Valley's network formed about a year ago, and Moravian Book Shop became a member in early 2008. "Southeast 3. Living on the Black: Two Pitchers, Two Teams, One Season to Pennsylvania is sort of an unusual situation," Anderson explained. Remember "We're four small-sized cities with different flavors and businesses, John Feinstein, Little Brown, $26.99, 9780316113915 and the alliance includes businesses from all these areas." 4. 101 Reasons to Love the Red Sox Since the alliance's inception, it's been extremely busy. In David Green, Stewart, Tabori, & Chang, $14.95, 9781584797142 February, in anticipation of the arrival of economic stimulus checks, SBN held a press conference where it called on area 5. Remembering Yankee Stadium: An Oral and Narrative History of the consumers to spend the money locally. The press conference House That Ruth Built received local media attention and helped spotlight the group's Harvey Frommer, Stewart, Tabori, & Chang, $45, 9781584797166 message. 6. Baseball's Best 1,000: Rankings of the Skills, the Achievements, and the In June, the group launched a yearlong Think Independent Performance of the Greatest Players of All Time campaign "to engage Lehigh Valley residents in a conversation Derek Gentile, Black Dog & Leventhal, $14.95, 9781579127770 about where and with whom they shop -- to raise as a priority the idea of supporting locally owned, independent businesses in their 7. Playing With the Enemy: A Baseball Prodigy, World War II, and the communities." Among its activities in August was the coordination Long Journey Home of a scavenger hunt in downtown Bethlehem that served to remind Gary W. Moore, Penguin, $15, 9780143113881 residents of the great businesses in the area. 8. Red Sox Rule: Terry Francona and Boston's Rise to Dominance Anderson said that Moravian Book Shop has incorporated a lot of Michael Holley, HarperEntertainment, $25.95, 9780061458545 IndieBound 62 materials into the local Think Independent campaign and its extension, Main Street, Not Wall Street. "I'm bringing 9. Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History IndieBound to SBN, especially the social networking piece of it," Cait Murphy, Collins, $14.95, 9780060889388 said Anderson. Last year, Bethlehem's mayor wrote an op-ed piece for the local 10. Baseball Field Guide: An In-Depth Illustrated Guide to the Complete paper encouraging people to shop locally, and this year the group is Rules of Baseball Dan Formosa, Paul Hamburger, Da Capo, $14, 9780306816536 hoping to convince all the mayors to write similar op-eds. Spotlighting the importance of shopping locally is very important 11. Yankee Stadium: A Tribute: 85 Years of Memories: 1923 - 2008 in the Lehigh Valley, where there are a lot of chain stores, Les Krantz, HarperEntertainment, $29.95, 9780061438608 Anderson explained. "We're two hours west of New York City, and two hours north of Philadelphia. This is a very suburban area, very 12. 101 Reasons to Love the Yankees Ron Green, Jr., Stewart, Tabori, & Chang, $14.95, 9781584797159 developed. There are two Barnes & Nobles and a Borders within 15 minutes of my store. Then there is the Internet competition." 13. Do You Know the Boston Red Sox? As for the group's Main Street, Not Wall Street initiative, "people Guy Robinson, Sourcebooks, $5.95, 9781402214196 have lost faith with the economy," said Anderson. "No one 14. Yankee for Life: My 40-Year Journey in Pinstripes understands exactly how it all happened. The local economy is a lot Bobby Murcer, Harper, $24.95, 9780061473418 easier to understand. If small businesses make money, pay their bills, they stay open. If they don't, they close. I think people are 15. Summer of '49 coming back to local economies because it's just more David Halberstam, Harper Perennial Modern Classics, $14.95, comfortable." 9780060884260

Fortunately, thus far, business at the bookstore has been brisk. 16. You Can Observe a Lot by Watching: What I've Learned About "Generally, I still feel pretty good. We've got a number of big name Teamwork From the Yankees and Life authors scheduled. Our head buyer is being more conservative, Yogi Berra, Wiley, $24.95, 9780470079928 bringing in smaller quantities, but people are still buying books. Hour for hour, books are still a cheaper form of entertainment. I 17. Ty and the Babe: Baseball's Fiercest Rivals can't keep Dewey 63 [ The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched Tom Stanton, Thomas Dunne, $14.95, 9780312382247 the World , Grand Central Publishing] in stock, and that's a hardcover!"-- David Grogan 64 18. Yankee Stadium: The Official Retrospective Mark Vancil, Alfred Santasiere, III, Pocket, $50, 9781416547792

