Speed-Dating for Book Group Picks Returns to BEA

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On Friday, May 30, at BookExpo America, Carol Fitzgerald, president of ReadingGroupGuides.com, will emcee a speed-dating session designed to give booksellers, librarians, bloggers, and book group leaders a sneak peek at upcoming titles that are natural book group picks. Representatives from 19 publishers will share their selections at the event, along with galleys and other promotional materials.

“We’ve heard from many attendees that this event is the highlight of BEA for them as they love the relaxed setting to get focused information that they can share with book groups,” said Fitzgerald, who has presented book group programming at BEA for the past three years.

Last year’s speed-dating format was such a huge success that it’s being repeated. “Looking out at the room last year where the audience was so clearly engaged with the publishers, we saw how this arrangement allows for more interaction between the participating publishers and attendees. In addition to sharing their selections for the fall, publishers appreciated the feedback that they heard from booksellers, librarians, book group leaders, and bloggers,” Fitzgerald said. “The event was so successful that an additional 30 minutes has been added to the program this year to give the opportunity for more interaction.”

“Great Book Group Titles for Fall/Winter: A Special Speed-Dating Session for Booksellers, Librarians, Bloggers, and Book Group Leaders” will be held on Friday, May 30, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. in Rooms 1E08/1E09 at the Javits Convention Center. Advance signup is required by Thursday, May 22, at noon EDT. Seating will be assigned, so booksellers must sign up here to participate.

Featured titles will be published between August 1, 2014, and January 31, 2015, and once again there will be a galley giveaway.

The 19 publishers presenting at the session are:

  • Algonquin
  • Berkley/NAL
  • Bloomsbury
  • Europa Editions
  • Grove Atlantic
  • Hachette
  • Harper Paperbacks
  • Henry Holt
  • Houghton Mifflin
  • Mira
  • Other Press
  • Penguin
  • Picador
  • Random House Trade Paperbacks
  • Soho Press
  • Simon and Schuster
  • Sourcebooks
  • W.W. Norton
  • William Morrow Paperbacks

Sign up now.

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