Industry News

By Chris Finan, ABFFE president

With only five shopping days remaining before Christmas, Vermont bookseller Linda Ramsdell took a day off. It was not a mental health day. In fact, she longed to stay in her store selling books.

On Friday, January 10, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would hear Nike v. Kasky. The court's decision is good news for a group of prominent media and free expression organizations that filed an amicus brief in support of Nike in mid-November. The groups, which include the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE), contend that the case has serious First Amendment implications. "I think it's good that the Supreme Court will be hearing [Nike v. Kasky]," Theresa Chmara, counsel for ABFFE, told BTW.

Booksellers should be aware that the New York Times Book Cash Certificates expire on January 31, 2003. Times Book Cash checks were sent as gifts to consumers who upgraded from a trial subscription to a full subscription to the newspaper and are good for $10 towards payment for any book purchase.

I Don't Know How She Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy, Working Mother: A Novel, by Allison Pearson (Knopf), was selected on January 9 as the next title to be read by the USA Today book club.

Here is an outline of the most recent changes to the ABA Book Buyer's Handbook online.

Publishers can update their online listings and add special offers at any time using the Publisher Editing Tools at http://handbook.bookweb.org/pubhome.jsp. Questions about access to the editing features of the Handbook online should be e-mailed to handbook@bookweb.org or call (800) 637-0037, ext. 1263 or 1261.

Hundreds of booksellers nationwide have signed on to an ABA letter calling on U.S. governors in the 45 states that collect sales tax to enforce existing tax regulations by making sure that retailers with a physical presence in their states collect sales tax on online sales. Close to 300 booksellers have already responded to an e-mail last week from ABA COO Oren Teicher about the communications effort.

BookExpo America (BEA), in partnership with the Open eBook Forum (www.openebook.org), will present the eBook Experience, a unique business and learning environment, at this year's convention in Los Angeles, May 29 - June 1. The special interactive center will provide book industry professionals with the opportunity to learn about the latest digital technology on display by participating exhibitors.

Jason Starr, it would seem, is the perfect author to help kick off Vintage Crime/Black Lizard's ambitious 2003, 13th-anniversary campaign, "The Year of the Lizard."

On Monday, January 13, NBC News' Today Show announced that the seventh selection of its monthly "Today Book Club" is Crow Lake by Mary Lawson (Delta trade paperback, 0385337639; Dial hardcover, 038533611X). The title was a Top Ten 2002 March/April Book Sense 76 pick. Mary Higgins Clark, who appeared on the popular morning show with Lawson, chose the book.

The citywide book club trend, which began in Seattle six years ago, continues its remarkable popularity, with new community-reading initiatives sprouting up around the nation at an amazing pace. When BTW first published a listing of citywide book club initiatives in March 2002, there were 45 community-reading events listed. Eleven months later, the number has almost tripled, and now lists 124 cities, counties, or states that have organized (or are organizing) events that encourage communities to read the same book at the same time.

For many independents, December sales were less than hoped for -- but for most not as dire as feared. In a season that didn't produce a must-have title for consumers, a wealth of handselling opportunities meant that when the holiday rush kicked in -- for some only days before Christmas -- many booksellers saw strong sales.

The American Booksellers Association begins its series of 2003 Booksellers Forums this month, with two forums in California.

Emmy-winning writer and comedian Ellen DeGeneres will address the book industry in a solo comedic benefit performance Saturday evening, May 31, 2003, at BookExpo America (BEA) in Los Angeles. The appearance was announced by BEA show management on January 9, and the news was the first update on BEA's headline Author Events.

A series of meetings involving ABA and booksellers will be held in Santa Monica, California, from January 11 - 18. Included will be a meeting of the ABA Board, of ABA representatives and leadership of the regional booksellers associations, of the ABA Booksellers Advisory Council, and of the recently established BookSense.com User's Council. In addition, the first two ABA Booksellers Forums of 2003 are scheduled for that period.

Watch BTW for further coverage.