Plenary Speaker Cathie Black to Focus on Five Pillars of Successful

May 17, 2007 with anecdotal tips for everyone from the entry-level employee to TABLE OF CONTENTS: the CEO. • Plenary Speaker Cathie Black to Focus on Black began her career in print media in advertising sales with Five Pillars of Successful Change ...... 1 several magazines, including Holiday and Ms. In 1979, she became • Think Local: Attend "Localism" at BookExpo the first woman publisher of a weekly consumer magazine, New York . America ...... 2 3 • Restaurant Suggestions From a Brooklyn Widely credited for the success of USA Today , Black joined the paper in 1983 as president and then became publisher. She also Insider ...... 2 served as a board member and executive vice president/marketing • How to Talk to a Bookseller: A 10-Step Guide of Gannett, USA Today 's parent company. For five years prior to for Authors ...... 4 joining Hearst, she was president and CEO of the Newspaper • Oprah to Announce Next Book Club Pick ...... 5 Association of America, the industry's largest trade group. • Time Out to Guide Booksellers Around NYC ... 5 As president of Heart Magazines, Black manages the business side • ABFFE Auctions Offer Some of the Best of and development of some of the industry's best-known magazines, including Cosmopolitan , Esquire , Good Housekeeping , Harper's BEA ...... 6 BAZAAR , O, The Oprah Magazine , Redbook , and Town & • Stephen King Returns as Rock Bottom Country . She also serves on the boards of IBM, iVillage, Remainders Embark on One-City Tour ...... 6 Coca-Cola Company, and the Advertising Council. • ABACUS 2007: Did You Know ...... 6 Black will address booksellers about adapting to change on • Welcome to Hotel ABA ...... 7 Thursday, May 31, at 9:00 a.m. at Hotel ABA, the New York • Author Autographing & Define-A-Thon: Special Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, in Brooklyn. BTW recently had Events in ABA's Book Sense Lounge ...... 7 the opportunity to talk to Black via e-mail. • Users Groups to Convene at BEA ...... 8 • A Moving Memoir From Maine's Unlikeliest BTW: Can you give booksellers a few highlights of what to expect from your presentation at the plenary session, Chaplain ...... 8 "Adapting to Change"? • BTW News Briefs ...... 9 Cathie Black: There are many similarities that exist between the bookselling business and the magazine business. The essential BOOK SENSE THIS WEEK "common thread" is the strong connection and engagement we both • The Summer 2007 Book Sense Children's enjoy with our readers. I'll be talking about the Five Pillars of Successful Change, which are: Picks Preview ...... 10 • Understanding the imperatives • Brownstone Books: A Cornerstone of • Building the brand and determining what makes yours unique Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy Neighborhood ...... 10 • Expanding your reach • The Book Sense Bestseller List for Holocaust • Serving your consumers what they want in the ways they want it Remembrance Month ...... 10 • Changing the model when necessary to stay ahead of the game

MARKETPLACE BTW: With so many new technologies and communication channels these days -- today's MySpace could be tomorrow's • Classifieds ...... 11 Friendster -- do you have any suggestions for staying current? • Other Advertising ...... 11 CB: Understanding your consumer is the key to staying current. Any media today must be constantly thinking about three key questions: How do we connect with consumers? How do we deliver Plenary Speaker Cathie Black to Focus the products of that connection: what they want, how they want it, and when they want it? And when we have those answers, how do on Five Pillars of Successful Change we translate them into growth and profits? At Hearst, we are May 17, 2007 -- Cathie Black, cited by the Financial Times as "one launching robust, engaging, interactive websites for all of our of the leading figures in American publishing over the past two brands to maintain and strengthen the connection with our readers. decades," will be the plenary speaker at ABA's "Day of Education 1 The sites give consumers an opportunity to go deeper into the ." Black is the president of Hearst Magazines and the author of content they already relate to in print form, and it gives our editors Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and a chance to experiment -- both with content and technology. in Life) 2 (Crown Business, this fall), a primer on business strategy,

BTW: Adaptation and change are, of course, key parts of movement will be spotlighted as part of ABA's information surviving and thriving in business, but how can a business sessions on Saturday, June 2. "Localism ... Is the tipping point at balance its previous success while staying nimble enough to hand?" will look at burgeoning "local first" efforts and how safeguard its future? In other words, how do businesses avoid independent retailers are working together to preserve the diversity the (very expensive) New Coke pitfall? of their communities. The discussion, moderated by ABA COO Oren Teicher, will feature Bill McKibben, author of Deep CB: It is important to remember what your core competency is but 5 you have to be willing to adapt as changes happen around you. Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future Businesses must stay in tune with what their consumers want. For (Times Books/Henry Holt). example, Cosmopolitan is one of the world's most successful 6 "Local is the place we're headed -- and since bookstores got there magazines, but we know that our readers today want more and first in many ways, they deserve to be a big part of the next big different ways to interact with our content. As a result, we have economic idea," McKibben told BTW via e-mail. launched a Cosmo Sirius Radio channel, a series of Cosmo books, The June 2 panel, said Teicher, "is all part of ABA's continuing a yearly special issue on Cosmo Style, as well as Cosmo Web and efforts to help educate booksellers about Main Street coalitions and mobile websites, which are all different and compelling ways for independent business alliances." the reader to stay engaged with a brand she already feels connected to. For his part, McKibben said, he will talk about "the very big picture -- why we might want to spend the next hundred years reeling in some of the supply lines we spent the last century BTW: In Basic Black , you talk about some of the routes taken flinging out -- and also the small picture: some glimpses of places to bring about USA Today 's success, which included calculated that are making the transition." risk taking, creating "gimmicks" that grabbed readers' attention, and "blowing the dust off the curtains." How do you Teicher plans to include a quick update on the Shop Local world. think these strategies might apply to independent booksellers? "It's a movement that has now clearly become a 'movement,'" he said. "It's gathering critical mass with new independent business CB: I am a big believer in taking calculated risks -- even if they alliances being established and the increasing evidence that aren't all successful, you will always learn something that will help consumers understand 'localism.'" He added that the recent "San you in the future. For independent booksellers to market Francisco Retail Diversity Study" 7 , commissioned by the San themselves successfully, they must help consumers reconnect to the Francisco Locally Owned Merchants Alliance (SFLOMA) and concept and unique advantages of the local bookstore: personal conducted by Civic Economics, was further evidence that service from someone who knows you and your tastes, a staff that independent bookstores provide more economic value to a is passionate about books and shares the book buyer's love of community than do chains. reading, and an inventory that includes much more than the latest bestsellers. Independent booksellers also have the ability to present "Localism ... Is the tipping point at hand?" will be held on small-scale events, including intimate readings with authors, and to Saturday, June 2, from 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. in Rooms develop and host neighborhood book groups. By increasing these 1B02/1B03/1B04 of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. activities, and promoting them as points of differentiation, independent booksellers will reinforce what makes them integral Restaurant Suggestions From a parts of their communities. Brooklyn Insider BTW: Given your position at Hearst, you're in a unique place May 17, 2007 -- By Pat Willard to provide an "old media" vs. "new media" forecast. Do you Booksellers, thank your lucky stars you're staying in Brooklyn! think the "old" is as threatened by "new" as many believe, or You'll eat well -- some may say even better than on that little island can the one enhance and inform, or possibly even provide a across the river. If you know Brooklyn at all, this fact is not that platform for the other? surprising. With its vibrant ethnic diversity and strong community CB: I work hard to make sure magazines never get pigeonholed in roots, the borough has always had more than its fair share of that way -- it's not how consumers and advertisers should be legendary restaurants. But in recent years, as rents and the cost of thinking about print media. The changes taking place right now are doing business across the East River have shot up like Fourth of an opportunity for growth. Magazines are in a period of July fireworks, a surge of wonderful eateries of every stripe and for rebalancing and transition: we now have the ability to reach across every wallet have taken well to Brooklyn soil. a range of platforms including television, websites and mobile Even more lucky for you, a host of them are within easy walking websites, to build stronger, more powerful brands that connect with distance or car service (aka taxi) ride from where you will be consumers. Technology is constantly evolving, and media staying. companies need to adapt if we want to keep consumers engaged. We never know what the Next Big Thing will be -- who would Let's first get the BIG NAMES and the legends out of the way. have thought consumers could use a cell phone to look up a recipe You should make the pilgrimage to Junior's (386 Flatbush or buy a pair of shoes?! -- but whatever it is, media in all forms will Avenue; 718-852-5257) at least once during your stay. It's a short always have to continue to take chances, get creative, and adapt to walk up from Hotel ABA, the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn change. -- Interviewed by Karen Schechner 4 Bridge in Brooklyn, and it doesn't matter what time you get there, although breakfast is a highpoint. Along with your eggs and hash Think Local: Attend "Localism" at browns, you'll get an earful of some of the best Brooklyn characters (and their accents) around, perhaps even Borough President Marty BookExpo America Markowitz (who, despite his diet plan, is seen tucked into a table May 17, 2007 -- At BookExpo America, the growing "localism" quite regularly) along with lawyers, judges, and the people they try,

