Here are the titles for the August Indie Next List. Top pick: Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy (Flatiron). And, if you haven’t yet, sign up for the free Indie Next List e-newsletter.

New this year, Children’s Institute will feature roundtable discussions that offer booksellers the chance to talk amongst their peers. There is no required subject matter; rather, these discussions offer a place to crowdsource ideas and share information, and solutions may be offered by peers. View the rest of Ci9’s programming and register today.

The July/August Kids’ top pick is Cat Problems by Jory John and Lane Smith (Random House Studio). Read a Q&A with the authors.

ICYMI: Read the top tips from ABA’s June 17 session, “Consigning Books and Other Products to Local Retailers.”

Take a look at how stores celebrated Pride. Said Cafe Con Libros in its newsletter, “This month we celebrate the Black and Brown Bodies who started the movement, the organizing that brought attention to the AIDS epidemic, all the humans on the ground not letting up or settling for less. This month we celebrate LOVE.”

The Indie Shindig event series continues through July! Remaining events include a panel focused on young adult titles about identity, growing pains, and perseverance; a middle grade panel on characters and the journeys they take us on; and a discussion of backlist gems. View the schedule and sign up here.

Here are the Meetups and ShopTalks on tap for July (all times Eastern):

• July 1 at 1:00 pm: Social Media Series: Need-to-Knows and Best Practices
• July 6 at 3:00 pm: ShopTalk
• July 7 at 7:00 pm: BIPOC Meetup/Quarterly Forum
• July 8 at 1:00 pm: Social Media Series: All About Video
• July 13 at 3:00 pm: New Member Session: Intro to Benefits
• July 15 at 1:00 pm: Social Media Series: Getting Organized
• July 15 at 7:00 pm: LGBTQIA+ Meetup
• July 20 at 3:00 pm: ShopTalk: ABC Group
• July 22 at 1:00 pm: Social Media Series: How Do I Know It’s Working?
• July 29 at 1:00 pm: Social Media Series: Ask Anything!
• July 29 at 8:00 pm: ShopTalk

On Thursday, June 24, the House Judiciary Committee voted to advance important antitrust bills that would level the playing field for independent bookstores. A big thank you to all booksellers who reached out to their representatives on the Committee in support of the legislation! This is a big step in the fight for a fair market for small businesses.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is encouraging all eligible businesses to apply for a Targeted EIDL Advance grant of up to $10,000 (previously, the program was invite-only for businesses that already applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan or EIDL). If your bookstore has not yet applied for EIDL, you must apply in order to receive a grant. You do not need to accept or be approved for the loan to receive a grant. Find eligibility requirements for the grant here.

Through July 20, bookstore owners and community leaders can apply to serve on the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Council on Underserved Communities. The Council helps support the SBA’s prioritization of equity across its program and initiatives.