Winter Institute 2021 Program

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Sessions marked with this symbol feature American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services provided by Handwriter Ink. Brought to you in part by Biblio.com, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, and Bookazine.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021  

11:00 am to 5:00 pm ET

This is a one-day seminar for anyone interested in owning a bookstore. Students will receive a crash course on the essentials of owning a new bookstore or buying an existing one. The workshop is open to ABA Provisional members and owners or employees of Regular member stores, and is limited to three booksellers per ABA member company. Registrants receive free admission to Winter Institute. ($35 value) Registrants interested in purchasing a copy of Owning a Bookstore: The Essential Planning Guide may do so at the discounted rate of $149 (reg. $189). All too often, stores are being opened whose owners have little idea of just how much is involved in running a successful and sustainable business. The Guide poses some critical questions to help define goals, it speaks to the number of different hats an owner has to wear, and provides the tools and resources an owner needs to make informed decisions. The content expands on topics covered in the workshop to help minimize false starts while maximizing success in launching a sustainable bookstore business. Register for the workshop here.

Thursday, February 18, 2021  

9:00 am to 6:15 pm ET

Visit the Expo area of the Hopin platform to learn more about participating publishers and ABA business partners. Publisher booths will be live on Day 1 and Day 2, and Business Partner booths will be live on Day 2 and Day 3. View the list of Wi16 Publisher Partner Sponsors here.

Find the link to access the Virtual Galley Room, filled with ARCs of upcoming titles from Wi16 sponsors, in the Expo.

9:00 am to 10:30 am ET

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Attendees may schedule an appointment by filling the form here.

10:30 am to 10:45 am ET

Kick off Winter Institute with a special video reflecting on the amazing resilience and motivation of booksellers in 2020, followed by a personal video message to independent booksellers from President Barack Obama, as well as some words from ABA CEO Allison K Hill.

10:45 am to 11:30 am ET

Join futurist Brian David Johnson (The Future You: Break Through the Fear and Build the Life You Want) in conversation with ABA CEO Allison Hill as they discuss the future of bookselling and how booksellers can shape what happens next.

11:30 am to 11:35 am ET

Enjoy a brief poetry reading in the break between sessions.

11:35 am to 12:00 pm ET

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET

Switching to a remote customer experience — curbside pickup, FaceTime hand-selling, online orders, etc. — can create a challenge to providing a successful and cohesive customer experience. This session will showcase creative ways that booksellers have succeeded and even improved the customer experience in this new hybrid retail world.
Panelists: Sara Richmond, Director of Communication & Client Experience, Edelweiss; Phil Davies, ABA (White Plains, NY); Rosa Hernandez, Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, WA); Michael Barnard, Rakestraw Books (Danville, CA); Cristina Rodriguez, Deep Vellum Books (Dallas, TX); Sarah Bagby, Watermark Books & Cafe (Wichita, KS); Lane Jacobson, Paulina Springs Books (Sisters, OR)

1:00 pm to 1:05 pm ET

Enjoy a brief poetry reading in the break between sessions.

1:05 pm to 1:30 pm ET

1:30 pm to 3:20 pm ET

We have set aside this time for you to visit with reps from more than 25 publishers in their Expo Booths.

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Attendees may schedule an appointment by filling the form here.

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm ET

Led by Amber Cabral, author of Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture (Wiley Press), in conversation with Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Dr. Lauren Wadsworth, authors of Did That Just Happen?!: Beyond “Diversity” ― Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Organizations (Beacon Press), this session will guide booksellers in recognizing harmful practices and creating necessary steps around dismantling a culture of white supremacy in the workplace.

4:30 pm to 4:35 pm ET

Enjoy a brief poetry reading in the break between sessions.

4:35 pm to 5:00 pm ET

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET

Discussion Topics:

  • What are your greatest fears for the future of your store? Be as specific as possible.
  • What is the most recent prediction you’ve heard about the future? For the economy? For retail? For indie bookstores? How did those predictions make you feel? What did they make you think about?
  • What is your greatest hope for your store? Be as specific as possible.

6:10 pm to 6:55 pm ET

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Attendees may schedule an appointment by filling the form here.

We are so sad that we can't be together in person, but we are incredibly excited to see you! In this virtual hangout at the end of Day 1, booksellers are invited to meet and mingle. Rooms will be set up so booksellers and publishers can gather in smaller groups and catch up with each other and ABA staff.

6:55 pm to 7:05 pm ET

7:05 pm to 8:05 pm ET

If you missed today’s live keynote session (or if you want to enjoy it again), then join us for the evening broadcast of the morning conversation. Although this is not a live event, the chat will be open so you can connect with colleagues and attendees.