© 2007 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 2 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK May 17, 2007 defend, and sentence. The eavesdropping opportunities at Junior's Walk further down Court and you'll hit Atlantic Avenue, a center of are priceless. And so is the famous cheesecake, which deserves Middle Eastern life and culture. Sahadi's (187 Atlantic Avenue; every accolade it has ever gotten over the years. Lunch is packed. 718-624-4550) is a venerable market; Moroccan Star (148 Dinner can be less so. If you want some street cred when you go Atlantic Avenue; 718-643-0800) and Tripoli (156 Atlantic back home, come in after 11:00 p.m. and mix it up with the night Avenue; 718-596-5800) are old favorites and remain authentically owls. There are always a lot of cops on the premise grabbing cups terrific. of coffee, cheesecake, and pastrami sandwiches. One block over is Smith Street, what some call the restaurant row Peter Luger's (178 Broadway; 718-387-7400) is the steakhouse in of Brooklyn. You can pretty much wander in to any place along Brooklyn. Some consider it the only steakhouse in the world. It's here and find something that will be more than satisfying, and hard-to-near impossible to get a dinner reservation. Lunch is usually at a modest, if not a decent, price. Favorites are Robin des marginally easier. And they don't accept credit cards, so haul the Bois (195 Smith Street; 718-596-1609) because of the garden in bank safe in with you. But, once inside, it's a laid-back sort of back and the mashed potatoes; Bar Tabac (128 Smith Street; place, with bare wooden tables and a waitstaff that is often 718-923-0918) for pork filet mignons; Patois (255 Smith; amusingly (and forgivably) cranky as they serve you truly 718-855-1535) for something a little fancy and Paris-y; Chance stupendous cuts of beef. Pan-Asian (223 Smith Street; 718-242-1515) for dim sum and Sea The acknowledged Grand Dame of Brooklyn restaurants is the Bass; and Grocery (288 Smith Street; 718-596-3335) for just about River Cafe (1 Water Street; 718-522-5200). They do take credit anything on the menu. cards, which is good because it's extremely expensive. And you If you're in Williamsburg and can't get into Peter Luger, go to need a reservation. But it's really, really worth it, especially if you another old favorite: Diner (85 Broadway; 718-486-3077), a teeny, have something to celebrate, as it's the kind of place that allows eternally cool diner with booths and stools, a sidecar, and a few you to think that the world is a wonderful glowing fantasy. There's tables outside. The folks in the kitchen churn out luscious dishes of the view of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge; the stellar the influenced-by-everything American school of cooking. The wine list; the really terrific cooking and the serene service. In short, folks behind the bar pour lovely wines and beers -- and it's all for a while you are in this lovely old boat moored to the pier, nothing smidgen. ruffles the make-believe sense that all is right with the world. There are other places to eat in Williamsburg (such as the Thai Budgets, though, tend to ruffle quite loudly, so here's something to restaurant Sea -- 114 N. 6th; 718-384-8850; and the bistro Fada -- consider that will allow you to dip your toes -- and not your wallet 530 Driggs Avenue; 718-388-6607). Just go to Bedford Avenue -- in such rarified waters: Stop in at the River Cafe around 5:00 and 6th and you're in the mix. But it's a schlep no matter by car p.m., when the dining room will be empty, and head for the bar. Let service or subway (you need to go into Manhattan and get the L the nice bartender shake you up a fancy cocktail or pour a glass of train, then get off at Bedford Avenue). beer or wine, and then sit back and enjoy the rose-violet light Park Slope is nearer. True, it's not as gritty cool or as slowly saturating the Manhattan skyline across the river. After hipster-driven. Park Slope is where the older, perhaps married, you're through (and can say you went to the River Cafe), head back perhaps gay, siblings and parents of Williamsburg hipsters live. In out and walk a block or two up Fulton Street to Grimaldi's any case, they know food and demand good restaurants, and, so, Pizzeria (19 Old Fulton Street; 718-858-4300). If you time it right, you will find such terrific places as Convivium Osteria (68 5th there won't be a line out the door. Grimaldi's makes sensational Avenue; 718-857-1833), where Spanish cuisine receives a glorious pizza -- thin crusted and with lots of interesting and fresh toppings. outing -- a little expensive but worth it. Melt (440 Bergen Street; Get a pie, enjoy it immensely, and then walk back down to the pier 718-230-5925) is low-key and simply elegant with a refined menu to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (Fulton Ferry Landing Pier) of American-type food. The 12th Street Bar and Grill (1123 8th for a large scoop of homemade ice cream. (Or, given that there is Avenue at 12th Street; 718-965-9526), is dependably good and always a line at Grimaldi's, call them before you leave the hotel and civilized after a hard day. Arrive close to when it opens at 6:00 order a pie, then go have your River Cafe drink, pick up the pie, p.m. and you'll have your pick of tables that you can then occupy head down to the piers again and settle onto a bench to eat it. The long through the rush hour, which is good because the food and view and the ice cream will always be waiting for you.) You can genial atmosphere will make you want to linger. stop back in the River Cafe for a nightcap -- the bartender doesn't mind and the stools are comfy -- or you can head up the hill again Now, for some reason or other, barbecue has become a big deal in to Henry Street and have a last drink and maybe a bowl of chili or a Brooklyn, and there's a nice place south of Park Slope called Bar B hamburger at Henry Street Ale House (62 Henry Street; Q (689 6th Avenue; 718-499-4872). Sit at the bar; order ribs; listen 718-522-4801), where the taps are always pouring unusual brews. to the great jukebox; become happy. In Fort Greene, stop in at the You will then be in strolling distance of the Brooklyn Heights Smoke Joint (87 S. Elliott Place; 718-797-1011) for great chicken Promenade -- always a must -- and you'll have an opportunity to wings and stewed Tips and Bits. pay your respects at the old home of Truman Capote (70 Willow But for the real live, old-school, genuine-McCoy there is only one Street) and the apartment of Norman Mailer (142 Columbia Brooklyn barbecue joint and that is Royal Rib House (303 Halsey Heights) on your way back to the hotel. Street; 718-453-9284) in Bedford-Stuyvesant, less than 20 minutes If you're knocking around Boro Hall close to lunchtime, pop into from the hotel. Here's the scoop: It's strictly take-out and the nice Queens Restaurant (84 Court Street; 718-596-5954). This is an family from North Carolina who runs the place only opens it old-fashioned Italian restaurant that is packed during the workweek Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. There's always a line, among with judges and lawyers (again, eavesdropping does not get any whom you will find whole families, working stiffs, neighborhood better -- except at Junior's). A few of Brooklyn's finest mobsters toughs -- and their appointed female companions -- all have been known to spend some of their between-court sessions text-messaging or yammering on cell phones; ministers (everyone time here, as well. Pretty good recommendations, on the whole. calls out, "Hi, Reverend," when one joins the line); and old men who really just want no nonsense from anyone, just their chicken

