Your 2019 Pacific Northwest Book Awards were announced January 9. The following titles were selected from 400 nominated titles by a committee of PNBA member booksellers:
A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America Ken Armstrong (Seattle, WA) Crown Publishing Group / Penguin Random House
Washington Black Esi Edugyan (Victoria, BC) Alfred A. Knopf / Penguin Random House
Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees Thor Hanson (Friday Harbor, WA) Basic Books / Hachette Book Group
Blood Water Paint Joy McCullough (Seattle, WA) Dutton Books / Penguin Random House
Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist Eli Saslow (Portland, OR) Doubleday / Penguin Random House
Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten Laura Veirs (Portland, OR) Chronicle Books
Essays from the winners will be featured at NWBookLovers over the next several weeks.
Ken Armstrong's "Trusting in Teamwork" currently holds the spotlight.
Shelftalkers featuring comments from the Book Awards Committee and PNBA booksellers can be downloaded on the
2019 winners page of the PNBA website.
Send a photo of your display utilizing all six shelftalkers in conjunction with the winning titles and we'll send you a $50 thank you! Photos must be received by Feb. 1.
Gearing Up for IBD Time to Order Shirts, Bags, Exclusives!
Independent Bookstore Day is still 100 days away. But despite the inclination to take a post-holiday breather, there's planning to be done now.
IBD '19 tote bag orders are due by Feb. 1. This year's version, designed by the author and artist behind
Bibliiophile: An Illustrated Miscellany, Jane Mount, is extremely cool and extremely affordable. Chronicle Books' sponsorship of the bags means you can make a big grab for your store and your customers--85% discount!
Order here.
Of course, employees and customers are also going to want to wear the iconic book loving design. Multiple colors. Multiple styles. Multiple style points.
Order here.
Finally, drumroll, please... The catalog of bookstore exclusives has gone live! And it's easier than ever to see and select the goods. You now have two choices.
Binc Scholarship News New Award, Higher Ed. Updates
The Binc Foundation's annual scholarship program is now open for applications for 2019 awards. The 2019 scholarship program has been revised to support booksellers' dependents, spouses, and partners in pursuing their higher education goals.
Binc will award seven $3,500 scholarships to the dependents of booksellers and one $5,000 Karl Pohrt Tribute Scholarship to be granted to an independent bookseller who has overcome learning adversity or is a non-traditional student.
This revised scholarship program reflects a change in eligibility requirements from previous years, realigning the program with Binc's mission to strengthen the book industry and support career booksellers and their families.
Additionally, Binc is now accepting applications for a new scholarship sponsored in partnership with Sourcebooks and Denver Publishing Institute. The scholarship to attend the Denver Publishing Institute is designed for current booksellers interested in exploring a career in the publishing side of the industry. Applications for the 2019 scholarship, worth up to $7000, will be accepted through February 27th.
Children's Book Week 100th Anniversary
Schools, libraries, and bookstores are invited to
sign up during the month of January to be an official participant in this year's week of century celebrations, April 29 - May 5.
The Children's Book Council will provide an array of promotional and activity materials, including a special 100th Anniversary poster by Yuyi Morales!
* Seriously, this is the kind of stuff that happens all the time at A Good Book.
From mime to moose.
Informed and Empowered
ABA and PNBA Want All in the Loop
Both ABA and PNBA know that the better bookstore employees understand the business of selling books, the more invested they become in doing just that.
All booksellers are encouraged to join the thousands of their colleagues who already subscribe to the American Booksellers Association's free weekly e-newsletter, Bookselling This Week, to stay up-to-date with news about the indie bookselling world, discover helpful business tips and best practices, and learn more about ABA programming, governance, and goals. There is no limit to the number of staff that can sign up to receive BTW.
PNBA offers the monthly all-things-Association-relevant newsletter, Footnotes, to all booksellers and librarians. Employees of member stores and libraries are also eligible for regular publisher giveaways via Bookseller Blasts. All we need are email addresses to enhance the literary lives of your entire staff!
"Everyone and his uncle keeps expressing how happy they are to have a bookshop back in the neighborhood, and many of them are actually buying books to prove it."