The Indie October Baseball Bestseller 19. Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits List David Ortiz, St. Martin's Griffin, $14.95, 9780312383442 October 15, 2008 -- With Major League Baseball's post-season in 20. The Echoing Green: The Untold Story of Bobby Thomson, Ralph full-swing, we present the The Indie October Baseball Bestseller Branca, and the Shot Heard Round the World List, based on sales in independent bookstores nationwide for the Joshua Prager, Vintage, $15.95, 9780375713071 eight-week period ending October 14, 2008. 21. Ballparks Then and Now Eric Enders, Thunder Bay, $10.95, 9781592237319 1. Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-Experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks 22. Babe Ruth: Remembering the Bambino in Stories, Photos & Zack Hample, Vintage, $13.95, 9780307280329 Memorabilia

Julia Ruth Stevens, Bill Gilbert, Stewart, Tabori, & Chang, $35, Fiction 9781584796978 • Aleksandar Hemon, The Lazarus Project (Riverhead) • Rachel Kushner, Telex From Cuba (Scribner), a July 2008 Indie 23. Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game Next List Great Read George Vecsey, Modern Library, $14, 9780812978704 • Peter Matthiessen, Shadow Country (Modern Library) 24. The Baseball Book • Marilynne Robinson, Home (FSG), a September 2008 Indie Rob Fleder (Ed.), Sports Illustrated, $29.95, 9781933405230 Next List Great Read • Salvatore Scibona, The End (Graywolf Press) 25. The Gashouse Gang: How Dizzy Dean, Leo Durocher, Branch Rickey, Pepper Martin, and Their Colorful, Come-From-Behind Ball Club Nonfiction Won the World Series -- and America's Heart • Drew Gilpin Faust, This Republic of Suffering: Death and the John Heidenry, PublicAffairs, $14.95, 9781586485689 American Civil War (Knopf) • Annette Gordon-Reed, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family (Norton) Bookstore Gift Cards Near Top of • Jane Mayer, The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Holiday Lists Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals (Doubleday) October 15, 2008 -- During the 2007 holiday shopping season, • Jim Sheeler, Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives (Penguin) bookstore gift cards were the third most popular gift cards • Joan Wickersham, The Suicide Index: Putting My Father's purchased, below only those from department stores and Death in Order (Harcourt) restaurants, and above seven other categories, including electronics, Poetry discount, and clothing store cards, according to the National Retail • Frank Bidart, Watching the Spring Festival (FSG) Federation's "2008 Holiday Survival Kit." • Mark Doty, Fire to Fire: New and Collected Poems To help booksellers meet the growing demand for gift cards (73 (HarperCollins) percent of which are purchased in the store where they're used, • Reginald Gibbons, Creatures of a Day (Louisiana State according to NRF), three new IndieBound-inspired ABA Gift Card University Press) designs 65 were launched in September, along with four new • Richard Howard, Without Saying (Turtle Point Press) presenters, which can be mixed and matched. Fourteen card • Patricia Smith, Blood Dazzler (Coffee House Press) designs are now available, including a very attractive "Happy Holidays" and "Have a Happy!" card. Young People's Literature • Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains (Simon & Schuster) On Friday, October 31, at noon EST, booksellers will also be able • Kathi Appelt, The Underneath (Atheneum), a Summer 2008 to order one of four Scholastic-sponsored cards and presenter sets, Book Sense Children's Pick featuring art from Walter Wick's Can You See What I See ? series. • Judy Blundell, What I Saw and How I Lied (Scholastic) (The cards and presenter can be previewed on BookWeb's Gift • E. Lockhart, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks Card Design page 66 .) Scholastic has generously covered the cost of (Hyperion) the limited-edition card (22 cents), the transaction fee (50 cents), • Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now (Knopf) and the matching presenter (12 cents). Booksellers will pay for shipping and handling and to add an imprint, if desired. The winners will be announced at the 59th National Book Awards Consumer data gathered by Bigresearch for NRF shows that, in Benefit Dinner and Ceremony, emceed by writer and actor Eric 2007 holiday shoppers purchased an average of 3.7 gift cards Bogosian, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on Wednesday, apiece with an average value of $41.95. November 19. Each winner will receive $10,000 plus a bronze statue; each finalist receives a bronze medal and a $1,000 cash "Don't miss out on holiday sales," said Jill Perlstein, ABA's Gift award. Card Program director. "Give your customers a choice and consider offering more than one design. Check your card and presenter stock This year's ceremony will also feature the presentation of the Medal and order 67 sooner rather than later." (NRF predicts that 40 percent for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters to Maxine of people begin their holiday shopping before Thanksgiving.) Hong Kingston, and Barney Rosset will be honored with the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Orders for generic cards (or just presenters) generally ship within Community. one to two working days. Imprinted cards usually take from three to five working days. "One interesting aspect of this year's finalists is the range of experience," said Harold Augenbraum, executive director of the ABA members who would like to learn more about the program National Book Foundation, "from first books by young writers to can find details on BookWeb.org 68 . Questions may be directed to well-known and highly respected authors who have been writing [email protected] 69 or to Perlstein at (800) 637-0037, ext. 6642 or and publishing for decades. And several finalists' books come from Linda Ford at ext. 6644 small presses." National Book Award Finalists In addition to the invitation-only gala awards ceremony, National Book Awards Week includes: 5 Under 35, NBF's evening of Announced emerging fiction writers, on November 17; The National Book October 15, 2008 -- On Wednesday, October 15, author Scott Awards Teen Press Conference, featuring all of the finalists in the Turow announced the 20 finalists for the 2008 National Book Young People's Literature Category on the morning of November Awards from the stage of the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. 18 at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; and the finalists reading at The New This year's finalists are: School on the evening of November 18.