© 2007 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 3 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK May 17, 2007 and two sides. Do what the knowing do and call in an order ahead, about food: Pie Every Day (cited by Atlantic Monthly and Bon then get in a car and pick it up and head back to your hotel room. Appetit as among the top ten cookbooks of 1997); A Soothing For about $20 (and the price of the cab), you and a companion can Broth , about old recipes to feed the sick; and Secrets of Saffron , get out of those uncomfortable dress clothes and walking shoes, nominated as "Best Literary Cookbook in 2002" by the turn on the baseball game or HBO, and dig into some scrumptious International Association of Culinary Professionals. She is chicken, beef, or pork ribs (sold by the half pound and the pound) currently working on a book about the Federal Writers Project dripping with "Calvin's special sauce," and the two sides you papers, "America Eats!", tentatively titled: Family Reunions, Fish ordered, such as macaroni and cheese, collard greens, beans, and Fries and Chittlin' Feats: How America Eats! Got Me Back in cornbread. Doesn't that sound fine after a hard day? And you'll Touch With Real American Cooking . It will be published by have had yourself a true Brooklyn experience you can take to the Bloomsbury Press in 2008. bank when you get home! How to Talk to a Bookseller: A 10-Step Expensive Splurges Guide for Authors Peter Luger: 178 Broadway; 718-387-7400 May 17, 2007 -- By Melissa Lion River Cafe: 1 Water Street; 718-522-5200 At some point in any author's career she will walk into a bookstore. Somewhat Less Expensive This could go badly. This could go well. This could go so well that like Rainbow Fish , The Lovely Bones , or The Da Vinci Code , the Convivium Osteria: 68 5th Avenue; 718-857-1833 book will gain momentum from bookseller reviews and suddenly Grocery: 288 Smith Street; 718-596-3335 Julia Roberts is playing the author in the story of her life. Here are Patois: 255 Smith; 718-855-1535 10 steps on the Julia Roberts path. Or maybe just the shelf-talker Queens Restaurant: 84 Court Street; 718-596-5954 and faced-out path. Modestly Priced 1 Don't treat the bookseller like the help. The person behind the counter or on the floor is the most important person in the Bar Tabac: 128 Smith Street; 718-923-0918 bookstore. The bookseller puts your book in customers' hands, Chance Pan-Asian: 223 Smith Street; 718-242-1515 she puts your book on display, she writes a shelf-talker, and Diner: 85 Broadway; 718-486-3077 perhaps most importantly, stands in front of your book with a Fada: 530 Driggs Avenue; 718-388-6607 returns list that has your book on it and she decides if your book Henry Street Ale House: 62 Henry Street; 718- 522-4801 gets a stay of execution on the shelf, or if it heads off to Junior's: 386 Flatbush Avenue; 718-852-5257 remainderville. Remainderville, despite the cute name, is not a Melt: 440 Bergen Street; 718-230-5925 happy place for books. Moroccan Star: 148 Atlantic Avenue; 718-643-0800 12th Street Bar and Grill: 1123 8th Avenue at 12th Street; 2 Take advantage of booksellers' big mouths. There's a reason 718-965-9526 publishers have "Big Mouth" lists -- booksellers gossip. Sea: 114 N. 6th; 718-384-8850 Booksellers meet other booksellers at various functions. At these Smoke Joint: 87 S. Elliott Place; 718-797-1011 functions three things happen -- drinking, recommending books, Robin des Bois: 195 Smith Street; 718-596-1609 and gossiping about authors. We will gossip about good things Tripoli:156 Atlantic Avenue; 718-596-5800 ("Khaled Hosseini smells amazing") and bad things ("The author Cheap of [fill in the blank] shuffles his feet and treated me like the Bar B Q: 689 6th Avenue; 718-499-4872 help"). You want to be on the good end of this gossip, so always Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory: Fulton Ferry Landing Pier smell nice and speak kindly to all the booksellers in the store. Royal Rib House: 303 Halsey Street; 718-453-9284 And pick up your feet when you walk. Especially good for: 3 Ask for the appropriate person. Do not walk up to the counter Breakfast and ask to speak with the manager or the owner. Customers with Diner a problem want to speak to the owner or the manager. You want Junior's to speak with the book buyer if you want the store to carry your Lunch book. You want to speak with the events coordinator for booking Bar Tabac an event. Diner Henry Street Ale House 4 Use the correct person's name. If you don't know the name of the Junior's events coordinator, ask the person behind the counter. As for the Moroccan Star book buyer, you want the person who buys your type of book. Queens Restaurant "What is the name of the person who buys the spirituality Tripoli books?" Follow this up with, "What is the best way to get in touch with him?" Booksellers, book buyers, bookstore owners, Drinks and managers are very busy people. Respect that method of Bar B Q getting in touch. Henry Street Ale House Robin des Bois 5 Do not leave a book in the bookstore that you wish to have back. River Cafe Bookstores' back rooms are filled with towers of books and dust Pat Willard has worked as a waitress, short-order cook, restaurant bunnies the size of alpacas. There are moldering coffee cups and reviewer, editor, and journalist. She is the author of three books one aged bookseller reminiscing about the days when

