Scenes From the Fall Shows: GLiBA & PNBA

Photo courtesy of GLiBA.

The Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association trade show, held at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan, from October 8 - 10, was the last for long-time Executive Director Jim Dana. He was joined at the show by Deborah Leonard, who was named GliBA’s new executive director last month. In August, Dana announced his plans to retire and join the Peace Corps.

Kathleen Kent, author of The Wolves of Andover (Reagan Arthur Books), was signing books after the GLiBA Booksellers Banquet, the evening of Saturday, October 9. Other authors who spoke at the banquet were Masha Hamilton, author of 31 Hours (Unbridled Books), and Mary Doria Russell, author of Doc (Random House, Spring 2011).

GliBA’s YA Literature panel featured Rhonda Stapleton (Pucker Up, Simon Pulse); Michaela MacColl (Prisoners in the Palace, Chronicle); Kat Falls (Dark Life, Scholastic); and J.T. Dutton (Stranded, HarperTeen).

At the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association trade show in Portland, Oregon, Shawn Wathen, owner of Hamilton, Montana’s Chapter One Book Store, stopped by the ABA booth to learn more about the association's services from Member Relationship Manager Elizabeth Nichols. Booksellers who dropped off a business card at the ABA booth at any of the regional shows have an extra chance of winning a scholarship to January’s Winter Institute.

Among the well-received PNBA education sessions was “Making Social Media Work for YOU,” moderated by Libby Manthey of Riverwalk Books in Chelan, Washington. Panelists included Sally McPherson of Portland, Oregon's Broadway Books and Susan Richmond of Inklings Bookshop in Yakima, Washington.