Book Sense

Here is the latest news and an update on improvements to BookSense.com.

On April 29, BookSense.com announced that it had made following enhancements to its templated sites:

April Fool's Day is not the precise day that Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton, Montana, opened 30 years ago. But it is close enough, as well as being the wedding anniversary of co-owners Russ Lawrence and Jean Matthews and a great day for a celebration. On April 1, over 100 people attended an evening of festivities at the store, which included eating, drinking, Celtic music, dancing, and a book signing.

Balloting to choose the winners of the 2004 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards ends on Wednesday, May 12, the final day that ABA member bookstores may fax the ballot to KPMG, the association's accountant. All ABA member stores are eligible to vote, but only one ballot per store is allowed (the first form received from a store will be the official ballot). A ballot was sent to all stores in early April and is available in a downloadable PDF format by clicking here.

Carl Lennertz, vice president of independent retailing at HarperCollins, former senior consultant to ABA's Book Sense marketing program, and friend to independent booksellers everywhere, shares his thoughts about his new role as author of May Book Sense Pick Cursed by a Happy Childhood (Harmony).

By Carl Lennertz

In The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies, and Nations (Doubleday), James Surowiecki talks about how we run businesses, fight terrorism, structure political systems, perform scientific research, walk through crowded streets, and drive on tightly packed highways.

The May 10 issue of the New Yorker, on sale May 3, will once again include a special insert featuring Book Sense and great gift book recommendations from independent booksellers. "Bound to Please" suggests appropriate titles for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and graduation gifts and notes that books " can both commemorate a special moment and later, offer the pleasure of rediscovery -- something few gifts can do."

With the Book Sense Gift Card program in full swing for about seven months now, statistics compiled by ABA bear out the fact that gift cards are extremely popular with book buyers. Moreover, recently released research is projecting overall gift card sales to increase to over $90 billion by 2007.

Book Sense and the A&E Network have announced the formation of a new marketing partnership that both anticipate will extend their brand into the well-known territory of the other.

Here, Book Sense and The History Channel present the Summer 2004 Book Sense Top Ten World War II Picks, in honor of the 60th anniversary of D-Day.

In response to both bookseller and publisher recommendations, Book Sense has instituted a new monthly mailing -- the "Red Box" -- which begins in May. While actually a white box in color, this mailing will feature a large red sticker announcing "Open Immediately! Your (month) Marketing Action Kit enclosed from Book Sense."

McIntyre's Fine Books in Pittsboro, North Carolina, celebrated its 15th anniversary on April 20. Owner Keebe Fitch was, of course, appreciative of the long-running success, but celebrated quietly. "We sent out our newsletter announcing our birthday," she said. "But it's business as usual. We've got so much to do we didn't have time for a big sale," said Fitch, who began her career in bookselling after completing her MBA at the University of North Carolina (UNC).

Mark Nichols, director of marketing for Book Sense, notes that confirmation e-mails for the Book Sense Book and Author Luncheon to be held on Friday, June 4, at this year's BookExpo America will be sent out during the week of May 10. Recipients must print out the confirmation and bring it with them to the Luncheon to expedite seating. The event will be held in the Grand Ballroom at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center.

The scenic business district of Peninsula, Ohio, will boast an independent bookstore after many years, when Blue Heron Bookstore opens on Saturday, May 1. The store's 4,000-square-foot building, with wood-burning stove, spiral staircase, and courtyard, occupies space that in the past has housed an 1880s saloon, an automotive repair shop, and an antiques store. The village of Peninsula, population 602, 10 miles from Akron and 25 miles south of Cleveland, is also the home of the popular Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The 2004 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards will be announced at the Celebration of Bookselling, on Friday, June 4, during this year's BookExpo America (BEA) in Chicago. Here, BTW takes a look at the five finalists in the Adult Fiction category. (For the complete list of finalists, click here.)

All nominated authors and illustrators are being invited to attend the award ceremonies and the Book Sense Lunch, also to be held on Friday, June 4, at BEA.

Ballots to elect ABA Board of Director candidates and to approve officers must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 28, and returned in the special postage-paid envelope sent to bookstores in early April. Board ballots must be received by ABA's accountants, KPMG, by May 5.