People

Scott Nafz, the senior customer service rep for ABA’s IndieCommerce program, assists bookstore members in all matters related to their e-commerce websites.

World Book Night is launching in the U.S. with the goal of giving away one million books across the country on April 23, 2012. Carl Lennertz, currently vice president for independent retailing at HarperCollins, has been hired as chief executive of the U.S. division of WBN and will start on September 1.

Elizabeth Nichols, ABA’s member relationship manager for bookstores in the GLIBA, MPIBA, MBA, PNBA, and SIBA regions, is happy to be a part of ABA, and to be able to work directly with the people that continue to shape the organization — its members.

Emily St. John Mandel talks about The Singer’s Gun, Unbridled Books’ recent 25-cent e-book promotion, and her cautiously optimistic forecast for indie bookstores.

ABFFE President Chris Finan will receive the 2011 Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor Award at the American Library Association’s national conference in New Orleans on Friday, June 25.

Award-winning author Ann Patchett returns with a spellbinding new novel, State of Wonder (Harper), featured on June's Indie Next List. Patchett has given IndieBound an exclusive interview on her new work, her writing style, and independent bookstores -- for indie booksellers to link to or cut and paste on their websites and in their newsletters.

Michael Tucker, the co-owner of San Francisco’s Books Inc., talks about his experience during two terms as ABA president and some of the accomplishments, challenges, and surprises of working on behalf of indie booksellers across the country.

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.

ABA has announced that Mark Nichols’ title has changed from Industry Relations Officer to Development Officer. The change was made to better reflect Nichols’ role in the association.

Oprah.com links to IndieBound; HarperCollins, RR Donnelley to ink supply chain agreement; Magnus Books releases debut list; Moyers appointed publisher of The Penguin Press

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.

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.

Michelle Ahlmer, executive director of the Arizona Retailers Association, discusses the hard work that resulted in Arizona sales tax fairness legislation making significant progress this year, as well as the prospects for next year.

This week, ABA presidential candidate Becky Anderson and vice presidential candidate Steve Bercu talk about the challenges facing independent bookstores and ABA’s role in helping members meet those challenges head-on.

BTW talks to this year’s three director candidates for the ABA Board –  John Evans, Matt Norcross, and Ken White – about the challenges facing independent bookstores and ABA’s role in helping members meet those challenges head-on.