BTW News Briefs

NYC Indie Booksellers Invited to Discuss New Alliance

New York City booksellers are being invited to a meeting to explore the possibility of forming a local trade alliance, coalition, or association of independent bookstores in the five boroughs. The invitation from Chris Doeblin, Annie Shapiro, and Kelly Amabile of Book Culture and Sarah McNally and Jessica Stockton Bagnulo of McNally Robinson Booksellers notes there are "over 75 other independent bookstores in our city facing the same problems, and finding new solutions." Stores are encouraged to send a representative or two "to help all of us help each other, and ourselves."

The meeting is planned for Wednesday, May 21, at 10:30 a.m. in the Truman Capote Room on the 14th floor of the Random House Building at 1745 Broadway.

The organizers said they have specific ideas that they want to share, and they're looking forward to hearing what others have to say.

Interested booksellers are asked to RSVP by May 15, with their bookstore name and the names of booksellers planning to attend, to Kelly Amabile at [email protected] or (212) 865-1588. (Building security personnel must have the names of anyone planning to attend in advance of the meeting date.)

Authors Guild Honors Howorth and Rubin

Carl Lennertz, HarperCollins' vice president of independent retailing, honoree Richard Howorth, and author Richard Ford at the Author Guild dinner on May 5.

Former ABA President Richard Howorth, founder of Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi, and the town's current mayor, and Louis Rubin, distinguished professor of English emeritus at the University of North Carolina and founder of Algonquin Books, were honored with the Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community at the Authors Guild Dinner on Monday, May 5. The black-tie dinner, which was held at the Metropolitan Club in New York City, was a benefit for the Authors Guild Foundation and the Authors League Fund.

When the awards were announced in February, Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, noted that Howorth was an easy choice. "Richard Howorth, through Square Books, has developed a lively literary community that serves readers and authors well," Aiken said. "Richard founded and operates the kind of spirited, independent bookstore that all authors wish they had in their hometowns. We're delighted to honor him."

Of the honor, Howorth told BTW, "All my years involved with books, booksellers, writers, publishers, editors, sales reps, the ABA, our bookstore and the great staff there, and the very supportive community here, and just the whole racket has been only a great privilege. It's peculiar, and humbling, to be honored for having done something that has been only a joy (okay, I admit there's been some toil) and I'm grateful to the many people who have helped me, and to the Author's Guild."