November 2007

In This Issue

Hello ABC!

BEA 2008 Update

Update ABC on your mailing list.

Looking Ahead to January

Use this area to provide your subscribers information about your organization.

Hello ABC!

We're almost at the end of the year, and as we look back at 2007, we have a lot to be thankful for. In addition to Becky's excellent list below, let me just add a few personal "thankfuls".

*I'm thankful for all of you amazing members who have helped, guided, and supported us through this (sometimes challenging) big year of growth and change.

*I'm thankful to the industry at large for your passion for great books.

*I'm thankful to ABC's hard working Board members past and present for your excellent stewardship.

I'm also happy to report that we've settled into our new southern digs, and we're busily exploring the terrain.

ET Trick

Personally, I'm looking forward to a fantastic 2008 full of exciting new books, new and improved projects, and a year full endless possibility.

Wishing you and yours the best for a happy, healthy and profitable holiday season!

-Kristen

A Note from ABC President Becky Anderson

pie Dear ABCites,

'Tis the season. As we launch into the busy end-run, I thought I would send you a list of thankfuls, in the hope you would add yours to the list and forward it to the listserv. To start I want to wish all of you the Happiest of Holidays, and hope that you take a little time for yourselves and leave the stresses of the upcoming month behind for quick reprieve.

Thankfuls:

For Independent booksellers who are the leaders in their communities

For uniqueness, independent spirit, individuality that defines all of us

For independent booksellers who are leading the revolution of community awareness of shopping local and independently

For quirkiness, individual tastes, creativity, and twisted imaginations of independents

For readers everywhere who love our picks, handsells and see us as an integral part of their communities

For the works of authors and illustrators who fire our passion for this industry with their art and work

For educators that come to us for our knowledge and support

For authors and illustrators who support and love independent booksellers

For those publishers who are truly the independent partner and know inherently the value of our knowledge, passion and power to change the literary landscape

For our freedom of expression and standing up to those who would crush it

For The American Booksellers Association who stands with us in education, advocacy, support, and resources.

For all of the children who have become lifelong readers because of our passion for books

For The Association of Booksellers for Children for being our outlet, resource and support for helping us to reach out with Books to make everything better!

Regards and warm wishes to all for a great selling season,

Becky Anderson
Anderson's Bookshops
Naperville, Illinois
ABC President

12/1 Deadline Reminder: 2008 New Voices Submissions

Find your [New] Voice

NV Logo 08 In 2007, ABC launched its inaugural New Voices program with 14 books written by new authors from ABC's Platinum Publisher partners. The program was a great success with a well-attended BEA luncheon, a mini-catalog distributed at BEA, through the Children's Whitebox, and in mailings to ABC members. Many thanks to our participating publishers for their support of our maiden voyage.

In 2008, to make sure the program has a wide pool of submissions that reflect the most exciting new authors and projects, and to open the program to all publishers regardless of size, the New Voices Program will be separated from the membership program. The final 2008 New Voices picks will be selected by committee.

In order for a title to be chosen it must meet three criteria:

It must publish between 1/1/08 and 9/1/08

The author must have no more than two previous books in print (for any audience)

The author must be considered "emerging" in the sense that previous projects may not have received a high level of review or consumer attention.

At the moment the 2008 New Voices Committee includes: Andrea Vuleta of Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop, Diane Capriola of Little Shop of Stories, Heather Doss of Bookazine, Vicki Palmquist of the Children's Literature Network, and author Pamela Wells.

We still have room for additional committee members, especially bookseller members, so if you're interested e-mail Kristen.

To read the full details of the 2008 New Voices Program, including directions for submitting titles, download the program sheet here.

If the link above gives you problems, paste this address into your browser: http://associationofbooksellersforchildren.files.wordpress.com
/2007/10/new-voices-2008-flyer-low-res.pdf

BEA 2008 Update

We're going to Hollywood, baby!

Plans are underway for BEA 2008 in LA, and we are finalizing the details of the location for the ABC dinner.

Continuing from last year's precedent, the 2008 ABC dinner will be on Friday, May 30th at a venue in the fabulous Hollywood and Highland Center, immediately adjacent to the ABA Hotel at the Renniassance Hollywood, and in the same complex as the Kodiak Theatre.

The H&H Center is right on Hollywood Boulevard, next to Graumann's Chinese Theatre and all the sights. The catering will be done by one of Wolfgang Puck's companies, and the combination of location, great food, and convenience is a winner!

Because the venue is near the hotel rather than the convention center, we are still working out the timing of the evening to accomodate folks coming from the show, as well as making it a more concise evening to get everone in bed at a decent hour.

In January we will have more details, as well as a call for Dinner Speaker proposals and Sponsorship.

In the meantime, if you are a bookseller, make your reservations at Hotel ABA early, because rooms will be snapped up fast!

Update ABC on your galley mailing list

Catalogs too.... Sun

Don't let your titles fall through the cracks!

We're starting right in on our review process for the EB White Awards, New Voices, and the 2008 catalog.

Make sure we are seeing your titles!

Send your materials to:

The Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC)
6538 Collins Avenue #168
Miami Beach, FL 33141

To date we have only seen materials from Random House, Scholastic, and Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Thanks!

Looking Ahead to January
It's just around the corner! January is a big month for ABC. Here's what's coming: Renewals The re-leunch of the new and improved Toolbox Call for EB White Nominations Call for the 2008 Books Make Everything Better campaign Nominations for the 2008 BEA Dinner speakers The ABC Board retreat Keep your eyes peeled for these important communications, and have a great holiday season!