8:05 pm to 9:05 pm ET

Wi16 registration is not required to attend. This is a meetup for BIPOC — Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — bookseller and bookstore owners to gather for connection, support, community, resources, and networking. This meetup will be hosted by a member of the ABA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, and ABA staff will not be in attendance. Booksellers interested in participating should email [email protected] for the Zoom information. Please note: This meetup has a session-specific password, so please email for details.

Friday, February 19, 2021  

9:00 am to 6:00 pm ET

Visit the Expo area of the Hopin platform to learn more about participating publishers and ABA business partners. Publisher booths will be live on Day 1 and Day 2, and Business Partner booths will be live on Day 2 and Day 3. Names of participating companies subject to change or addition View the list of Wi16 Publisher Partner Sponsors here. View the list of Wi16 Business Partners here.

Find the link to access the Virtual Galley Room, filled with ARCs of upcoming titles from Wi16 sponsors, in the Expo.

9:00 am to 10:30 am ET

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Attendees may schedule an appointment by filling the form here.

10:30 am to 11:30 am ET

Join bestselling authors Lauren Groff, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Colson Whitehead for a discussion on the state of literature and what the future holds for the novelist in the aftermath of political upheaval. Moderated by Michelle Malonzo, buyer at Changing Hands Bookstore.

11:30 am to 12:50 pm ET

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Attendees may schedule an appointment by filling the form here.

11:30 am to 11:35 am ET

Enjoy a brief poetry reading in the break between sessions.

11:35 am to 11:50 am ET

12:50 pm to 1:00 pm ET

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm ET

Each Rep Picks room will have 4 to 6 publishers presenting their top picks from upcoming seasons. Publisher reps will be available in the chat to answer questions throughout their presentations. Booksellers will be assigned Rep Picks time slots and rooms based on their choices when filling out the Wi16 registration form. Assigned rooms will appear in the “Sessions” area of the Hopin platform a few minutes before the session starts. Rep Picks title packets will be available for download prior to the event.

This video features the Rep picks presentations of Seven Stories Press, Bloomsbury Adult (A), W.W. Norton & Company (A), Milkweed Editions, and Penguin Random House Adult (A) as seen at Wi16 on 2/19/2021. Rep picks packets are available here.

This video features the Rep picks presentations of HarperCollins Adult (1 of 2), Dundurn, Simon & Schuster Adult (A), Graywolf Press, and Grove Atlantic as seen at Wi16 on 2/19/2021 Rep picks packets are available here.

This video features the Rep picks presentations of Hachette Book Group, Sourcebooks, Annick Press, Consortium, and Arcadia Publishing as seen at Wi16 on 2/19/2021 Rep picks packets are available here.

This video features Rep Picks presentations from Chronicle Books, Publishers Group West, Abrams, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Algonquin and Workman, as seen at Wi16 on February 19, 2021. Rep picks packets are available here: https://www.bookweb.org/wi16-rep-picks-packets

This video features Rep Picks presentations from HarperCollins Children's Books, Macmillan Children's Publishing, Random House Children's Books, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, as seen at Wi16 on February 19, 2021. Rep picks packets are available here: https://www.bookweb.org/wi16-rep-picks-packets

This video features Rep Picks presentations from Blackstone Publishing, DK, Scholastic, Oni Press, Rare Bird, as seen at Wi16 on February 19, 2021. Rep picks packets are available here: https://www.bookweb.org/wi16-rep-picks-packets

2:30 pm to 2:40 pm ET

2:40 pm to 3:40 pm ET

Independent bookstores have seen massive online sales growth since March 2020. How are stores managing order fulfillment, customer support, shipping, returns, and all the other complexities of running a busy ecommerce website — while running a bookstore?

This session will explore how bookstores are successfully fulfilling their online sales. The panel will consist of booksellers from small and large stores who are managing high-volume online sales on a variety of ecommerce-enabled platforms. Topics will include what they learned over the past year as well as shortcuts and tips that are making their lives easier. The panel will be moderated by Senior Manager of IndieCommerce Geetha Nathan. There will also be time allotted for Q&A. If you are struggling with managing your store's online orders or looking for tips to make things easier, this session is definitely for you.
Panelists: Geetha Nathan, ABA (White Plains, NY); Jamie Thomas, Women & Children First (Chicago, IL); Luis Correa, Avid Bookshop (Athens, GA); Lexi Beach, Astoria Bookshop (Astoria, NY); Warren Lee, 44th and 3rd Bookseller (Norcross, GA); Cheryl Lee, 44th and 3rd Bookseller (Norcross, GA)

3:40 pm to 3:45 pm ET

Enjoy a brief poetry reading in the break between sessions.