--store manager James Crossley on the addition of Madison Books to Seattle's Madison Park neighborhood over the holidays
Member Notes
Gresham Has Books Around the Corner
OregonLive dropped in on the new store and visited with its librarian-turned-unexpected-bookstore-proprietor and new PNBA member, Stephanie Csaszar.
Three Stores and 20 Years... Nobody loves their home or job because of an algorithm--same goes for your bookstore. The Seattle Times examined Seattle's Third Place Books at 20 to figure out just what's in the "secret sauce" of success.
PNBA Loses One of "The Crew" Charles Juenemann, father of PNBA Executive Director Brian Juenemann and decade-plus veteran of the annual volunteer show crew, died Dec. 27 of a heart attack.
Read the appropriately colorful mini-eulogy, compiled and crafted by former PNBA Executive Assistant Jamie Passaro, the brains and heart behind Dear Person.
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 recently discussed candidates who have emerged over the past year, but openings are numerous and proposing a member for service is no guarantee that individual will be able to serve. This year, the Association is in need of four new members for the Board, three for Awards, and three 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 the Book 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 March 1.
ABA and Authors in Portland Education and Fun Set for Spring Forum
Highlight April 1 on your calendar, and plan to be in Portland for the day.
ABA will start things off with a two-pronged presentation focused on a couple of items essential to indie success--planning pre-orders and participating in the annual ABACUS financial survey.
After a quick room re-set, PNBA, with support from Baker & Taylor, will host the spring version of Authors on the Map, a showcase of NW legends and newcomers mixing with booksellers in a festive atmosphere and signing their newest books.
April 1, 9:30 - 4:00, McMenamins Kennedy School, Portland. Stay tuned for details!
Village Books' 2019 Book Awards Display--Good for Business, Good for $50!
In Case You Missed It
*It takes half as long to write a book in the gray Northwest. So says 2019 PNBA Award Winner Eli Saslow in his acceptance essay, "Embracing the Rain."
* Throwing light on lost lives: "
The Resurrected" by 2019 PNBA Award Winner Esi Edugyan.
* Laura Veirs shares her appreciation for "what a deep art form the genre is" in her Book Award essay, "
A New Respect for the Picture Book."
* In her Award essay, Joy McCullough tells us she never fit in in California and how truly she is "
At Home in the PNW."
* "
Trusting in Teamwork." Ken Armstrong shares how he came to write to a PNBA Award Winner.
Member Notes
Four PNBA Reps on PW Shortlist
When the finalists were named for Publishers Weekly's 2019 Sales Rep of the Year award during Winter Institute, reps from the Pacific Northwest region held 80% of the shortlist spots! Fingers and toes crossed for Colleen Conway (PRH/Penguin Young Readers), Cindy Heidemann (PGW/Two Rivers), Kurtis Lowe (Book Travelers West), Patricia Nelson (University Press Sales Associates)
.
This year's award winners will be named in March and featured in the BookExpo preview edition of Publishers Weekly magazine in May. The awards will be presented at the Celebration of Bookselling at BookExpo.
Informed and Empowered
ABA and PNBA Want All in the Loop
Both ABA and PNBA know that the better bookstore employees understand the business of selling books, the more invested they become in doing just that.
All booksellers are encouraged to join the thousands of their colleagues who already subscribe to the American Booksellers Association's free weekly e-newsletter, Bookselling This Week, to stay up-to-date with news about the indie bookselling world, discover helpful business tips and best practices, and learn more about ABA programming, governance, and goals. There is no limit to the number of staff that can sign up to receive BTW.
PNBA offers the monthly all-things-Association-relevant newsletter, Footnotes, to all booksellers and librarians. Employees of member stores and libraries are also eligible for regular publisher giveaways via Bookseller Blasts. All we need are email addresses to enhance the literary lives of your entire staff!
Initiatives for Indie Success: Proactive Pre-orders + ABACUS
Monday, April 1, American Booksellers Association will host a Spring Forum in Portland in conjunction with the PNBA. All ABA and PNBA members are invited for all parts of the day's events.
Booksellers will join ABA staff from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., starting with educational programming focusing on two initiatives critical to the success of any independent bookstore: active pre-order campaigns and participation in the annual ABACUS financial survey.