books-in-print was in book form. Your book winds up here. You is available in paperback (priced at $15). will only get it back with a machete and a six-pack of PBR Ordering information: [Pabst Blue Ribbon]. You must be willing to let your book go. ISBN: 978-0-312-42773-3 / 0-312-42773-5 Toll-Free Phone Orders: (888) 330-8477 6 Be a customer at the store. If you would like a bookstore to carry your book, purchase a book there. Better yet, purchase a book the bookseller behind the counter recommends. Ask for that Time Out to Guide Booksellers Around person's name, go find a shelf-talker by that person, walk up to NYC that person and ask to purchase that book. When she is ringing 8 you up, begin (politely) to ask who the book buyer is. Perhaps May 16, 2007 -- Hotel ABA guests will find their way around the Big Apple a little easier thanks to the Time Out Shortlist New York you can purchase two books. If you can, please do so. The only 9 way a store can carry your book is if they stay in business. The 2007 . The guide to "What's New/What's On/What's Next" in New best way ensure this is to spend money at the actual store. York will be distributed free to 500 booksellers at Hotel ABA courtesy of the publisher. 7 If you are doing an event at the store, ask the audience to The handy, shirt-pocket guidebook, one of Time Out's year-old purchase your book. Say, "Please purchase my book." Follow Shortlist series, is a smaller, less expensive adaptation of the this up with, "If you don't buy my book, this bookstore will think popular Time Out City Guide series, which covers more than 50 badly of me and they will not book me for an event again major cities worldwide with more venue reviews and background because they have lost money on my event because only about information and a full set of maps. one-third of an audience buys a book and because the bookstore has spent money on advertising, used prime store placement Founded by Tony Elliott in London in 1968, Time Out began as a space, spent hours on staffing, and will have to return the books local, weekly listings magazine. The business, which is still owned you have not bought, at their expense." No pressure, of course. by Elliott, now publishes 20 magazines worldwide, mostly in the local language, and more than 100 titles in its guides series. Peter Fiennes, managing director of the guides, explained that Time 8 Thank the booksellers. My agent has told me many times, "No Out's first foray into book publishing was 25 years ago with the matter where you find your book, it could be in the dustiest London Eating & Drinking Guide . Most of Time Out's books are darkest corner, go to the booksellers and thank them for carrying city guides, but the company has been expanding its range of your book." She's a wise woman. non-travel publications, with titles like 1000 Films to Change Your Life . "We've just published 1000 Books to Change Your Life ," 9 Never start a sentence with "You should." As in "you should Fiennes said, "and there are more in the pipeline." carry my book," or "you should put my book on the front table To best represent each city's unique flavor, he added, "[Time Out] despite my book being a tome on the African Diaspora and this only uses people who live and work in the city to write for the table being a display of Chronicle stationery and Happy Bunny guides. We provide the framework and the expertise; they provide books." As soon as you start this sentence, booksellers have a list the local knowledge. It's the magazine model." In both its guides of "you shoulds" that begin playing softly in their minds. and magazines, Time Out prides itself on gathering as much information about a place as possible. "We always include plenty 10Don't treat the booksellers like the help. This might ring a bell. of independent, local, smaller businesses," Fiennes said. "They're Bookselling is a labor of love. Chances are the person behind the generally far more interesting than the bigger ones. Also, we're counter is college graduate, he or she could be a chess wiz, a independent ourselves, so we have a natural empathy for the magician, a stand-up comedian, a nearly professional cello idiosyncratic one-offs." player, or a fellow author -- all people I've worked with (except the author, that's me). Booksellers do this job by choice. With The guides are created to appeal to all types of visitors. "Our aim the exception of a few CEO's no one is getting rich selling has always been to provide the best possible information to the books. Booksellers love books. They love books to their most interesting and significant places," said Fiennes. "These detriment, resulting in small savings accounts, a predilection places can be cheap or even free; or they can be expensive. [We toward cheap beer, and the risk of one day being buried in their want to] help people make choices: Is a place overpriced, or own homes beneath an avalanche of galleys. Think of this expensive but still good value? Is it cheap but fabulous? Or just person's fate and then think of your book. This is who will take cheap? And so on. We judge places by how good they are at care of your baby. Be kind to that person, and your book will be providing the service they set out to provide. And if a place has a loved and defended, often fiercely, like a six-pack of PBR. great reputation, but is in fact overblown and overpriced, we'll say so." In the crowded market of travel guides, Time Out strives to keep its Melissa Lion is events coordinator at DIESEL, A bookstore in information fresh by updating its titles every year and featuring Oakland, California, and the author of Swollen (Laurel Leaf) and information about events in cities around the world on its website, Upstream (Wendy Lamb Books). She has been a bookseller for www.timeout.com 10 . The site, which registers more than 1.5 more than five years. She will be a bookseller until May 27, when million unique users per month, has formed an affiliate relationship she reverts to full-time author. She already misses bookselling. with BookSense.com. Oprah to Announce Next Book Club Pick In the U.S., Time Out guides are distributed to the trade through the Transition Vendor created to handle the transition of Publishers May 17, 2007 -- Oprah is expected to announce her 58th Book Group West clients to Perseus Books Group. --Nomi Schwartz 11 Club Selection on Tuesday, June 5. The title, published by Picador,

campaign designed to show people of all ages how much fun it is to ABFFE Auctions Offer Some of the Best read; and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free of BEA Expression, the booksellers' voice in the fight against censorship, which promotes and protects the free exchange of ideas, May 16, 2007 -- A trip to Good Morning America ; signed books particularly those in books. In its 15-year existence, RBR's line-up by Gunter Grass, Danielle Steel, Tom Robbins, Lawrence of bestselling authors and rock stars has raised more than $1.5 Ferlinghetti, Yann Martel, and Rita Mae Brown; Book Sense Gift million for charities through annual concert tours. Cards; and trade show conference packages are just some of the items in the 2007 American Booksellers Foundation for Free RBR arrives at Webster Hall with a full complement of rock'n'roll Expression BEA Benefit Auction. Book industry leaders have memorabilia that will be auctioned online to benefit the three joined together to offer all these and more to support ABFFE's Free charities. The online auction items include a guitar by signed by the Expression efforts. entire band, a signed -- and official -- RBR Lunch Box, books, guitars signed by other artists, and rock-related items, including A BookExpo America tradition, the ABFFE Auction is the book collectible posters, summer concert tickets, rock-themed artwork, industry's show of support for the Free Expression rights and photographs. One lucky person will also have a chance to sit in booksellers depend on to do business. Now, ABFFE is asking with RBR for a number at the Webster Hall gig. everyone in the industry to step up and show their support for Free RBR is also creating what its members believe is an industry first -- Speech by bidding in the silent auction at the Javits Convention 15 Center or in the online auction launching on ABFFE.com 12 on May The Blogdown: Still Younger Than Keith . For 30 days, The 23. Blogdown will feature postings by RBR members as well as previously unreleased video of the group in action and from one of A full preview of this year's trade show Silent Auction will launch their "Besides the Music" events." on abffe.com on May 21. The actual auction will be located in the 16 main BookExpo lobby, the Crystal Palace of the Javits Center, Tickets for the Webster Hall event are priced at $25. RBR is also from June 1 - 3. offering a special $250 ticket that includes a pre-concert meet-and-greet VIP reception with members of the band. For more This year leading companies including AAP, Baker & Taylor, information about RBR's Webster Hall concert, or to buy tickets, Book Sense, Chronicle, Henry Holt, Hyperion, Random House, visit www.rockbottomremainders.com 17 . Simon & Schuster, and dozens more have contributed generously to support ABFFE's important work in defense of Free Speech. ABACUS 2007: Did You Know ... For more information on this year's auction, or to donate, send an e-mail to [email protected] 13 . May 15, 2007 --

