The BEAN

Book Bloggers Convention officially comes under the BEA Umbrella

2012-01-25T19:36:00.001-05:00

Below is the official press release going out in the morning announcing that Reed (BEA's owner) is acquiring the Book Bloggers Convention (BBC). I won't be redundant with what is contained below but want to note 2 things. One being that the role of BEA is increasingly as a source of discovery for new titles and bloggers are a critical connection for readers of all kinds to learn about new titles. Bloggers have, in a very short window of time, become an integral constituency at BEA right along side with booksellers and traditional media. This is a hand and glove fit to bring the BBC in with BEA. The second item to note is my personal thanks that Michelle Franz and Trish Collins for having the vision to create something that was missing for this community and needed at BEA. They were WONDERFUL partners and this will only work because BEA will have the luxury of transitioning the BBC from Michelle and Trish to insure that the spirit and intent they brought to this event is maintained and will only be augmented by the resources BEA can also bring to bear. We are very excited as this one more key step in BEA's continued evolution in playing an important role in serving the publishing industry.

REED EXHIBITIONS, ORGANIZER OF BOOKEXPO AMERICA,

PURCHASES BOOK BLOGGER CONVENTION

Annual Event Continues to be Co-Located with BookExpo America

Norwalk, CT, January 26, 2012: Reed Exhibitions has purchased the Book Blogger Convention, an annual day-long conference devoted to providing support, instruction, and social time for people who blog about books. The Book Blogger Convention was founded by Trish Collins of Hey Lady! Watcha Readin’? and Michelle Franz of Galleysmith, both devoted book bloggers who sensed a need for bringing the community of book bloggers together so that they might share information and learn from each other. In order to capitalize on the captive community of book industry professionals who attend BookExpo America (BEA), North America’s largest annual book industry gathering, the Book Blogger Convention was launched in 2010 in co-location with BEA. It will continue to be co-located with BEA and it will be fully integrated into the overall activity of the convention itself.

“We are delighted with this purchase and we look forward to advancing and building what Trish and Michelle have so effectively created in the Book Blogger Convention,” notes Steven Rosato, Show Manager for BookExpo America. “Trish and Michelle are devoted to their community and they have invested a tremendous amount of their own personal time and energy into building a major presence for their colleagues at BEA. We are pleased to be able to take this responsibility over for them and to build even greater recognition for the Book Blogger Convention by fully merging it with our BEA marketing efforts, programs, and attendee outreach.”

This year, the Book Blogger Convention will take place at the Javits Center on Monday, June 4 just as BEA is getting underway. Previously, the conference and reception were held just after BEA concluded. “We feel this positioning will provide greater continuity for the book bloggers and will afford them more opportunity,” notes Rosato. “This way, the book bloggers can attend their own event and then immediately participate in BEA or BlogWorld East which gets underway Tuesday, June 5 and which is also co-located with BEA.” Convention officials note that pricing for all events has been structured to allow easy access including an “All Access Super Pass” as well as a “New Media Super Pass”. Further details about pricing and how to attend individual events and/or any combination of events at BEA are available at:

http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/Register-Now/

The first Book Blogger Convention which took place in 2010 attracted just over 200 people and featured a line-up of speakers including online marketing specialists from most of the major publishing houses. Sponsorships by HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Crown Publishing Group, Peachtree, and Unbridled Books reinforced the industry’s embrace of book bloggers. Attendance in 2011 grew to 340 people. “Book bloggers have emerged as a critical constituent in our universe,” concludes Rosato. “We look forward to serving them as thoroughly as possible in the years ahead.”

More from Wi7 in NoLa

2012-01-19T08:07:00.000-05:00

Last night was the Closing Plenary featured Bob Minzenheimer (USA Today) interviewing Douglas Brinkley on the recovery of New Orleans. Mr. Brinkley is one of the great living American historians and wrote a definitive account of being in New Orleans during Katrina in his book The Great Deluge. Wow - it was a wonderful hour, Mr. Brinkley talked extensively from the book but also touched on his very close friend Hunter Thompson, who he had edited some of his papers and was godfather to Mr. Brinkley's daughter. Even sharing that he participates in a discussion group with President Obama that includes David McCullough, Doris Kearns-Goodwin and Michael Beschloss. They are not permitted to discuss current events, but talk about books and historical events. I could only relate thinking that has to the most intimidating book club humanly imaginable.

This is a short post this morning, but I did find myself unable to sleep at 2am and started reading The Great Deluge - it is terrific.

Double Dipping- 2 posts for the price of one

2012-01-18T13:54:00.001-05:00

I wanted to share some highlights from Skip Prichard's great speech at Wi7 this morning. I won't do justice to the examples and the way he laid things out, but he had some great ideas that apply to any business and not just book selling. His theme was the 5 Ifs...

If selling books is your purpose, your store will fail His point being you have to have a much broader mission, if it is just to sell books - it might as well be widgets. You have to inspire and give people a reason to want to work for or come to your store.
If you think it is impossible to compete in today's market, it isn't.
If you are doing the same thing you did yestersay, you may be in trouble tomorrow.
If you want help, it is within reach.
If all else fails, get a NYT #1 best selling author to be your partner. That was his lead in for Ann Patchett, who was terrific and inspiring as well.

The blog post below was forwarded to me from Rick Calvert who we partner with on BlogWorld East. I was talking to people last night saying this was interesting but I did not have the guts to post it. I hate thinking I would not do something that even though it is provocative, because I would be worried about getting backlash. I think it is worth sharing and as BEA morphs along with publishing, book selling and everything else on the planet, the crime would be in ignoring the conversations like this one.

Jonathan Fields Publishing's Big Bad Game of Chicken...

Interesting game of chicken we see happening in book publishing. For a few generations, a small number of companies who fund and release the content have relied on an extensive network of distributors and resellers to extract and return cash. They don't consider the ultimate viewer/reader the customer, in their minds the distributor/reseller is.

The publishers see the handwriting on the wall, but every time they hint at doing something that'd go direct to the real ultimate consumer (the reader), their current perceived customer--distributors and resellers--freak out and say they'll stop selling their stuff.

So, it ends in one big, fat stale-mate. Nobody wants to balk, because both sides know the change that's necessary will mean a huge amount of creative destruction and, very likely short-term financial hit, while publishers build the machinery necessary to make up the loss of an immediate hard-stop in the current mode of distribution.

Publishers need to embrace the opportunity to build huge, vertical-specific communities, prime them with regular non-book value and establish direct relationships with ginormous numbers of readers. That will become the new value proposition that replaces distribution as the big sell for authors.

And, it'll let publishers be able to finally reclaim the ability to tell authors, "hey, you just write, we've got your market right here." Because even if authors can go indie/self with increasing ease, most still don't want to. They just want to hide out in some cafe and write (I'm the aberration, and yes, I also train other aberrant writers to work the new system and actually enjoying, gulp, marketing, what of it? lol).

Meanwhile, the direct-to-consumer market keeps chipping away and increasing the realization that change is inevitable and it's going to hurt, at least for a short while, and very likely eliminate a huge number of people in the middle.

At some point, the pain of not changing will become greater than perceived pain of change, and the studios/publishers will say screw it and make an aggressive move to go direct and serve the people they need to be serving to stay alive. And, in the end, they'll be a lot better off because of it. But, nobody wants to endure the disruption until they have to.

In publishing, at least you have massive disruptors like amazon forcing the issue and individual content creators have the ability to increasingly peel away and do it all themselves.

This is the future. The only question is when the pain of the status quo will exceed the perceived pain of reconfiguration on a level that finally inspires action.

What say you?

ABA Winter Institute (Wi7) kicks off in New Orleans

2012-01-18T08:29:00.000-05:00

Happily settling in for the start of Winter Institute here at the Astor Crown Plaza in New Orleans. Last night was the Opening Reception held at the Cabildo, the Louisiana State Museum. A gorgeous building and venue. I wish I spent some of my time checking out the exhibits. It was the site of the Louisiana Purchase ceremonies in 1803. The one thing I did check out was Napolean's Death Mask - which was made from a mold by his doctor some 40 hours after his death and cast in bronze. It has a storied history, including being found by a man who picked up off a junk cart as this piece of history was heading off to a dump in the late 1800's. It was very cool and had an eerie aura about it. I tried sending a photo from my Blackberry - I have been very challenged trying to post from my Blackberry, so hopefully it shows up for anyone to check out.

While the acoustics at the museum created a din, it was representative of a packed venue full of energy and enthusiasm. It was wonderful talking to booksellers from WI, CO, Miami, San Fran, NJ, IL and really all over. There was a pervasive optimism people shared from many who posted a strong 4th quarter and genuinely positive outlook for the year ahead.

Today's schedule includes a Opening Plenary with Ingram CEO Skip Pritchard and Ann Patchett (author and bookseller), lunch with James Patterson talking about encouraging young readers followed by an afternoon of full sessions. Closing with Bob Minzesheimer (USA Today) interviewing Douglas Brinkley on the recovery of New Orleans. A FULL day awaits!!!

2012-01-17T09:31:00.001-05:00

Miss Julie's current post: http://officialbealibrarianblogger.blogspot.com/2012/01/reading-resolutions.html

2012-01-16T19:01:00.001-05:00

Heading to ABA Winter Institute in New Orleans in the morning. Looking forward to posting news from NoLa.

Book buying tips from Publishers Lunch

2011-12-19T12:40:00.001-05:00

I enjoy Publishers Lunch daily coverage and am sharing the Publishers Lunch compiled list of Top 10 books from 2011. If you use these sort of lists for buying tips, this compiles from a number great sources. I know these list work on me (for music too). I will added comments where I could.

The Best of the Best of 2011, So Far, Updated

With more lists rolling in--the WSJ, People and Entertainment Weekly among them--the consensus best of the best of 2011 list is acquiring real shape and clarity. As always happens, both the fiction and nonfiction lists have neatly produced two clear groups of top 10 picks.

Continuing the pattern from the beginning of this year's voting, the top novels are acquiring far more votes, with fiction claiming 7 of the top 8 slots overall. Tea Obreht's THE TIGER'S WIFE remains the runaway pick for book of the year.

We're still waiting on lists from a few major sources, including USA Today and the Los Angeles Times, so as usual, we won't declare our final list--with a complete list of sources, editors and agents, and other observations of interest--for another week or two. But to help with holiday sales and promotion, here's how the lists stand, based on 35 sources so far:
Top 10 Fiction
1. The Tiger's Wife, Tea Obreht (16)
2. 1Q84, Haruki Murakami (11)
    The Marriage Plot, Jeffrey Eugenides - Brien McDonald LOVED this book.
4. State of Wonder, Ann Patchett (10)
    The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach - It was on my previous list of recommended titles.
6. The Sisters Brothers, Patrick DeWitt (8)
    The Tragedy of Arthur, Arthur Phillips
8. The Sense of an Ending, Julian Barnes (7)
    Open City, Teju Cole
    The Stranger's Child, Alan Hollinghurst

The Next Contenders
    The Cat's Table, Michael Ondaatje
    The Submission, Amy Waldman - this is on my list for 2012
    The Pale King, David Foster Wallace
    The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

Top 10 Nonfiction
1. In The Garden Of Beasts, Erik Larson (9)
2. Blood, Bones & Butter, Gabrielle Hamilton (7)
    Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson - another on my list for 2012, but it is a tome (which slows me down)
4. Blue Nights, Joan Didion (6)
    The Swerve, Stephen Greenblatt
    Bossypants, Tina Fey - my wife loved this book and tore through it pretty quick
7. Townie, Andre Dubus III (5) - I love anything Andre Dubus writes
     Karl Marlantes, What It Is Like to Go to War
     Boomerang, Michael Lewis
     Lost in Shangri-La, Mitchell Zuckoff - this was great, but after Unbroken - seemed light.

The Next Contenders
Destiny of the Republic, Candice Millard
Catherine the Great, Robert K. Massie
The Greater Journey, David McCullough
Moonwalking with Einstein, Joshua Foer
Malcolm X, Manning Marable

Help Wanted on BEA

2011-12-15T13:17:00.003-05:00

I was extremely hesitant to blog a job posting here on the BEAN, then I thought about it and said - what the heck, why not - it is probably the best place to find the right person. BEA is looking for a Community & Conference Coordinator - it is a part time position based in our Norwalk, CT offices - 20 hours/week. This position will oversee BEA's social media presence and direct the strategy for each platform BEA has a presence on. This position will also program the conference sessions for the Book Bloggers Convention. The expectation for the person coming into this position is you will know more about social media than we currently do on BEA. We are okay, but I feel we leave a lot of opportunities on the table because we don't have a dedicated focus. We want this person to develop the strategy for how BEA engages and intergrates all the various platforms we use and identify the ones we should be using.

You can e-mail me a cover letter and a resume which I will forward to my Human Resources dept. We prefer to have a phone interview first to make sure we are as much a fit for your goals as you are a fit for the position. It is a test to see if you can find my e-mail on the BEA site, the odds are if that is too much of a challenge - then this might not be the right job for you.

BEA's Miss Julie Book Buying Guide

2011-12-15T12:24:00.001-05:00

I have a link below to BEA's Official Librarian Blogger, Miss Julie - she did an awesome job with some book suggestions for the Holiday's. I thought I would add a few of my own while I am covering the subject:

Unbroken By Laura Hillenbrand - A true and breathtaking story of survival of a WWII Army Lieutenant Louis Zamperini. The pages will fly as you live through this unimaginable tale of survival.

Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein - This told through the eyes of Enzo, a dog who lives and loves the way we all should, this was a wonderful, wonderful book.

The Art of Fielding by, Chad Harbach - If you have anyone that enjoys Franzen (The Corrections or Freedom) - this would be something they will love. It was just a bit long, but had such a great finish that I didn't mind as much as when I was slogging through some of the middle part of the book.

I know I am not exactly breaking any new literary ground, but I did love all these books and would highly recommend them as wonderful gifts.

Miss Julie's Holiday Book Gift Buying Guide

Be Santa in April

2011-12-14T12:07:00.000-05:00

World Book Night is such a cool concept. You get the chance to Santa Claus in real life! I attached the copy of the entire press release if you are not familiar World Book Night. I am applying today to be a volunteer today! - Here is the link: Volunteer Application!

WORLDBOOK NIGHT U.S.2012 ANNOUNCES ANNA QUINDLEN AS NATIONAL CHAIR AND NAMES ITS 30 SELECTIONS FORFIRST GIVEAWAY OF 1 MILLION FREE BOOKS

New York City, December 14, 2011– World Book Night U.S. has announced the selection of its honorary national chairperson,Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Anna Quindlen, andrevealed the WBN 2012 U.S.book picks. In addition, World Book Night U.S. has opened the registrationprocess for those wishing to become volunteer book givers.

World Book Night is an ambitious campaign to give away amillion free books across America all on one day — April 23, 2012 — byenlisting 50,000 volunteer book lovers to help promote reading by going intotheir communities and distributing free copies of a book they especially enjoy.World Book Night was successfully launched in the UKearlier this year, and now the U.S.is joining the effort, which is supported by American publishers, bookstoresand libraries nationwide.

Anna Quindlen has enthusiastically agreed to be thecampaign’s Honorary National Chairperson. Quindlen said: “What’s better than agood book? A whole box of them, and the opportunity to share them withnew readers. The idea behind World Book Night is inspired, and as a writerand a reader I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

World Book Night U.S. boardchairman Morgan Entrekin added: “We are thrilled and flattered that Anna hasagreed to join our cause. Her energy has already been a great asset to thecampaign, and we look forward to her being a leading voice among the many forthis ambitious effort to promote reading and a love of books across America.”

Volunteer book givers are welcome to apply now. They can goto www.us.worldbooknight.org andregister through February 1, 2012, by providing answers to several questionsand picking a book to give out from the World Book Night U.S. 2012 list.

World Book Night U.S. Executive Director Carl Lennertz said:“We want the book givers to reach out to new or light readers, especially inunderserved places like nursing homes, schools, hospitals and poorneighborhoods, but also in public gathering places like coffee shops and malls.And by offering a range of fiction, non-fiction and books for teens, we believewe have great books that the givers will be passionate about handing out, andwill appeal to a wide audience of potential new readers.”

Sherman Alexie, author of the World Book Night U.S. 2012pick The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, said: “Thisis a celebration of the individual book and the individual reader. I am honoredto take part.”

Alsoa World Book Night U.S. author, for her book Because ofWinn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo added: “Itmakes perfect sense to me that World Book Night will take place in spring.Extending your hand to give someone a book, a story, is a gesture of hope andjoy. It is a chance for all of us, givers and receivers, to break intoblossom.”

The book picks have been finalized and there will be 30picks printed, rather than 25. Lennertz said: “We decided to expand severalcategories, notably from three to five YA/middle reader books, due to populardemand from booksellers and librarians, as well as adding a sci-fi novel, anadditional mystery, and a surprise classic from an indie press. I am thrilledabout this, as it broadens the appeal of the list to our two audiences: the50,000 book givers and the million new readers we want to reach.”

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Blood Work by Michael Connelly
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz; a Spanish-language edition, La breve y maravillosa vida de Óscar Wao, will also be made available.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
The Stand by Stephen King
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Just Kids by Patti Smith
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Interview with China Book Business Report

2011-12-07T14:34:00.001-05:00

I am posting my recent interview with China Book Business Report

What were the most important things happened in American/global book market in 2011? Give a summary of 2011 American/global book market or a summary of your book exhibition’s performance in this year?[Rosato, Steven (RX)] The US book market change has been more dramatic than the global book market as whole in 2011, but dramatic change is the new normal for the whole global book market as technology and business models are changing more rapidly than the industry can keep pace with. It is difficult to compare the US market vs. global publishing. That is like comparing diving from 50 feet or 100 feet, it is scary and the water comes at you fast no matter what. The 2 most significant developments in the US were the bankruptcy of Borders, the second largest bookselling chain and the advent of the Agency Model for e-book pricing. The Borders situation is very complicated and their demise had little to do with the predicted decline of brick & mortar stores. The good news came out of their bankruptcy was that publishing survived without a more devastating impact considering that Borders accounted for 15% of the total market. That also bodes well for the near future and for creating opportunities for independent stores and other retailers in those markets. The Agency Model is an extremely complex issue that I could not properly explain here. Also there is pending litigation that continues change what the total impact will be for publishing. In the short term the Agency Model reduced the ability that Amazon would have had to dictate e-book pricing terms and made Apple and other e-reading options viable, which was critical for publishers. Those very were big issues that impacted the US and the global publishing community. This past year has seen BookExpo become more relevant due to the turbulent changes in publishing – people need information on the market, technology and are looking more aggressively for new opportunities. BEA has been able to keep pace with the changes and is moving quickly to stay ahead of where the market is going. Examples include BEA has begun developing opportunities to engage consumers directly with our video program and the launch of New York Book & Media Week that takes place throughout New York City at the same time that BEA is happening. Now that we have established these platforms, publishers are increasingly looking to engage consumers directly to promote new titles while retailers can use BEA resources year round to discover and source titles.

How do you predict the book market and international book fair business in 2012? What kinds of trends will there be? What kind of changes will there be for the whole market?[Rosato, Steven (RX)] For the short term, Book Fairs will be more important as publishers struggle to find sustainable models for a digital world. Book Fairs provide many potential partners, market insights and education in a really efficient format. There is a proliferation of Digital Conferences that has not yet peaked, but is not sustainable long term. The trends are hard to determine as things are changing more rapidly – a lot depends on the answer to the question: Will e-readers be like TVs or music players where many manufacturers can participate in the market or will it be a closed market where the content and the devices are controlled by a few players? Self publishing will continue to gain market share as traditional publishers continue to roll out programs to attract self published authors aside from all the new and existing platforms. There will be more convergence of media, making content from books a valuable resource for other industries like gaming and film and TV. In the US, the digital market share will approach 25% if not more by the end of 2012 which is more than double 2010 figures.

What are the opportunities and challenges that book fairs will face in 2012? [Rosato, Steven (RX)] Book Fairs will have to pull in new constituents that were previously not critical to the publishing industry or had a limited role. Bringing in segments from licensing companies, educators and the entertainment industry are examples that will be critical to sustain the relevance of book fairs because those industries are all going to be much more closely linked to publishing and become influential players as well. The challenge is to engage the key players and provide a platform for them to leverage at book fairs because increasingly this is where these types of transactions will take place. For a fair like BEA, we see a big opportunity to engage consumers who will have more ways to consume published content than at any time in history from e-readers, smart phones, computers, traditional print and the flexibility that on-demand printing offers as well.

Regarding the emerging digital publishing market, what kind of transition were publishers experience in 2011 and what will they do to adapt to the changes in 2012? What are the prospects for e-books and digital publishing in 2012? How will your book show exhibit such a trend?[Rosato, Steven (RX)] Changes continue to accelerate more quickly every year. The challenge is to transition to new revenue models while existing ones get displaced. Publishers are moving toward being content curators as are booksellers – providing value for discovering, shaping and packaging content that will inform, educated and entertain people. The platform will eventually be irrelevant, whether it is print or digital. That is more the long term prospect for publishing in a digital environment, not just being a digital publisher. The process that has begun in 2011 is how publishers are organized – you see number of sales reps in the field goes down as the resources are moved to discovery – that includes leveraging social media, metadata tagging, digital distribution are all small examples of where changes are happening now for publishers.. BEA will continue to be a platform for the leading companies and players from all sides of this expanding market which includes having on-line players, booksellers, retailers, librarians, publishers and device companies that will use BEA as marketplace and source for market intelligence as well as to see the latest in technology.

What will your company focus on in 2012? Are there any changes in your company’s strategy? [Rosato, Steven (RX)] While BEA will continue to invest and support booksellers, librarians and traditional constituents that have made BEA one of the most important book fairs in the world, our current focus does represent a change in BEA’s strategy, which is to be the leading marketplace and resource for all things digital in the world of publishing. We are doing this through conference content and content on the show floor which is represented by the companies that participate in BEA as exhibitors or attendees. BEA will engage consumers through our New York Book & Media Week initiative and by utilizing video and streaming of events at BEA to make what happens at the trade event accessible for consumers.

