Authors Mix Well with Business at PNBA

by Wendy Werris -- Publishers Weekly, 9/17/2008 1:38:00 PM

Sharply divided opinions about IndieBound and a first-time experiment with a schedule change for Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association’s 2008 trade show that gave publishers and reps the option of exhibiting for either one or two days created a lively, successful atmosphere at this year’s first regional event, held in Portland, Oregon at the Holiday Inn.

Although about half of the publishers only stayed for one day, they had ample time to see and take orders from a healthy crowd of booksellers at a show that saw its attendance climb back up to where it had been two years ago, the last time it was held in Portland. “We were in a 35,000 square foot conference center last year that was really too big for our purposes,” said PNBA Executive Director Thom Chambliss. “Everyone seems to prefer this hall (at the Holiday Inn). At 15,000 square feet it’s cozier and it’s cheaper, which is more meaningful to our members than ever before.”

Chambliss hopes to make the PNBA show “more of a book industry event in the future.” The organization created additional educational seminars and author events this year, taking advantage of the extra space in the hall after many exhibitors left the show early. The show also invited more librarians this year, many of whom were in attendance. “The show is about half the size it was ten years ago,” Chambliss continued, acknowledging the closing of bookstores and loss of members since 1998. “We’re trying to do things that will bring people back. We’re inviting more publishing people that work in New York to participate in our panels, adding more seminars and making the show more useful to librarians.”

Karen Emmerling of Beach Books in Seaside, Oregon, remarked, “I think the show is fabulous this year. It’s a smaller venue, which makes it more personal. And the author events have been better than ever.” Her buying efforts were focused primarily on the sideline companies that don’t call on her store as often as book reps.

Although the general consensus among booksellers was that “running scared” best describes their approach to business in these days leading up to the holidays, Elliot Bay’s Rick Simonson shared good news about his store’s sales this summer. “The weak dollar was advantageous to us this season,” he explained. “We had many more Europeans shopping in the store all summer, and most of our local customers stayed close to home to avoid the expense of traveling abroad. Our sales were great, but I have no idea what will happen in the next few months.”

IndieBound was a hot topic on the floor. On the enthusiastic side was Jan Healy of Eagle Harbor Books, Bainbridge Island, Washington. “It’s going very well for us,” she said, “and we’ve already started a dialogue with other independent businesses in our area to generate more interest in the ‘shop locally’ movement.” Healy is particularly excited about IndieBound’s bestseller list, which her customers are starting to use as a buying reference. Others were less positive. Susan Hickey, co-owner of Hearthside Books in Juneau, Alaska, pondered, “I’ve been an indie bookseller for 33 years, with two stores. I wonder where I’m going to find the time to incorporate all of IndieBound’s wonderful ideas.” Others, who asked to remain anonymous, were less polite. “IndieBound puts the burden on the bookstores, while we already live with the burden of staying in business. It seems unrealistic,” one said. Another railed, “IndieBound doesn’t even have the word ‘book’ in it. How are my customers supposed to know what it is?”

Still, the show went on without a hitch. The additional authors present on the third day were met with great eagerness by the booksellers and librarians, and the publishers appreciated the good customer turnout. PGW’s sales rep Cindy Heidemann noted, “Attendance was very good, and I was busy the whole time taking orders.” Cris Cooke, the Wiley rep, was happy with the smaller venue. “The show definitely has a better pulse than it did last year.”

At Tuesday night’s sold-out Feast of Authors, debut novelist Jamie Ford (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Ballantine, February 2009) was one of 20 authors who rotated among the tables to chat with booksellers. “I’m going to visit as many independent bookstores in the country as possible, because I know how important they are to the success of first novels,” Ford said. The new novel by Stewart O’Nan, Songs For the Missing (Viking, October), is the story of the emotional aftermath that follows the disappearance of a young woman. “It’s a dark book,” O’Nan told his tablemates, “but I hope it projects radiance.” Lewis Buzbee, whose The Yellow-Lighted Bookstore was a success for Gray Wolf Books in 2006, spoke of the pleasure he found in writing the just-released Steinbeck’s Ghost (Feiwel & Friends), his first foray into young adult fiction.

The Wednesday Book and Author Breakfast featured four authors, including Kim Barnes. Her new novel from Knopf, A Country Called Home, is already garnering excellent reviews. In her speech, Barnes generated one of the biggest laughs of the morning when she described her love of giving talks at independent bookstores regardless of how many people show up to hear her. “Sometimes only one person is there, which I refer to as my audient.

PNBA is taking a wait and see attitude toward plans for next year’s regional event. “We can’t afford not to keep everyone happy. The business isn’t what it used to be,” said Brian Juenemann, the organization’s marketing director. “The established opinion among booksellers and publishers is always changing, but we hope that the changes we initiated this year met the expectations of as many people as possible.”

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