Did you know ... that the ABACUS Survey consistently shows that there is Stephen King Returns as Rock Bottom a direct correlation between sales volume and profitability? The average Remainders Embark on One-City Tour bookstore becomes profitable at around $500,000 in annual sales. May 15, 2007 -- During this year's BookExpo America, the legendary Rock Bottom Remainders will embark on their "Still One way that a bookstore can increase its sales is to expand, a topic Younger Than Keith 14 " tour, which will begin (and end) on that will be covered in "Expanding Your Bookstore: Why, When, and How," one of the seminars at ABA's Day of Education on May Friday, June 1, at Webster Hall in New York City. The "tour" will 18 mark Stephen King's return to the Rock Bottom Remainders (RBR) 31 at BEA . after a five-year absence. 19 Members of the American Booksellers Association who submit 20 "We are calling it a tour, because that's what the Beatles did, that's financial data to the 2007 ABACUS survey before BookExpo what the Stones do, and that's what's the Police do," said RBR road America will have an opportunity to discuss their store's numbers at manager Ted Habte-Gabr. RBR band member Dave Barry added, the trade show with ABA's David Walker. "We're going to sort of tour around New York while we're there, or Walker will be available from Friday, June 1, through Sunday, June at least around the hotel, or at least around the hotel bar." On May 3, in ABA's Book Sense Lounge, Room 1E07 - 1E08 of the Jacob 31, the day before the big event, the band is scheduled to appear on Javits Convention Center, to meet with booksellers to review their Good Morning America . store's financial performance and to help identify areas that need King, an RBR founder, will rejoin band mates Dave Barry, Amy special attention. Walker will also be available to help booksellers Tan, Mitch Albom, Scott Turow, Ridley Pearson, Greg Iles, Matt who need assistance completing the ABACUS survey. Groening, James McBride, Roy Blount Jr., and Kathi Goldmark. Each bookstore participating in the study will receive a customized Also part of the group this year are Frank McCourt and Andy report with detailed analysis of their store's financial results; Bororwitz. comparisons with other stores based on more than 20 different Musician Roger McGuinn, co-founder of the seminal folk-rock criteria; an executive summary of the study's key findings; key group The Byrds, will appear as "musical minder" for the group of insights into the drivers of independent bookstore profitability; literary figures, who for one night at least would rather rock than year-to-year trends data; and opportunities to participate in write. And, according to the band's website, RBR now boasts "50 ancillary studies. In addition, participants will receive a $50 rebate percent less musical suckitude." off their ABA dues. 21 The June 1 event will benefit three charities: 826NYC, the New Learn more about the benefits of participating in ABACUS, or set up a meeting at this year's BEA by sending an e-mail to York affiliate of the national organization founded by author Dave 22 Eggers, to support students ages 8 to 16 with creative and [email protected] . expository writing skills; Get Caught Reading, a nationwide

Hotel ABA is right across the street from a subway stop, and ABA Welcome to Hotel ABA members will be receiving a New York City subway MetroCard May 15, 2007 -- For the hundreds of ABA member booksellers preloaded with six trips (three round trip fares) and packaged with staying at Hotel ABA -- The New York Marriott at the Brooklyn subway directions to and from the Javits Center. Both will be Bridge in Brooklyn -- participating in the association's education enclosed in a convenient sleeve designed to commemorate programming is easier than ever. ABA's "Day of Education," 23 Frommer's 50th anniversary. sponsored by Baker & Taylor, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on "ABA is recommending that booksellers use the subway to travel Thursday, May 31, and the following Celebration of Bookselling 24 to the Javits Center, especially on Friday, when traffic in lower , sponsored by Ingram Book Group/Ingram Publisher Services, will Manhattan will be the heaviest," said ABA CEO Avin Mark both be held at the hotel. Domnitz. "We'll be providing detailed instructions for travel to The festivities begin at Hotel ABA on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. Penn Station, where booksellers can hop on a Shuttle Bus for a with a Welcome to Brooklyn Kickoff Event 25 featuring renowned short trip to the convention center. We'll also have directions for historian David McCullough, followed by a series of walking tours those who prefer to make the short walk from Penn Station to the Javits Center." 26 led by some of the borough's literary luminaries. The tours will end with "A Taste of Brooklyn" reception at Brooklyn Borough Hotel ABA guests will have the convenience of storing packages at Hall, with Borough President Marty Markowitz. ABA members a Bag Check Room at the Javits Convention Center from Friday, should sign up now for the tours 27 , which are limited to 25 people June 1, through Sunday, June 3, courtesy of HarperCollins. Rather each. than carrying books and other materials back to the hotel in As in year's past, from Wednesday through Friday, Hotel ABA Brooklyn or from booth to booth at the trade show, hotel guests guests will be greeted by ABA staff at a special Welcome Desk. will be able to store packages at the Hotel ABA Book Drop in Here, they can pick up a Welcome Bag full of items and Room 1C01 of the Javits Center. Hours of operation will be Friday information that will make their stay in New York a little easier. from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 Materials include badge holders, convention guides, shuttle bus a.m. to 5:30 p.m. schedules, complimentary New York subway MetroCards courtesy Hotel ABA is full. Booksellers with room reservations at Hotel of Frommer's, and more. Welcome Desk hours are Wednesday ABA - Brooklyn who are no longer planning to use them are asked from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 to contact ABA as soon as possible so that the rooms can be p.m.; and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. offered to other booksellers on the waiting list. To cancel reservations, contact ABA's Margaret Nafz at (800) 637-0037, ext. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, before heading over to the 29 convention center, booksellers will be able to stop for morning 6614 or e-mail [email protected] . Cancellations should coffee, compliments of Miramax, in the "Lobby Lounge," located not be made through the hotel. next to the bar on the Marriott's Lobby Level (second floor). Coffee will be served from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. each day. Author Autographing & Define-A-Thon: From 9:00 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday Special Events in ABA's Book Sense evenings, booksellers are invited to publisher-sponsored receptions Lounge 28 in the Marriott's Legends Ballroom. Award-winning author Ann M. Martin will be the guest of honor at Scholastic's Wednesday May 15, 2007 -- New this year, ABA's Book Sense Lounge (Room night "Block Party" celebrating the publication of Welcome to 1E07/1E08 of the Javits Convention Center) will feature an Camden Falls , the first title in her newly launched Main Street extended author autographing schedule -- from Friday through series, as well as the spirit of Main Streets and locally owned Sunday -- and the BookSense.com/American Heritage Dictionary businesses everywhere. A Presidential Memorabilia Exhibit and "Define-A-Thon" on Saturday. Reception is on tap Thursday night. The event, sponsored by Two more authors recently joined the roster of independents' Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, will feature handselling favorites autographing in the lounge exclusively for historians Barry Landau ( The President's Table: 200 Years of ABA members: Robert Sabuda ( Winter in White , S&S Children's) Dining and Diplomacy , November 2007) and Jordan Wright ( and Anita Amirrizvani ( The Blood of Flowers , Little, Brown). Campaigning for President , January 2008) and more than 80 objects from their private collections of presidential memorabilia. Here's a look at the complete schedule to date; look for updates in On Friday, Chris Finan, president of the American Booksellers the Lounge during the show: Foundation for Free Expression, will be feted at a celebration Friday, June 1 marking the release of his new title, From the Palmer Raids to the 10:00 a.m. - 10:30David Weisner Flotsam Clarion Patriot Act: A History of the Fight for Free Speech in America a.m. (Beacon Press). The reception, sponsored by Beacon and the 10:30 a.m. - 11:00Jenny Han Shug S&S Children's Friends of Chris Finan, will be a book signing, an ABFFE Fund a.m. Robert Sabuda Winter in White S&S Children's Raiser, and a dessert party. 11:00 a.m. - noon Sara Gruen Water for Elephants Algonquin From Thursday through Sunday, the Route 5 Shuttle Bus will bring 2:00 p.m. - 2:30Bonnie Timmons Eats, Shoots andPenguin Young booksellers from the hotel to the Javits Center and back. The p.m. Leaves Readers Group shuttle will run from the hotel to the convention center from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - 3:00Timothy Egan The Worst HardHoughton Mifflin 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. On all four days, the shuttle p.m. Time will run from the convention center to the hotel from 3:30 p.m. to Saturday, June 2 6:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. - 10:30Anita Amirrizvani The Blood ofLittle, Brown a.m. Flowers