I am not alone

2011-12-05T12:54:00.000-05:00

Pasted below is from an article that was in today's Independent (a UK daily paper), covering Waterstone's new boss James Daunt. Mr. Daunt ran a small and very successful chain of independents before being named the Managing Director by Waterstone's new owner, Russian billionaire, Alexander Mamut. The portion of the article pasted rang such a similar note to my post from Friday, it made me feel like I am not alone being an optimist or at the very least, I am not a fool.

I didn't arrive at my optimistic disposition due to anything I drank, it is born out of facts that get parsed out of stats that calculate the end of publishing. One fact is that publishing in the US grew by 5.6% in the last 3 years. Publishing is a $27.9 BILLION dollar business in the US and while print is declining, digital revenue growth is outpacing the decline in print. In fact while digital sales = 5.5% of the sales in 2010, digital sales will finish 2011 well over 10% of the total market, if not start to approach 20%. While publishing's future is uncertain, the wise and the adaptable will be secure and prosper.

I don't subscribe to Mr. Daunt's opinion of Amazon - if anything they are the wise who have adapted. Begrudging a competitor's success does not change the playing field, it only skews your vision of it. The link to the whole story is below and it is a good little read.

James Daunt is alive to the threat bookshops face from the digital revolution, but his attitude is, broadly, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. "You'll walk into a Waterstone's and there'll be a bit of the shop where you can look at e-readers, play with them. We're inventing one of our own – perhaps we'll call it the Windle – and we're working on the Barnes & Noble approach. They've embedded their own e-book, called the Nook, within their bookshops and have succeeded in taking market share from the Kindle."

He adds: "If the bookshop lets you have both and has a product every bit as good as the Amazon one, why wouldn't you do it with a bookshop?" Daunt makes no bones about his dislike of Amazon. "They never struck me as being a sort of business in the consumer's interest. They're a ruthless, money-making devil." He dreads the physical bookshop disappearing altogether in the digital tsunami. "The computer screen is a terrible environment in which to select books. All that 'If you read this, you'll like that' – it's a dismal way to recommend books. A physical bookshop in which you browse, see, hold, touch and feel books is the environment you want."

As to the books-industry Cassandras who predict that publishers, agents and booksellers may all disappear in the next five years, "I wouldn't bet against publishers," he said. "The editorial process and the marketing – someone has to do it. I don't think agents are the best people to do it. Authors certainly aren't – they need editing. I think either all three will survive or they'll all disappear, swept away, replaced by one big fat Amazon, getting his way. And if the bookshops go, they will never come back." His combative eyes glitter.

James Daunt: 'Amazon are a ruthless, money-making devil, the consumer's enemy'

Pressure Delivers Change

2011-12-01T14:30:00.001-05:00

I am an optimist by nature - enough so that my wife would call it one of my most annoying traits, although she would also be forced to admit we do balance each other nicely. While I happily have an optimistic outlook and tend to believe things will work out as long as you are honest and willing to work, I am challenged to be optimistic from what I am reading these days about the publishing industry. Not only is the sky falling, but the earth is also crumbling beneath its feet. I shared a few links at the bottom of this post that led me here today:

Mike Shatzkin's blog post on trying to time the end of publishing as we know it
The negative news about B&N
PW's reporting on the reality of where all those e-book sales are coming from besides people filling up their news e-reader gadgets - current year on year sales stats low-lighting that mass market sales are down 54%.

I balanced this with the quotes that Shelf Awareness ran from booksellers experience with the shop local Small Business Saturday. We know that pressure over time turn a lump of coal into a diamond. There is no denying that publishing is undergoing a seismic and unprecedented change. The challenge is to find business models that support authors and publishers in a way that is sustainable. The other challenge on the retail front is where do booksellers fit in an ever competitive environment.

Change is also opportunity. Books are not going to go away like 8 tracks or VCRs nor do I think bookstores are going to vanish like record stores or the local butcher. Those that innovate and adapt are surviving and even thriving right now. There are more people reading in more formats and in greater overall numbers. The opportunity generated by the fans that Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, the Twilight series, Lemony Snicket and sooo many more created as people who are inspired by and love reading are not going away. I read the new Wimpy Kid book is outselling the last one by 25+%. I don't know where things are going or exactly what this industry will look like in the next 3 or 4 years, but I know it not going the way of the dinosaur. Hopefully as the pressure mounts and time marches on - I expect the industry comes out a lot like a diamond.

"When you actually have a line of people waiting, it's weird."

--Jeremy Kaplan, co-owner of READ Books, Los Angeles, Calif.

"As soon as I opened up the door at 10 o'clock this morning I had a large amount of people. It helps the local economy. It keeps the money in Morgantown, you know most of the profit made in a local business is spent locally and it's just a snowball effect."

--Jeanne Hagan, owner of Pinocchio's Books and Toys, Morgantown, W.Va.

"It's been unreal today.... I said we need to be part of this. We need to be part of anything that bonds and brings together small business."

--Gay Kolodzik, owner of Frugal Frigate children's bookstore, Redlands, Calif.

"We're up 40% from last year, which is huge for us."

--Liz Barden, owner of Big Hat Books & Arts, Indianapolis, Ind.

"It really makes a difference. More than half of the customers I've had today mentioned Small Business Saturday to me."

--Christine Myskowski, owner of Salt & Pepper Books, Occoqu

Mike Shatzkin Blog - How many Christmases until we see a whole new industry?
Bad News for B&N
Mass-market Paperback Sales down 54%

Confluence Counts

2011-11-30T10:24:00.001-05:00

I don't if people realize it yet - but guess what? BEA happens to overlap with Internet Week for 2012. The confluence of activity that week will be highly interesting and create unforeseen opportunities through one of BEA's key raw ingredients: planned serendipity.

Aside from BEA and all the events that are part of Internet Week, under the auspices of BEA the week's activity will include:

The ABA's Education Program
The IDPF Digital Book 2012 Event
Publishers Launch
BlogWord & New Media Expo
The Audio Publishers Association Conference
The Book Bloggers Convention
New York Book & Media Week
BEA's Global Market Forum (GMF) program featuring Russia.

There will be a lot happening at BEA plus all over New York City and I do mean the whole city. Russia's GMF program is the most ambitious ever done at BEA and will be bringing over 50 authors + librarians, booksellers and dozens of publishers on top of a whole host of cultural programs. The New York Book & Media Week will see events in libraries, independent bookstores, Barnes & Noble and the Apple stores + more. Blog World is going to more than double in size from 2011. The IDPF Digital Book 2012 will likely get close to 1,000 people in their 3rd year of being co-located at BEA. This is the second year of Publishers Launch which will run an outstanding in-depth program.

What do you want from BEA???

2011-11-22T15:08:00.001-05:00

We are in the midst of shaping our plans to make more of the BEA experience available via video, starting with the 2012 show.   Our initial plan is to stream our marquee events live along with some action from the show floor. The marquee events are the Book & Author Breakfasts along with the various Buzz Panels - which is Adult Trade, Middle Grade & YA each have their own Buzz Panels.

What we want to know is:
If you that have been to BEA, what are the most compelling events?
For those that never have been to BEA, but wished to from a far - what do you want to see?
Would you like to see what is happening in the exhibitor booths?
Is autographing more exciting?
We do audio podcasts for almost all of the conference sessions - is there a need to offer video?

We have to make decisions as to what we can include on video because covering it all is not a viable option, at least for 2012. Please let me know what you want to see or who - should we interview people from the show floor - do you want to hear from publishers or booksellers? Would you like to have pre-show video promoting authors so you can plan your time better at BEA?

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving - truly my favorite Holiday on the calendar. Special thanks to anyone that takes the time to offer their opinions - they will be most appreciated.

At what temperature do e-books burn?

2011-11-21T14:07:00.001-05:00

Is there irony in Fahrenheit 451 being released as an e-book? I think it is exciting that such an iconic piece of literature can be given new life as it is delivered in a new format. But the essence of the format goes against spirit of the book. I cribbed this passage from Wikipedia (I know - not the land of true facts), because it brings me back the lectures from high school about the meaning of the book and what I thought about when I saw the news today.

Bradbury has stated that the novel is not about censorship, but a story about how television destroys interest in reading literature, which leads to a perception of knowledge as being composed of factoids, partial information devoid of context.

I strikes me that e-reading devices are exactly what Bradbury portended is being destroyed, what was television in the 1950's are now iPads, smart phones and every other device that competes for our attention and eyeballs.

Book stats confuse me

2011-11-17T07:06:00.001-05:00

Reading Shelf Awareness yesterday - the lead from Mr. Mutter:

September bookstore sales jumped 7%, to $1.55 billion, compared to September 2010, according to preliminary estimates from the Census Bureau. For the year to date, bookstore sales have risen 2.8%, to $12.024 billion.

So far this year, bookstore sales have been erratic, falling in January, but then rising from February through May, and falling in June and July before rebounding in August and September. Note: under Census Bureau definitions, bookstore sales are of new books and do not include "electronic home shopping, mail-order, or direct sale" or used book sales.

It is a given that book sales statistics are notoriously unreliable and often misleading. Still - considering the continued explosion of digital book sales are not included in these figures nor does it seem to include sales from the likes of Amazon or B&N on-line, it is encouraging. I have had the pleasure of getting to know ABA President and owner of the well know Austin, TX store - Book People over this past fall. Seeing him while he was in NYC last Monday he shared a copy of their new catalogue - My Favorite Book 2011, which is really terrific (you have to check it out - I challenge you not to find something you want to buy) - he shared that his store has done extremely well over the last 2 years. How many retail businesses are thriving these days?? That explains the optimism I see heading into BEA for 2012. I don't have a real point in here other than the book sales numbers aside from digital are consistently inconsistent. I have come to the conclusion that there is one fact to hang onto - digital or paper - there are more people reading these days.

Back at my desk with random thoughts.

2011-11-14T12:38:00.001-05:00

It has been a busy, busy fall season going to the Moscow Book Fair, Frankfurt, a trip to Beijing and then hitting BlogWorld and New Media Expo in Los Angeles having been on the road for 28 of the last 70 days. This is my excuse why I have not been posting regularly. I also managed to figure out why my posts where not getting posted from my Blackberry - they needed to be sent as SMS messages. I used to be able to send a regular e-mail from my old Blackberry. I am sure it is my lack of technical expertise - plus having a new phone is why none of my road posts made here.

Sharing some random thoughts BEA related and otherwise:

I was just noticing Amazon's foray into Groupon territory with Amazon Local - nothing for Connecticut (which is local for moi). I guess it was just a matter of time. Interesting....
While at BlogWorld last week, there were loads of awesome panels - the one I took the most interest in was Guy Kawasaki and Chris Brogan talking about Google+. I wished it was a bit more of a 'how to' - but the bottom line is they LOVE Google+, saying it is now what Twitter was 4 yrs ago. Guy used a better analogy: Google+ is to Facebook as Apple is to Microsoft (talking operating systems). They also said Facebook is for the people you already know and Google+ is for who you want to know.
I mentioned my new phone - the Blackberry Torch - it is called a Torch because you want to set on fire - it sucks. The screen is glitchy and super sensitive, it gets 'stuck' thinking constantly and the 4G is slow as can be because of the operating system - my wife runs circles around me on her iPhone.
BEA is plugging away at increasing the New York Book and Media Week scope and number of events - this includes looking at a Business to Consumer element at BEA - B2C as we like to say. Nothing is likely to happen for 2012 - but once we have all the author submissions we are looking to see if we can program something at Javits that opens the event (and not the show floor) to consumers.
BlogWorld in LA was an awesome event - it is such a perfect fit to have co-located at BEA, we expect that it will double in size for NYC compared to 2011.
It is another busy week as we go head on into the Holiday Season, but I will be forcing myself to post, as long as I can share info that is useful. Is it me or is the creeping window of the Holidays pushing the envelope? I was in Washington, DC with the family this weekend and heard Xmas music all over the place.

Author Stephen Stark posits the future

2011-10-26T17:38:00.000-04:00

Shelf Media Group is publishing their first e-book, Margaret Brown gave me a quote from author Stephen Stark that I thought would be interesting reading.

Shelf Unbound: The Final Appearance of America's Favorite Girl Next Door is available only as an e-book. Is this the future of book publishing?

Stephen Stark: No. It's not the future of publishing, it's the present. And it's an unnerving and uncertain present for a lot of people in the book publishing industry. It's a moment of great tectonic movement and, for me, tremendously exciting. I think that what we're doing with Final Appearance is, if not unique, then completely cutting edge, all of the benefits of an indie publisher lashed up with the technology of self-publishing. There will come a time, in the not-too-distant future, when all of this is figured out. But right now, there's a wave that's swelling, but not cresting. I think that we, Shelf Media and I, are on the top of that swell with Final Appearance. I have no idea whether Final Appearance, or any other of my subsequent novels, will be riding that wave when it breaks. But I really think it's important to be a part of the gaggle of surfers who are out there, slightly ahead of the swell, betting on when it's going to break. Not just for the success of the novel itself, but to shape the industry in some small way -- get out there and paddle like crazy. I think Shelf is out there, its board waxed, its toes curled right
alongside of me.

Below is an excerpt from the book along with the full interview

Girlmeets boy meets shark meets multi-verse in this sexy, deeply romantic, literary page-turner

from New York Times BookReview Notable Book of the Year author Stephen Stark. Read the following excerpt and you’ll see why we jumped sky-high at the chance to publish Final Appearance asour first e-book.

“Ellen Gregory in Love”

The water was warmish (at least for North Carolina in June) and you could feel thewarmth of the water at the surface, and an icy bite from the depths, almost asthough the water were swimming within itself. You could see the beach. The tasteof saltwater was in her mouth and she looked at Michael, his curly, dark hairmatted from the wet, his face full of joy. He was just beyond her and he waslaughing, rising and falling in the swells—he had that Midwesterner’s delightin the ocean. Now he was floating on his back and pointing at the gulls, whichwere

Everywhere now. The water caught a thousand mirrors of sunlight, and for a moment,she lost sight of Michael. The gulls were everywhere, wheeling in the sky, dippinginto the water, floating. There was a strange moment of panic as shescanned the water for him—and suddenly he was next to her, his mouth rightnext to her ear. Hi, he said. Hi, yourself, she said. You’re beautiful, he saidand kissed her. Are you cold?, he said. No,she said, It’s wonderful. He kissed heragain, and when he moved away, she went to him and kissed him again. This is what it could be like, she thought, ashe dove under again and resurfaced a few yards from her. He splashed at her andshe ducked, and then he went underwater again. And then she was floating in theswells, watching the gulls and other sea birds dipping into the water, watchingthe man she loved, his dark hair gleaming wet.

Michaelhad completely flunked whatever litmus tests she’d had. He was a nerd, a geek—good-looking—butstill. A scientist. A video-game-playing, ABD Ph.D. professor-to-be, with geekyfriends, who argued passionately about things she’d never heard of. And who hadnever heard of her because while he did own a TV, it was kept safely in a closet,just in case something important actually happened.

Love:Well, here it was, the strangled breath when she was near him, this waking upin the morning next to him feeling like every day was Christmas.

Theywere not terribly far out—ten or fifteen yards from shore. Not far from herethe bottom would fall off and sweep deeper and deeper into the cold darkness ofthe Atlantic, where it would give way toshipping lanes and container ships and vast unseen storms and would not riseagain except to the sweet calls of some child across the world, the endlessthunder of surf. She floated on herback, looked at the blue, blue sky. Here she could watch the irregular vorticesof gull-flight, the perpetual motion of the waves. Here she could see herfriends—blurs on the sand, stripes of color. She thought of Michael andwondered at the bizarre way that life happens. You get to a place and look atwhat surrounds you—sun, water, sky—and marvel at the circumstances that broughtyou here. But where was she? On the precipice between today and tomorrow,between with him and without. She thought she felt a cold current come up fromthe deep and a chill of fear rode through her. Michael was beyond her, his skin darker thanshe had ever seen it, his hair catching sunlight, blackly metallic. He had beennext to her a moment ago, the warmth of him, the brush of his legs, the cup ofhis hand on the back of her head, treading water and kissing her, and then hehad drifted away, and she knew he would swim back to her, and that was the wayshe was thinking of it, the future, or near-future. They would drift away andcome together. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Until it was nauseating to think of it. When the fish bashed scraping against herleg, almost dragging her under with its mass and speed, she thought for amoment it was Michael, being uncharacteristically rough. This pissed her off—thescrape burned in the saltwater and she could feel herself going hot with angershe had never felt with him. She shouted, but he could not hear, and thensuddenly that thought dissolved into confusion. Just a few yards away from her,he burst through the surface, way too high speed, jetting like a water skieralmost, sideways, his head rising up out of the water and leaving a gorgeousarc of shimmering water droplets, one arm flailing down towards his hips, hislegs, the other grappling somehow to right himself. His face had a broken,aghast look. Inhaled water gagged his scream of Get out now. Andin that hill of water, that wake-like wave that thrust him sideways, she could seethe fish, could see how enormous it was, bigger around than a barrel and longenough that she couldn’t even see where it ended. Just the fin itself wasenormous. At least as tall as her arm. And she felt the way she felt when WayneTownsend had kidnapped her, with absolutely no control over anything. The fish thrust him out of the water as highas his waist and drove him toward shore, then sideways, and she froze utterly,the reality of it just too bizarre and monstrous to believe. And then the adrenalinecame and she willed herself to swim.

From The Final Appearance of America’s Favorite Girl NextDoor by Stephen

Stark, Shelf Media Group 2011, www.shelfmediagroup.com.

Pushcart Prize winner Laura Kasischke calls The Final Appearance of America’s FavoriteGirl Next Door “entertaining,thought-provoking, and beautiful—like no novel you’ve read.” We talked to Starkabout the novel, the future of book publishing, and his reputation for writingexceedingly hot sex scenes.

Shelf Unbound: Your previous novel, Second Son, got great reviewsbut would not have been described as a “page-turner.” What prompted your changein style?

Stephen Stark: In a very basic sense, I just wantedto tell a good story. It’s been a long time since Second Son, nearly 20 years, and theworld has gotten weirder and weirder since then. It’s no by any means anoriginal statement, but it seems to me that the kind of realism that I wasworking in then just isn’t up to the task of reflecting the world I see aroundme. Still, I don’t know that I’d say it was a change in style so much as achange in approach. From the start, with FinalAppearance, everything was on the table. I made the consciousdecision to use every tool I possibly could to open the story up and give depthto the narrative. The main character, Ellen Gregory, is a public figure, a verypublic figure, and so you’ve got parts that are newspaper stories, parts thatare TV news reports, a magazine-style interview with Ellen, and then there’ssome “genre” stuff mixed in. Above all, I wanted to entertain myself. Which isn’tto say that the earlier novels didn’t entertain me, only that I was goingthrough some very difficult life transitions during the time I was writing Final Appearance and I wanted to laugh, but Ialso wanted to say something worth saying.

Shelf: How’d you come up with your the character of Ellen, a,stand-up comic turned sitcom star?

Stark: To the best of my recollection,she just kind of came out of nowhere—this

killercomic from the Midwest with the black thongtutu, fishnet stockings, and

shit kickerTimberland® boots. This sort of thing happens all the time—I was

actuallyworking on another novel entirely, and at some point, I began a chapter

thathad Ellen in it and, bang, suddenly that other novel was history. Like a lot ofpeople who chase particular dreams, Ellen does a lot of self invention to getwhere she’s going. On one hand, she’s Ellen, the fresh-faced, corn-fed blonde,girl next door from the Midwest, but on theother, she’s ELLEN!,the take-no-prisoners comic, that crazy chick in the tutu. I’m totallyfascinated by this whole idea of being two people at once. To me, a significantpart of the novel is her terror at reconciling the two, the struggle she haswith those two identities.

Shelf: Final Appearance is a deeply romantic, character-driven novel, with

some very hot sex scenes. Which is more of a challenge to write:intimate,

authentic dialog or intimate, authentic sex?

Stark: I’d say that intimate,authentic dialogue and intimate, authentic sex are

simplytwo facets of the same thing. I’ve gotten a certain amount of attention for

mysex scenes over the years, particularly regarding their alleged hotness, but it

almostmakes me feel as though people are missing the point. So much of what we do andhow we think is suffused with sex that leaving it out of a novel (or my novels) would be a disservice to my characters. Thatdoesn’t necessarily mean it has to be explicit, although sometimes it does, whichcan be tremendously revealing of character. When I approach a sex scene, Iwrite it as authentically as I can. What would Michael do and how would Ellenreact? Or the obverse. The same is true of intimate dialogue. What would Michaelsay and how would Ellen respond? Sometimes the circumstance calls only forsomething like, “later, after they’d made love,” but sometimes the motion ofthe story calls for the whole business of two adult human beings being nakedtogether. And it’s almost exactly the way I approach intimate dialogue, whichis often, at least figuratively, two people being naked together. It’s beensaid that character derives from action, and of course that’s true, but I thinkthat the right kind of dialogue—the confusions, the caesurae, themisunderstandings, the nakedness or the guardedness—is also hugely revelatoryof character.

Shelf: Final Appearance is available only as an e-book. Is this the future of

book publishing?