This educational session will focus on best practices for increasing pre-orders, including the latest on accurate reporting and tracking, based on reports from the Pre-Order Booksellers Task Force and specific store experiences.
The session will also provide an overview of ABACUS data, including regionally-specific reports, an earlier ABACUS delivery schedule, and ways in which participating stores can successfully use their ABACUS reports to make sound financial decisions.
Scripted programming will be followed by an open forum facilitated by staff from ABA, who will also provide lunch! Please RSVP to PNBA's ABA Member Relations Manager, Daniel O'Brien.
Following the Forum, PNBA will host a signing and socializing reception featuring a diverse lineup of 15+ Northwest authors. Refreshment will be provided with the support of Baker & Taylor.
PNBA is sponsoring one member bookseller to attend Children's Institute, in Pittsburgh, June 26 - 28. And it could very well be you!
The winner will be determined by a committee consisting of members of your PNBA Board of Directors. Send an email sharing a bit about your store and your role there, your regional and national tradeshow attendance history, and your hopes and goals for for attending Children's Institute.
A spot at the conference is already reserved--we just have to plug in your name. The winner will need to reserve lodging and air travel but will be reimbursed for those and additional show expenses up to $1,200.
Good luck!
Indie Presses for Indie Stores Imprints Team up and Offer Special Deals
Catapult, Europa Editions, and Seven Stories Press have two Indie Playlist promotions currently in play for independent bookstores. Stores not only reap the benefits of special discounts on titles from the "Prize-Winning" and "Quick Reads" lists, but the presses are also backing a related display contest that should spur sales and could net cash!
A prize of $500 will be awarded to be split between the store and its lead display crafter who best build around the lists (displays must contain at least some of the curated titles but may incorporate additional titles as well) and project "inventiveness and selling effectiveness" in their designs.
Contest will be judged by marketing experts from Seven Stories Press and New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association. Send a photo to NAIBA Executive Director Eileen Dengler. The April promotion runs from March 28th through April 29th. Additional promotions will be offered in June and October.
EXTRA: These deals and more are available on the weekly-updated Independent Publishers Specials list, sponsored by NAIBA and made available to their members by all nine independent regional trade associations. PNBA access is available on the
Bookseller Resources page of the PNBA website and through the button in this and every edition of
Footnotes.
Plan to visit bincfoundation.org between March 25 - April 6
to participate in Binc's 2019 Survey and
enter to win a $200 gift card!
Looking Ahead to IBD 2019 Countdown To-Do List
Today, March 15, is the last day to order the 2019 marketing-in-a-mailer pack!
Kit contains signs, balloons, book teasers, and shelftalkers. Send a receipt from your order, early or last-minute, and PNBA will reimburse your $25 cost.
Be sure to include images of and click-throughs to this year's special IBD items in newsletters and on websites.
List IBD events in event calendars. Send a press release for inclusion in local media event calendars (template available).
Order companion titles for IBD items--see catalog for available discounts.
Look for IBD bookmarks in the next ABA Red Box and put them on display.
Check the schedule to make sure your store is staffed-up April 27!
In Case You Missed It
* "Sharma Shields has generated a body of work attuned to the American psyche, with all our flaws and hopes." So says her interviewer, fellow author Shann Ray, in "A Better World."
*First comes love, then comes marriage, then sometimes comes owning a bookstore? Browse before Vows.
* "It's like
Quest for Fire meets
When Harry Met Sally."
ONLY A Good Book could tie together disparate titles with the theme of frozen snot.
Both ABA and PNBA know that the better bookstore employees understand the business of selling books, the more invested they become in doing just that.
All booksellers are encouraged to join the thousands of their colleagues who already subscribe to the American Booksellers Association's free weekly e-newsletter, Bookselling This Week, to stay up-to-date with news about the indie bookselling world, discover helpful business tips and best practices, and learn more about ABA programming, governance, and goals. There is no limit to the number of staff that can sign up to receive BTW.
PNBA offers the monthly all-things-Association-relevant newsletter, Footnotes, to all booksellers and librarians. Employees of member stores and libraries are also eligible for regular publisher giveaways via Bookseller Blasts. All we need are email addresses to enhance the literary lives of your entire staff!
PNBA Loses One of "The Crew"
Board and Committee Call