10:30 a.m.- 11:00Mim Harrison Words At Work Walker & Co. this year, as all of ABA's Thursday programming will be at Hotel a.m. ABA 34 . The lounge will close at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, so that all 11:00 a.m. - 11:30Michelle Knudsen Library Lion Candlewick members and staff can attend ABA's Town Hall Meeting, which is a.m. followed at 4:00 p.m. by the Annual Membership Meeting. On 11:30 a.m. - 1:00Linda Greenlaw Slipknot HYPERION CAFE Saturday, the lounge will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and p.m. Laura Moriarty The Rest of Her Life on Sunday, June 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. -1:30 p.m. Peter CharlesLandsman Perseus Melman Users Groups to Convene at BEA 1:30 p.m. - 2:00Kate Braestrup Here If You NeedLittle, Brown May 15, 2007 -- The American Booksellers Association's schedule p.m. Me of educational offerings at BookExpo America doesn't end with 2:00 p.m. - 2:30Vincent Lam Bloodletting &Weinstein Books Thursday's "Day of Education." Informational sessions continue on p.m. Miraculous Cures Friday and Saturday, June 1 - 2. Among the programs on Friday at 2:30 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. Markus Zusak The Book Thief Random House the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center are two Users Group Children's Meetings: a BookSense.com Users Group Meeting and a Book 3:00 p.m. - 3:30Joe Hill Heart-Shaped Box HarperCollins Sense Gift Cards Users Group Meeting. p.m. BookSense.com Users Group Meeting Sunday, June 3 The BookSense.com Users Group meeting, moderated by 10:00 a.m. - 10:30John Grogan Bad Dog, Marley! HarperCollins BookSense.com staff, will be held on Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Children's a.m. in Room 1B05 of the convention center. BookSense.com users 10:30 a.m. - 11:00Jane O'Connor andFancy Nancy andHarperCollins will learn about the latest features of BookSense.com, as well as a.m. Robin Preiss Glasser the Posh Puppy Children's planned enhancements. There will also be a question-and-answer 11:00 a.m. - noon Timothy SchaffertDevils in the UNBRIDLED period. Non-BookSense.com stores are welcome to attend. Sugar Shop HOUR Book Sense Gift Cards Users Group Meeting Hick Andrea Portes The Book Sense Gift Cards Users Group meeting, moderated by ABA Marketing Director Jill Perlstein, will be held from 10:00 On Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the lounge, booksellers are a.m. - 11:00 a.m. also in the Javits Center's Room 1B05. Current invited to join the "Define-A-Thon" phenomenon. gift card program participants will learn about enhancements to the The BookSense.com/American Heritage Dictionary program's security, administrative site, and card ordering system. "Define-A-Thon" is a game of vocabulary strength that "ups the They will also get a sneak peak at a new publisher-sponsored card ante" on word-based competition. Developed by the editors of the and will learn about new designs for the holiday season. American Heritage Dictionary, this quick-paced game takes Booksellers are encouraged to bring questions and suggestions. participants beyond the spelling bee. The host will give each Those who are considering joining the gift card program are contestant a definition, followed by several possible answers. The welcome to attend. contestant must choose the correct one. As the competition progresses, the degree of difficulty increases until two contestants A Moving Memoir From Maine's are left. These two players will enter the final round with new rules Unlikeliest Chaplain and higher stakes. May 15, 2007 -- 35 Kate Braestrup, a Unitarian Universalist minister All ABA member booksellers are invited to pit their knowledge of serving as chaplain for the Maine Warden Service, travels all over English against that of friends and colleagues. The winner will the state to outdoor emergencies that unfold with varied outcomes: receive an iPod Nano and an American Heritage Dictionary a six-year-old girl lost in the woods, a woman who's slid over an reference library. The two runners-up will receive American 80-foot waterfall, or a snowmobiler trapped under ice. In addition Heritage College dictionaries. to giving counsel to the game wardens, her work involves As in years past, ABA's Book Sense Lounge will also offer comforting anxious or grieving families -- by listening, praying, or members snacks and a place to relax, check e-mail, meet just talking. colleagues, and learn about ABA products and services. Braestrup's memoir, Here If You Need Me 36 (Little, Brown, Representatives from ABA affinity partners 30 Bank of America, August), chronicles that work, as well as its unexpected beginnings. PartnerShip, Constant Contact, and Above the Treeline will be on Braestrup, from a nonreligious family, had no intentions of hand to provide information about their money-saving services becoming a minister. (Although she did, at age nine, have a vision available to all members. Also featured will be information about of Jesus that, upon closer examination, turned out to be a giant the Independent Muggles for Harry Potter Sweepstakes 31 , fiberglass statue of him "presiding over the landscaped grounds of Scholastic's Main Street Essay Contest 32 , the International the Mountain Rest Memorial Garden.") Becoming a Unitarian Booksellers Federation 2008 Bookstore Calendar 33 , and more. Universalist minister was actually the plan of her late husband, The ABA Book Sense Lounge will once again feature the Booklog Drew Braestrup, as a second career when he retired from his job as Internet Cafe, where ABA member booksellers can check their a trooper with the Maine State Police. After Drew was killed in a e-mail accounts or browse the web. The cafe is provided courtesy car accident while on duty, Braestrup found that she wanted to take of Booklog, a point-of-sale and inventory management solution for up his "hand-me-down calling" herself. Plus, she notes in her book, booksellers for over 20 years. the seminary is a wonderful place to grieve. "I highly recommend divinity school for anyone recently bereaved. With rare exceptions, The lounge opens at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, rather than on Thursday your classmates will be unbelievably nice, sensitive people."