Stark: No. It’s not the future ofpublishing, it’s the present. And it’s an unnerving and uncertain present for alot of people in the book publishing industry. It’s a moment of great tectonicmovement and, for me, tremendously exciting. I think that what we’re doing withFinal Appearance is,if not unique, then completely cutting edge, all of the benefits of an indiepublisher lashed up with the technology of self-publishing. There will come atime, in the not-too-distant future, when all of this is figured out. But rightnow, there’s a wave that’s swelling, but not cresting. I think we—Shelf and I—areon the top of that swell with Final Appearance.I have no idea whether Final Appearance,or other of my subsequent novels, will be riding that wave when it breaks. ButI really think it’s important to be a part of the gaggle of surfers who are outthere, slightly ahead of the swell, betting on when it’s going to break. Notjust for the success of the novel itself, but to shape the industry in somesmall way—get out there and paddle like crazy. I think Shelf is out there, itsboard waxed, its toes curled right alongside of me.

BEA Peaks Forward

2011-10-24T16:01:00.002-04:00

A significant challenge for BookExpo has been delivering information on what is happening at BEA for the audience that it is intended or to the people that would be interested in the information. Being candid, BEA has done a poor job of executing this historically. There a lot of reasons, many of which were out of BEA's control - but that is not relevant going forward. It is one thing to admit you have a problem - which BEA has had in terms of this issue - it is another thing to step up and fix what is wrong. I promise you now - BEA will make this light years better.

BEA will do a number of new things for 2012 so the programming is more accessible, making BEA more valuable for everyone that participates - both exhibitors & attendees.

Here are a few of the planned changes:

The majority of BEA's programs will be completed and posted 60 days earlier.
BEA will have a new schedule making tool that will allow for a personal agenda of events to make your planning simple.
BEA will segment programs from the start so you can search in the areas that interest you and your business needs.
BEA sessions will identify what job titles or roles programs are intended to allow people to select session to learn new skills or to develop advanced skills.
The BEA website will be easier to navigate.
Most sessions will run 50 minutes to allow you to get to another session easier.
BEA will review the whole programs schedule to reduce and eliminate conflicts for similar programs.

We won't be perfect, but we will strive for perfection.

READ RUSSIA 2012 INITIATIVE TO BE FOCUS OF BEA’s GLOBAL MARKET FORUM

2011-10-20T11:19:00.000-04:00

From a BEA Press Release that just went out this morning:
Over 40 Russian Authors and Translators to Travel to New York City;
An Institute and Awards for Translation to be Part of Ambitious New Program

Norwalk, CT, October 20, 2011: Russia will be the country of focus and attention at BEA’s Global Market Forum 2012, June 5 – 7 and BEA will figure prominently into Read Russia 2012, the largest Russian initiative ever to promote Russian literature and Russian book culture in the United States. The Read Russia 2012 program, sponsored by the Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communication and Media under the direction of Vladimir Grigoriev, will feature translation grants for the publication of contemporary and classical Russian literature in English, author tours for leading Russian writers and their publishers, a major exhibition on children’s book art, and a traveling film series and a new documentary television project about Russian literature. Over 40 Russian authors and translators are expected to travel to New York for various activities associated with Read Russia 2012 and BEA’s Global Market Forum.

The creation of a Russian institute of translation as well as awards to popularize and foster translations for both Russian contemporary and classic prose and poetry will be among the highlights of the cultural and professional programming for the Global Market Forum 2012 which will take place in New York during BEA, June 5 – 7 at the Javits Center. Negotiations are underway with several major cultural institutions in New York for ancillary events directly tied to the Global Market Forum and Read Russia 2012. As noted by Vladimir Grigoriev at a recent press conference at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the principle focus of BEA’s Global Market Forum will be to broaden the presence of Russian literature in America. Grigoriev noted that while in the past Russian literature has had a prominent role internationally, “today very few Russian writers find the reading audience they deserve, which is what we want to start changing through our efforts at and around BookExpo America in 2012.” Peter B. Kaufman, President and Executive Producer of Intelligent Television and Program Director for Read Russia 2012 in the United States, added, “We have a great opportunity to use all kinds of media – online, TV, radio, film – to bring Russian literature to new audiences stateside.”

While making this announcement, Vladimir Grigoriev was accompanied by Mikhail Shishkin, one of the most gifted new Russian authors, who has recently been awarded the prestigious Haus der Kulturen der Welt international award, for the best of the younger generation. Shishkin added how excited he was at the prospect of being part of the upcoming program at BEA. Steven Rosato, Show Manager for BEA, notes: “The Global Market Forum and Read Russia 2012 are combining this year to make a major presentation at BEA. This is the most ambitious undertaking that we have had so far from any of our international guest countries. We look forward to substantially increasing awareness for Russian authors and literature not just at BEA but through various cultural programs that will reach the public during the week of BEA.”

NYMag.com Sets Traffic Record in September with Over 10 Million Unique Visitors

2011-10-19T16:40:00.001-04:00

I saw this in the Mediabistro website FishBowlNY and thought it was interesting. 10 million unique visitors - that is boatload of web traffic! I love NY Magazine - I subscribe to the hard copy and their online pop culture page Vulture. It is always interesting and relevant.

September was a historical month for New York, as its website topped 10 million unique visits for the first time. While that’s great news, the best part about it might be that about 90% of the users during that time were enjoying web-only content. That is because the digital verticals that make up NYMag.com have all become brands on their own.

Vulture has become a force in the pop culture world, Daily Intel is a great source for breaking news and politics (especially now that they have Jonathan Chait contributing), and The Cut has become a must read for commentary on the fashion industry. Not only are these blogs delivering quality, they don’t skimp on quantity either: Adam Moss recently said that NYMag.com publishes new content every six minutes during the week. Every six minutes!

With over 10 million visits it’s inevitable that some of those people end up becoming print subscribers, so beyond increasing digital ad revenue, those hits help the magazine’s numbers as well. New York appears to have found a winning strategy. Don’t be shocked if other titles follow its lead.

Poached Post from today's GalleyCat

2011-10-18T17:13:00.000-04:00

I am posting this article about Spain's Planeta Prize for two reasons - one being that the US reads so few books in translation (3%) which is an absurdly low number - maybe knowing that a book was so good that it was awarded $833k might get someone's attention. The second reason I am stunned by the amount - WOW that is a lot of Euros and even more Dollars!.

Last weekend Javier Moro won Spain’s 601,000 euro ($833,800) Planeta Prize for the novel El Imperio Eres Tú, a book about a 19th Century Brazilian emperor.Direct Link to GalleyCat

Literary blogger M.A.Orthofer noted that the English-speaking press has given the award “very, very little” coverage. He also linked to a list of the world’s richest literary prizes. Why do you think the mainstream press ignores many prizes on this long list of major awards?

Here’s more from The Literary Saloon: “money might not be everything, but in that respect this prize is in a whole different league than the Man Booker (hell, at €150,000 the runner-up — apparently Tiempo de arena, by Inma Chacón this time around — gets more than double the Man Booker winner’s take) — and the ‘major’ American prizes (Pulitzer, National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle) are strictly minor league by comparison.”

Missing Frankfurt Posts & Miss Julie's Librarian Blog

2011-10-17T16:26:00.000-04:00

I am somwhere between furious & grateful for the Blackberry issues last week. I posted several times from Frankfurt that were duly sent off into the electronic atmosphere from my Blackberry and never made to my blog for consumption. Still can't figured out what happened. I am furious because I spent 3-4 hours pecking out several posts using up the precious little spare time I had of last week. I should be grateful because what I was sharing was forced at the end of some long days and probably not that interesting.

I can share one thing - people commenting on whether Frankfurt was slow or busy (I heard both)- does that really matter? Frankfurt is so appointment driven - I had packed schedule and saw the people I needed to meet with and that is what matters. There are pleasant surprises and you do make connections at parties and receptions, but I know before I get on the plane leaving JFK if Frankfurt is going to be slow or busy. I was swamped and will be busy for the next six weeks just following up on everything.

Below is a link to Miss Julie's current post The Cybil Awards; or,"if you liked it then you should have put a medal on it." It is a great explanation on The Cybils, which are the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ book awards.

BEA's Official Librarian Blog

If a picture is worth a 1,000 words

2011-10-07T16:21:00.002-04:00

Debbie McManus - the wonderful rep on the BEA team sent the photo below to me which I thought was awesome. It is fascinating to see without an identifiable message or goal, people are just fed up to the point that they are gathering to protest en masse all over the country - I guess they are protesting that things suck for everyone. That is what happens when the Top 1% of the population controls more than 43% of the US's total wealth. Look at the pie chart below the photo - as sobering as pie chart gets.

An Interview with the son of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn from Shelf Unbound

2011-10-05T16:07:00.001-04:00

The following is an interview with Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn from Shelf Unbound about the soon to be released APRICOT JAM and other stories by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. With Russia being featured country in BEA's 2012 Global Market Forum program - I thought it would be most appropriate to bring some attention to landmark Russian literature - both old and new.

october/30 november 2011 unbound 31

Counterpoint Press http://www.counterpointpress.com/ translations: Solzhenitsyn

You cansign up for your free copy of Shelf Unbound magazine at: www.shelfmediagroup.com/subscribe.php.

In his novels such as The Gulag Archipelago and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn recounted and renounced Soviet oppression, earning him imprisonment, exile, a Nobel Prize, and an acknowledged role in the defeat of communism. Some of his final published works are available in English for the first time in the collection Apricot Jam and Other Stories; on the occasion of the publication of ApricotvJam we are quite honored to present this interview with the author’s son Ignat Solzhenitsyn, well known in his own right as the principal guest conductor of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and the conductor laureate of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.
Shelf Unbound: In the recent The Solzhenitsyn Reader, editors Edward E. Erickson Jr. and Daniel J. Mahoney write, “Today most informed observers appreciate the central role that Solzhenitsyn played in the defeat of communism. More than any other figure in the twentieth century, he exposed the ideological ‘lie’ at the heart of Communist totalitarianism.” How do you describe your father’s legacy and relevance today?
Ignat Solzhenitsyn: My father’s legacy lies first and foremost in his extraordinary contribution to Russian literature at a time when many doubted its very viability. His novels and stories have left an indelible impact on the world. As for the role that his writings and his personal courage played in bringing down the Soviet dragon, he is routinely listed alongside John Paul II, Margaret Thatcher, and Ronald Reagan amongst the prime movers of that historic victory.
Shelf: Published in 1973, The Gulag Archipelago was banned in Russia until 1989. Two years ago Russia’s education ministry made the book required reading in Russian high schools. What does this turn of affairs indicate for the state of Russian culture today, and what, if anything, does it mean to you personally?
Solzhenitsyn: That The Gulag Archipelago has become required reading in Russian high schools is not only a testament to its enduring relevance and power, but also one of the most positive and hopeful signs that today’s Russia is beginning, at long last, to face her frightful past. It is very, very good news.
Shelf: The works in Apricot Jam and Other Stories have until now not been available in English. Tell us about the title story and about what meanings your father was intent on conveying at this time of his life.
Solzhenitsyn: The title story is an eloquent indictment of the hypocrisy and callousness of the Soviet ruling class—not only its apparatchiks and henchmen, but its lackeys in the cultural sphere. Here is a premier Soviet writer (widely recognized as Aleksei Tolstoy) turning a willfully blind eye to the very social injustices that his Communist ideology was supposedly trying to correct. Ego returns to the heroic, though bitter, theme of the Tambov peasant uprising in 1920-21, and its brutal suppression. Adlig Schvenkitten is a gripping autobiographical tale of twenty-four harrowing hours on the Prussian Front in January 1945. The stories are amazingly diverse in setting, plot, and style. If there is a common theme, it might be the pervasive effect of time in the shaping of individual character.
Shelf: What personal characteristics do you most remember about your father?
Solzhenitsyn: Well, I most remember him as a loving, supportive father. But, speaking more objectively, he had a seriousness of purpose in his everyday life and work that was deeply inspiring. He had a great respect for knowledge, for scientific achievement, for language, but also a healthy skepticism of human nature.
Shelf: Your father died in 2008. At the end of his life, had he written everything that he wanted to, or was there still more that he wanted to say?
Solzhenitsyn: One of the great blessings of his life is that, after decades of racing against the clock to complete the enormous tasks he had set for himself (most especially The Red Wheel), he not only succeeded in completing them, but had ample time left over to tie up loose ends and to delve into unexpected, unplanned projects, such as these binary tales.

Trying to figure out what's what in the ever changing world of e-book devices

2011-10-03T13:15:00.000-04:00

Trying to understand all the different devices for reading these days is an not easy task. What is the 'best' choice? Trying to figure out where it lives in the food chain - the closed system like Kindle or an open like Nook? For a consumer, a closed system makes things simple - for the industry an open system levels the playing field and has more options. The best thing I read last week (I can't recall from where) summed up the main device players nicely:

The iPad is a tablet computer
The Nook is a tablet reading device
The new Kindle Fire is a tablet browser

Still - there is a lot to navigate. I did add a link below from CNET - I have found their info useful. CNET Reviews: The Best eBook Readers

Lastly - I came across this article detailing the biggest difference the new Kindle offers and I thought that worthy of including here.

Amazon Silk - The biggest Kindle innovation is not hardware, it's software

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes September 28, 2011, 8:24am PDT

Summary: Amazon’s Silk ‘cloud-accelerated’ web browser is a game changer.

Lots of information coming out of Amazon.s Kindle press event today. There’s a new $79 Kindle, a WiFi Kindle Touch for $99, a 3G Kindle Touch for $149 and the new Kindle Fire tablet for $199.

But out of all this mouthwatering hardware, it’s a software innovation that interests me the most - it’s Amazon Silk? What is Amazon Silk? Put simply, Amazon Silk is a mobile web browser that’s powered by Amazon’s colossal EC2 web services platform. According to Amazon, ‘Silk isn’t just another browser.’

All of the browser subsystems are present on your Kindle Fire as well as on the AWS cloud computing platform. Each time you load a web page, Silk makes a dynamic decision about which of these subsystems will run locally and which will execute remotely. In short, Amazon Silk extends the boundaries of the browser, coupling the capabilities and interactivity of your local device with the massive computing power, memory, and network connectivity of our cloud.

So, it’s a browser powered by cloud computing. Amazon Silk is available exclusively for Kindle Fire users.

Party Invite for the Frankfurt Book Fair

2011-09-30T15:46:00.000-04:00

You are invited to a reception announcing the launch of Read Russia, a worldwide campaign to introduce Russian literature, writers, and publishing houses to the global publishing community. The Read Russia campaign will culminate in New York City at BookExpo America (BEA) in June 2012.
Please join BEA and Russia’s Federal Agency for Press & Mass Communications for an early preview detailing program plans and have a chance to meet the organizers as well as the advisory committee of Read Russia. Next year will feature the largest cultural delegation of Russian authors and publishing professionals ever assembled to visit North America. It will be a pleasure to discuss these plans with you over a cocktail reception at the Russian stand in Frankfurt:

Thursday, October 13 at 4 pm
Russian stand, Hall 5.0 C982

A gift awaits the first 100 guests able to join us. Looking forward to seeing you at Read Russia!

Sincerely,

Vladimir Grigoriev
Deputy Director
The Federal Agency For Press
& Mass Communications

Steven Rosato
Director
BookExpo America (BEA)

Your Backlist is Soft Currency

2011-09-29T15:30:00.000-04:00

This is brief post, but this something I thought was interesting and something that I had not considered. For full disclosure I learned this through a conversation with Steve Potash from Overdrive. He had shared with me that he is doing business with companies that were never on his radar before because of the proliferation of reading devices. Premium companies were approaching him to deliver mass quanities of e-books as promotional items. It is a simple concept - find a related product like a cook book, buy a set of cookware and then you get a code to download your 'free' e-book. There are back list business books, childrens, sports - all sorts of niche titles waiting to be turned into cash. Simply find the right partner that is looking to drive sales by 'giving away' an e-book as a purchase incentive.

My take away from this conversation - get premium companies who are looking for incentive products to BEA. I welcome any thoughts or comments on how we can highlight this at BEA this year.

Announcing PubMatch - a tool to serve BEA exhibitors & attendees year round

2011-09-23T07:24:00.000-04:00

Below is the press release with complete details about PubMatch:

ReedExpo Adds Book Fair Muscle to PubMatch

Book-Publishing Portal and Rights Database Signs On ReedExpo as Partner

New York, NY – September 20, 2011 – Reed Exhibitions, one of the world’s largest event organizers and organizer of BookExpo America and the London Book Fair, has signed on as an affiliate partner to PubMatch, the book-publishing and rights database founded earlier in 2011 by Publishers Weekly and Combined Book Exhibit. The addition of Reed Exhibitions, a division of London-based Reed Elsevier PLC, adds capability for conference attendees and exhibitors to obtain real-time rights information in several different languages.

Alistair Burtenshaw, director of publishing & books for Reed Exhibitions, says, “Reed Exhibitions have worked with both the Combined Book Exhibit and Publishers Weekly for many years and I can think of no better partnership to launch this innovative new venture. The London Book Fair and BookExpo are delighted to be working with PubMatch and look forward to showcasing the service to our customers.”

“Reed Exhibitions brings to PubMatch the expertise and long experience of managing BookExpo America and the London Book Fair, respectively,” says Publishers Weekly president George Slowik, Jr. “These book fairs are valuable tools in the worldwide rights industry, making them invaluable to the PubMatch community.”

Steve Rosato, event director for BEA, says, “BookExpo America is thrilled to be able to have a formal relationship with PubMatch because we see it as a value add for everyone who participates in BEA. It is a tool that enables our attendees and exhibitors to maximize what they get out of BEA when they are there, allowing for them to interact with more people in advance of the show and continue to transact business after BEA. That will make BEA a more valuable event for everyone involved, and delivering more value is core to the BEA mission.”

According to Jon Malinowski, president of Combined Book Exhibit and PubMatch co-founder, “PubMatch is fast becoming the leading Web site for multilingual rights information around the world. The addition of Reed Exhibitions as an affiliate partner is a huge step forward in realizing the potential of PubMatch.”

PubMatch was conceived at the Beijing Book Fair in 2008 when Malinowski met with a panel of U.S., U.K. and Chinese book publishing luminaries whose goal was to establish better communications. Aside from the initial language barriers, communications about literary rights was an even higher hurdle to surmount. He founded PubMatch as a tool to make book fairs a better experience for attendees and exhibitors alike and to facilitate the rights sales process. In 2010 Publishers Weekly came on as an equal partner in and co-owner of PubMatch.

PubMatch affiliates include Taiwan-based Lee’s Literary Agency and Author Marketing Experts, based in San Diego. The PubMatch Web site is offered in English and simplified Chinese, with traditional (or complex) Chinese currently being programmed and the next language to go live. German is to follow later this fall.

“New programming on PubMatch includes a new and improved catalogue-generation feature and search capabilities,” Malinowski says. A section dedicated to service providers is forthcoming, with areas included for translators, illustrators, editors, trade associations, distributors and wholesalers and more.” He expects this section to be live in time for the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Another new section is to include an employment exchange by country; already the site is streaming in Publishers Weekly’s popular job postings.

Currently the membership of PubMatch is nearly 3,000 and Malinowski and Slowik expect that number to climb to 10,000 or more by the end of 2012. The portal site, partially supported by advertising, faces some competition, but the PubMatch partners and affiliates agree that the PubMatch rights database is a muscular new tool in the international rights arena.

Moscow Book Fair to BookExpo America

2011-09-21T17:20:00.000-04:00

A friend forwarded this article to me from the Voice of Russia website - I thought this was a great write up for what transipred in Moscow and what we anticipate to be a great event as a key part of BEA in our most ambitious Global Market Forum program ever that will focus on Russia.

One can hardly find a long line anywhere in Moscow these days, but visitors to the International Moscow Book Fair have to queue up for quite a while to get into the huge shiny building. They are eager to enter the International Moscow Book Fair, which is the most notable book event in Russia. It is an annual fair. And this September is no exception. More than 1500 participants from 57 countries are taking part this time. The schedule is very busy: about 500 events in 5 days. But to a delegation of 15 American publishers and translators that came to the Russian capital the fair is very special. It is a rehearsal for an upcoming project ReadRussia that is going to be a central event at BookExpo America in 2012 where Russia is to become a guest of honor. The ultimate goal of their visit is to bridge relations with Russian publishers and to discuss opportunities for Russian contemporary literature in the US. The event is supported by the Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications and organized by foundation Academia Rossica that has been promoting Russian culture abroad for years.

Svetlana Adjoubei, director of Academia Rossica, comments on the importance of the upcoming project: “Contemporary Russian literature is not known well in the US. We believe Russian writers deserve to be known better in an English speaking world. To realize this objective Russian government is setting up grants for translating Russian literature into English and organizing big promotional campaign which will run at American Universities, American bookshops, professional program will be held in BookExpo America in June 2012”.

Today very few modern Russian writers are known to a broad American audience, only Boris Akunin and Victor Pelevin are successful on the English language book market. But everybody hopes that next year is going to change the situation. A big delegation of 50 Russian writers is to participate in New York based BookExpo America next summer.

One of the American delegation members represents a US book industry that has been affiliated with Russian literature for years. Peter Meyer, former CEO of Penguin Books is the president of the Overlook Press, that has been translating and publishing modern Russian writers as well as the classics. Having come to Moscow this time prior to the beginning of the Book Fair he decided to discover provincial Russia to better know the realities of literature he is publishing. Despite the fact that he broke his arm he is not upset, but happy to deepen his knowledge of Russia. This is what he said to us:

“Because we have an interest in Russian literature, we also publish new names like Olga Slavnikova, Luidmila Ulitskaya and they are new. We even publish science fantasy by Maks Frai. I think we publish more Russian books than anybody else. I think we probably will have a stand at BookExpo, and most Americans don't know anything about it, but probably this organization will help bring some our authors in America and we will promote them”.

Book market analysts claim there is a real hunger for new names, new points of view and new stories in the USA. 35% of all issues in the US come from Europe, and only 13% are American books, according to the BookExpo America survey. People are getting more excited about works in translation.