3:45 pm to 4:00 pm ET

4:00 pm to 5:15 pm ET

Each Rep Picks room will have 4 to 6 publishers presenting their top picks from upcoming seasons. Publisher reps will be available in the chat to answer questions throughout their presentations. Booksellers will be assigned Rep Picks time slots and rooms based on their choices when filling out the Wi16 registration form. Assigned rooms will appear in the “Sessions” area of the Hopin platform a few minutes before the session starts. Rep Picks title packets will be available for download prior to the event.

This video features the Rep picks presentations of Sourcebooks, Consortium, Bloomsbury Children's Books, House of Anansi, and Andrews McMeel as seen at Wi16 on 2/19/2021. Rep picks packets are available here.

This video features the Rep picks presentations of Algonquin and Workman, Red Hen Press, Simon & Schuster Children's, Two Rivers, and University of California Press as seen at Wi16 on 2/19/2021. Rep picks packets are available here.

 

 

This video features the Rep picks presentations of Disney Publishing Worldwide, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Kids, Holiday Housem Penguin Young Readers, and Inkyard Press as seen at Wi16 on 2/19/2021. Rep picks packets are available here.

This video features the Rep picks presentations of Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, Catapult, Macmillan Publishers, and HarperCollins Publishers as seen at Wi16 on 2/19/2021.

This video features the Rep picks presentations from Penguin Random House, Tin House, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Ingram Publisher Services, and Bloomsbury as seen at Wi16 on February 20, 2021.

This video features the Rep picks presentations of Chronicle BooksPublishers Group WestHarperCollins Children's BooksAbrams, and Quirk Books as seen at Wi16 on 2/19/2021.

5:15 pm to 5:30 pm ET

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm ET

The romance genre has been a longtime reader favorite and can often turn a romance reader into a repeat customer for bookstores that invest in curating a romance selection for their stores. This session will celebrate LGBTQ+ romance with some of today’s essential young adult and adult LGBTQ+ authors, who will discuss the importance and value of creating stories about love, talk about the importance of representation, and look at how everyone can work to expand readership of these titles outside of the LGBTQ+ community to drive sales.
Panelists: Mariana Calderon, Second Star to the Right Children’s Books (Denver, CO); Jenny Cohen, Waucoma Bookstore (Hood River, OR); Rebecca Speas, One More Page Books (Arlington, VA); Amanda Toronto, WORD Bookstores (Brooklyn, NY); Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer (Wednesday Books); Alyssa Cole, award-winning and bestselling author of How to Find a Princess (Avon); David Levithan, VP, Editorial Director, Scholastic Press and author of bestselling queer YA novels; Casey McQuiston, author of the bestseller Red, White, & Royal Blue and the upcoming One Last Stop (St. Martin’s Griffin); Paul Rudnick, award-winning play and screenwriter and author of Playing the Palace (Berkley); Phil Stamper, author of The Gravity of Us and As Far as You’ll Take Me (Bloomsbury); Aiden Thomas, Indies Introduce and bestselling author of Cemetery Boys (Swoon Reads);

6:30 pm to 6:45 pm ET

6:45 pm to 7:30 pm ET

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Attendees may schedule an appointment by filling the form here.

Visit various rooms to mingle with authors and ask questions about their new books. Sample room categories may include: Literary Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult, Debut Authors, and more!

7:30 pm to 8:30 pm ET

If you missed the live keynote session today (or if you want to enjoy it again), then join us for the evening broadcast of the morning conversation. Although this is not a live event, the chat will be open so you can connect with colleagues and attendees.

Saturday, February 20, 2021  

9:00 am to 5:45 pm ET

Visit the Expo area of the Hopin platform to learn more about participating publishers and ABA business partners. Publisher booths will be live on Day 1 and Day 2, and Business Partner booths will be live on Day 2 and Day 3. *Names of participating companies to come. View the list of Wi16 Business Partners here.

Find the link to access the Virtual Galley Room, filled with ARCs of upcoming titles from Wi16 sponsors, in the Expo.

9:00 am to 10:30 am ET

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Attendees may schedule an appointment by filling the form here.

10:30 am to 11:30 am ET

Join bestselling author, podcaster, and research professor Dr. Brené Brown for a conversation with one of our own — Janet Geddis, owner of Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia — as they discuss what’s next for booksellers. While 2020 is behind us, we’re burnt out, vulnerable, and we have (in Dr. Brown’s words) maxed out our surge capacity. How do we move forward from a place of vulnerability, resilience, and courage? Along the way, how do we stay true to our heart songs, the things that we value and that drive us — our communities, our colleagues, antiracism, social responsibility, and, always, our love for books? This conversation will include a Q&A. Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston and visiting professor at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers, most recently Dare to Lead, and the host of the Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead podcasts. Janet Geddis is a business owner at Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia, as well as a patient advocate/content creator under the moniker “The Migraine Girl.” Janet is a public speaker, writer, and frequent podcast/radio show contributor for numerous outlets, including iHeartMedia & NPR.