Braestrup, who likens herself to Father Mulcahey (from MASH ), pretty obvious that I bit off way more than I could chew." Now, added that until not too long ago, she would have been after much more life experience, she explained, "I won't ever be in uncomfortable with anything outside of the secular. "For many the same situation in life that I was then. Whether I write fiction or people, including me until relatively recently, if somebody wrote a nonfiction, what I understand and accept about the world is so book about how she found God through experience, I would put the different." book down and run away screaming. I would think, 'Oh, Jesus.' In Braestrup, now remarried, needed the passage of time to be able to fact, I probably still would. But I came to a more profound write about the experience of losing her "intelligent, brave, and understanding [of God] as something that German philosopher Paul tender" husband. After almost a decade, she said, she has "most of Tillich calls 'the ultimate concern.'" this stuff adequately processed. You feel like you've become the While Here If You Need Me offers meditations on theology, the only person in the world who something like this has happened to. handling of the dead, and questions of fate and faith, it is also full With time you realize, no, you're really not. And then you realize of Ian Frazier-esque family stories dealing with the emotional that you have a kinship with other people." tumult of puberty, wars waged at the dinner table, and the One particular scene in Here If You Need Me underscores this misadventures of her children's " objets d'amour. " One objet , a kinship: an elderly woman with Alzheimer's had wandered off into doll her daughter Ellie named Jesus, turns up as part of the family the woods. The entire community mobilizes: local firefighters, lore. When Drew was alive, he would watch Ellie drag her dirty, off-duty sheriff's deputies, town cops, members of the local rod and washed-too-many-times doll everywhere she went. He told her gun club, volunteer Maine search and rescue dog teams, college soberly, "What a friend you have in Jesus." students. The focus is intentionally not on the result of the search There's also an element of true crime as Braestrup catalogs the committee, but instead on the entire group "bent on the common various emergencies and crime scenes she visits (the experiences purpose of love." Braestrup said that this is how she now defines have helped her write several episodes of TV's Law and Order . God. For her, in that particular moment, finding or not finding is "They're desperate for copy," she said). And the memoir offers not the point. "It isn't that life isn't important," she said. "It isn't quick, elegant sketches of the Maine wilderness and lots of even that preserving the remains isn't important. But the thing that's Braestrup's great sense of humor -- irreverent and otherwise. Have of the ultimate importance is love, and that was there. In a way, the you heard the one about the church lady who goes to the L.L. Bean sacred had already made itself manifest, and everything else is kind housewares department wanting to buy monogrammed guest of gravy." -- Karen Schechner 37 towels for the First Unitarian Church of Kennebunkport, Maine?... For a book that deals with weighty issues, Braestrup said tempering BTW News Briefs tragedy with comedy was critical. "What I find in my work, May 15, 2007 -- situations are so serious that humor can sometimes be the only way to talk about them," she explained. "Cops, like nurses and Deadline for NEIBA's Rusty Drugan Scholarship June 15 firefighters, use bleak humor as a way of talking about something that otherwise they couldn't speak aloud. I mean, if I say something Members of the New England Independent Booksellers like 'I was widowed when I was 33, and I had four small children' Association who are interested in applying for the association's that is so self-evidently awful. But if I use humor to talk about it, it Rusty Drugan Scholarship must submit an application by June 15. opens it up, it allows it to be talked about. And if you use humor to NEIBA established the scholarship in memory of Wayne "Rusty" talk about religion and faith, especially, it allows it to become a Drugan, executive director of NEIBA from 1992 to 2006. The conversation." scholarship includes three nights at the NEIBA 2007 Trade Show Headquarters Hotel and two tickets to each meal function. Braestrup does sometimes pepper that conversation with scripture, but usually for comedic effect. When she catches her young son Applicants must presently be working full-time in a NEIBA hammering great lumps of concrete from the house foundation, she member bookstore for at least a year. Candidates may apply yells, "O' faithless!... I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its directly for the scholarship or be nominated by others in the book fruits...but you defiled my land and made my heritage an industry. Self-nominees should describe in detail their background, abomination. Be appalled, O' heavens, at this." their reasons for interest in the award, and include a copy of their resume. Those nominating someone else should indicate in detail Braestrup's facility with reporting on macabre stories of victims of why they are nominating the person. Nominations/applications murder, hypothermia, or just errors in judgment is a talent that runs must include all the following information for both the applicant in her family. Her father, Peter Braestrup, served in the Marines and the nominator: Name, Store Name, Current Position, and Store and became known as an authority on military reportage. He went Address. on to become a war correspondent for the Washington Post and the New York Times . Nominations should be sent to NEIBA, 297 Broadway, #212, Arlington, MA 02474 or e-mail [email protected] 38 . Although his work often took him far from home, Braestrup's father encouraged her writing, which was "the one thing I always knew Dad approved of about me," she said. "I was the second girl Winners of the 2007 Lulu Blooker Prize Announced and I was supposed to be a boy, so I was kind of a catastrophe from The winners of the second annual Lulu Blooker Prize 39 , the Dad's point of view. But I knew that he really loved my writing. world's first contest to honor "blooks," a new, hybrid literary form He'd say, 'You've got the touch Kate-O.'" at the cutting edge of both literature and technology, were About her first book, Onion, a novel that deals with some announced this week. My War: Killing Time in Iraq (Berkley), by ponderous theological issues, Braestrup admits she was "too Colby Buzzell, was the Overall Winner and Nonfiction Winner. young" to have tackled such weighty subjects. "I had the facility to Winning the Fiction category was The Doorbells of Florence write well enough to get a novel published," she said. "But it was (Prandial Publishing) by British blogger Andrew Losowsky. This