Steven Rosato the director of BookExpo America says that the main goal for the fair team is to introduce Russian literature and Russian writers in the best and fullest way to American audience. Steven Rosato emphasizes: “ I think it allows more and more writers to be discovered, because it is easier to come across them, it get samples of writings and that is why it is such a great opportunity for Russia. I firmly believe that culture is a gateway to understanding and appreciation, so the more people expose more understand the gate to appreciation for”.

BookExpo America is a global international event in which 35 countries and 25000 industry professionals - including around 800 authors from all over the world take part. In June 2012 American audience will get to know as many as 50 talented writers from Russia.

Setting the Course For BEA 2012 and beyond

2011-09-19T17:36:00.002-04:00

BEA has for a long time been many things to many people. That will continue to be part of the the essence of BEA. However, BEA's approach has become more refined to insure that it is a high value to the individual constituencies that call BEA home. Having the Book Bloggers Convention, the IDPF Digital Book program, Publishers Launch and the Audio Publishers Association events integrated into BEA insures those constituents' priorities are served and still allow for the huge 'commercial' benefits of bringing all the various interests of those collective groups together. That is a mouthful but I want to reassure people that BEA will always invest in these core values and continue the to do things we do well while we chart a course that moves forward in a positive yet new direction.

The future of BEA will be delivering extraordinary value in content - that includes in the depth of what is seen on the show floor and in programming. Throwing the word digital around is like dot.com IPO back in 2000 - everyone wants in and everyone knows it is the future, but place your bets carefully. Saying BEA will be digitally focused or the destination for all publishing issues that are digital - is not asking you to place a bet. BEA will be the place to see and learn the latest trends, technology and applications for what is going on digitally - that includes social media - how to leverage it and what is proving successful.

The other path that BEA barrels down is engaging consumers and influencers of books to promote and discover what interests them. This is for consumers and booksellers, librarians and book club leaders, bloggers and reviewers. BEA will very quickly be the main venue for people who are buying or selling books in any format to discover what is in the market. New York Book & Media Week is going to take an exponential leap in 2012, BEA is going to capture our best programs and deliver them through podcasting and video.

Details will emerge through the fall but I wanted to share at least very generally the main themes for BEA going forward. If you are placing bets on BEA's future, they are:

Being the #1 market place and education destination for all issues related to digital publishing.
Become a Direct to Market conduit for promoting books that serves booksellers and consumers alike.

Fair Faring in Moscow

2011-09-09T04:59:00.000-04:00

I honestly could not count the number of book fairs I have been to in the last 15+ years of working in this business. Book fairs sound like wonderful and exotic adventures, traveling off to distant places and meeting with interesting thinkers and people from all over the world, which is partially true. However, the reality is that book fairs are marathons of work, cramming months of planning into scores of meetings that will exponentially multiply with the inevitable follow up and effort to bear fruit from the meetings that originate at these various fairs. That is the wonder of any book fair - the ability to efficiently meet with the key players from all over the planet in one place at one time.

Now that I have prattled on about the fantastic but grueling world of book fairs, I wanted to selfishly share the fun I had last night attending a reception hosted by the Mayor of Moscow at the Pushkin Museum. What a stunning venue! I was lucky enough to be included to attend an event hosted at by the Ambassador from Italy at the Italian Embassy in Moscow - reportedly one of the finest homes in Moscow. It was here where Trotsky assassinated the German Ambassador - the rug has been removed in case any one was curious.

Not Your Average Book Awards

2011-09-08T05:06:00.000-04:00

MOSCOW - Last night I attended Book of the Year Awards which is presented by the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications. It was part literary event and part Vegas floor show. How many book awards have you been to that end with confetti canons? Let me not forget the show girls with Faberge egg head pieces and as well as several elaborate musical numbers staged between the book awards. This was of course a nationally televised event. Don't mistake my delight for sarcasm. It was a highly entertaining event. The juxtaposition of books on Stalin and 10 volume art books being celebrated in between song and dance numbers was a bit of a revelation. I say that recognizing from a cultural perspective, books and literature are prized and valued more highly by Russians in comparison to than I see in the US. Celebrating serious books in this way makes them more accessible to wider audience Which is never a bad thing.

I digress - I have been really impressed with the effort by organizers of the Russian participation that will be the focus of BEA's 2012 Global Market Forum program. The have brought over a serious contingent representing different parts of the US book industry to begin building relationships now that will make their participation in BEA the culmination of their efforts that will bear fruit opposed to pushing out wall of information and hoping that parts will stick. Some of the people here in Moscow that will be integral in the planning and programs that will take place at BEA include Peter Mayer of Overlook Press, John Silberstack - Trident Media, Steve Bercu of BookPeople representing the ABA and Peter Blackstock from Grove/Atlantic. These are just a few of the people here, but indicative of the effort being made that will produce a great program that will benefit Russian publishing as well as the partnerships they will form with US publishers.

Monday Means Moscow

2011-09-05T17:24:00.000-04:00

I am waiting to board my flight to Moscow, in route to the Moscow International Book Fair. I will be joining a delegation that has been put together by the Dept. of Press and Mass Communications, over seen by Deputy Director Vladimir Grigoriev and also notably by Peter Kaufman and Svetlana Svetlana Adjoubiei of Academia Rossica. The well rounded
Delegation Includes ABA VP Steve Bercu from Bookpeople, Peter Mayer from Overlook Press, George Slowick, President of PW among many of the notable guests that are being hosted from the US. There is an ambitious program that it being presented at Moscow International Book Fair that is the first stage in planning leading up to BEA's Global Market Forum program in 2012 that will proudly feature Russia in our most ambitious program yet. I will look forward to posting details from events, sharing what I hear from Russian publishers and booksellers. I am as excited for what I will learn on this trip as I am for the plans that will start to form for BEA 2012.

Unbroken is breaking new numbers

2011-09-02T12:17:00.001-04:00

I borrowed the info below from today's PW Daily. It caught my attention because I loved this book - Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - one of my favorite reads this year. It is staggering to think that this book can sell 1,000,000 copies in hard cover PLUS 650,000 e-book copies. This is proof that digital is bringing in new readers, getting people to buy books they might not have otherwise purchased a title which is not at the expense of print. I am sure there are people that downloaded the e-book instead buying the hardcover, but I am guessing they might have told a few friends how much they loved this book - influencing them to go out and buy the hardcover (or e-book). A great story is a great story, no matter what format it comes in.

In comments about its strong six-month results Wednesday, Random House chairman Markus Dohle cited the number of bestsellers it had in the period as a key reason for the jump in earnings. One of its strongest performances was by Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken, and today the Random House Publishing Group announced that the title has passed the one-million-copy milestone in hardcover copies sold. T

he story of Louis Zamperini, a World War II bombadier who crashed in the Pacific, was marooned on a raft for 47 days and survived being tortured in a Japanese POW camp, was published by the Random House imprint in November 2010, and has also sold about 650,000 e-book copies. Random Group publisher and president Gina Centrello noted, "In this time of explosive growth in e-book sales, the mega-success of Unbroken in hardcover clearly underscores that the demand for print editions of great reads is still enormous."

Information on the Memorial tribute to Zev Birger

2011-09-01T11:41:00.000-04:00

Please see the details below on the memorial tribute that is being heldfor Zev Birger, former Fair Director of the Jerusalem International Book Fair. He passed in a tragic accident earlier this year. I did not know Zev very well, only meeting him a handful of times. However, in those brief encounters, he left a big impression. He had a true zeal for life and a generous spirit - he will be sorely missed.

The American Advisory Committee of the Jerusalem International Book Fair will hold a memorial tribute to our beloved Zev Birger on Thursday, September 22, at 6 p.m. at the Random House Building, 1745 Broadway (between W. 55-W. 56 Sts.), 2nd Floor, New York, with a reception following hosted by Random House, Inc.

As Chairman and Managing Director of the biennial book fair for more than 25

years, Zev influenced many thousands of book people from all over the world,

including nearly 450 editors and agents awarded JIBF Fellowships in the

landmark program launched under his leadership in 1985.

RSVP by Wednesday, September 14th to philip@jibffellowship.com (for RH Lobby

Security List)

NOTE: A special program in Zev's name will be established to launch at the
next book fair in 2013. Donations to its creation and endowment would be
appreciated and may be made to the Ariel Municipal Company Ltd, Bank Leumi,
Agudat Sport Hapoel Yerushlayim 1, Jerusalem, Branch no. 901, Account no.
6433300/99.

Please visit our website if you'd like to leave remembrances or comments on

Zev's Tributes page, or for further information: www.jibffellowship.com.

THE AMERICAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE JERUSALEM INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR:

Julie Barer, Julie Barer Literary; Tim Bartlett, Basic Books; Flip Brophy,

Sterling Lord Literistic; Cevin Bryerman, Publishers Weekly; Judy Clain,

Little Brown; Jane Friedman, Open Road Media; Lynn Goldberg,

Goldberg-McDuffie; Julie Grau, Spiegel & Grau; Ivan Held, G.P. Putnam's

Sons; Michael Kazan, Verso Advertising; Scott Manning, Scott Manning &

Assoc.; Esther Margolis, Newmarket Press; Daisy Maryles; Maya Mavjee, Crown

Publishing; Amber Qureshi, Viking Penguin; Philip Rappaport, McClelland &

Stewart; Ira Silverberg, Sterling Lord Literistic.

From today's Publishers Lunch

2011-08-30T14:16:00.000-04:00

I always enjoy Michael Cader's reporting and thought he did a fantastic write up on the conference call B&N CEO William Lynch held today with analysts. Loads of interesting tidbits range from to the huge expectations on Nook sales to a rosy outlook across most parts of their business to anticipating a strong Holiday Season. I stole his coverage wholesale below - if you don't already subscribe - you can find it: Publishers Marketplace

BN Says Nook Is A $900 Million Business, Set to Double

Barnes & Noble reported first quarter results that were mostly below analysts' expectations, but showed strong growth in the Nook business and for the first time broke out the entire digital reading segment. The Nook segment--including content, devices and accessories--totalled $277 million for the quarter, with BN saying digital content sales quadrupled over the year. They say the Nook business comprised $880 million last year (and $123 million in 2010), and "is expected to double this year to $1.8 billion." That news, and projections of smaller losses and much better EBITDA thanks to the Liberty Media investment sent Barnes & Noble shares soaring in early trading, up over $2 a share just after the opening bell and still up by well over 10 percent later in the morning.

Total sales for the quarter were $1.418 billion, up 1.5 percent on an overall basis, though all the gains came through BN.com as both retail and college sales slid. While print book sales continued to fall, the company told investors "we saw that rate of decline slow" and "project a further pick-up in our physical book sales" as Borders finishes its liquidation. Regular store comps declined 1.6 percent (better than the 2.1 percent falloff analysts expected), while college store comps fell 1.8 percent (worse than the 0.6 percent analysts estimated). The consolidated net loss was $56.6 million, or 99 cents a share, a $6 million improvement versus a year ago, but still more than analysts had expected. The company says EBITDA improved 23 percent in the quarter, at $30.7 million.

In this morning's conference call with analysts, ceo William Lynch noted that BN.com margins are improving considerably, helped in part by agency pricing. "We see agency expanding. We think agency is going to take hold as the dominant form of pricing for ebooks going forward. It makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons. Clearly agency expands our gross margins."

PubIt remains "the fastest growing part of the sales and catalog," with those units "typically priced under $2.99." Some of that growth is from IP holders who can monetize electronic content as "ebooks" that has been harder to charge for via the web itself. Lynch said traditionally-priced frontlist books are performing steadily, too, though, adding "we see that pricing holding there." He still estimates their ebook market share at 26 to 27 percent, and says they are doing slightly better with electronic periodicals. As for the recent change in iOS apps, Lynch says "we didn't see a marked change in purchasing through the app itself." In answering another question, Lynch declared "this belief that people are going to read books on smartphones just hasn't materialized."

In addition to breaking out the Nook business, BN has resumed providing forward earnings guidance, which can be seen as a sign of stabilization as well. They are projecting full-year sales of $7.4 billion, and losses of 10 to 50 cents a share. (With the Liberty Media investment, however, they see full-year EBITDA of between $210 and $250 million.) The sales gain from the disappearance of Borders is put at a modest $150 to $200 million (only roughly 10 percent of Borders' sales).

Lynch foresees a big holiday as part of that forecast: "With Borders going out, we're convinced this holiday will be the biggest traffic we've had in the stores for five years." He says their educational toys and games initiative also continues to perform well, with 66 percent comparable-sales growth in the past quarter. Store president Mitchell Klipper added that they are "talking to the landlords now about acquiring some leases" for locations that have been occupied by Borders, without indicating a number of new stores under discussion.
One more interesting sign: the conference call with analysts was far busier (and too much longer) than usual, with many more participants asking questions than in the past. Clearly the Nook results and Liberty investment have attracted new attention for the company from the financial sector, and participants enjoyed being able to query management about the particulars of the ereading business. (You can expect that analysts will now conjure new guesses about the size of the Kindle business based on Barnes & Noble's disclosures today.)

Finally, in the official release Lynch comments, "Our strategy of growing market share in the exploding digital content business while maximizing cash flow and EBITDA from our retail operations is paying off. We plan to continue investing in the significant growth areas of our business, and in fiscal 2012, we expect to see leverage as our digital sales growth is projected to exceed the growth of investment spend. Additionally, the return on investment is expected to increase in future years, as readers purchase increasing amounts of digital content on the platform we have built."

Getting Hit by Irene and Missing Beijing

2011-08-30T10:40:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Irene left a footprint that won't soon be forgotten that ranged from destruction and catastrophic loss to near misses and charmed good fortune. I count myself among the latter, despite losing a favorite tree (that wonderfully shaded the deck on our house); the damage was minimal from a personal perspective.

However, it will be hard to recover from a business aspect what I consider a major loss - Irene forced me to miss my scheduled trip to the Beijing International Book Fair. I had to scuttle a full schedule, missed the impressive ceremonies along with Beijing International Publishers Forum. The Netherlands are the Guest of Honor for 2011. I was interested in seeing how a country steeped in Western literature would be presented in Beijing, what resonates in terms of translated literature as well as Chinese authors that have been translated and found audiences in the Netherlands.

Alas - I will follow the Beijing International Book Fair from a far; count my personal blessings while scrambling to make up for opportunities that were lost. At least I can do so with lights on and a functioning internet as so many people I know remain without power and will likely not have power for days.

Miss Julie's Favorite Books This Year

2011-08-24T17:55:00.000-04:00

Miss Julie is BEA's official (and awesome) Librarian Blogger. I pasted her post below, but you can follow her here: Official BEA Librarian Blogger
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Favorite books this year (so far)

I’m terrible with summaries, so click through for synopses done by better people than I.

Young Adult

Ultraviolet by RJ Anderson. Beautiful, elegant speculative fiction, with a bit of mystery thrown in for good measure. You can read a detailed review on my blog here.

Chime by Frannie Billingsley. An original fairy-tale with a gothic flair. bonus factors: slow burning romance, a dark family secret, and fairy-folk. For fans of Victoria Holt, Jane Eyre, and swooning.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. There’s a character who spends the entire book with a tray stuck through her head. What else do you need to know? For fans of crazysauce.

The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolston. Woolston’s first novel, a Morris award winner, is tender, funny, and insightful. suitable for fans of John Green’s absorbing and deeply intelligent novels. I’ll be writing a more in-depth exploration of this title soon, but for now be content to know that I highly recommend it.

Middle Grade

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier. I wrote a little bit about this book and its author (and kittens) here, and even after this blurb I will have more to say about the book soon.

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. I just finished this Newbery award winning book and it was a very satisfying, wholesome book, the literary version of a meat and potatoes meal. I grew up in the Midwest and have family in Kansas, so the setting was very familiar and comforting to me, and I greatly enjoyed the story within a story technique employed by Vanderpool.

Nonfiction

Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage by Hazel Rowley. I like learning about larger periods of history through the narrow focus of a person’s life. This biography clearly outlined the marriage of Franklin and Eleanor and the unique nature of their partnership with honesty that never veered into sensationalism.

Adult Fiction

The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook. Oh, my; I read this after entering a steampunk phase inspired by Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan. It’s super steampunk goodness and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I think it would make a good readalike for fans of Game of Thrones.

BEA is the cover story of Convene Magazine

2011-07-12T15:20:00.000-04:00

I could blame the heat or being distracted by vacation plans for my lack of posting, but the fact is there is just a lot going putting BEA 2011 to bed and executing planning for 2012, which is not far enough along that would be worth sharing. I do promise a post on 2012 soon - highlighting will be new and different.

I am happy to share that Brien McDonald was promoted to Director of Strategic Accounts. He has done an incredible job as BEA's National Accounts Manager and taken on a lot of extra duties, the most outwardly visible are his efforts (with Lisa Montanaro) on the BEA Targeted Attendee Program (TAP). TAP is BEA's strategic effort to attract specific attendees that are particularly valuable to BEA's exhibitors - this has been a great success for BEA. Congratulations Brien in his new job!!!

INstead of a wrting a thoughtful post, I am taking the short cut of posting a link - Convene Magazine did a great story on BEA from this past year. Please take a look: Convene Magazine BEA Story

On to the next......

2011-05-31T17:14:00.000-04:00

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - I do feel just a bit lighter this week. It is back to a more normal pace this week after the hyper active pre-BEA mode for the last 2+ months. I am eager to hear people's feedback - especially if there was anything negative. Without knowing where BEA is challenged - we can only hazzard a guess on what needs to be improved. If I was good at guessing - I would spend more time in Las Vegas.

I am going to post a couple of the nice comments I have gotten so far (I have not gotten anything negative - if I do get a true complaint - I will share if it to see if was an isolated issue or something to be concerned about). Also, posted below are links to a good interview with Michael Schatzkin by Publishing Perspectives and a link to the BookExpo Cast site with loads of great video from BEA.

Hi Steve,

It was another great year. I hope you received positive feedback from attendees.
Danielle Yeomans, Coordinator Ulster BOCES
SLSA President-Elect

Hi Steve: Thanks for putting together a good show. I thought things went well and I appreciate all the things you did to get people in the door and in the aisles. See you soon.

Mark Suchomel - President
Independent Publishers Group

Publishing Perspectives Video Interview with Mike Shatzkin at BEA

BookExpoCast.com

BEA Numbers are in!!

2011-05-27T12:07:00.000-04:00

It was a larger task than usual to report on BEA’s numbers because of the number of co-located events and to insure we were counting the right people only one time. The final numbers may change slightly once the registration reports are scrubbed, but the numbers below are accurate to within less than a 1% variation.

That total number of professionals that passed through BEA jumped significantly due to BlogWorld, but that would not provide an apples to apples comparison. It should also be noted that BEA strategically vetted more attendee groups to improve the quality of those participating in BEA. In particular there were 500 less attendee authors in 2011. This should not be confused with authors that appear at BEA for signings or events which are counted in BEA’s professional number.

This is the apples to apples comparison as calculated in 2010:

The total attendance for BEA 2011 was 21,664 compared to 21,919 in 2010
BEA had 13,028 attendees in 2011 compared to 13,872 in 2010.

The total number at BEA 2011 that included BlogWorld attendees was 23,067 compared to 21,919 in 2010. A more detailed press release will be issued next.

Thank you to all those that sent so many nice e-mails offering congratulations and sharing how good BEA was from your perspective. PLEASE check out the www.bookexpocast.com for a lot of the video that is posted to see anything you might have missed in person.

News on Russia

2011-05-26T18:48:00.001-04:00

Global Market Forum Russia press conference

May 26, 2011

Vladimir Grigoriev, Steven Rosato

While this year's show was still in full swing, I had the pleasure to welcome Vladimir Grigoriev of the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communication in Russia, who will oversee next year's "Global Market Forum: Russia". After the Arab world, Spain and Italy in the past years, the Russian program will be by far the most ambitious line up of both professional and cultural programs that we had so far. It will not only introduce books and publishers to the American market. By bringing 40+ authors as well as a delegation of booksellers and librarians to New York, it will have a significant impact not only on BEA, but also on New York Book week, the literary line of events in the City.

At our joint press conference, Vladimir Grigoriev laid out the scope of his plans. On the one hand, his goal is to energetically promote the translation of Russian literature with American publishers and the reading audience by sponsoring the cost of translation. On the other hand, Grigoriev want to bring American know how to ease the digital transition which is currently re-shaping the Russian industry just as it affected publishing in the US.

The Russian book industry releases on average 120,000 titles per year. The Russian effort in New York will be supported by Academia Rossica, a London based initiative for the promotion of Russian literature internationally.

Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!

2011-05-26T15:53:00.000-04:00

BEA Day 3 was punctuated by Jane Fonda's packed (SRO) appearance on the Insight Author Stage - a perfect bookend event. I am struck by the number of people asking me how I think things went - which is ironic because I don't see how it matters what I think - the only thing that matters is what attendees and exhibitors think and what they got out of BEA, It is like asking a waiter - how was my dinner?

I am extremely grateful for all the congratulations I have gotten which truly belong to the entire BEA team. What I do think is I am beyond thrilled at buzz, activity and what transpired at BEA 2011. BEA remains vital and the outlook going forward is vibrant. This vibrancy is born out by the effort to improve the quality of BEA attendees and bring in new buyers while eliminating those who are peripheral to what is valuable for BEA exhibitors. It was clear the major emphasis to improve the quality of BEA attendees was a huge success. The future for BEA looks well beyond just next year with my conversations looking at where will be not just next year but all the way out to 2016 and more.

We hope to have attendee numbers later tonight or earlier tomorrow - we have to have scanners uploaded and go through the deduping process.

BEA Day 3

2011-05-26T09:30:00.001-04:00

Even on day 3, people are lining up anxious to get on the show floor for the opening Bell. This mornings breakfast included a very funny short video Ellen Degeneres made specifically for this morning's Book & Author Breakfast (moderated by Jim Lehrer with Roger Ebert, Anne Enright & Erik Larson). There will be a short press conference to share news on the some of the plans for the BEA's 2012 Global Market Forum feature country of Russia. One year out and the planning is already well underway. The news will provide details and scope for how ambitious of a project next year's program will genuinely be for BEA and Russia.

