Booksellers, authors, and publishers braved the winter cold in record numbers to head to Minneapolis for the 12th annual Winter Institute (held January 27–30). Although bookseller attendance was previously capped at 500, this year’s institute expanded to accommodate 654, roughly half of whom had never attended the winter gathering before. Given the current political climate, it came as little surprise that this year’s conference was also the most political—and, for many, energizing. But booksellers still made time to share bookselling tips, meet authors, and party.


Lerner Publishing Group president Adam Lerner with author Chris Monroe (Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Maniac Muffins, Carolrhoda) at a joint Lerner/Capstone/Red Balloon party. Photo: Claire Kirch


Lisa Von Drasek (l.) of the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota, with Collette Morgan, founder and manager of Wild Rumpus in Minneapolis. Photo: Claire Kirch


Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, Feb.). Photo: Claire Kirch


Denene Millner, author of Early Sunday Morning (Apr.) and contributing editor to Agate Publishing, with Agate president Doug Seibold. Photo: Judith Rosen


Ben Winters, author of Underground Airlines (Mulholland) with Kate DiCamillo, author of Raymie Nightingale (Candlewick) at a featured talk with Indie Next List Authors. Photo: Claire Kirch


Luisa Smith, buying director of Book Passage in Corte Madera, Calif., and Michael Barnard, owner of Rakestraw Books in Danville, Calif., with The Broken Circle (Akashic, fall 2017) authors M.A. Power (l.) and her brother, J.L. Power (r.). Photo: Judith Rosen


Andrew McCarthy signs his first YA novel, Just Fly Away (Algonquin Young Readers, Mar.) for a fan. Photo: Judith Rosen


Vivien Jennings, founder and president of Rainy Day Books in Fairway, Kans., talks with Natalie C. Anderson, author of City of Saints and Thieves (Putnam). Photo: Judith Rosen


Robin Newman, author of The Case of the Poached Egg (Creston, Apr.), brought plenty of colorful eggs for booksellers. No poaching necessary. Photo: Judith Rosen


Douglas Wood, author of Old Turtle: Questions of the Heart (Scholastic, Mar.) prepares to sing, while the book’s illustrator, Greg Ruth, and Scholastic district sales manager Nikki Mutch look on at the Scholastic Meet and Treat Afterparty. Photo: Judith Rosen


Alyson Jones Turner of Source Booksellers in Detroit with Captain Underpants at the Scholastic Meet and Treat Afterparty. Photo: Judith Rosen


Emma Donoghue, author of The Lotterys Plus One (Scholastic Press, Mar.), at the Scholastic Meet and Treat Afterparty. Photo: Judith Rosen


From l. to r.: April Gorski, owner of the Book Vault in Oskaloosa, Iowa; Emma Donoghue, author of The Lotterys Plus One (Scholastic, Mar.); Mollie Loughlin, owner of the Book Vine in Cherokee, Iowa; and Nancy Simpson Brice of the Book Vault at the Scholastic Meet and Treat Afterparty. Photo: Claire Kirch