Book Sense

In the coming weeks and months, Bookselling This Week would like to shine the spotlight on booksellers who have developed special events to celebrate the Saturday, July 16, release of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Scholastic).

In David Skibbins' debut mystery novel, Eight of Swords (St. Martin's Minotaur), dramatic events occur with startling synchronicity in the life of its protagonist, a part-time professional tarot-card reader.

Independent booksellers in the Book Sense marketing program who wish to be a part of the inaugural Quill Awards Nominating Board must respond by e-mail to The Quill Foundation's Anne Binkley at [email protected] no later than Friday, April 15.

Here is the full listing of the May Book Sense Picks, with booksellers' comments. Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program are receiving their Picks fliers in the April Red Box.

This week, Book Sense also presents a preview of the May Book Sense Notables. Bibliographic information for titles designated "Notables" is included on the May Picks flier.

Shelf-talkers and a downloadable flier of the May Book Sense Notables with jacket images, bibliographic information, and bookseller quotes will soon be available on BookWeb.org.

The Red Box is filled with items of interest and import for you and your business this month:

During its 44 years, Brookline Booksmith has received its share of accolades from loyal customers and from the industry at large. Offspring Wellesley Booksmith, which opened in 1999, has also won its share of recognition.

For the eight-week sales period ending April 3, 2005, and based on reporting from hundreds of independent bookstores across the U.S.

Past Category Bestseller lists are available at www.bookweb.org/read/5677.

Attention Media: Please contact Meg Smith at [email protected] for reprint guidelines for your newspaper or magazine.

Beginning next week, booksellers participating in the Book Sense Gift Card program will be able to order a special limited edition Harry Potter Book Sense gift card and coordinating presenter, which have been created in cooperation with Scholastic, Inc., the U.S. publisher of J.K. Rowling's record-breaking Harry Potter series.

Response Needed by April 15

Stores with Book Sense will be receiving the 2005 - 2006 Reading Group Book Sense Picks in the April Red Box mailing, but the full list, with bookseller quotes, can be previewed online at news.bookweb.org/read/3361.

This is the third year that Book Sense has produced a Reading Group list, which was initiated at the suggestion of independent booksellers in the Book Sense program.