Free Classifieds Available to ABA An evil force is destroying Nul Island and it's up to these three friends to solve the mystery Bookstore Members Curse of the Bone Pirates: Eco-Logical Adventures 79 October 15, 2008 -- All ABA Bookstore Members in good standing B.T. Hope are entitled to four free two-week Classified Ad insertions in ISBN: 978-0-9817388-0-2 Bookselling This Week each year. BTW Classifieds are the perfect Greenleaf Book Group place for booksellers to place help wanted ads, advertise fixtures or stores for sale, and more. Beyond Light Bulbs: Lighting the Way to Smarter Energy Management 80 Each ad of up to 50 words will appear for a period of two weeks on 70 Susan Meredith BTW 's Classifieds webpage , as well as in the full Emerald Book Company print-on-demand edition of BTW . Additional Classified Ads can be 978-1-934572-07-8 placed at a 25 percent discount off the regular rate of $22.50 per seven words (28-word minimum). Find a cure 81 Booksellers interested in placing a Classified Ad should contact Sudoku for a Cause BTW Editorial Coordinator Elizabeth Fabian at Find a Cure Sudoku [email protected] 71 or (800) 637-0037, ext. 6667. The 9781929774340 deadline for Classified Ad copy is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday for an Brand New Game, LLC ad in the following day's edition of BTW . Great remainders With circulation to more than 13,000 trade professionals, BTW also 5000+ titles offers publishers, sidelines vendors, and others in the industry 50% discount opportunities to place "Front Page" Ads in the BTW weekly e-mail All subjects flash. A rate card and booking information are available on ABA's 82 72 fairmountbooks.com trade website, BookWeb.org . [email protected] 905-475-0988 Fairmount Books, Inc.

AfricaTrek: From the Cape of Good Hope to the Sea of Galilee One couple, three years, 11 countries, 1,200 families, 14,000 kilometers of adventures walking through the cradle of life Classifieds Runaway European bestsellers Vol. 1 978-1-59299-357-4 FOR SALE Vol. 2 978-1-59299-358-1 Books & Bytes Bookstore & Internet Cafe in Quincy, FL (www.BooksAndBytes.biz 76 ) is liquidating. We have ~5,000 new Available thru Partners and Baker & Taylor & used HC & PB books (priced @ $25K), 2 Anthology stations, TV series broadcasting on PBS stations and 6 customer computers. Buy all for $30K OBO. Contact Mike Multiple film- and book-festival awards winner 77 US book tour spots available Frank at (850) 597-2046 or [email protected] for more 83 information. www.AfricaTrekSeries.com www.InkwaterPress.com 84

All Regular ABA Member Bookstores in good standing may have up to four 2-week Classified Ad insertions per year in Bookselling This Week at no charge (50-word limit). For more information on booking a classified ad, click here 78 . Other Advertising

