At Last Week’s Regional Shows

New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA) held its annual trade show from September 30 - October 2 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island. About 400 booksellers gathered for the education and to meet with publisher reps on the busy trade show floor.

Notable events of the show were the presentation of the 2010 New England Book Awards, including the fiction award, which went to Lily King (Father of the Rain, Grove Atlantic) and nonfiction to Gail Caldwell (Let's Take the Long Way Home, Random House).

At the NEIBA session "Google Editions," presented by Chris Palma, strategic partner development, Google Books Partner Program, Palma discussed the partnership between IndieCommerce and Google, which will enable ABA member stores with IndieCommerce websites to sell e-books via Google Editions. (For more on Google Editions, go to this week’s article in BTW.)

Member Relationship Manager Kaitlin Pitcher staffed the ABA booth on the NEIBA show floor. Booksellers who stopped by could enter their names for an extra chance to win a scholarship to the Sixth Winter Institute and learn about ABA member services and initiatives.

The Midwest Booksellers Association (MBA) trade show took place from October 1 – 2 at the RiverCentre, St. Paul, Minnesota. Nearly 300 booksellers attended with 88 bookstores represented.

Among the highlights of the trade show was the talk given by former Vice President Walter Mondale at the MBA Trade ShowBook & Author Breakfast, and the presentation of the 2010 Midwest Booksellers Choice Awards. The fiction award went to Lorrie Moore (A Gate at the Stairs, Knopf) and nonfiction to Jeffrey Zaslow (The Girls From Ames, Gotham Books).

Susan Walker (standing with Suzanne Collins and Tony DiTerlizzi) was honored after more than two decades of helming MBA. “My last Trade Show as Exec Director!" Walker told BTW. "After 23 years running MBA, a final successful Trade Show!"