© 2007 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 9 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK May 17, 2007 collection of short stories based on photographs was self-published together to talk, bring their children, and make plans was essential through Lulu.com. The winner of the Comics category was Mom's to creating a successful, cohesive community. "I knew that a Cancer (Abrams Image), by Brian Fies. Mom's Cancer , an Eisner bookstore was exactly the kind of business that would bring people Award-winning webcomic, is Fies' true account of his mother's together in that way," Bobbs-Semple told BTW . "This was a struggle with metastatic lung cancer. neighborhood that could really benefit from new retailers and The second annual Lulu Blooker Prize is sponsored by Lulu businesses -- we filled a retail void. In our building, five (www.lulu.com 40 ), the self-publishing website and marketplace for commercial spots, including ours, all opened at around the same digital content. The inaugural prize, awarded last year, stirred time -- a coffee shop, restaurant, art gallery, and salon." worldwide interest. These businesses banded together with others to create SOLA (the Shops of Lewis Avenue Merchants Association). The group has supported a number of events including a children's film festival, farmers' market, and flea market. Bobbs-Semple has also worked closely with the local Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. She told BTW that this has created extremely valuable networking opportunities, resulting in several large sales. Bobbs-Semple credits the American Booksellers Association and the bookstore consulting firm Paz & Associates 47 with providing The Summer 2007 Book Sense useful training materials and constructive suggestions in launching Brownstone Books. To help finance the store, she received a Children's Picks Preview modest revolving loan from the Bed-Stuy Restoration Corporation, May 17, 2007 -- The Summer 2007 Book Sense Children's Picks the country's oldest Community Development Corporation, List is now available for preview 41 . Independent bookstores with founded through the efforts of then New York Senators Robert F. Book Sense will receive this list with the Children's-specific White Kennedy and Jacob Javits in the 1960s during a bleak economic Box mailing, currently on its way to stores. The Children's White and social period in Bed-Stuy history. Boxes, which supplement the current monthly Red and White Box Bobb-Semple's husband, Walston Bobbs-Semple, has also been programs, are targeted to more closely meet the needs of involved in the business' development. booksellers specializing in children's books or general bookstores with active children's sections. Brownstone Books is in all ways a community bookstore. To start, it distributes Bedford-Stuyvesant: A Cultural Heritage Guide Additional copies of the Summer Kids' Picks list may be requested 42 (published by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce). The free via e-mail to [email protected] . guide is the first self-guided walking tour map for the The list, which is the result of active participation of independent architecturally, culturally, and historically significant booksellers nationwide, features great titles for babies and neighborhood. According to Bobbs-Semple, the store's customer preschoolers, young children, and teens. base, including many African-American and Caribbean-American patrons, drives her inventory selections. "We also carry a wide Looking ahead, the deadline for the August Book Sense Picks selection of classic and popular literature including bestsellers and nominations is Friday, June 1. Nominations may be sent in an required reading selections for schools," she said. e-mail, including just a few sentences about the title, to [email protected] 43 or via a convenient Web form 44 . Brownstone's monthly adult book club has been "fantastic," Bobbs-Semple enthused. It attracts several dozen women and men, As ABA works to compile a showcase of Book Sense-related ages 25 to 70. Other popular monthly activities are a teen book club images, booksellers are encouraged to send in photos of their and a poetry night. Twice weekly story hours always draw a lively displays featuring selections from this Picks list. These images are crowd. About three to five times a month, Bobbs-Semple said, the a great addition to the presentations Book Sense makes to store hosts an author reading. publishers about the program. Photos may be in print or digital format. Digital photos, approximately 3" x 5" and 300 dpi, saved as The Book Sense marketing materials are important for the store's JPEG or TIFF files, should be e-mailed to Christine Babcock at promotions and displays. The monthly picks, shelf-talkers, and [email protected] 45 . Multiple pictures may be sent as a stuffed fliers from Book Sense have all "made me think about what we're file (.sit). PDF or ZIP files should not be sent, but photos saved on doing in a more professional and packaged way," she said. a ZIP disk are acceptable. Surprisingly, Brownstone Books is not in a brownstone building, but Bobbs-Semple explained the name is "really descriptive of the Brownstone Books: A Cornerstone of lovely neighborhood." The bookstore is, however, in a Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy Neighborhood 100-year-old building that was voted Best Storefront by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn 46 May 16, 2007 -- Brownstone Books, in Brooklyn's diverse Contest 48 . --Nomi Schwartz 49 Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, was founded in July of 2000, by Crystal Bobb-Semple, a trained urban planner. It was that training and memories of living in Bed-Stuy as child that led Bobb-Semple The Book Sense Bestseller List for to open the 700-square-foot general bookstore in the area's Holocaust Remembrance Month Stuyvesant Heights Historic District. May 16, 2007 -- For the eight-week period ending May 15, 2007, Through her professional work in urban planning, Bobbs-Semple and based on sales in independent bookstores with Book Sense studied historic neighborhoods and gentrification across the nation. nationwide. She knew that creating gathering places where residents could get Past Category Bestseller lists 50 are available on ABA's trade

51 website, BookWeb.org . 21. The Nuremberg Interviews: An American Psychiatrist's Conversations 52 With the Defendants and Witnesses Attention Media : Contact Meg Smith at [email protected] Leon Goldensohn, Vintage, $16.95, 9781400030439 for reprint guidelines for your newspaper or magazine.

The Book Sense Bestseller List for 22. The Theory and Practice of Hell: The German Concentration Camps Holocaust Remembrance Month and the System Behind Them Eugen Kogon, FSG, $15, 9780374529925

1. Night 23. Auschwitz: A History Elie Wiesel, FSG, $9, 9780374500016 Sybille Steinbacher, Harper Perennial, $12.95, 9780060825829

2. The Diary of a Young Girl 24. Kristallnacht: Prelude to Destruction Anne Frank, Bantam, $6.99, 9780553577129 Martin Gilbert, HarperCollins, $21.95, 9780060570835

3. Man's Search for Meaning 25. This Has Happened: An Italian Family in Auschwitz Viktor E. Frankl, Beacon Press, $12, 9780807014271 Piera Sonnino, Palgrave MacMillan, $21.95, 9781403975089

4. The Lost Daniel Mendelsohn, HarperCollins, $27.95, 9780060542979

5. Man's Search for Meaning Viktor E. Frankl, Washington Square, $6.99, 9780671023379

6. The Years of Extermination: Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1939 - 1945 Saul Friedlander, HarperCollins, $39.95, 9780060190439 Classifieds 7. Survival in Auschwitz: The Nazi Assault on Humanity BOOKSTORE FOR SALE Primo Levi, Stuart Woolf (Illus.), Touchstone, $14, 9780684826806 Orrville, Ohio. Turnkey. Needs owner-operator. Inventory and 8. Maus I & II Paperback Boxed Set fixtures. Call (937) 767-2727. Art Spiegelman, Pantheon, $28, 9780679748403

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The information provided by the ABACUS study is an essential David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim, tool that booksellers can use to evaluate and improve their stores' authors of The Intellectual Devotional , financial performance. ABA strongly urges booksellers to Saturday, June 2, at 11:00 a.m. participate. The more stores that submit data, the stronger and Plus fun giveaways and bookseller raffle. more useful the results of the survey will be. ______ABA is now collecting data from member booksellers for the 2007 ABACUS survey through an enhanced web form. The deadline to Dig into what's new at Charlesbridge! submit data is August 15, 2007. Visit us at BEA and receive advance reading copies of Camel Rider Questions about the ABACUS? and The Golden Dreydl . Contact David Walker at [email protected] 62 or (800) Get to know Wiggle and Waggle and pick up a free activity kit 637-0037, ext. 6612. perfect for in store events. ______Charlesbridge * Booth 514 * www.charlesbridge.com 59 Only two weeks until BookExpo America. Dont miss the largest ______author autographing session with over 1000 authors this year!

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Links in this document: 1. See http://www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/9369.html 2. See http://www.booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9780307351104 3. See http://www.booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9780307351104 4. See mailto:[email protected] 5. See http://www.booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9780805076264 6. See http://www.booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9780805076264 7. See http://www.civiceconomics.com/SF/ 8. See http://www.booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9781904978770 9. See http://www.booksense.com/product/info.jsp?isbn=9781904978770 10. See http://www.timeout.com/ 11. See mailto:[email protected] 12. See http://www.abffe.com 13. See mailto:[email protected] 14. See http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/pages/tour.html 15. See http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/pages/blog.html 16. See http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/pages/tour.html 17. See http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/ 18. See http://www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/9369.html 19. See http://www.bookweb.org/docs/abacusform/index.htm 20. See http://www.bookweb.org/docs/abacusform/index.htm 21. See http://www.bookweb.org/education/abacus/ 22. See mailto:[email protected] 23. See http://www.bookweb.org/read/9369 24. See http://news.bookweb.org/news/5250.html 25. See http://news.bookweb.org/news/5122.html 26. See http://www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/9488.html 27. See http://www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/9486.html 28. See http://news.bookweb.org/read/5260 29. See mailto:[email protected]

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