BEA Next Stop for LBF (Non) Attendees

With the London Book Fair concluded, the attention of many American publishing industry members is shifting from worries on how to get to the fair to what can be done to compensate for lost meetings and appointments. Adding to BEA and using some new tech tools are some of the plans.

LBF Digital Conference: It's All About the Smartphones

Hype about the iPad was refreshingly absent from the London Book Fair Digital Conference on Sunday (18 April), well attended in spite of the inevitable, volcanic ash-induced absences. Instead, there was a good deal of attention on iPhones and other smartphones.

LBF Does Go On...Volcano and All

Despite the huge monkey wrench the suddenly active Icelandic volcano put in many Americans' (and some Europeans') plans to attend the London Book Fair, spirits among both attendees and those who stayed behind were relatively high. As many in the industry noted, while doing business face-to-face is optimal, work can be done remotely. And, of course, London isn't just about what the Americans brings to the fair.

British Authors Also Grounded Because of Volcano

London Book Fair: Americans MIA

With flights being canceled in droves because of the volcanic ash cloud hanging over Europe, many American publishers and agents will not be able to make it to the London Book Fair, which will nevertheless go forward.

LBF vs. the Volcano: Fair Planners Say Show Will Go On

With London's Heathrow airport closed for a second day as a result of volcanic ash being spit into European air space by an erupting volcano in Iceland, those in the publishing community are dealing with delayed flights and mounting concerns about how, and if, they will be able to get to the fair.

London Book Fair -- Missed Connections

Have you had to change your travel plans for the London Book Fair? Click through for details on attendees' updated schedules. And please contact Jim Milliot at jmilliot@reedbusiness.com, if you would like send along your information.

London Briefcase, Part II: What the Agents Are Bringing to the Fair

Simon Winchester delves into the life story of an ocean, Francine Pascal revisits her Sweet Valley High twins, Philip K. Dick’s notes are opened up, and Anthony Bourdain returns to the kitchen. These are just a few of the literary goings-on among the titles the American agencies are shopping in London.

Back to Business At Bologna

After a 2009 fair, when many Americans stayed home over economic worries, the 2010 Bologna Children's Book Fair proved a much more upbeat gathering. “There's a lot of activity, and everyone I'm talking to seems positive,” said Andrew Smith, deputy publisher of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, during the fair, which ran from March 23 to 26.

Bologna Gets Back to Business

After a 2009 fair when many Americans stayed home over economic worries, the 2010 Bologna Children's Book Fair proved a much more upbeat gathering. "There's a lot of activity, and everyone I'm talking to seems positive," said Andrew Smith, deputy publisher of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. HarperCollins children's rights director Helen Boomer said it was "great to see many of the publishers who skipped last year return this year." And Penguin Young Readers associate publisher Jennifer Haller reported, "People are chatting about what the year's going to hold. There are a lot of really good conversations."

Barbra Streisand to Headline BEA

BEA will be getting a little glitz on opening night when actress and singer Barbra Streisand takes the stage at the Opening Night Keynote Reception on Tuesday, May 25. Streisand will be interviewed about her first book, My Passion for Design, which Viking will publish on November 16.

Fiction Hot, Digital Not at Upbeat Bologna

The mood at this year's Bologna Book Fair has been much improved over last year when publishers were dealing with the impact of the worldwide recession. Young adult titles and series are drawing the most attention, but there remains caution about what to do on the digital front. "There's a lot of activity and everyone's very upbeat. Last year this place was dead," said Stephen Roxburgh, now with his new company namelos. "But I walked in yesterday morning and you could feel the energy." Roxburgh, who says he's on a one-man hunt to find a "digital pulse" at the fair, reports that the fair's overwhelming focus continues to be "ink on paper," but says he's finding people more receptive to the digital idea.

David Almond, Jutta Bauer Win Hans Christian Andersen Awards

The 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award, the most prestigious international award for children's books, has been given to British author David Almond and German illustrator Jutta Bauer. The award was announced Tuesday afternoon at the Bologna Book Fair.

London Briefcase: What the Big Six Are Bringing to the Fair

Glenn Beck rants about conspiracy theories (this time in fiction), Steve Martin explores the art world, Gary Shteyngart gets romantic, Jimmy Carter unlocks his diary, Laura Bush unlocks her life, and Drs. Oz and Roizen tackle parenting. These are just a few of the highlights you'll find among the books the “big six” are selling at the 2010 London Book Fair.

BEA and Above the Treeline Partner for Books@BEA

BEA is partnering with publishing business software company Above the Treeline to create a new online catalog at this May's trade show, featuring information about the titles on exhibit.

On to Bologna!

As children's publishers from the world over convene in Italy later this month (March 23—26), a number of issues hang in the balance. How will the economy shape this year's fair? Is the age of the big YA fantasy trilogy finally over? Will picture books make a resurgence? What of the co-edition market? The digital revolution? We asked a sampling of Bologna veterans for their take on what to expect at this year's fair, and what they're looking for.

Jon Stewart to Emcee BEA Author Breakfast

BookExpo America has announced its star lineup for the main Author Breakfast of the trade show, to take place on Thursday, May 27. Jon Stewart, who appeared at BEA in 2004, is returning to emcee the breakfast, and he will introduce the main speaker, Condoleezza Rice, whose first memoir is being published by Random House's Crown Publishing Group in October 2010.

Huffington, Patry, Kurzweil Highlight O’Reilly’s Tools of Change Confab

O’Reilly Media’s Tools of Change For Publishing Conference will be held at New York’s Marriott Marquis Hotel February 22-24.

Winter Institute: How Digitization is Impacting the Industry

With the Amazon-Macmillan price war as a backdrop, ABA's fifth Winter Institute got underway in full yesterday with discussions about how bookstores can participate in the digital future, but there was also plenty of talk about the importance of maintaining brick-and-mortar stores.

ALA Midwinter Meeting: Let It Snow

Although attendance was up at this year's ALA Midwinter Meeting, held during the Martin Luther King holiday weekend at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, over last year's meeting in Denver — 11,095 compared to 10,220 in 2009 — it was still down compared with the last time it was on the East Coast. The 2008 show in Philadelphia drew 13,601 people. Some attributed the fact that attendance wasn't stronger this year to economics, including cuts in libraries' travel budgets...