I expect to be back here later today or early tomorrow to report BEA's final attendance numbers from what has been a great show. In 2011 BEA saw more first time exhibitors (150+), more content on the show floor with programming on the Insight Stages, the IDPF Digital Zone and the new Made in America Pavilion. There was a special networking breakfast for museum store buyers that I have received a number of e-mails on citing what a great experience it was, already planning for 2012!! From everything I saw and heard - 2011 has been decidely upbeat and smooth. I anticipate a big jump in out attendee satisfaction scores as all the problems that we encountered last year with lines in the food courts and crowding in autograpging or navigating the show floor were addressed and relegated as non-issues.

I want to also acknowledge a number of our partners for delivering on things that improved the BEA show experience from the jammed show daily the PW delivered to the Publishers Lunch conference which was a great program, the Book Bloggers Convention grew considerably....I am out of time as I am being paged now - I will get back to offer a recap on some of the other highlights that helped stamp this BEA as one with a future that is more vibrant than it has been in years

BEA 2011 Day 2

2011-05-25T09:13:00.000-04:00

The doors won't open for another 10 minutes or so and there are long lines at both entrances waiting to get into BEA this morning. That is an odd way to start this post - but as a show organizer, our mission and how we are measured is by the audience we deliver. We get a sense leading up to BEA on what to expect, good or bad - but you never know until everyone shows up. So, seeing long lines anxious to get in is a very comforting sight.

It has been genuinely upbeat and the programming has been outstanding. This morning's breakfast Diane Keaton, Jefferey Eugenides and Charlaine Harris; with Master of Ceremonies: Mindy Kaling was terrific. You can get a peak at what you are missing on this link: BookExpo Cast including yesterday's breakfast and the Editor's Buzz Panel from Monday. We will continue to get some select video up as quickly as we can.

We will have a press conference tomorrow to announce some exciting news about the 2012 Global Market Forum featured country Russia. That will be at 10:30 in the BEA press office (5/26).

WOW it has been a busy day...........

2011-05-24T13:56:00.000-04:00

Day 1 from BEA has been a sea of smiling faces (lots and lots of faces!!). Lead off by the terrific Children's Breakfast this morning hosted by Julianne Moore and featuring Sarah Dessen, Kevin Henkes, Katherine Paterson and Brian Selznick. It was close to a record attendance with more than 1,200 people in attendance. The only down side so far today has been the attempt to kryogenically preserve anyone in the Hachette booth where the air conditioning chose to go into hyper cool down mode. Not to make light of it, but it took 3 hours to fix the problem and the staff at Hachette was incredibly understanding.

BEA Announces Industry Ambassador Award

2011-05-23T09:20:00.000-04:00

It was my great pleasure and a true honor to name the recipient of the first Annual BEA Industry Ambassador Award this morning at the opening of the IDPF Digital Book 2011 program. The winner was Mr. Steve Potash, CEO of Overdrive.

The BEA Industry Ambassador will honor publishing industry professionals who dinstinguish themselves by representing, promoting and advancing the interests of publishing as a whole. Those characteristics define BEA's role as an industry platform to promote and advance the interests of BEA's various stakeholders - that includes authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, increasingly technology companies as well as the media that make BEA the great industry event that it is.

It was over due to recognize someone who embodies those characteristics from the industry. I could not think of a more deserving person who is as tireless as he is selfless in what he contributes to publishing as a whole. I look forward to growing the stature of this award, but it will be defined by Mr. Potash who as the first recipient truly defines the intent and spirit of this award.

And so it begins....

2011-05-23T07:20:00.000-04:00

This year BEA has been a sprint from start to finish with the amount of planning and execution that has gone on to get to this point. Well - the finish line is in sight and there is still wind in our sails and gas left in the tank. The reason it feels like we have been sprinting the whole way is because since I pulled out of Javits on May 26th in 2010 at 5:00, BEA 2011 planning started in earnest before I was even off of 11th Avenue when BEA made the decision to restore the 3rd day of exhibits. Working through the ALA concept, securing our partnerships with the IDPF, the Book Bloggers Convention, entering the venture with Blog World & New Media Expo, welcoming the Audio Publishers Association, the IBPA Publishing University and the expansion of New York Book Week - well, you get the idea why we have not come up for air and started in a full sprint on May 26th.

It is early Monday before the BEA crescendo fully comes to a head but a few things tell me that with our blinders on for this race, BEA will come out well ahead. The IDPF will exceed their record numbers from 2010 - looking like close to 900 total conferees, the Book Bloggers Convention will have 15% more people, BEA itself will see more librarians and more VIPs in very strong numbers, the BEA program today is awesome, the Global Market Forum featuring Italy has packed agenda with outstanding speakers. I will be back here later this morning with some BEA news and posting often this week. If you are at BEA-I hope I see you, get a chance to thank you for supporting the best publishing event in North America and you walk away with a terrific experience for you and your business.

Italy is featured for BEA's Global Market Forum Program - May 23, 2011

2011-05-16T10:35:00.000-04:00

From today's press release detailing the wonderful Italian Global Market Forum program:
A rich and compelling program of panel debates provides detailed market information and ample business and match making opportunities

Norwalk, CT, May 16, 2011: Publishing in Italy will be the focus of attention at BEA’s conference day on Monday, May 23rd, the day preceding the official opening of convention floor activity at America’s largest gathering of publishers and other book industry professionals at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

The Italian-American meeting will cover a full range of topics: from introducing fiction writing in translation; to children’s and art books; to market exchanges by exporting, importing or trading translation rights; to digital innovation.

The speakers will be from key companies in the U.S. and Italy, representing significant expertise in various areas including publishers, editors, agents, book fair organizers, as well as officials from professional organizations in both countries.

Italy will be highlighted as one of the most thriving book markets in Europe, with a long tradition of successful companies going back over a century, yet with new and dynamic contenders moving forcefully in the international community, as well as seeking fresh opportunity in the digital arena.

In this regard, several publishing personalities who have recently been responsible for making Italian authors a big success with American readers will share their professional experience. And by introducing a European research project called “Arrow” on “orphan works” – a key obstacle in creating a truly universal digital library for the future - Italy has demonstrated that its innovators are at the forefront of some of the key issues with regard to digital change.

The Global Market Forum: Italy is a joint project of BookExpo America, the Italian Trade Commission in Chicago and the Italian publishers’ association AIE.

First there was sliced bread and then there was the BEA Mobile App

2011-05-10T17:55:00.001-04:00

I tested out the BEA Mobile App last week and it ROCKED and today it went LIVE!!! Download away my friends. The BEA Moblile App has additional functionality for exhibitors (track shipments, orders and invoicing!!), total ease of use and COMPLETE info for navigating BEA that will make it a different, better show experience. Below is a write up from my eSolutions team - but words will pale to the experience. This is like when plumbing was moved indoors, when it was decided to serve water in a glass instead of your hands, comparing a washing machine to using a rock, well - I am getting thin on anologies here. It's free, it has all the BEA info you will need and it is completely unituitive.

Features include:

Full Exhibitor List – including Show Specials
Autographing Schedules
Authors & Book Lists
Interactive Map of the exhibit floor
Conference & Special Event Listings
Basic Show Info and Tips
Show Updates & Alerts
Frommer’s Guide (to come by show time…this will not be in the first release of the app)

**One of the most important notes for this year is the mobile web access. Last year we were just an iPhone app. This year we have an iPhone app and a mobile website so anyone with a web-enabled mobile device including Android and Blackberry will be able to access this info. If someone did download our app last year, they will need to download the brand new app to access the current information and new features. We will not be updating the old one.

To access it, people will simply need to visit http://www.beamobile.com/ from their mobile phone/device. If they are on an iPhone, it will prompt them to go to the app store. If they are on any other mobile device, it will take them to our mobile website version. Right now that URL goes to our website where people can sign up to be alerted via text message when it is ready.

Free Breakfast for BEA IRC Members

2011-05-09T11:48:00.000-04:00

Our wonderful friends from the Turin International Book Fair will again be just outside the International Rights Center with an information table answering questions about the Turin International Book Fair. Plan to to stop by and they will provide you with a $10.00 voucher good for food service at Javits!!!

This will be on Tuesday May 24th from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

BEA Made Easy

2011-05-06T16:31:00.000-04:00

Take advantage of My BEA Show Planner. This is super easy to use as an online show planner. It will help you navigate and plan your time at the show more efficiently. Take a tour today with our new BEA Planning Made Easy Video instructions for the BEA Show Planner

GUEST COLUMN by Nick Ruffilo to Announce a COOL EVENT: Drop Everything and Read

2011-05-05T11:41:00.000-04:00

Enjoy your DEAR time. Drop Everything and Read. Event Time: Thursday May 26th, 2-3PM
Where: South Concourse of Javits

At 2pm on Thursday May 26th, join your fellow publishing professionals for a break from the hustle and bustle with some DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time. Come, relax, swap galleys and stories with others, and have a wonderful time.

The publishing industry is built on two key components - writers and readers. Without writers, we would have no content to package and sell. Without readers, we would have no one to sell that content to. I’ve spent a relatively short time in publishing - only 3 ½ years - but I’ve learned a few things that I’d like to share with everyone:

1) Book industry people are amazing! As an outsider you embraced me, listened to my ideas, and helped to teach me about the wonderful nature of publishing. I’ve also come to find that this isn’t unique to me. Publishing professionals are generally nice people.

2) Publishing professionals love their product. Sure, bankers love money, but I’ve yet to work in an industry where 75% of a company was comprised of a sampling of its target market. Who better to curate and cultivate a product than the very people that love it.

3) Reading is cool. I grew up in a household where reading was something you did from time to time. Sure, it was valued, but the “cool” kids played sports and were popular. That mentality followed me around until just a few years ago when I went to my first publishing gathering. Beyond confirming my “readers are nice” affirmation, I learned that readers and reading are actually really cool.

“This is all good & well, but, so...?” That’s a great question and a perfect lead in. I want to give back to each and every one of you that have helped me in these past few years - directly or indirectly. I want to do that by giving you a time and place to do what you love most with the people that share the most in common with you.

I’m inviting people to come join me from 2-3pm on Thursday May 26th in the South Concourse for a blast from Kindergarten and just DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) for 30 minutes. The rest of the 30 minutes you can use to read, relax, run to your next meeting, or chat and catch up.

Don’t forget to bring your galleys you’ve collected during the show to swap with others (make sure you get what you want at BEA, not just what was handed to you).

I am also looking to give out goodies (candy, bookmarks, etc) and am looking for partners to help with the cost. If you are interested, please contact nruffilo@bookswim.com or call 201-248-2679.

I hope to see you there!

Nick Ruffilo
CIO/CTO
BookSwim.com
Office: 732-603-1091
Mobile: 201-248-2679
Twitter: @BookSwim

Publishers Weekly BEA Preview Article

2011-05-01T07:46:00.000-04:00

PW wrote up a terrific review on BEA: Link to BEA Overview from PW One item to note, for which PW has already printed a correction but in this link it states that BlogWorld & New Media Expo runs on Friday May 27th - that was mixed up date wise with the Book Blogger Convention that takes place at that time. BlogWorld will be running May 24-26. They did wonderful job in picking up a lot of the highlights for BEA.

IDPF Digital Book 2011 News

2011-04-26T17:44:00.001-04:00

The IDPF has just announced IDPF Digital Book 2011 program will feature multiple Hugo and Nebula award-winning best-selling sci-fi authors Neal Stephenson and Greg Bear to talk about their first year's experience with The Mongoliad, their ground-breaking project in direct-to-consumer/community-augmented serial publishing. http://mongoliad.com/

Landed in London

2011-04-09T17:18:00.001-04:00

If you do anything often enough - one year blurs into the next. Still - I can't believe it has been 2 years since I was last at London Book Fair - it does not seem possible.

I look forward to a packed week of meetings that will put the finishing touches on some BEA efforts for 2011 and will conclude with the 'hand over' ceremony when LBF 2011 Market Focus country Russia officially transitions forward to BEA's 2012 Global Market Forum's featured country.

Maybe because there is comfort in community, but seeing some old friends and familiar faces on the flight and heading through passport control makes it seem like I was just here. Speaking of which - this line is monstrous - yikes! The familiar faces help soften what I miss at home with my wife and boys (opening day for Little League was the loss for this trip).

I look forward to sharing learnings this week and news that I come across. If you are at LBF - find me at Booth G435
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

Here's the BUZZ!!!!

2011-04-07T16:57:00.000-04:00

BEA’s “original and ultimate taste-making events,” the Buzz Forums are the most notable and significant venues at BEA for launching new books and creating awareness for titles which might not be included in other high profile BEA programming such as the Author Breakfasts. Insightful and passionate, the forums typically attract a large audience of booksellers and media who are eager to hear about, and then talk about, the new titles which have been singled out for discussion and presentation. This year, BEA will present three separate panels, including Editors Buzz (adult), YA Editors Buzz and Middle Grade Editors Buzz.

The BEA Editors Forums are as follows:

Monday, May 23 4:30 – 5:30 pm Room 1E13
BEA Editors Buzz

THE ART OF FIELDING by Chad Harbach, Little, Brown and Company – Michael Pietsch, VP & Publisher
THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern, Doubleday – Alison Callahan, Executive Editor
THE UNDERSIDE OF JOY by Sere Prince Halverson, Dutton – Denise Roy, Sr. Editor
RUNNING THE RIFT by Naomi Benaron, Algonquin – Kathy Pories, Sr. Editor
BIRDS OF PARADISE by Diana Abu-Jaber, W.W. Norton - Alane Salierno Mason, VP & Sr. Editor
WE THE ANIMALS by Justin Torres, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – Jenna Johnson, Sr. Editor

Tuesday, May 24 2:00 – 3:15 pm Room 1E15
BEA (Young Adult) Editors Buzz

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing - Courtney Bongiolatti, Editor
AU REVOIR CRAZY EUROPEAN CHICK by Joe Schreiber, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – Margret Raymo, Sr. Executive Editor
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Turner, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers – Alvina Ling, Executive Editor
DOWN THE MYSTERLY RIVER by Bill Willingham, Tor & Forge Books/ Macmillan – Susan Chang, Sr. Editor
THE CARRIER OF THE MARK by Leigh Fallon, HarperCollins Children’s Books - Erica Sussman, Sr. Editor

Wednesday, May 25 2:00 – 3:15 pm Room 1E15
BEA (Middle Grade) Editors Buzz

Insightful and passionate, this intimate editorial exchange will provide you with an editor’s perspective on some of the Fall’s new Middle School discoveries and potential breakouts
THE UNWANTEDS by Lisa McMann, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing – Lisa Abrams, Editor
WILDWOOD by Colin Meloy, Balzer + Bray - Donna Bray, VP & Co-Publisher
ICEFALL by Matthew Kirby, Scholastic Press - Lisa A. Sandell, Executive Editor
APOTHECARY by Maile Meloy, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers - Jennifer Besser, VP and Publisher
THE ASHTOWN BURIALS #1: THE DRAGONS TOOTH by N.D. Wilson, Random House Children’s Books – Jim Thomas, Editorial Dir.

The Kids Are Alright at BEA

2011-04-04T15:03:00.000-04:00

Pardon the purloined subject line, it seemed appropriate and I like the word play. Two items of good news to share with BEA fans. The BEA Search It/Find It tool (SiFi as I like to call it) went live last week. This will make it easy for anyone to navigate for what they are looking for at BEA.

The second news item is the main topic of this post. This provides a lot of detail and all the highlights for Children's programming at BEA thanks to so many of our wonderful partners. People will be buzzing about many of these programs long after BEA is over this year:

The ABC Children's Group at ABA, the Children's Book Council, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, Reed Exhibitions and BookExpo America did an aoutstanding job in putting the following programming together:

ABA Day of Education Sponsored by the Ingram Content Group and located in the E Hall of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. ABA’s full day of free, educational programming is targeted at ABA bookstore and provisional members, but is open to all BEA attendees.

Sessions designed for children’s booksellers include:

• Conversion Strategies for Turning Mind Share into Market Share

The recently released Bowker/PubTrack survey highlighted that independent children’s booksellers are highly prized for their knowledge of children’s books, yet overall sales continue to erode as other channels capture consumer dollars. This session will focus on how to improve your chances of both capturing sales while customers are in the store and closing the mind share/market share gap.

Moderated by Kristen McLean, consultatnt to the ABA Children’s Group at ABA (Miami, FL)

Diane Capriola, Little Shop of Stories (Decatur, GA)

• Selling Non-book in the Children’s Department

Creativity is the key! This panel discussion will touch on how non-book items can be sold through creative merchandising, marketing, and events. A few top-selling items will be displayed.

Moderated by Becky Anderson, Anderson’s Bookshop (Naperville, IL)

Beth Puffer, Bank Street Bookstore (New York, NY)

• Creating Events for Children

This session will leave you with a notebook full of creative ideas for kids’ events! It will provide a brief overview of best practices as well as an example of an outstanding event from start to finish. Attendees will also have the opportunity to break into groups to learn from each other, and will then come together for a room-wide discussion.

Cynthia Compton, 4 Kids Books (Indianapolis, IN)

• Children’s Roundtable

A veteran children’s bookseller will moderate this roundtable discussion for store owners and managers of children’s sections. Come and learn from each other! Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Moderated by Shelly Plumb, Harleysville Books (Harleysville, PA)

• The Digital Market and the YA Audience

The recently released Bowker/PubTrack survey tells us that there is a correlation between the YA audience’s use of social media and their consumption of digital books. Join a discussion exploring how booksellers can leverage this information to connect with their YA customers.

Moderated by Kristen McLean, ABA (Tarrytown, NY)

Jacob Lewis (Figment.com), Meghan Dietsche Goel, BookPeople (Austin, TX)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Children’s Book and Author Breakfast

8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. / Javits - Special Events Hall

Cost: $40 including breakfast / $20 theatre seating (no-breakfast)

Advance registration required*

This year’s popular breakfast will open with a welcome from Katherine Paterson, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and will feature Brian Selznick, author of Wonderstruck (Scholastic); Sarah Dessen, author of What Happened to Goodbye (Viking); and Kevin Henkes, author of Little White Rabbit and Junonia (Greenwillow). Julianne Moore, author of Freckleface Strawberry: Best Friends Forever (Bloomsbury), will serve as master of ceremonies. The breakfast is presented in cooperation with the Children’s Booksellers and Publishers Committee, which includes representatives from the American Booksellers Association and the Children’s Book Council.

*To purchase tickets visit the BEA website or call BEA customer service at 800-840-5614.

Preview: Artwork From the ABC Children’s Group at ABA Silent Auction to benefit the ABFFE Fund for Free Speech in Children’s Books

See a stunning exhibit of original children’s artwork from some of today’s greatest authors and illustrators, including Kevin Henkes, Bruce Degan, Laura Vacarro Seger, Peter Sís, Roxie Munroe, Judy Schachner, David Small, and many more! While you’re there, pick up some raffle tickets for a chance to win an original piece, and (if they haven’t sold out) purchase tickets for Wednesday night’s fabulous Silent Auction. All proceeds go to support a great cause—the newly created ABFFE Fund for Free Speech in Children’s Books. Sponsored by Reed Exhibitions & BookExpo America.

 Speed Dating With Children’s Authors

10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. / Javits 1E09/10

Cost: Free. Advance registration required*

Open to Booksellers, Librarians & Other Children’s Book Professionals

Get to know 19 children’s book creators up close and personal! Authors and illustrators will move from table to table, stopping for quick get-to-know-you chats. This is a fun and easy way to get up to “speed” on some of the latest and greatest projects of the season.

Scheduled to appear:

David A. Adler, Mystery Math: A First Book of Algebra (Holiday House)

Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Trial By Fire / Every Other Day (Egmont)

Jane Hampton Cook, What Does the President Look Like? (Kane Miller)

James Dashner, The Death Cure (Random House)

Laura Lee Gulledge, Page By Paige (Abrams)

Jeff Hirsch, The Eleventh Plague (Scholastic)

Carrie Jones, After Obsession (Bloomsbury)

Alan Katz, Mosquitoes Are Ruining My Summer; Me Me Mine; Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking (Simon & Schuster)

Jon Klassen, I Want My Hat Back (Candlewick)

Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me (HarperCollins)

Kate McMullan, Myth-o-Mania series (Capstone)

Jennifer Roy, MindBlind (Marshall Cavendish)

Marie Rutkoski, The Jewel of the Kalderash (Macmillan)

Clete Smith, Aliens on Vacation (Disney)

Ashley Spires, Binky Under Pressure (Kids Can)

Susan Stockdale, Bring on the Birds (Peachtree)

Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Little, Brown)

Linda Urban, Hound Dog True (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Meg Wolitzer, The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman (Penguin)

Presented by the ABC Children’s Group at ABA and the Children’s Book Council.

*To reserve your spot, please e-mail 2011speeddate@cbcbooks.org with your full name, store, library, or company affiliation, store address (street, city, state, and zip), and email address.

 BEA (Young Adult) Editors Buzz

2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. / Javits 1E15 - Cost: Free - Open to all

Insightful and passionate, this intimate editorial exchange will provide you with an editor’s perspective on some of the fall’s new YA discoveries and potential breakouts.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

 BEA (Middle Grade) Editors Buzz - 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.- Room 1E16

Insightful and passionate, this intimate editorial exchange will provide you with an editor’s perspective on some of the fall’s new Middle School discoveries and potential breakouts.

 Tea With Children’s Authors

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. / Room 1E12 - Cost: $15 *Advanced registration required.

Join us for the third edition of this popular program, which gives librarians and booksellers a chance to chat with some of the industry’s brightest stars in a more relaxed and casual environment. Each author will join a table of book enthusiasts for refreshments and an open-ended conversation about the author’s life and work. A children’s bookseller will moderate each table. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sponsored by the ABC Children’s Group at ABA and the Children’s Book Council. (Sponsors reserve the right to review all reservations for eligibility.)

Scheduled to appear:

Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, The Bridge to Neverland (Disney)

Anna Dewdney, Llama Llama Home with Mama (Penguin)

Mordecai Gerstein, Dear Hot Dog (Abrams)

Beth Kephart, You Are My Only (Egmont)

Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers, We Are America (HarperCollins)

Christopher Paolini, Inheritance #4 (Random House)

Jerry Pinkney, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (Little, Brown)

Judy Schachner, Skippyjon Jones: Class Action (Penguin)

Marilyn Singer, Tallulah's Tutu; A Stick Is an Excellent Thing (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races (Scholastic)

R.L. Stine, The First Day of School … Forever! (Macmillan)

Scott Westerfeld, Goliath (Simon & Schuster)

* Tickets are available through the American Booksellers Association, by clicking here.

 ABC Children’s Group Silent Auction and Reception

5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., in Rooms 1E09/10/11 of the Javits Convention Center.

Advanced registration required. Tickets are available through the American Booksellers Association, by clicking here.

The ABC Children’s Group at ABA presents the Annual Silent Auction of one-of-a-kind art from America’s beloved children's book illustrators, this year to benefit the new ABFFE Fund for Free Speech in Children’s Books. (Check back soon to view an online preview.)

Join Honorary ABC Auction Chair, Laurie Halse Anderson, author of the critically acclaimed novel Speak, and the independent bookselling community as the ABC Children’s Group at ABA presents its annual auction of one-of-a-kind art from some of America’s most beloved children’s book illustrators. The amazing caliber of the artwork is always a draw, but this year there’s an even more important reason to support the event—for the first time all proceeds benefit the newly created ABFFE Fund for Free Speech in Children’s Books, which fights censorship in many ways around the country. So join us for some wonderful mingling, refreshments, and bidding on another fantastic bumper crop of art, all for a great cause.

Find out more about the important work of ABFFE and the newly created Fund for Free Speech in Children’s Books at http://www.abffe.org.

Advance tickets for the Silent Auction and Reception area available through the American Booksellers Association.

Cost: Bookseller members of the ABC Children’s Group at ABA: $69 / All others: $89 *Tickets are subject to availability. If tickets are still available, they will be sold at the Preview and Silent Auction on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets purchased onsite will cost $79 for ABC Group members and $99 for all others.

BEA = NEW TITLES

2011-03-22T17:00:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr., Ms. or Mrs. BEA Exhibitor:

I want to share one critical fact with you: BEA attendees want to see and learn about your new titles. It comes up overwhelmingly in our research time and time again that the primary reason and value that BEA's attendees get out of BEA is seeing new titles and meeting with authors. BEA performs a Needs Assessment Survey about 10-11 weeks prior to BEA to insure we are are on the right course for what attendees 'need' from BEA. As things pop, like: "What current issues/challenges you would like to solve by attending BEA?" An example is: 31% are looking to BEA for How to use social media to drive more business. We will know make sure we promote those sessions more heavily and make sure sessions are tracked together so people can have this need fulfilled from BEA.

Back to my original point - which is sometimes is lost for exhibitors, BEA attendees are there to discover new titles, unique titles, titles their customers can't find anywhere else. One of the great fortunes with BEA is the wonderful and passionate audience that comes with it. It is extremely rewarding to know how much they love BEA and more importantly how valuable BEA is for them and their businesses. That is our mission for our exhibitors as we know the cost of exhibiting is always challenge for any trade show. I hope this helps you plan on how you prepare for BEA and more importantly what you get out of BEA.

TAPping into BEA

2011-03-21T14:57:00.000-04:00

People consistently ask me what is new or what is the buzz or theme is for BEA this year?. I can't give a genuine answer to the latter. In my mind - the true theme or buzz at BEA lies in the outcome and that only happens after BEA is over. Buzz is the residue from the titles and authors that rise above the crowd, the program sessions that turn on ideas or connect the dots that create new opportunities or even better, challenge the status quo.

As to the former - what is new? I recognized that I have this hesitation in responding to what is new at BEA. That is because I am trying to quickly distill what is relevant to who I am talking to so they can get the most out out of their BEA experience. Toward that end, I will look forward to sharing details here on the what is new stuff so people can get fuller detail for what is important to them. Today - I want to share some details on BEA's TAP initiative.

While the BEA Targeted Attendee Program is not technically new, our approach and execution are very new. BEA's Targeted Attendee Program is more simply referenced as TAP. That is where BEA is investing in bringing new or high value buyers to BEA. This year BEA has an aggressive focus on Special Markets Buyers (specifically Museum Store Buyers), along with Booksellers and key Librarians. This is done to increase exhibitor ROI as we are asking exhibitors who their most critical buyers are and then we are targeting those folks to invite them to BEA as VIPs. This year we have not only been reaching out to VIPs via email and direct mail, but also we are doing dedicated telemarketing as well as working with associations and exhibitors to invite these attendees. A big win that has come out of this is the increase in pre-registered Museum Store Buyers this year. We have had our two Top Buyer Champions—Lisa Montanaro and Brien McDonald working with museums to identify what would be meaningful to their store buyers. From phone calls and one on one visits, Lisa and Brien have discovered that BEA is relevant for museum store buyers and so they have built a good network with help of both the Brooklyn Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to spearhead this initiative by creating dedicated events and networking opportunities for these buyers that we will welcome to BEA for years to come.

Transverging disintermediation

2011-03-14T19:02:00.000-04:00

The topic 'transverging disintermediation' popped in my head with all the news last week about Warner Brothers using Facebook to distribute the video for Batman: The Dark Knight. When I did a search for news on this - it was a global story with it being reported in papers and blogs in France, China, Pakistan, India, etc..... Almost all the reporting heralded this as the 'thing' as what would kill Netflix. I thought the most interesting reporting was this contrarian take TechCrunch: Holy Misleading Conclusions, Batman! The Facebook Netflix-Killer That Wasn’t that thought this was just a blip where Warner Brothers simply built an app and besides, who wants to watch a whole movie on their Facebook page. I had also read the coverage in the NY Times & clipped this nugget: Like other Hollywood studios, Warner is racing to figure out how to deal with two significant problems: piracy and plummeting DVD sales, both of which are growing worse as broadband access spreads across the globe. The industry’s best hope for a solution is to make more content available for digital purchase on more platforms.

That made me connect this story to publishing. Is this not the exact issue that publishers are facing? The terms transvergence and disintermediation are tossed around like confetti on New Year's Eve in explaining the issues confronting maturing media platforms that are facing radical technological changes like publishing. Then again - isn't every media platform that is not on-line mature? It is worth noting the definitions of "transvergence" and "disintermediation". I fished around on-line and cobbled together from several sources the following: The term "transvergence" is an invitation to take an opportunity to rethink art history, science, and the inevitably permeable lines that arbitrarily divide these disciplines. In economics, "disintermediation" is the removal of intermediaries in a supply chain: "cutting out the middleman".

While the tipping point has probably, maybe even quietly already passed as far as publishing changing - the future remains undefined. The best hope for a bright and robust publishing future is to focus on new and new possibilities and not being tethered to old models. A most appropriate quote came from the CBS Sunday Morning interviewed with the Editor & Chief of Rupert Murdoch's recently launched Daily (the news app for lack of a better description) - Jesse Angelo. CBS Sunday Morning - The Next Generation of Apps It was in an interesting piece on how dynamic that apps have become in everything. Mr. Angelo was saying media companies have spend their resources trying to protect their old brands instead of trying to see what is possible for the future through new technology. I paraphrased a bit - but the question is are people holding on too tight to what is going to be irrelevant?

There is not much here in terms of answers, but hopefully I have added some good questions.

What's next - Tumblr???

2011-03-03T16:54:00.000-05:00

At the recent BEA Conference Advisory Board meeting - there was a lot of conversation on doing programming for various social media tools. I look forward to BEA delivering some great programs for both new initiates as well as seasoned users that will impact the way you do business. BEA will be also hosting a webinar on how to use Twitter on March 9th. Link for BEA Twitter Webinar

I digress as usual - my point is a new medium came up a number of times that was being touted as the next BIG thing. I had never heard of Tumblr (not sure if that indicts me or speaks to the myriad new technology) . I left under the advice of Mark Twain (it is better to keep you mouth closed and let people think you are dumb instead of opening your mouth and confirming it) but reseached it as quickly as I could. I have not done anything with Tumblr yet outside of opening an account. I had someone from the BEA Marketing Team pull together some info and wanted to share it. I have no opinion here and will spend time in the coming months to see if this is the next big thing or just the next thing in a long line of many. So for your personal edification (please send comments if you use Tumblr and post why you like or hate it):
Overview/Description

Tumblr, founded in 2007, is a microblogging platform that allows users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to their tumblelog, a short-form blog. Users can follow other users, or choose to make their tumblelog private. The service emphasizes ease of use.

How It Works

The site functions as a mesh of Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and traditional blogging. Users can post any content but usually keep it short –hence the phrase microblogging. Typically dynamic content works the best as it is more engaging.

There are many forms of content that can be added to the user's own tumblelog; the seven general categories for posts include: Text, Photo, Quote, Link, Chat, Audio and Video. Users "follow" other tumblelogs, much like on Twitter, and their updates appear in one stream on the Dashboard. This is the interface from which users can like and reblog posts, as well as add content to their own tumblelog. The "like" button lets one user tell another that they like his or her content, and the "reblog" button easily reposts content from one tumblelog onto another, providing positive feedback. Check it out at www.tumblr.com.

Who’s Using It

Relative to the overall population of internet users, Tumblr.com's audience tends to be Caucasian; they are also disproportionately childless college graduates and women under the age of 35 who browse from school and work. The time spent in a typical visit to the site is roughly seven minutes, with 41 seconds spent on each pageview. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/tumblr.com

Very few users are company accounts, however, those that do exist tend to specialize in media.

Projected Growth

In the past three months the number of unique visitors has risen 33.9%, page views have gone up 44.52%, time on the site has increased 10% and the percentage of traffic from search engines is up 8%.

Recommendation for BEA

BEA currently accomplishes everything Tumblr offers using its various well established social media sites. While it is not a necessary addition the site is continuing to grow and may shortly be a community worth engaging. The major benefit of Tumblr is its aesthetic. It is easy to feature pictures and videos and convey short messages. Below are examples of three typical page layouts.

BEA and BlogWorld - Mutually Exclusive Together

2011-02-25T09:31:00.002-05:00

The response to the co-location of the BlogWorld event along side of BEA has been interesting. Those familiar with both events have been the most enthusiastic, validating that it is good for both BEA and BlogWorld. The vast majority fall into the bucket that don't know what BlogWorld is, but on the surface see it makes sense as it mirrors the direction that publishing is moving toward as a means for engaging readers - leaving aside the huge, but parallel context the impact of digital technology that is also part of the opportunity by co-locating.

The few responses that have piqued my concern are the ones who think that BlogWorld will dilute BEA or is being seen as a means to push aside booksellers. I have to be blunt here - where does that come from? BEA and BlogWorld are separate events that will continue to serve each of their audiences and no one group will be pushed aside. For those that are focused on one or the other event, the story ends here. However, there are going to be niches at BlogWorld that will find great content and have interest in what is happening at BEA. The same for BEA exhibitors and attendees, especially those in PR and Marketing that will get a huge added benefit from the content that is available to them at BlogWorld.

Think of it like my Groupon experience today - my wife and I had been planning to try a specific restaurant - we were going to regardless. However, I got a Groupon offer for getting $50.00 worth of service for $25.00 - how is that a bad thing?
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

If a little is good, is more better?

2011-02-18T16:46:00.001-05:00

We are putting the theory that if a little is good, then a lot must be better to the test with all that will be happening at BEA this year.   BEA has long been the gathering place for publishing, sort of like being the Big Top - there is something for everyone.   That can be as much of a strength as it is a weakness. The strength being that there is something of subtance for every part of the industry that can benefit by participating in BEA. The potential weakness is being jack of all trades, master of none for specific niches around BEA.  I will circle back to this....

....First the the big announcement yesterday of the co-location of the BlogWorld East event with BEA.   "By co-locating BlogWorld East with BookExpo America, we are creating the first real convergence of new media and traditional media. The capital of traditional media is playing host to the largest gathering of social media professionals and new media content creators in the world. Both communities have a truly unique opportunity to learn from the brightest minds each has to offer.” explained BlogWorld CEO Rick Calvert. “It’s exciting to think about the potential for new ideas and business opportunities that will result from BlogWorld and BookExpo America happening side by side.” From my perspective, this is a perfect fit for BookExpo America. We have been building our blogger base and social media has emerged as a powerful force in book publishing and marketing in recent years. We expect this association will strongly benefit our respective attendees and exhibitors for many years to come.

Getting back to my original point, specifically that this can be a strength or a weakness. BEA's vision is to bring in partners that can truly serve their core audiences complete needs while they can also benefit in all the peripheral opportunities that abound at BEA. That is why we have the IDPF presenting their Digital Book 2011 program at BEA. We are equally thrilled to welcome back the super organized Book Bloggers Convention. The Audio Publishers Association will be holding their program at BEA. How can I forget the ABA? They are the foundation and fabric of BEA and deliver a tremendous program. The Indpendent Book Publishers Association Publishing University is also a terrific program that provides a great service to their members and then has all of BEA available as their dessert. Lest I forget the great programs delivered by the AAP and the BISG at BEA. The AAR also delivers a super program. BEA's focus on international through our Global Market Forum continues to grow in depth and prominence. We are thrilled to honor Italian publishing for the focus of this year's Global Market Forum. Not to be forgotten is the CIROBE Remainders Pavilion with the special hours we provide to serve the needs of this important group of buyers and exhibitors at BEA.

This was a a rambling post, but wanting to share all that will be happening at BEA is a rambling task.  Having so many strong partners that serve the core interests of unique attendee and exhibitor groups that can ALSO create and find opporunities among the whole BEA audience is a great strength.

New York Book Week Mission Statement

2011-02-02T17:14:00.000-05:00

There is a debate that continues to be raised like toasts at wedding (often and with good intention) about having a public component to BEA. There is a lot of merit the idea. However - through many efforts and more research I can conclusively tell you that would be like making toast while taking a bath. The potential for deadly disaster is too great. Although I am sure some where in America, there is a someone soaking in a tub while enjoying a fresh piece of rye toast with out being electocuted. For the recocord and the foreseeable future, that won't be the case at BEA. We initiated another course in 2010 to engage the public 'around' BEA that was launched as New York Book Week. There will be more news and details in the coming months about our plans for 2011, but I think our mission statement delivers exact detail and clear intent for a public component tied to BEA.

New York Book Week celebrates all literary and book activity in New York City by directly engaging reading consumers and focusing attention on authors, books and publishing during the week of Book Expo America (BEA) which takes place in New York City each year. New York Book Week provides a unique public facing opportunity to brand and market authors, titles and publishers at events in bookstores, libraries, schools and other public venues throughout the boroughs of New York City. New York City is recognized as the publishing capital of the world, as home to thousands of book and author events each year with New York Book Week uniquely celebrating these facts and building a relationship between reading consumers and the publishing trade

This year, New York Book Week will commence on Sunday, May 22 and conclude on Saturday, May 28.

Spreading some news

2011-02-02T11:24:00.000-05:00

Just as I got used to shoveling a foot and a half of snow before I could start my day, Mother Nature came up with bigger challenge - coating everything with a half inch of ice. As I wait for the expected thaw (which will allow me to open my front door) so I can literally start 'chipping away' my morning - I read a couple of interested articles that were linked from Book Brunch I posted here to share:

Mike Cane's blog on issues for publishers using the Agent model for e-books if Borders does go out of business Mr. Cane raises an interesting point about the potential pitfall facing publishers in these evolving models. Usually if you can cut out a part of the supply chain, you would expect a greater share of revenues, but reading through this I am left with the thought it seems like there is disproportionately less revenue despite the pie being cut into less pieces.

Wired.com article on Apple news regarding reader apps This was also interesting as the new players jockey for position.

Check out the BISG Digital Show & Tell

2011-01-19T13:46:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow the Book Industry Study Group is presenting a great (and FREE) event. It is Digital Show & Tell. Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM - Sotheby's Institute of Art, NYC

Only 80 seats available!

THE PLAN: During NYC Digital Show & Tell attendees will "Speed Date" up and coming projects related to e-books, e-readers, digital books and digital content.

HOW IT WORKS: Eight demonstrators will elevator pitch their innovative digital project to a small section of attendees for 5 minutes, strictly timed. Once time is up, the demonstrators will rotate groups until all attendees have had the chance to view all projects. Once the rotation is complete, another eight demonstrators will take the floor.

When all's said and done, attendees will have "dated" up to 16 exciting new projects!

While it is free, you have to regsiter - do so ASAP BISG Show & Tell Reg Link

A Pilfered Post

2011-01-04T14:42:00.001-05:00

I saw this on a Tweeted link from Village Books - it is from the site PopEater, this is written by Sarah Crow and is hysterical.

Read Excerpts From Snooki's Book, Prepare to Have Mind Blown

Faulkner, Hemingway and Fitzgerald may be widely acknowledged as America's preeminent literary talents, but none of them have gotten down with The Situation in a hot tub. This is where Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi enters the equation.

The 'Jersey Shore' star's first novel, 'A Shore Thing,' is scheduled for release this week and early buzz has contenders for the National Book Award shaking in their boots.

Snooker's prose encompasses all of the subtlety we've come to expect from the pocket-sized party girl, from the terse descriptions of her lifelong passions to the exquisitely-crafted allegory between her emasculated "juiceheads" and Puccini's tragic heroine in 'La Boheme.'

After the jump, we contrast Snooki's work (courtesy of the New York Post) with the literary greats, whose talents she has not only equaled but clearly surpassed.

On seeing another person, as if for the first time:

Fitzgerald: "Gatsby was overwhelmingly aware of the youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves, of the freshness of many clothes, and of Daisy, gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor."

Polizzi: "He had an okay body. Not fat at all. And naturally toned abs. She could pour a shot of tequila down his belly and slurp it out of his navel without getting splashed in the face."

On anger:

Hemingway: "His rage began to thin as he exaggerated more and more and spread his scorn and contempt so widely and unjustly that he could no longer believe in it himself."

Polizzi: "Any juicehead will get some nut shrinkage. And bacne. They fly into a 'roid rage, it is a 'road' 'roid rage."

On love:

Steinbeck: "Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love."

Polizzi: "Yum. Johnny Hulk tasted like fresh gorilla."

On the significance of place:

Didion: "A place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest, remembers it most obsessively, wrenches it from itself, shapes it, renders it, loves it so radically that he remakes it in his image."

Polizzi: "Gia had never before been in jail. It wasn't nearly as gritty and disgusting as she'd seen on TV prison shows. The Seaside Heights drunk tank -- on a weekday afternoon -- was as clean and quiet as a church."

On the evil that lurks inside:

Faulkner: "There was something terrible in me sometimes at night I could see it grinning at me I could see it through them grinning at me through their faces it's gone now and I'm sick"

Polizzi: "Gia danced around a little, shaking her peaches for show. She shook it hard. Too hard. In the middle of a shimmy, her stomach cramped. A fart slipped out. A loud one. And stinky."

BEA Announces Italy as focus of Global Market Forum Program

2010-12-16T12:29:00.000-05:00

BEA ANNOUNCES ITALY IS GUEST OF HONOR AT GLOBAL MARKET FORUM

International Initiative to Run Concurrently with BEA

Norwalk, CT, December 16, 2010: BookExpo America (BEA) and the Italian Trade Commission to the USA have today announced that Italy will be the focus of attention and Guest of Honor at the show’s highly successful Global Market Forum. A key component of BEA for international attendees, the Global Market Forum runs concurrently with BEA activities, and is specifically designed to serve all international attendees as well as all domestic publishing personnel with an investment in international publishing and book industry concerns. In the past three years the Global Market Forum has highlighted programs featuring publishing and literature from Spain (2010) and the Arab World (2009) as well as Global English Reading (2008).

BookExpo America officials are pleased to form this partnership with Italy in 2011. Today’s Italian publishing industry alongside with authors and books from Italy will be showcased in professional programs at the largest American book trade show while literary and related cultural programs, highlighting contemporary fiction in translation and in original editions, will take place at various cultural events across the city of New York as part of New York Book Week.

As in previous years, topics for debate will include contemporary fiction in translation, imports and exports of original books, children’s and young adult literature, as well as digital developments in the USA and in Italy and Europe in comparison.

Hi, my name is Steve and I am thin skinned

2010-12-15T14:18:00.000-05:00

Well - I don't think I am truly a thin skinned person, but by replying to specific Tweets floating around Twitterdom, I can't have the thickest skin. The Tweets were from John Kremer's Twitter page.   His comments are not unfair and I can assure any reader, they are major points of discussion in all BEA planning and strategy and have been for years. So -what is my compulsion to respond? The tweets which I list below do not take into account facts that went into these decisions that are being critical of BEA. So, me and my thin skin are offering replies to tweets I felt were not the complete story.

The NYC publisher employees won't come on the weekend but do during the week (because they get paid then). & BEA can show increased attendance numbers by getting all the NYC publisher employees coming during the week. BEA has worked hard to eliminate addendees that are not of high value to publishers, this includes employees that are superfluous to the activities taking place BEA.  Toward that end, there are literally 2,000 less publishing staff walking the aisles than there were a few years ago. Still, for publishing professionals in PR, editorial, sales and marketing - BEA delivers a high value of education that is transformative to the industry. What is wrong with having the important publishing industry staff take part in the main event for their industry?
Also, the BEA needs to be on the weekend when booksellers can come. The show now is for the NYC publishers ease. Nothing else.    This cuts both ways. Yes - there are booksellers that prefer the weekend. The vast majority (almost 90% of the 400+ individual write in comments from the attendee survey) of booksellers prefer midweek as they are busier in their stores on the weekend. The other driving reasons for BEA being midweek the international component of BEA and media prefer midweek exclusively.
Rotate the BEA as in the past to LA, Chicago, etc. NYC is a horrible convention center. No taxies after the show, etc. Admittedly Javits is not an oasis in the world of convention centers, but NY State is finally starting their long over due refurbishing of Javits - we will live through this and have a better facility in the end.  Reviewing our exhibitor & attendee research going back to 2002, which includes years of BEA in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington DC - the worst satisfaction ratings of any NYC BEA ('02,'05, 07, '09 &'10) beat LA, Chicago and Washington, DC by a good margin. NYC is a big driver for international participation, media and is in closer proximity to more major library systems than LA or Chicago.
BEA to be in New York City indefinitely. Midweek (Tues to Thurs). Cheaper for the organizer but not good for the publishers or booksellers. This is flat out wrong and this comment is probably the one that drove me to write this posting. BEA in NYC is far more expensive for Reed than any other city and those are costs that Reed absorbs without passing on to exhibitors or attendees.

BookExpo America is dying. Many publishers not intending to attend the next BEA. Sadly, the show promoter is killing the show. Ouch!! Okay - this is probably the tweet that tweaked me. I am not the judge here - exhibitors and attendees will do that with their feet and their budgets. I do know our exhibitor satisfaction when up 10 points from 2009, BEA attendees are nearly 90% 'satisfied or extremely satisfied' with the value of BEA, we have a Conference Advisory Board and an Executive Steering Committee to get direct feedback that is representative of all of BEA's constituents. We are not perfect and we have made mistakes, but we will do everything in our power to make BEA better, more accessible and a valuable experience for anyone that is involved in publishing.

Are DVDs apples and books oranges?

2010-12-15T07:04:00.000-05:00

I saw the article below on ICv2 Daily Insider (it's a great source for pop culture news) and pondered the correlation for book selling. I am a firm believer that physical books are not going away. Proof that physical books remain viable comes from seeing that every Holiday gift list includes books right along side of iPads and Scrabble Flash as must haves to the fact that while eBook sales continue to skyrocket, more than doubling the 3rd quarter in 2010 from the 3rd quarter on 2009 www.idpf.org/doc_library/industrystats.htm - yet physical book sales remain flat or modestly down, demonstrating ebook sales are not replacing physical book sales, at least in a corresponding fashion.

Moving on to my point - is there a difference when comparing books and DVD sales? Whether a movie is consumed via DVD or is streamed, the experience for the consumer is still the same on the ever expanding size and quality of their TV. The difference is the method of delivery - acquired on-line vs. a physical store. Books are more tactile compared to e-readers, however the experience on an e-reading device does not dramatically change from a physical book. I get that books are different than movies. I am reading my way through Keith Richards' Life - I enjoy toting it from my bedroom to my living room and will likely spend 2+ weeks with it. Movies are generally done in 2 hours and a much less curated experience. Still, I have to wonder with the litany of tablet devices coming out that will essentially be putting e-reader in more and more peoples hands if the comparison is not more apples to apples than the industry realizes.

The Decline of the Disc

Major Shift to Internet Delivery By 2014

Published: 12/14/2010 07:00pm

The importance of sales of DVDs to the entertainment industry is waning as the home entertainment industry enters a period of profound change with consumers switching from buying actual discs from multiple brick & mortar and online outlets to streaming and digitally downloading movies and TV shows from a few mega suppliers. According to Home Media Magazine, the Arizona-based research firm In-Stat predicts that, while Blu-ray sales will continue to increase, they won’t be enough to offset the drop in sales of conventional DVDs. The total U.S. DVD market, which accounted for an estimated $13 billion in sales in 2009, will drop by $4.6 billion by 2014. Taking up the slack will be streaming and digital downloads, which will grow from its current level of $2.3 billion to $6.3 billion by 2014.

Starting with videotapes, home entertainment sales have been a huge boon to Hollywood, which has seen attendance at theaters lag (record box office numbers are the result of higher ticket prices, not growing attendance). After continuing growth in DVD sales the early years of this Century had made disc sales the ultimate arbiter of profitability, the box office ticket sales total of $9.87 billion in 2009 overtook sales of movie-based DVDs and Blu-rays, which declined to $8.73 billion for the year.

The amount of change in the home entertainment industry can be gauged by a recent comment from Netflix’s Reed Hastings, who during the company’s third quarter earnings call, said that his company is “now primarily a streaming company that also offers DVD-by-mail.”

BEA Update

2010-12-08T13:10:00.000-05:00

BEA's Executive Steering Committee is a group that I depend on to help insure that the decisions we make for BEA are sound for all of BEA's exhibitors and attendees. I had sent them a letter updating them on BEA just before the Thanksgiving Holiday after the news of the termination of the talks for BEA to co-locate with ALA . I have included most of the contents of that update and thought this would be good information to share with anyone who has an interest in BEA.

I am writing to provide the BEA Executive Steering Committee an update on BookExpo America in light of the recent efforts to create a co-located event with ALA. It was a great exercise. I am grateful for the candid feedback that let us make a decision that will best serve all the constituents involved. It was also encouraging to know how vested publishers are in BEA. The results were that BEA and ALA each have very distinct value propositions as separate events and combining them could jeopardize the unique values for both ALA and BEA. BEA will remain focused on delivering that value for the publishing industry.

I want to share we have been trying to secure suitable dates for BEA at Javits beyond 2012. We have been exploring Chicago as an alternative. With the possible exception of 2016, it appears we will be able to lock up dates at Javits either the week prior to or the week after Memorial Day through 2017, which has historically worked for BEA. All of our key strategy points and measurable performance indexes make New York the ideal location for BEA. That includes proximity for buying groups, ease for international participation and media.

The future of BEA will remain mid-week, being a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday event. One tweak for this year is the BEA Book and Author events will all be breakfasts. We opted not to add back an author lunch, feeling that the condensed schedule last year elevated the already lofty quality of the Book & Author events. Also, occupying booksellers’ time for lunch is taking opportunities away from publishers; which we want to avoid.

Two of BEA’s primary focuses for 2011 are the Targeted Attendee Program (TAP) and to re-imagine our communication process. The objective is to deliver high value attendees to BEA, focused on bringing new buyers and special market buyers to BEA. If you want any further details, please drop me a line and I will be happy to share our progress. I have also come to recognize that BEA’s method of communication with exhibitors and attendees was to push a wall of information out to the world and hope it reached its audience. BEA will be more targeted and simpler in our communications. A few examples include the redesign of the BEA website, the BEA directory will be re-formatted so it is easier to use and BEA will partner with Publishers Weekly’s on the Official Show Daily. The Show Daily will now contain all critical programming information in one place, detailing exactly what is happening, quickly and easily.

The BEA Conference Program will be free for exhibitors for the first time ever. The BEA Conference Program annually scores high marks in all of our survey results and is genuinely world class programming that can deliver training, ideas and evolution back to your organization. Yet, we find it is underutilized by the vast majority of exhibitors. This should be a strong value for your organization and hopefully removing the modest fees are a step in that direction. Please note this is not inclusive of co-located events like the Audio Publishers Association or the IDPF Digital Book 2011 events. Lastly – I have been visiting booksellers and retailers as part of our TAP initiative. I have heard time and again they miss seeing more books at BEA. I have explained that it is a big cost issue for publishers. From the retailers I have met with, they don’t expect a free galley, but they miss the tactile experience at BEA of seeing the physical book. I felt compelled to share this as I have heard this sentiment distinctly and frequently. I don’t know as a publisher if you get this feedback from booksellers.

Facebook: Driving Traffic with Tips, Tactics and & Applications for Publishers and Authors

2010-11-17T16:57:00.001-05:00

I pasted a copy below of the press release for BEA's first ever paid webinar program that is going to be awesome. This will be a great program and something that you will get more value than $25.00 it will cost.

Norwalk, CT, November 17, 2010: BookExpo America (BEA) officials have today announced their first ever Webinar which will take place on Tuesday, December 7, 12:00pm – 1:00pm EST. The seminar will focus on leveraging the Facebook application and it will encourage and demonstrate best practices for book industry professionals. Facebook: Driving Traffic with Tips, Tactics and & Applications for Publishers and Authors is presented in partnership with the Book Industry Study Group and sponsored by Combined Book Exhibit and is the first of several webinars and other initiatives that BEA is undertaking to extend service and enrichment to the book community. All participants should go http://www.prolibraries.com/bea/ in order to register.

With over 500 million users talking and sharing on Facebook, publishers and authors need to know the tips, tactics and applications that are going to enable them to connect to readers in this worldwide community and share content, new publications, participate in contests and other marketing efforts. The noted speakers will be Mari Smith and Cindy Ratzlaff (bios below). Together, these two speakers provide a wealth of expertise about social media networking and they will share their knowledge and insight. Facebook is an integral part of publishers’ and authors’ marketing efforts. Ms. Smith and Ms. Ratzlaff are experts and they will be offering attendees the opportunity to learn about ways to improve their Facebook presence and connect with more readers. The moderator and organizer for BEA’s Webinar is Sally Dedecker, a consultant with 30+ years experience in the book industry.

Mari Smith is well-known for being an expert in social networking, and is especially noted for her Facebook expertise. She is a speaker, trainer and author on the subject of Facebook and she is the co-author of the successful book Facebook Marketing an Hour a Day (John Wiley & Sons) which was published earlier this year. Cindy Ratzlaff comes from the publishing industry. She is an author who is certified in social media networking and she has a business where she trains others in social media networking. As an author, she took her Facebook presence from 600 to over 10,000 fans in a few short months.

In honor of Election Day

2010-11-02T16:56:00.000-04:00

Click for a You Tube video: The Tea Party Made Simple

Snippets of the future

2010-11-02T14:07:00.004-04:00

Two articles in New York Times today caught my attention, one being that News Corp reported it had attracted 105,000 paying customers to the digital versions of The Times (of London) and The Sunday Times of London since it started charging for access to their Web sites in June News Corp. More Than 100,000 Pay . A second item was about a New Mobile Keyboard - more later on that.

Rupert Murdoch is at least putting his page views where his mouth is and making a line in the sand that eventually every content creator will have to cross if they want to stay in business by having people pay for content on-line. The lesson I have learned in reading a myriad of articles and hearing people speak on the subject, people will pay a premium for something they value.

The second article is about a new mobile keyboard system. I have no idea if this will work or not, but it makes me wonder as the future comes at us faster and faster these days, what other blind spots are there to new products (and the industries that come with them) like smart phones? What I am refering to is the keyboard for mobile phones are QWERTY design which is based on a layout created in 1873, when it first appeared in typewriters. The technology and capabilities are accelerating so quickly that my 2 year old Blackberry Curve is nearly obsolete. Yet, no one ever considered a better interface than a 138 year old system designed for a mechanical typewriter that likely weighed 50 pounds for a device that fits in a shirt pocket?

I will happliy admit to not being smart enough for many things, but I know don't have to stick my hand in a fire more than once to know it burns. As publishing moves forward, digital technology will continue to challenge existing models until there is one that works for both publishers and consumers. Until that model is found, people have to think beyond their QWERTY blind spots and not apply 138 year old practices to brand new technologies.

For Love of the Written Word

2010-10-28T10:34:00.002-04:00

For Love of the Written Word is the motto of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). It is my last day attending the Fair by invitation of their Director, Ahmed Al Amri who I am happy to call a friend as well. The motto is especially fitting of the support and patronage provided by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah because it his passion for literacy and education that he put into creating the fair, now in its 29th year. Another of SIBF's core missions is promoting literacy and culture as a way for understanding and building ties across all geographic lines. As it has matured and grown SIBF has increasingly invested in providing a professional element to the fair by bringing leading figures from both UK and US publishers to offer insights on the latest developments in publishing, technology and best practices. SIBF is a dynamic book fair, with over 40,000 people visiting every day. It is an especially strong market for childrens books and academic, professional and scientific books, a large amount of which is in English.

A new program this year awarded books in 3 categories, Bestseller, Childrens and Business. The SIBF winners were Stalking the Black Swan by Columbia University Press, How Many Donkeys by Albert Whitman & Co. and Piracy by Univ. of Chicago Press. SIBF invited representives from each press here to receive their awards, which included a cash award that was about $3,500. For each of them it was not only a privilege to receive the award, it also gave them an insight into a new market for their books. Each went away brimming with ideas on how to work in this part of the world with their books.

As always, by this time on the road, I look forward to walking getting back to my family more than anything else, but I will leave Sharjah having had a productive fair while renewing many dear friendships from the Arab world.
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

Frankfurt and the future

2010-10-08T05:22:00.000-04:00

Frankfurt day 3, tomorrow is get away day (I can not wait to walk through my front door - this is too long). It has been tremendously productive fair. I have heard some people complain that there are 'less' people in the aisles which is crazy to me - of course there are less people. How many people in publishing were laid off in the last 2 years? Too many for sure, but the people that are here are here to do business. Booths have been humming with activity and my calendar has been full. Frankfurt also has done a nice job with their Story Drive programs which has stages and programming in the exhibit halls, with most of the programs focused on 'content' and delivery. I have not sat through many of the sessions, but did peak in on many of them as I buzzed through the aisles from appointment to appointment and they were well attended. I look forward to combing through the show dailies for coverage on some of the topics, but it is driving the conversation on new formats and delivery with the majority of people I am talking with this week.

I have to remark on how viceral the emotional attachment is to the printed book. I say this because it is a topic that dominates conversations with people seeing business models being transitioned one way or another by the digital convergence. Being pro digital is like wearing a Sarah Palin, NAMBLA t-shirt - you are shoveling dirt onto the coffin that is the publishing industry as we know it. That train has left the station because publishing is radically different than just a few years ago. Printed books will remain an important part of that future. Two things I will reference are 3rd party - one being O'Reilly at their Tools of Change program had a slide showing their digital sales with the expected dramatic growth slope - but that also showed increased digital led to increased print sales for the same titles. I saw quote from Dominique Raccah from Sourcebooks explaining spikes print sales that they attributed to digital products, either digital books or apps from the printed books. Print and digital are NOT mutually exclusive - they are dependently connected. That is the future.

MIPCOM's Big Players Program

2010-10-05T10:48:00.002-04:00

I have to share some irony as I have 3 hours to kill trapped in the Nice airport, my reading choice is Jonathan Franzen's Freedom. It is stunning fiction, but I am not feeling very 'free'.

I wanted to share highlights I got at one of MIPCOM's Big Players series. It offered insights and the out look for broadcasting and media for the coming 5 years. Marcel Fenez, Global Leader (great job title) for Entertainment & Media of Price Waterhouse Coopers first presented then had a conversations with Nonce Paoline - Chairman/CEO of TF1 (France's largest media company) and John Smith, Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide. The subject matter was most appliciple to Movies, TV, Video and Internet - but it is relevant to publishing and should be instructive for anyone looking forward.

The major focus for resources and growth will be mobile. That is because technology is catching up with expectations that have existed for years. There will be more choice, more products and more information coming to people via their mobile devices (will that kill the PC???). For consumers, content trumps channels. Consumers will break existing habits and convenience to get good content. Consumers will pay for: quality, convenience and enriched content (using the example of paying a hefty premium to experience music live vs. hearing it in any other format that you aleady have for free). The poor economy accelerated digital transition as people did more and got more on-line. That change will not erode and is permanent.

Mr. Fenez detailed his insights of digital evolution. It will transpire in 3 parts:
1. Digital Migration: Existing products and information move into digital formats to leverage techology and cost benefits.
2. Digital Acceleration: Current formats adapt to consumers wants and needs that are altered by new technology.
3. Digital Transformation: New products and services leverage the market that is created by existing products that were transformed - think of mobile apps.

It was interesting to note that most televion and media (outside of print) will see growth over the next 5 years. One example was that TV subscriptions revenues will increase by 6% in the US where Asia will see almost 12% growth 2010-2014.

One example that stuck with me was that the BBC chose to focus their efforts on the US market and have doubled their revenue in a few years to $440mm and that only represents one half of one percent of the market. That is random in the context of this post, but impressive in that the BBC was able to develop a strategy in an existing market that was growing more slowly than other global opportunities and competed with massive US providers and still doubled their revenues.
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

Now departing Cannes

2010-10-05T04:47:00.001-04:00

I could not get a photo of myself using the ticketing machine, so I am posting the view from the room I have checked out of at the Ermatage in Mandelieu la Napoule - it is 2 train stops on the regional train from Cannes. French trains are efficient, but times are only an estimate. I will post details from MIPCOM later as I will spend a chunk of my day getting from here to Frankfurt - giving me plenty of time to kill and post. I was happy (and surprised) that I figured out how to purchase the train ticket as the instruction is in French. The other photo was from the shuttle ride to the Palais for my morning meeting today. You can see the waves crashing over the sea wall and coming up onto the road - kinda cool...and scary...
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
Mobile: +203-913-8700 srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

On the road again......with not necessarily news

2010-10-02T02:24:00.002-04:00

This time off to MIPCOM in route to the Frankfurt Book Fair. First things first -there is a spec of optimism is on the horizon. Reading an article in the NY Times today about the controversial TARP funds that were used to bail out banks, the auto industry and AIG. As AIG is reorganizing and organizing its plans to pay back the US government, things are looking rosey. The initial program set aside $700 billion dollars. In the end, as dispersements have been suspended, only $387 billion was allocated of the $700 billion that was approved and available. Nearly $100 billion has alreadyu been paid back - with interest. Depending on how quickly the auto industry can pay back the funds they were doled and if AIG is able to get on track and make full restitution, there is a a chance that the US taxpayer will make money on their TARP investment. From the times article, the range is a worse case scenario of losing $70 billion to an optimistic projection of netting $70 billion profit. Mind you I am making quotes from an article I read 5 hours ago, but if I am off, it is not by much. Considering your tea drinking neighbors will lead you to believe that $700 billion went up in vapors and that was the doing of Mr. Obama. To give full credit - GW Bush is the one that initiated the TARP program. I am optimistic it served its purpose in propping up the economy and saved it from caving in on itself. The article next to it also detailed that the economy grew by a surprising 1.7% last month, a full 1% more than anticipated.

Moving on from that positive news, which was one of few things (aside from my boys' picture for our Xmas cards) that put a smile on my face today - it buoyed my plans and purpose for going to MIPCOM. At the heart of BEA, the core will always be books, booksellers and authors - but BEA has to be a content event. That sounds like a generic, outside the synergy box type of business-speak jargon. It is not - in my heart and soul, I don't see books going away. However, what is next should be exciting and not scary. No one is sure what is next for publishing. I am certain about one thing - books are stories and content and there will be more formats, platforms and devices for them to be produced and consumed in the next five years than there have been in the last 100 years. Publishing is the fuel of the content engine. That is why BEA will be transformed to make certain that it is an event about content in its nascent form and that is ready to be consumed in books, on digital or mobile devices and be repurposed on-line, developed for movies and television or any place else that content will tell a story, entertain, inform, educate and inspire. My plan at MIPCOM is to marry the fuel of publishing content to the content engine that the entertainment industry represents. More dispatches to follow.

Also best wishes to Lance and Greg for NY Comicon next weekend. I am missing it for the first time since the epic 1st one in 2007. I have only been a spare part helper the last few years as Lance and Greg have driven that show to the great event it has become. I will miss it.
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

A Pilfered Post from Publishers Lunch

2010-09-29T15:00:00.000-04:00

I thought the article below from Publishers Lunch was interesting both as someone involved in the publishing industry and more so as a parent with 2 boys who love both books and gadgets. Both of whom are clamouring for iTouches for upcoming birthday & Holiday presents. I share that because I am very interested to see if they will use those as reading devices aside from the gaming & fun apps they envision using them for right now. I can not begin to tell you how many Pokemon, Bionicle & Star Wars books populate my kids rooms all following the toys or the movies they enjoyed. I am hoping the things they discover through the iTouch will lead them to more books. Because they get enjoyment from reading - they also love so many traditional books like Stuart Little, Roald Dahl, the Magic Tree House books and so much more....

Scholastic Confirms Kids Like Devices--Maybe More than Reading

Scholastic hired Harrison Group to conduct their 2010 survey this spring on reading habits of kids ages 6 through 17. As you would expect, the older kids get, the more they spend leisure time online and with their cell phones rather than reading books for pleasure.

Kids love gadgets, and thus 57 percent "are interested in reading an ebook." (But when queried about which type of device, typically only a third answered in the affirmative, so that 57 percent overall interest could be high.) A third "say they would read more books for fun if they had access to ebooks on an electronic device"--but any parent knows the disconnect between what kids say they would do and what they actually do! Meanwhile, most parents believe that electronic devices take away from time their kids spend reading, being physical, and engaging with family.
Six percent of the parents say they own a device used for reading, and 16 percent plan to buy one within the next year (remember that this was conducted in the spring).

Both the press release highlights and full report are available at the link below.
Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report

Notes from the Moscow Book Fair

2010-09-05T17:14:00.002-04:00

I was not sure what to expect in coming to the Moscow Book Fair. I have to admit to being wary based on stories from a fellow Reed employee that had traveled there several times. The one thing that was off putting was that unless you are fluent in the language - it is impossibly tough to get around. There is no system for taxis so you would have to flag down private drivers and negotiate. They will charge you $50 or even $100 to drive you 3 blocks if you can't communicate with them. Fortunately Svetlana Adjoubei who represents BEA in Russia in addition to running the Russian literary press Academia Rossica was a wonderful host. I can go on about what a force she is in Russian publishing, but that would take up this entire post. Suffice to say she and her staff were generous, thoughtful hosts and dynamic in their jobs. It is an amazing city. Describing sites like Red Square and the Kremlin - that would take 2 more posts - so I will move along.

What I want to share is that Russia is a surprisingly developed market considering it is only 20 years old. Roughly 40-50% of the books published are translated works - the majority coming from English language which sell particularly well. Talking with Irina Shishova, Foreign Rights Director from Eksmo - Russia's largest publisher with annual revenue of over $215mm was very informative. Eksmo is a general trade publisher and they publish about 1,000 titles a month! She bought rights to 1,350+ titles in the last year. There are bigger challenges because distribution network has not kept pace with the growth in publishing. There are 11 times zones in Russia which adds significant shipping costs that can make books very expensive and have huge pricing disparity based on location. That also forces larger print runs so book orders can be fulfilled without having to reprint. We chatted with Arkady Vitrouk, CEO of Azbooka-Atticus Publishing Group, with $50mm in turnover they are Russia's 3rd largest publisher. They are doing 500 titles annually with 70% coming from acquired rights. They do have success in selling some fiction rights in the US. We also met with the PR Director from Ozon.ru - the easiest description is saying they are the Amazon of Russia. They posted 21% growth in 2009 - unheard of considering that was the height of the global financial crisis. They invested without any bank financing in a $20mm new distribution center. In 2009 Ozon processed 1,460,204 orders that were shipped to 105 countries. Their turnover (if I coverted correctly) is around $105mm. They carry 370,000 titles, 200,000 in foreign language. They sell more than 9,000 books a day and sold 3.7 million in 2009. They will be launching their own e-reading device as well. The demo reader was due to be delivered the day after we met with them. There are a number of e-book devices available in Russia, but piracy is a big issue. More than one of the publishers we talked with would be surprised if more than 10% were legitimate and not pirated copies that are being downloaded.

There are also challenges in breaking Russian writers and titles outside of Russia. Once they have some success, they tend to rush subsequent titles to press sacrificing the curation and editing process that enabled the original success, killing long term success for short term gains.

Russian publishing is a market that is growing - which can't be said about larger markets like the US or the UK. They have a vision and support from the Dept. of Press and Mass Communications. We spent a lot of time with their Deputy Director, Vladimir Gregoriev. He intends for Russia's publishing industry to be a player on the global stage. If I had to bet any money on the outcome, I would put it all on Mr. Gregoriev.
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

Posting in transit from Beijing to Moscow

2010-09-01T09:54:00.002-04:00

There is no BEA news in this post other than to share my pain and the effort involved to make some of BEA's initiatives come to fruition that are of value to BEA exhibitors and attendees. While trips to Beijing and Moscow imply cool and maybe even exotic, they are long hours, lots of prep work to set up meetings sandwiched around a wicked travel schedule. The purpose is for BEA to build relationships with the associations, government agencies and publishers that will use BEA as a platform to buy & sell rights, establish distribution partnerships, or bring compelling content/technolgy to be discovered by the BEA audience.

With days like today - that mission is not a cake walk with bon bons. I am in a middle seat in a middle section in the cattle of coach. While that is not unusual - this part I wish was fiction. The passengers next to me arrived seconds before the doors closed and with them out went my hopes for the room of an empty adjoining seat. They are 2 LARGE Russian gentleman. I learned on Air China the Duty Free cart includes Chivas Regal. Also on Air China - you get your duty free purchase for immediate use or consumption. My 2 neighbors and their lady friend finished their liter of Chivas and coke in about an hour. They are now totally passed out. I have had the joy of sharing about 1/3 of my seat with my passed out neighbor for the last 3 hours. Oh yeah - my iPod ran out of battery, there is no in flight entertainment and my overhead light does not work so I can't read anything. After an 8 hour flight, it will be straight to the Moscow Book Fair's Book of the Year awards (which will of course be all in Russian). Oooh - the in flight snack is being served - I am hoping it has eel again like dinner. Cool and exotic, yes?
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

Blogging Beijing

2010-08-31T05:14:00.002-04:00

The Beijing International Book Fair has been a productive trip. I did not have any expectations before arriving other than what come with working a book fair - long hours, lots of 'book' friendlies to catch up with, the foibles of my linguistic limitations and great dinners balanced by the dreck ingested from any convention hall food.

The fair matches the dichotomy of the city with Mercedes and BMWs competing for space on the roads with scores of pedestrians and motor bikes that have less horse power than a lawn mower and are used to haul everthing from full sized couches to entire families.
The fair has been bustling with dense aisles. It is interesting that business has a rhythm like LBF or Frankfurt with 30 minute meetings but the are lots of walk up activity with attendees drawn in by the booths or books. I do wonder who the attendees are as a whole - this portion of the fair is trade only, but it does not seem like there are booksellers.

All in all it has been impressive - and not just because I was able to get a Brooklyn lager, although that was a treat. I look forward to coming back with a year's experience and the start of some good relationships to build on.
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

Dispatch from Beijing International Book Fair

2010-08-29T11:00:00.003-04:00

I attended the Beijing International Publishing Forum today. One theme rang through several of the presentations - globilization. That was the clear tone from Yan Junqi, Vice Chairwoman, Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chairwoman (that is only half her title) and Liu Bijie, Minister of GAPP. Both shared high points in the progress of Chinese publishing along with global realities that make it clear that there is huge opportunity for willing partners.

They detailed how China is ready to embrace international publishers and support them with changes in Chinese policy that would facilitate access to the Chinese market.

Mr. Bijie went through an 8 point plan on how the future of China's publishing industry will support international access: 1. Enhance Policy Support for int'l publishing cooperation. 2. Promote China's int'l publishing cooperation. 3. Build platforms for int'l cooperation. 4. Let enterprises play their role and support copyright cooperation. 5. Assist and support project cooperation. 6. Boost capital cooperation. 7. Open distribution channels and 8. Build a talent training program.

That was the tone of what is being served leading up to the fair opening tomorrow. Smarter people than me will take what is being offered and assess what that means for publishers around the globe.
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

Book Fairs abounding

2010-08-27T17:24:00.002-04:00

I am pecking out this blog post waiting to board my flight to the Beijing International Book Fair - which I will follow with a direct flight to Moscow for the Moscow Book Fair. I have never been to either city nor their respective fairs. I have not had the time to get excited with this summer being so busy. Aside from missing home (with the best weather all year), my boys starting school and my wife - I am eager to see both fairs and cities.

There will be a lot of BEA news coming in the early fall as we redesign BEA's web navigation, BEA will be hosting a series of webinars with the BISG, the author submission process will move on-line, we will be reformatting the BEA show directory for 2011 and re-doing the event program. One of our primary goals for 2011 will be to make information for exhibitors and attendees easy to 'pull' and stop 'pushing' as I know BEA is guilty of over communicating due to the volume of content and info there is related to share about BEA every year.

I hope your summer ends well as mine will be spent flying around the world, missing home but excited for what there is to be learned from both events I will be attending.
Sincerely,
------------------------
Steven Rosato
Event Director-BookExpo America
srosato@reedexpo.com
Sent from my BlackBerry

Is reading a zero sum game?

2010-07-29T16:42:00.002-04:00

Zero-Sum Game: A situation in which one participant's gains result only from another participant's equivalent losses. The net change in total wealth among participants is zero; the wealth is just shifted from one to another.

I ask the question, Is reading a zero sum game? because from the press I hear and read about Kindles, iPads or eBooks in general and the future role of bookstores presumes there has to be a winner and a loser because there is only so much that will be read in any format.

I don't think that is the case. EBooks are here to stay and will continue to evolve, but books are not going away. I ride the Metro-North commuter train into New York with great frequency. This week I shared a seat with a woman that went back and forth from her Blackberry to reading a hardcover romance book to reading on her iPad. I noticed everyone with some sort of ereader also had newspapers folded under their arms or a book tucked into briefcases and backpacks. Michael Shatzkin's recent blog was very interesting reading, He simply did the math based on the expected growth of eBooks and extrapolated the fate of bookstores (Where-will-bookstores-be-five-years-from-now). I think he raises some very real and salient points, but the premise only works if reading is a Zero-Sum Game.

For the 'explosive' growth of e-books, retail book numbers have been mostly flat based on the monthly numbers from the AAP. While people are buying a lot more eBooks and just as many are still buying printed books. There is no doubt that the future of publishing will be digital. Certainly all the current controversies in publishing are around digital issues. The Wylie Agency stuff has been fascinating to read on a daily basis for the last week or so. However I don't see that printed books will drop in a corresponding number to the total # of eBooks sold. I may be naive, but the day to day examples I see - people still love books. The Pequot library in Fairfield (where I reside) had their annual book sale, it was front page news for the 3 local papers and drews crowds from hundreds of miles, I did my regular home book purge in my company kitchen and 30+ books were scooped by by almost as many people within an hour. I was at the Bank Street Bookstore in Mystic last weekend, it was busy and we bought books for our boys. Even, if I did own a KindlePadeReadingNook and did read somthing like Matterhorn on it, it would not stop me from buying books for my boys or people from grabbing a good read in my company kitchen or people going the annual Pequot Library Book Sale.....

And the results are..........

2010-07-21T13:01:00.000-04:00

.....mostly good to great, with areas that need to be addressed (which I will get into). I am referring to the exhibitor and attendee results of BEA 2010 from the BEA Exhibitor & Attendee Post Show research. It is critical information that is one of the biggest drivers in planning and strategy for BEA 2011. This is a publishing industry event, so people do love to write - we received 40 pages of write in comments aside from the survey questions - well over 1,000 comments. Every single one of them are read.  The comments that match up to the survey results are pulled out and held up when we as saying 'how do we fix this issue?'.

Some top line results:
Attendee Satisfaction: 65% of BEA's attendee's are Completely or Very Satisfied.
Attendee Loyalty: 71% are Extremely or Very Likely to attend in 2011.
Exhibitor Satisfaction: 62% are Completely or Very Satisfied (up from 47% in '09)
Exhibitor Loyalty: 69% are Extremely or Very Likely to attend in 2011.

There is always room to improve these numbers, but we are thrilled that 2/3's of BEA's exhibitors and attendees rate BEA so highly. The numbers from what we term detractors (people who are not happy with the event, get no value and are not likely to return) has trended downward 3 straight years and is less than 10% of the overall BEA audience.

Let me address the biggest complaint we did get, which was lumped under 'Organization' - that was the crowding and the congestion mostly in the Autographing Area as well as the show floor.   We have already expanded the amount of space for 2011 between the autographing and the exhibit stands. We will have satellite signing areas and address autographing in booths so it will reduce the congestion around the show floor. I promise - this will be fixed, you can plan that BEA 2011 will be easier to navigate.

I have to admit being confused by some results. The #1 reason for attendees who love BEA to recommend attending is "Number of Publishers & Authors". The #1 reason for attendees who did not like BEA that would recommend NOT attending is 'Not Enough Vendors'.   There are other areas where we get conflicting data of people attending the same event at the same time have the opposite perceptions. We will dig deeper into those, but please feel free to contact me to let me know how I can make BEA a better event for you.

There is a glass and is half full of something

2010-07-06T13:40:00.001-04:00

I came across a recent article in Entertainment Weekly discussing if To Kill A Mockingbird or The Catcher in the Rye were to be released in today's world, they would have likely been marketed as YA titles. They raise an interesting point as to what that would have meant to their longevity and if there is a bias in terms of critical success for YA titles. The thing I took from this article: for all the dire predictions on the future of publishing, the venerable 'old media' that publishing is deemed to be, it has the enviable postion of a growing and young fan base. From Twilight to Lemony Snicket to Harry Potter to the Wimpy Kid to the Hunger Game books - there legions of kids and teens that are already reading books and the vast majority in the tradtional format, not via a device. It is not a zero sum game between video games, the internet, television or music - a good product will find its market and a good story will find its audience.

I am optimistic that as long as there are good books to read, the legions of fans from all the series and books I already listed will want that experience again and again and again.

Entertainment Weekly - To Kill A Mockingbird Turns 50

Ramping up for BEA 2011

2010-06-28T15:35:00.000-04:00

BEA 2010 seems like it happened years ago and not just 5 short weeks. I was at ALA this past weekend and enjoyed getting feedback that ranged from positive to outstanding. I will be out in earnest the next few weeks getting in front of BEA's exhibitors and attendees to review their results, focusing on the things that went well and what BEA needs to improved upon. If you are here, reading this post, you have license to provide your feedback. I will look at any comments posted which will be intructive as the BEA team formally executes our 2011 strategy planning over the next few weeks.

I am thrilled to share the Book Bloggers Convention BEA will eagerly be welcomed them back to the BEA Big Tent for 2011. We will be looking to make the process easier and more streamlined for everyone who participated this past year, which might be hard because things did run so well despite being the 1st year where glitches are expected. Also, BEA will continue our partnership with the IDPF Digital Book event. That was a huge success that we will look to grow that content as part of BEA.

Out of the gate I can share a few things: As it has been announced, BEA will be 3 full days. We will address the scheduling to make sure BEA retains the vibrancy for the entire event, but be mindful that ending Thursday early enough to reduce hotel nights for people that can return home without having to wait for a morning flight. As more and more info is consumed on the web and smart phones - BEA will expand our mobile application. We will also do away with the giant event program we mailed 6-8 weeks prior to BEA which was always out of date the day it went to the printer. We will look to combine the Event Program, Autographing lists & Show Directory into a new format that will live electronically and have a simpler printed version available on-site.

There will be a lot more to come - but that is what we are working on 47 weeks out. PLEASE don't be shy with your opinions, they are valid and will help the direction we go in for BEA 2011.

Gone fishing

2010-06-04T13:23:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful feedback from BEA over the last week. It is enourmously helpful and I will look forward to catching up with many people in the next few weeks as we will take the momentum from 2010 and make BEA 2011 a stellar event.

For the next week - I am not sure how relaxing it will be, but I know it will be great fun taking the family to Disney for the 1st time. I will be back to my desk on June 14th.

BEA splits baby down the middle!

2010-06-02T13:55:00.001-04:00

The title is a bit how I feel from the e-mails that are landing on both sides of being in favor of or being against BEA returning to a 3 day format. Below is most of the content of a communication I sent out to the BEA Exhibitor Steering Committee. I hope sharing details and context that went into our decision will help make sense of our reasoning. The bottom line is that it was critically important for too many companies that needed 3 days to get the full value out of BEA and all I care about is delivering ROI. BEA came back from grave predictions in 2009, 2010 was a great event by all the feedback I have gotten. We are listening, we are engaged and BEA will surpass expecations again in 2011 no matter how lofty. I hope that we have proven we will deliver over the last 2 years because you are going to have trust us that we will do this right.

Also below is a link to an article from Inside Higher Ed - which is typical of the feedback we are hearing from all corners.

The overwhelming feedback has been extremely positive with BEA having delivered a dense, energy charged and productive event last week. That said, I wanted to take this opportunity to uniformly reply to questions I have been getting about our quick decision to restore BEA to a 3 day format.

People have suggested that BEA reacted too hastily without building a consensus as to what would have been preferred. I hope sharing the facts that went into our decision will alleviate this perception. Yes – there are certainly some participants who favor the 2 day format. But there are also many exhibitors who favor the 3 day format and for these exhibitors it is not just a question of "like or dislike"; these participants made it very clear that they critically need the additional day to complete their business and this genuinely impacted the value of BEA for them. This was both international exhibitors and smaller to mid sized publishers. We consulted with ABA and AAP as well to share with them the concerns we were facing and they both understood and endorsed the need to go to the 3 day format. The main reason BEA was compelled to make this decision quickly was to secure the participation from so many of the international collective stands who would have refused to re-new their space for 2011. BEA without participation from Spain, Mexico, France, the UK, Italy, China, and so many more of the international collective stands would be a greatly diminished event for everyone.

We will address the exhibit hours to make the switch back to a 3 day format palatable and help reduce the number of hotel nights. Our initial plan will be to have the conference program along with the ABA program on the Monday at Javits. The exhibits would be Tuesday 10-5, Wednesday 9-5 and Thursday 9-3. We understand that we will have to strongly program the last day of BEA to make sure all 3 days are relevant. We know the biggest and best change for BEA was moving to mid week, having the last day end on a Thursday at 3:00 p.m. will be far different than a 3 day event ending on a Sunday afternoon.

BEA Review from Inside Higher Ed

BEA Restores 3 Day Format for 2011

2010-05-27T09:16:00.001-04:00

I have to admit that I could not have hoped, planned or imagined for a better event this week than what has unfolded for BEA 2010.   The focus on quality over quantity delivered one fantastic event after another. I ran up to our show office to peck out this post after Jon Stewart's wonderful opening of the Adult Author Breakfast - I had a hard time pulling my self away from Condoleezza Rice's inspiring talk on her book that is about her upbringing and her parents. I am typing fast so I can get back to hear Mary Roach and John Grisham speak.

BEA this year was about change and making a good event great that served the publishing industry in a meaningful way. Moving to mid-week was absolutely the right decision. We also felt strongly that the 2 day format was the right thing to do because the value of BEA is in the audience we deliver.  We executed a strong plan that we knew would deliver that audience for BEA 2010 and that the quality would prove that was the right choice as well.  A lot of people genuinely like the 2 day format and it did work for them. However - I have to acknowledge while people liked the 2 day format - a lot of people genuinely need 3 days to meet their objectives at BEA. While our mantra has been quality of quantity - there is a reality of what people can accomplish in 2 full days. We will always do what will make BEA the best event possible for the people we serve.

In the end while many people liked BEA as a 2 day show - more people need BEA to be a 3 day show.  We will remain mid week with the show days being Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday. My plan right now is to keep the conference program on Monday because the impact of the conference this year running on Tuesday without competing with the show floor was tremendous. There were great sessions that had overflowing audiences. I look forward to getting the CEO Panel that was the Plenary session with the ABA and the Editor's Buzz Panel video posted later today.

P.S. Lance - you were missed and talked about often.

BEA opens with a bang!

2010-05-25T14:18:00.000-04:00

The BEA conference opened along with the ABA Day of Education, IDPF Digitial Book 2010 program welcomed more than 700+ conferees and Library Journal & School Library Journal Day of Dialogue was packed with more than 500 librarians. The CIROBE Remainders Pavilion is enjoyed brisk business with busy aisles all day. Everything has been stellar across the board - starting with the opening plenary session on the Value of the Book. Moderated by Jonathan Galassi the panelwill included:

Bob Miller, Group Publisher, Workman
Esther Newberg, Executive Vice President, International Creative Management (ICM)
Skip Prichard, Chief Executive Officer, Ingram
David Shanks, Chief Executive Officer, Penguin Group (USA)
Oren Teicher, Chief Executive Officer, American Booksellers Association (ABA)
Scott Turow, Author, Incoming President, Authors Guild

It was a terrific conversation with 1,100 people watching throughout. I look forward to the 7x20x21 panel in a bit, followed by the Editors Buzz and fittingly ending the day with Barbra Streisand's much anticipated appearance. There are still seats available - but people have started to line up!!!

Day 1 at Javits

2010-05-24T12:05:00.002-04:00

As the sound of forklifts fill the air here at Javits, I am eager for what I am confident will be a resoundingly successful BEA. I recognize I am not the one who gets to be the judge of BEA's success - that will be for BEA's exhibitors and attendees who have invested their time and resources who make that evaluation.

My expectation is that BEA's focus on quality over quantity, content over consumption and relevance over redundancy will have exhibitors and attendees sharing my enthusiasm for the transformation of BEA to match that of the industry BEA serves.

On my new quote - no apologies for the homage to Lost. As far the finale goes I have to sit with it for few days before I get a better sense of my thoughts. I know with the Sopranos - the more I thought about that ending the more brilliant I realized it was from my knee jerk reaction of - HUH??? The quote from Lost - I thought it was perfect for this week.

If I don't personally get to say Hi or Thank You for participating in BEA this week - please know I am grateful and humbled by the chance to lead this event. There are so many wonderful and brilliant people in this inudustry (you know who you are) - it is a priviledge that I don't take lightly. Also - to the wonderful team that makes BEA happen - with a smile - THANK YOU ALL.

BookExpo America 2010: A Pivotal Moment in Show History

2010-05-19T09:56:00.001-04:00

Publishing Perspectives gave me the opportuity to submit an editorial for today previewing my expectations for BEA 2010. I consistently enjoy their coverage and thank them for the platform. The link below will take you to that article.

Publishing Perspectives BEA Article

As people are readying themselves for 3 jammed days of BEA events - let me offer 3 tips that will make your time at BEA more comfortable and productive:

Baby Powder/Talc - this is the most important thing I pack when I travel - particularly for my feet. 12-14 hours on your feet and walking miles of aisles, follow this and you will thank me at the end of every trade show you ever work again.
Make appointments. Make appointments. Make appointments. Whether you are exhibiting or attending, trade shows provide the greatest concentration of people in an industry that are important to your business - make sure you see the 10 most important people to your interests, otherwise you are leaving your success to chance encounters.
Notes/Follow Up: After any meeting, take a few short notes on what was promised by you or who you met with. You will end up talking with hundreds of people over 3 days, don't let a great opportunity end up lost in a sea meetings.

Make Plans to Attend the BEA 2010 Tweet Up Today!

2010-05-14T17:03:00.000-04:00

Meet your book and publishing friends that you've only known with an "@" sign in front of them. Come hang at the BEA 2010 Tweet Up! It will be fun, funky and it is free.

Drinks, Food and DJs Dana Trombley (aka DJ danaSkully) + Russ Marshalek (aka DJ RussComm ) playing the fun party jams of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Powerhouse Books 37 Main St Brooklyn, NY

BEA 2010 Tweet Up

Party Hosts: #BEA10, #beatweetup, @katmeyer, @powerhousebooks, @bsandusky, @russmarshalek

Hashtag:: #BEA10, #beatweetup