PNBA's Trade Show From a Bookseller's Perspective

By Cheryl McKeon of Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Washington

Moving to suburban Seattle from its traditional Portland, Oregon locale, the fall Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Trade Show attracted enthusiastic booksellers, publishers, and authors to its September 19 - 21 gathering.

For the many Seattle booksellers, who always enjoyed an easy drive or relaxing train ride to Portland in the fall foliage, waiting for a bus or merging into the notorious eastside commute was disheartening -- we missed the escapist aspect of fall PNBA.

But the shiny glass-walled Meydenbauer Center in downtown Bellevue, a booming community of corporate centers across Lake Washington from Seattle, got good reviews overall, and out-of-towners felt the location was pleasant and the staff service noteworthy.

No matter where it is the show is a knockout -- with a lineup of authors both regional and national, chosen for their works, which all exhibit great handselling possibilities.

Most memorable at this year's show? Attendees consistently picked Sherman Alexie, there for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Little, Brown Young Readers) (he's one of ours, a Seattle resident, and we never tire of hearing him!); former PNBA award winner Molly Gloss, whose latest is The Hearts of Horses (Houghton Mifflin); and Judy Schachner and her Siamese - Chihuahua sidekick (via slides), Skippyjon Jones (Dutton Juvenile). Many of the PNBA book award runners-up also delighted show-goers; those who heard Wisconsin writer Michael Perry (Truck, Harper Perennial) read his description of fantasizing over seed catalogs during January garden planning will never look at a tomato the same way again.

Deon Stonehouse of Sunriver Books in Sunriver, Oregon, confirmed the value of booksellers and authors coming together. "If I had not attended the spring PNBA and heard Garth Stein speak, his book How Evan Broke His Head (Soho Press) would never have made it to our shelves," she said. Deon promoted the book to her customers, and it was the number-one seller in the store for 2006.

The Thursday night "Feast of Authors" 90-minute dinner format, with authors rotating among the tables for brief visits with dining booksellers, got mixed reviews. Some felt that, while the exposure to more authors was good, the brevity of their interaction was a drawback. But the 20 authors did get a lot of face time with booksellers.

In a more casual atmosphere, an Emerging Leaders meeting was combined with an evening at the Ravenna Third Place Pub, tucked under the cozy bookstore in a U-district neighborhood. The Hermans, a Missoula, Montana-based group, whose members also signed their book (The Hermans: Stalking America: The Journal of an Unknown Rock and Roll Band, Running Press) at the show, performed songs from their Stalking America tour.

"Books, music, beer, and networking: a perfect solution to the long days of trade shows. What a great way for booksellers and publishers to meet informally," noted Penguin's Amanda Tobier, in town from New York.

Beyond eating, drinking, and enjoying the entertainment of authors, work was accomplished. The Wednesday "Day of Education" began at 8:00 a.m. with the traditional first-timers' session, and ended at the 5:00 p.m. PNBA membership meeting. The American Booksellers Association's sessions included "Customer Loyalty," led by ABA Education Director Len Vlahos; "Bookstore Self-Audit," facilitated by ABA COO Oren Teicher; and "Staff Development," presented by Chuck and Dee Robinson of Village Books in Bellingham, Washington.

Three in-depth Above the Treeline sessions prepared booksellers to make the leap into the new technology of inventory and sales. "I learned what I need, now I have to carve out the time to implement it!" one children's buyer said.

Seventeen eager reps presented two very popular "Reps' Picks" sessions and started the book buzz for the week with their enthusiasm.

As lively as any book club discussion, the "Book Stores and Book Clubs" panel drew an SRO crowd, and ideas, titles, and anecdotes flew around the room. Presenters and attendees swapped tips on in-store club formats and club registration techniques. "I have the confidence to launch an in-store club now, and before it always seemed like a frightening proposition," Suzanne Perry of Seattle's Secret Garden Bookshop declared.

The Meydenbauer's spacious exhibit floor seemed quieter than usual, but this allowed for quality discussions of the new list and some more "picks" promoting. Penguin's Bob Belmont, who has been a rep in California and who now travels the Northwest, was impressed by the friendliness and sincerity of the booksellers he met.

New for 2008 is the departure of the Spring PNBA show, and there was buzz about that change of plans, too, with some in attendance worrying that the summer releases won't have the support of the past.