Photo Highlights: ABA @ BookExpo America 2009

Posted Thursday, Jun 4, 2009

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The American Booksellers Association's programming at last week's BookExpo America kicked off on Wednesday afternoon with a Brooklyn Bridge walking tour led by author and New York City expert Kevin Baker. Approximately 30 booksellers gathered in the Hotel ABA Hospitality Suite for the start of the one-hour walk across the bridge.

Thursday's ABA Day of Education, sponsored by Ingram Book Group/Ingram Publishers Services, began with a thought-provoking panel discussion, "The Ties That Bind," which explored how the relationship between authors and independent bookstores can continue to grow and prosper in challenging times. The panel featured bestselling authors James Patterson, Jon Meacham, Sherman Alexie, and Lisa Scottoline, with moderator Roxanne Coady of R.J. Julia Booksellers (second from right.)

Well-attended education sessions featured everything from book clubs and the bookstore as the third place to viral marketing and selling e-content. Children's booksellers on the panel "Give It Away to Get It Back: Using 'Thought Leadership' Marketing to Build Your Children's Business," sponsored by ABA and the Association of Booksellers for Children and moderated by ABC Executive Director Kristen McLean, were (l. to r.) Diane Capriola of Little Shop of Stories, Shannon Mathis of San Francisco's Books Inc., and Shelly Plumb of Harleysville Books.

Thursday was capped by an evening reception at Hotel ABA where hundreds of booksellers, publishing execs, authors, friends, and family gathered for a moving tribute and celebration in honor of retiring ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz.

Joining in the praise for Domnitz was John Ingram, chair of Ingram Industries, who characterized Domnitz as "first and foremost a great bookseller," whose insight and influence had helped the company develop "a lot of the programs we have today."

When six former ABA presidents -- Ann Christophersen, Neal Coonerty, Joyce Meskis, Mitchell Kaplan, Richard Howorth, and Chuck Robinson -- took the stage for an "ABA Presidential Summit" tribute, Meskis told Domnitz that "the wisdom you shared with us has made us all better booksellers, and we are so grateful."

ABA's new CEO Oren Teicher described Domnitz as "the most passionate and effective advocate that [America's] booksellers have ever had."

Among the hundreds of others gathered to honor Domnitz at the reception, which was sponsored by ABA, BEA, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Harry N. Abrams, Hyperion, Ingram Book Company, Macmillan, Penguin Group USA, Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Workman, with supporting sponsors Grove/Atlantic and Scholastic, were:

Clark Kepler of Kepler's Books, Domnitz, and Mitchell Kaplan of Books & Books.

ABA CFO Eleanor Chang, outgoing ABA President Gayle Shanks and Bob Sommer of Changing Hands Bookstore, and Chuck and Dee Robinson of Village Books.

Rita Domnitz and ABA Chief Program Officer Len Vlahos.

Guests listen to tributes to the outgoing CEO.

The Domnitz family, many of whom came from Milwaukee for the event.

Putumayo world music artist and Hindi songstress Falu entertaining guests at the reception.

The highlight of ABA's programming on Friday was the Celebration of Bookselling Luncheon, where 50 authors lunched with booksellers and the inaugural Indies Choice Book Award winners were honored. Among those in attendance to receive their awards, presented by incoming ABA President Michael Tucker of Books Inc., were:

Neil Gaiman, whose Graveyard Book (Harper Collins) won Best Indie Young Adult Buzz Book, with Michael Tucker (left).

Annie Barrows, co-author with Mary Ann Shaffer of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Dial Press), winner for Best Indie Buzz Book (Fiction).

Mo Willems, whose Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Hyperion Books for Children) is one of the first three inductees into the Indies Choice Book Awards Picture Book Hall of Fame.

Sherman Alexie, winner of the Indies Choice Book Award for Most Engaging Author, who later autographed in the ABA Booksellers Lounge.

Indies Choice honor recipient for Most Engaging Author, Jon Scieszka (Knucklehead, Viking Children's Books).

Michael Greenberg, author of Hurry Down Sunshine: A Memoir (Other Press) and an Indies Choice Book Award honoree for Best Conversation Starter (Nonfiction) (right).

On Friday afternoon, booksellers voiced questions, feedback, and concerns at an informal ABA Town Hall meeting, hosted by outgoing President Gayle Shanks and incoming President Michael Tucker.

Following the Town Hall, the full Board, ABA staff, and members convened for the Annual Membership Meeting. (Read this week's related story.)

Ana M. Ma, chief of staff for the U.S. Small Business Administration, was a featured speaker at Saturday's "How SBA and the Federal Stimulus Package Can Help Your Business." (Read this week's related story.)

The ABA Booksellers Lounge was once again a place for members to relax, check e-mail (courtesy of James Patterson's ReadKiddoRead.com), have books autographed by some of their favorite authors, recharge their laptops, relax in a comfy chair, and check out ABA's products and services.

Nancy Grace, autographing The Eleventh Victim, as part of the Hyperion Cafe in the ABA Lounge on Saturday.

Chris Finan, president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, and Jamie Chosak, of ABFFE and the National Coalition Against Censorship, provided information about the groups' resources at a table in the lounge. (Read this week's related story.)

ABA IndieCommerce staff met with booksellers who were interested in learning more about the new Drupal platform.

The BEA trade floor opened on Friday, and crowds walked the aisles hoping to find next season's big books and potential handselling favorites. Others discussed business at tables set up in booths on the show floor.

New to the show floor this year were the BEA Author Stages, which drew crowds for an array of author interviews. Captain Chesley B. (Sully) Sullenberger III, who was Guest of Honor on Saturday, drew a large crowd and media attention.

At its booth, Perseus Books Group published BOOK: The Sequel, a collection of first sentences submitted by the public for yet-to-be-written sequels to any book ever published, in multiple formats, including POD (via the Espresso Book Machine at the Ingram Booth on the show floor), eBook, digital audio download, and large print editions.