11:30 am to 11:35 am ET

Enjoy a brief poetry reading in the break between sessions.

11:35 am to 12:00 pm ET

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET

Neurodiversity is a broad concept and one that covers a multitude of neurological variations. This conversation with neurodiverse individuals and advocates will provide context for Wi16 attendees who are not aware of neurodiversity and the challenges and concerns neurodiverse employees experience in the workplace and customers experience in the store. If you identify as neurodiverse, need direction around communicating with neurodiverse staff or customers, or are simply interested in learning more about neurodiversity, this session is for you.
Panelists: Emily Autenrieth, A Seat at The Table Books (Elk Grove, CA); Ed Thompson, CEO, Uptimize; Katy Alexander, Global Director of Marketing & Communications, Digital Science; Jory Fleming, author of How to Be Human: An Autistic Man's Guide to Life (Simon & Schuster)

1:00 pm to 1:10 pm ET

1:00 pm ET

This video features the Rep picks presentations from W.W. Norton & Company, University of Toronto Press, Europa Editions, Two Lines Press, House of Anansi, as seen at Wi16 on February 20, 2021. Rep picks packets are available here: https://www.bookweb.org/wi16-rep-picks-packets

1:10 pm to 2:40 pm ET

Each Rep Picks room will have 4 to 6 publishers presenting their top picks from upcoming seasons. Publisher reps will be available in the chat to answer questions throughout their presentations. Booksellers will be assigned Rep Picks time slots and rooms based on their choices when filling out the Wi16 registration form. Assigned rooms will appear in the “Sessions” area of the Hopin platform a few minutes before the session starts. Rep Picks title packets will be available for download prior to the event.

This video features the Rep picks presentations from Two Rivers, Beacon Press, Wiley, ECW Press, Other Press, as seen at Wi16 on February 20, 2021. Rep picks packets are available here: https://www.bookweb.org/wi16-rep-picks-packets

This video features Rep Picks presentations from Sterling, University of California Press, Arcadia Publishing, Coach House Books/Scribe, and Baker & Taylor Publisher Services.

Rep picks packets are available here.

This video features the Rep picks presentations of Andrews McMeel, Plough Publishing House, Diamond Book Distributors, The Quarto Group, and And Other Stories/Coffee House

 

Rep picks packets are available here.

This video features Rep Picks presentations from Candlewick Press, Ingram Publisher Services, Orca Book Publishers, Cameron Kids, and NorthSouth Books.

Rep picks packets are available here.

2:40 pm to 3:00 pm ET

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET

Join Pinnacle Human Resources President Rose Miller and Senior HR Consultant John Kelly as they highlight best practices for managing staff in the age of COVID. Miller and Kelly will offer a practical approach and best practices for administering federal and state leave-of-absence laws (with or without the presence of COVID); insight around vaccine hesitancy and availability; and an overview of the importance of updating your policies and procedures.
Panelists: Rose Miller, President of Pinnacle Human Resources; John Kelly, Senior HR Consultant, Pinnacle Human Resources

4:00 pm to 4:15 pm ET

4:15 pm to 5:00 pm ET

Visit various rooms to mingle with authors and ask questions about their new books. Sample room categories may include: Literary Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult, Debut Authors, and more!

5:00 pm to 5:10 pm ET

5:00 pm to 7:05 pm ET

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Attendees may schedule an appointment by filling the form here.

5:10 pm to 6:25 pm ET

ABA is hosting Virtual Trivia Night in support of Binc! Tickets are $5 per participant. Test your knowledge of all things literary and more, and bring your game face! Not attending Winter Institute this year? No problem! This event is open to all! Get your Trivia Night tickets here.

6:35 pm to 7:35 pm ET

If you missed the live keynote session today (or if you want to enjoy it again), then join us for the evening broadcast of the morning conversation. Although this is not a live event, the chat will be open so you can connect with colleagues and attendees.

Schedule subject to change. Panelists will be added as they are confirmed. Printer-friendly version

About ABA

American Booksellers Association is a national trade association that supports and advocates for the success of independent bookstores. We provide members with education, networking opportunities, advocacy, resources, and technology. In turn our members support local schools through book fairs, donations and author visits; promote literacy; provide inclusive community centers; connect readers and books; add character to neighborhoods; champion and center diverse and new voices; and contribute to the local economy. We feel honored to support them in their work.

Contact

PRESS INQUIRIES: [email protected]

INDIECOMMERCE: [email protected]

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: [email protected]

 

 

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