Book Group Picks Speed-Dating Returns to BEA

Building on the success of last year’s book group speed-dating session for booksellers, librarians, bloggers, and book group leaders, ReadingGroupGuides.com has created a similar event for this month’s BookExpo America. The session is designed to give industry professionals and book group leaders a preview of fall and winter titles that will likely become book group favorites.

This is the second year in a row that the event will be in speed-dating format to create more personal interactions between publishers and attendees.

Carol Fitzgerald, president of ReadingGroupGuides.com, has upped the ante this year, significantly increasing the number of participating publishers, including eight small presses. In recognition of the fact that Young Adult titles appeal to adults too, Liz Kossnar from Teenreads.com will be presenting a short list of publisher-selected YA crossover titles that are perfect for book groups. All titles mentioned will be released between August 1, 2013 and January 31, 2014.

“I’m really excited about this program and the additions we were able to make for 2013 that will make it even stronger,” said Fitzgerald.

The event will take place on Friday, May 31, at 9:30 a.m. in Rooms 1E12/1E13. In an effort to broaden its reach, the session has been scheduled later than it was last year, to accommodate attendees of the Children’s Author Breakfast. Additionally, a number of publishers will be pre-taping their presentations and making them available online following the event.

To participate, booksellers can sign up here by May 23, 2013.