Links in this document: 1. See http://www.bookweb.org/education/toughtimes.html 2. See http://news.bookweb.org/news/6320.html 3. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/6340 4. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/6353 5. See http://www.bookweb.org/education/toughtimes.html#worksheets 6. See mailto:[email protected] 7. See http://www.bookweb.org/education/toughtimes.html 8. See http://www.bookweb.org/education/toughtimes.html#worksheets 9. See http://news.bookweb.org/m-bin/by_topic?topic_id=76 10. See http://www.bookweb.org/education/toughtimes.html#sessions

11. See http://www.bookweb.org/education/toughtimes.html#btwarchives 12. See http://www.bookweb.org/ideaexchange/mvnforum/index 13. See http://www.riversendbookstore.com/ 14. See http://waterstreet.booksense.com/ 15. See http://www.inkwoodbooks.com/ 16. See http://www.villagebooks.com/ 17. See http://www.news.bookweb.org/read/5754 18. See http://www.bookweb.org/education/toughtimes.html 19. See mailto:[email protected] 20. See http://www.bestsellersbookstore.com/ 21. See http://www.bookweb.org/ideaexchange/mvnforum/viewthread?thread=1764 22. See http://www.moravianbookshop.com/ 23. See http://www.mariasbookshop.com/ 24. See http://www.spiritof76bookstore.com/ 25. See http://spellbinder.booksense.com/ 26. See http://www.bookstacksmaine.com/ 27. See http://www.redlodgebooks.com/ 28. See http://www.inklingsbookshop.com/ 29. See http://www.bookweb.org/ideaexchange/mvnforum/viewthread?thread=1764 30. See mailto:[email protected] 31. See mailto:[email protected] 32. See http://www.bookweb.org/files/bookstore/pdf/EllerkampReusableBags.pdf 33. See http://www.bookweb.org/membership/products/paper.html 34. See http://www.upstatetoday.com/news/2008/oct/15/political-extremists-attack-bookstore-ownerstaff/ 35. See http://www.thebooksmith.com/ 36. See http://www.themanbookerprize.com 37. See http://www.mercurynews.com/books/ci_10679363 38. See http://www.berkeleyarts.org 39. See http://www.booksmith.com/ 40. See http://www.keplers.com/ 41. See http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=2664 42. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/3886 43. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/6333 44. See http://mysteriousgalaxy.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp 45. See http://www.upstatetoday.com/news/2008/oct/15/political-extremists-attack-bookstore-ownerstaff/ 46. See http://www.abffe.com 47. See http://www.abffe.com/customerstatements.htm 48. See http://www.abffe.com/customerstatements.htm 49. See http://www.abffe.com 50. See mailto:[email protected] 51. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/6301 52. See http://www.abffe.com 53. See mailto:[email protected] 54. See mailto:[email protected] 55. See http://www.riverrunbookstore.com/ 56. See http://secondrunbookstore.com/default.aspx 57. See http://www.nea.gov/news/news04/readingatrisk.html 58. See http://riverrunevents.googlepages.com/participatingstores 59. See mailto:[email protected] 60. See http://www.sbnlv.org/index.html 61. See http://www.moravianbookshop.com/ 62. See http://www.bookweb.org/indiebound/ 63. See http://www.indiebound.org/aff/bookweb1?product=9780446407410 64. See mailto:[email protected] 65. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/6260 66. See http://www.bookweb.org/solutions/giftcards/designs.html 67. See http://www.jettdirect.com/aba/ 68. See http://www.bookweb.org/solutions/giftcards.html

69. See mailto:[email protected] 70. See http://news.bookweb.org/classifieds/ 71. See mailto:[email protected] 72. See http://www.bookweb.org/about/ads/publishers.html 73. See http://www.BooksAndBytes.biz 74. See mailto:[email protected] 75. See http://www.bookweb.org/about/ads/booksellers.html 76. See http://www.BooksAndBytes.biz 77. See mailto:[email protected] 78. See http://www.bookweb.org/about/ads/booksellers.html 79. See http://www.greenleafbookgroup.com/author.cfm?AuthorID=61 80. See http://www.beyondlightbulbs.com/ 81. See http://www.brandoku.com/findacure.php 82. See http://www.fairmountbooks.com 83. See http://www.AfricaTrekSeries.com 84. See http://www.InkwaterPress.com