Book Sense

Book Sense -- the campaign that embodies the passion, personality, character, community, and knowledge of independent bookstores -- has announced the Best Books: The Best of Book Sense From the First Five Years. The list is the result of voting by independent booksellers across the country, who cast ballots for the titles they most enjoyed handselling over the past five years.

Here is a preview of the May "Book Sense Picks." This list marks the debut of the new format and structure of the booksellers' recommendations component of the Book Sense program. Thanks to the widespread participation of booksellers from coast to coast, it is an especially strong list, with a wonderful range of titles, voices, and publishers.

Here is some important news, and a reminder, about various Book Sense marketing initiatives with The History Channel. Questions about any of these promotions should be addressed to Associate Director of Book Sense Marketing Meg Smith at [email protected].

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 in Chicago. Here, BTW takes a look at the five finalists in the Paperback 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 76 Lunch, also to be held on Friday, June 4, at BEA.

This week, ABA bookstore members should have received an envelope containing ballots to vote for the 2004 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards and to approve officers and elect directors to the ABA Board. The ballots were mailed out on April 1.

April brings a rich outpouring of goodies from Book Sense Publisher Partners, guaranteed to nourish sales and wash away any doubts as to where the next wonderful handsell titles are coming from!

Before I share some of what's in store provided by publishers, here's some news on other important materials you'll find in this month's Box:

Based on reporting from hundreds of independent bookstores across the U.S., for the four-week period ending April 4, 2004.

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

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

In May, Book Sense will initiate a new monthly, time-sensitive mailing to benefit both booksellers and publishers: the "Red" Box Mailing. The Red Box will offer publishers a new and faster way to get materials into the hands of Book Sense booksellers and will serve as a monthly "In-Store Marketing Action Kit" for bookstores.