And 400 titles became six. Your 2018 Pacific Northwest Book Awards were announced last week, six books with seven contributors and a special recognition for a body of work and a bounty of memories.
American War: A Novel Omar El Akkad (Portland, OR)
The Book of Mistakes Corinna Luyken (Olympia, WA)
Dead Feminists: Historic Heroines in Living Color Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring (Tacoma, WA)
Idaho: A Novel Emily Ruskovich (Idaho City, ID)
Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean Jonathan White (Orcas Island, WA)
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir Sherman Alexie (Seattle, WA)
Essays from the winners will publish each of the next five Fridays on NWBL. The first contribution, "Collaborate," from Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring, is currently featured.
Shelftalkers featuring comments from the Book Awards Committee and PNBA booksellers can be downloaded on the 2018 Winners page of the PNBA website.
Send a photo of your display, utilizing all seven shelftalkers and featuring all the winners and we'll send you a $50 thank you! Photos must be received by Feb. 1.
Indie Bookstore Day Exclusives Catalog Goes Live!
The fourth annual Independent Bookstore Day will be celebrated at indies nationwide on Saturday, April 28th.
The 2018 catalog of exclusive items is now available to participating stores, who have until Friday, Feb. 2 to place orders online.
This year's lineup of premiums includes items from names like Atwood, Eggers, McClure, Child, and Seuss.
"Only Bob Pyle can drink beer and be sensible during a reading."
--Brian Doyle
2018 Binc Scholarships Application Process Underway
The Book Industry Charitable Foundation has begun accepting applications for its annual Higher Education Scholarship Program. This year's application process is open through March 5.
Binc will award up to $109,000 in scholarships to eligible bookstore employees/owners, Independent Bookseller Association employees, as well as former Borders Group employees. Dependents of these employees are also eligible to apply.
Binc will award 24 scholarships of $3,500, two of $10,000, and one Karl Pohrt Tribute Scholarship of $5,000 granted to an indie store candidate who has overcome learning adversity or is a non-traditional student.
In Case You Missed It
* Collaborate: An Essay by 2018 PNBA Award Winners, Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring.
* Never ignore a
poetry recommendation from a Poetry-only store. Open Books' Alexander Moysaenko blurbs Adam Soldofsky's
Memory Foam.
* Just one of these eight recommended titles took home the PNBA hardware, but Phinney Books' Tom Nissley makes a strong case for additional recognitions in this
King 5 showcase of can't miss NW reads.
Bookseller Bonuses Santa Patterson Provides
In December James Patterson announced the names of more than 300 independent booksellers receiving grants totaling $350,000 as part of his Holiday Bonus Program.
Patterson partnered with the ABA to distribute the funds, which were awarded to individual booksellers in amounts ranging from $750 to $1,250. This year's grant application asked on question: "Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?"
Here are the Northwest booksellers who provided compelling answers:
Amy Robles, Elliott Bay Book Company (Seattle, WA) Becky Gilmer, Bloomsbury Books (Ashland, OR) Billie Bloebaum, Third Street Books (McMinnville, OR) Debbie Buck, Vintage Books (Vancouver, WA) Dianah Hughley, Powell's City of Books (Portland, OR) Duane Wilkins, University Book Store (Seattle, WA) Elisa Saphier, Another Read Through (Portland, OR) Geneva Strauss-Wise, Roundabout Books (Bend, OR) Harold Midyette, Books by the Bay (North Bend, OR) Jennifer Green, Green Bean Books (Portland, OR) Jenny Cornutt, Roundabout Books (Bend, OR) John Willson, Eagle Harbor Book Company (Bainbridge Island, WA) Jordan Standridge, Powell's Books on Hawthorne (Portland, OR) Karen Brodsky, Roundabout Books (Bend, OR) Kate Daniels, Liberty Bay Books Bremerton (Bremerton, WA) Kate Larson, Liberty Bay Books (Poulsbo, WA) Lauren Sommer, Village Books (Bellingham, WA) Lish McBride, Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, WA) Mara Panich-Crouch, Fact & Fiction Books (Missoula, MT) Mark Bonney, Third Place Books (Ravenna, WA) Pepper Parker, Vintage Books (Vancouver, WA) Rene Holderman, Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, WA) Robert Busk, Riverwalk Books (Chelan, WA) Stephanie Douglas, Village Books (Bellingham, WA) Wesley Minter, Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, WA)
Member Notes
Lowe and Company Lines
Book Travelers West has added Washington State University Press and Sterling Publishing to it's roster. WSU was previously with David Diehl and Hand Associates. Diehl retired at the end of 2017 and the company dissolved. Sterling was previously with Chickman & Associates.
