Cool idea of the day: this Saturday evening at Skylight Books, Los Angeles, Calif., Bookish: The All Girls' Book Club will hold what it calls "a special one time only CO-ED" meeting to watch a recording of Oprah's Tuesday interview of Cormac McCarthy and then discuss it and McCarthy's The Road. The book, about a father and son in a post-apocalyptic America, was the last pick of Oprah's book club as well as of Bookish: The All Girls' Book Club.

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Recounting how Marvel and DC Comics are creating more titles to appeal to female readers--including the launch last month of DC's Minx line--the Wall Street Journal offers an extensive look at the graphic novel market as well as some graphic numbers for 2006:

• Manga sales in bookstores grew 22% to 9.5 million units.
• Manga accounted for 68.5% of all graphic novels sold in U.S. bookstores, up from 53.8% in 2004.
• The total comics and graphic novel market in the U.S. and Canada was $640 million, of which $200 million was manga.

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Effective July 9, Jeanne Emanuel joins Candlewick Press as v-p of sales for the U.S. and Canada. She was most recently executive director of sales for Adams Media and earlier worked at Workman and Time Warner Trade Publishing.

Effective immediately, Susan Batcheller has been promoted to executive director of sales operations at Candlewick. She has been with the company six years, most recently as director of sales administration.

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O'Reilly Media is holding its first O'Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference June 18-20 in San Jose, