Slow for Many, Hopeful for Some

by Jana Riess, Religion BookLine -- Publishers Weekly, 2/7/2007

Author signings at Expo were minimal and most did not attract huge crowds. But Thursday morning saw some wrap-around-the-aisle traffic at the Moody booth, as dozens of attendees queued up for cake and a book signing by relational elder statesman Gary Chapman (The Five Love Languages). Still, by late Thursday afternoon, the show floor was deserted.

For some publishers, this show was the final straw in the debate about whether to keep coming. "I am seriously reconsidering whether we will do this show at all next year," said Kim Shimer, sales and promotions manager for Judson Press. Even though Judson downsized its booth from two spaces last year to one, the floor traffic did not seem to justify even the reduced expense of attending, she reported. "The one thing everyone is saying is, 'why don't they take this down to just one show a year?'"

But Howard Cavalero, sales manager for Catholic Book Publishing, said that his Expo was busier than the previous three times he had exhibited, and that he was writing numerous orders for new customers. "It's very much our impression that the Catholic segment is growing" in CBA stores, he said. One popular product was A Catholic Perspective on the Purpose-Driven Life by Father Joseph M. Champlin. "It's been out about six months, and we've been back to press four times."

Zondervan is looking forward to the release of The Purpose-Driven Life in trade paperback next month, though there is still no definite word yet on when Rick Warren will deliver a new book. The next Warren book from Zondervan may be by his wife Kay. Zondervan publicity director Vicki Cessna said, "We have been working with her to develop an appropriate project but again don't have anything to announce at this time."