Epicenter Expands
Epicenter Press (Anchorage, AK; Kenmore, WA) has acquired Coffeetown Enterprises, LLC., which includes Coffeetown Press, Camel Press and Fanny Press imprints.
"We're excited about the acquisition," said Phil Garrett, president of Epicenter Press. "This will allow us to publish in categories that weren't currently represented in our line. It will also allow us to increase our title base and reach of the company."
New Doings for Ewing
Barron's Educational sales rep
Patrick Ewing has announced, "I am leaving Barron's after 10 years and leaving the book business entirely after 35 years. I have decided that it is time for me to move onto new opportunities. If you can believe it, I am actually entering the world of politics.
I would like to thank you all for your support and many considerations you have shown me over the years. Meeting with each of you during each season has been the highlight of my professional career. I wish you all good fortune in the future."
Until a decision on territory representation has been made, stores can contact
Diane Yarris or
Krista Schurman. Both can be reached at 1-800-645-3476.
ABA Coming to Elliott Bay Spring Forum, Author Party Planned
ABA's latest educational offering is "A Year of Bookstore Profitability," a year-long calendar of effective steps that bookstores can implement to improve efficiency, boost sales, and improve the bottom line.
This session is applicable to all store employees, and booksellers will be encouraged to join the conversation and share thoughts about quarterly and annual initiatives they use to improve profitability.
Following the forum, to be held at Seattle's Elliott Bay Book Company, attendees are invited down to block to community hot spot Queer/Bar for a fully-hosted, author-laden private reception, courtesy of PNBA and Baker & Taylor.
This spring's Authors on the Map event will feature Jonathan Evison, Nicola Griffith and a dozen other regional writers, with invitations extended to a couple of California authors as well.
Where: Elliott Bay Book Company and Queer/Bar When: March 19; Education 11 - 2, Author Reception 3 - 5
Please RSVP to ABA Member Relations Mgr. Daniel O'Brien if you plan to attend the forum. Lunch is included, and the whole day is free!
Board and Committee Opps. We're Looking for a Few Good Book Folk
Would you like to serve on the PNBA Board of Directors or on one of our two standing Committees, Education or Book Awards? If so, this is a good time to let us know!
The Board of Directors at their recent retreat discussed a handful of candidates who previously made their interest known, but openings are greater than usual in 2018. The Association is in need of three new members for the Board, three for Awards, and four for Education.
Here is information on our currentBoard of Directorsand a statement about the responsibilities of those who serve on the Board.
Here are the details about the responsibilities of those who serve on theBook Awards Committee.
To be eligible, you must currently be employed at a PNBA member bookstore or library--that's it!
Board and Committee members will be reimbursed for expenses related to attending planning meetings and the fall show. PNBA is happy to reward those who dedicate their time to the Association.
Email your interest along with your member affiliation and a bit about your book industry history to PNBA Executive Director,Brian Juenemann by Feb. 23.
Tickets to the Big Easy Children's Institute Scholarships
Booksellers interested in attending the American Booksellers Association's sixth ABC Children's Institute can now apply for the chance to win one of 67 publisher-sponsored scholarships.
Awards cover the conference fee, airfare or ground transportation up to $400, and two hotel nights.
The institute will be held from June 19-21, 2018, at the Sheraton New Orleans. Registration is scheduled to open on Wednesday, February 21.
Scholarships are open to booksellers from ABA member stores that did not have a Children's Institute scholarship winner in 2016 or 2017. The deadline to apply is March 30, 2018.
Wi13 Quote Machines The Northwest Knows Its Biz!
A February 1 Shelf Awareness feature titled "Words of Wisdom Everywhere" showcased some pretty good stuff from NW booksellers who contributed to Winter Institute programming.
ABA President Robert Sindelar, of Third Place Books, opened breakfast one morning with this nugget:
"Outsiders who come to this event from other industries are always amazed at the deep level of sharing that goes on among indie booksellers. We're natural sharers. We're constantly saying, 'I think you should read this; I think this will change your life.' That comes from reading, and from reading comes empathy. We want to share and we want to be inclusive. That's what this group does."
