BookExpo

Christopher J. Zane, the founder of Zane’s Cycles and a nationally noted entrepreneur and speaker, is the opening plenary speaker at ABA’s Day of Education, sponsored by the Ingram Content Group. Zane recently spoke to BTW about the customer experience, the recovering economy, and why half-off coupons are not the answer.

For booksellers and others looking to get a jump on remainder buying at BookExpo America, the CIROBE Remainders Pavilion will open one day earlier than the rest of the trade show floor.

Staff from Edelweiss, Above the Treeline’s interactive publisher catalog system, will offer two sessions aimed at publishers, and one for booksellers, sales reps, and other users of the product, during next week’s BEA.

The Digital Market and the YA Audience, a Day of Education panel discussion moderated by Kristin McLean, consultant to the ABC Children’s Group at ABA, will feature David Levithan, executive editorial director for Scholastic; Jacob Lewis, CEO of Figment; and Meghan Dietsche Goel, children’s book buyer at BookPeople in Austin, Texas.

ABA will hold its 2011 ABA Membership Meeting from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, in Room 1E09/10 of the Javits Center, in conjunction with BEA. The Membership Meeting will be preceded by the Town Hall meeting.

BookExpo America’s Hotel ABA, the Holiday Inn at 57th Street, will be the site of evening receptions on Sunday and Monday, May 22 and 23. Both will provide ABA member booksellers with the opportunity to mingle with established and up-and-coming authors.

There’s still time to make reservations for Speed Dating With Children’s Authors, ABA’s Celebration of Bookselling Author Awards Luncheon, the Tea With Children’s Authors, and the ABC Children’s Group Silent Auction and Reception at BEA.

Margaret Atwood discusses the book industry in flux and what happens when the “oldest human technology” is filtered through the new. BEA attendees will have the opportunity to learn more of Atwood’s thoughts on changes in the book industry at an ABA Day of Education Plenary session, from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 23.

Here’s a suggested itinerary for ABA members to get the most out of BookExpo America, ABA programming and special events, and NYC.

Award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson talks to ABFFE President Chris Finan about her role as chair of the ABC Children’s Group Silent Auction at BEA, the challenges to her books in schools and local libraries around the country, and the effects these have had on her, on kids, and on other writers.

Putumayo World Music artists The Sweet Remains will be performing at the ABC Children’s Group Silent Auction and Reception to benefit the newly established ABFFE Fund for Free Speech in Children’s Books during BEA.

Attacks on the free speech rights of children will be the focus of two events on Wednesday, May 25, at BEA. At the first, authors Laurie Halse Anderson and Robie Harris will join librarian Pat Scales for “Book Banning 2011: A Report From the Front Lines of the Battle for Free Speech,” moderated by Joan Bertin of the National Coalition Against Censorship.

Ten of independent booksellers’ favorite authors will be signing in the ABA Members-Only Lounge at BEA.

Prospective booksellers are invited to attend a free, full-day “Introduction to Retail Bookselling” Seminar, sponsored by the ABA, on Sunday, May 22, at the Holiday Inn at 57th Street, in New York City.

Tuesday, May 3, is the deadline for reservations at the special rates secured by BookExpo America for ABA member booksellers at the Holiday Inn on 57th Street in midtown Manhattan.