On a self-publishing panel, Village Books co-owner Paul Hanson added this one to the archives:
"Our mission is to build community one book at a time, and that used to mean reading. Now it's extended to the writing and publishing of books. By creating a space for writers within our store... we are creating an alternative to the online beast. We compete in publishing just like we compete in bookselling by giving them one-on-one personal service on a local level and treating them like people rather than cogs in a machine."
Not bad, guys.
99th Children's Book Week Needs You Become an Official CBW Event Location Today!
This 99th annual Children's Book Week will be the biggest ever and libraries, schools, and bookstores are encouraged to join the cause of promoting a love of reading to kids and teens.
As a Book Week participant, you will receive the 2018 official Children's Book Week poster and have access to a wealth of exclusive materials designed by top children's book illustrators.
An official event listing promises a spot on the CBW online map, access to publisher event kits and swag, and the chance for your kid customers to vote for this year's Children's and Teen Choice Book Awards!
Deadline for participation is Feb. 19.
In Case You Missed It
* Four more Awards Essays since last month's issue of
Footnotes! If you haven't kept up, please read every sentence of "
Coming Home" from Corinna Luyken, "
Northwest Waters" from Jonathan White, "
The Unrooted" from Omar El Akkad, and "
The Half-Wolves" from Emily Ruskovich. "
Collaborate" from Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring was highlighted in January.
* Enjoy "
Passage to Morocco" via an interview with Portland author Tony Ardizzone, whose award-winning story collection
The Arab's Ox is as relevant as ever upon the release of the 25th anniversary edition.
Hunkered Down: PNBA Board of Directors entrenched during the
second day of the annual board retreat, this year held in Olympia
2018 Binc Scholarships Application Home Stretch
The Book Industry Charitable Foundation has begun accepting applications for its annual Higher Education Scholarship Program. This year's application process is open through March 5.
Binc will award up to $109,000 in scholarships to eligible bookstore employees/owners, Independent Bookseller Association employees, as well as former Borders Group employees. Dependents of these employees are also eligible to apply.
Binc will award 24 scholarships of $3,500, two of $10,000, and one Karl Pohrt Tribute Scholarship of $5,000 granted to an indie store candidate who has overcome learning adversity or is a non-traditional student.
Member Notes
Raise a Book to Marni Island Books said a sad goodbye to staffer Marni Gittinger, who passed away unexpectedly in late January. Island owner Laura Raisys shared a sweet
tribute via the store's February newsletter.
Sisters Store for Sale
Sisters, Oregon's
Paulina Springs Books, owned by two-time PNBA Board member Brad Smith, is currently on the market. Smith,
who bought the store in 2003, was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and is ready to focus efforts on his family and his health.
Campbell Lands at UWP The University of Washington Press has named Michael Campbell as the new marketing and sales director. Campbell is well known to PNBA members, most recently as the US sales manager at Lone Pine Publishing and previously at University of Nevada Press and the old school version of Graphic Arts.
Faherty Fire Faherty & Associates' Portland offices suffered major fire damage Jan. 17.
Shelf Awareness reported "everything was damaged or consumed by either fire, heat, or smoke," according to Faherty's Richard McNeace.
Tom Faherty shared this with PNBA a few days after the fire: "We will be moving to our original Portland office 2 blocks away. We pretty much have to shovel out the office, everything melted along with burning all the new spring 18 catalogs. Crazy!"
Robinson to Represent for Binc
NW indie vet Chuck Robinson has been named to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation's board. We think his 2017 2,000 mile bike ride that raised a total of $13,000 for Binc and two other nonprofits may have caught the group's attention.
Wi13 Homework
Workshop handouts from this year's ABA Winter Institute, in Memphis, are now available for download on
BookWeb.
A Block and a Wave KTUU, in Anchorage, produced a
segment on the local state of the book business. A couple of PNBA member stores think, not so bad.
U. Book Store Recognized Publishers Weekly announced at Wi13 the shortlist for the 2018 PW Bookstore and Sales Rep of the Year Awards and our own University Book Store is a finalist. Let's throw our mojo Seattle way!
The Rep that Keeps On Giving Recently retired Redsides rep George Carroll is looking to unload 70 high-quality book holders he used for tradeshow displays.
"Remember when I had 21 tables? Since I only drag them out once a year, they're in pristine condition. The attached picture makes them look huge but they're only 4.5 inches tall."
Worth a little store credit? A free beer? Drop him a line.
Does anyone else think that's a pretty fashionable book stand shot George took?
Campbell Lands at UWP
The Rep that Keeps On Giving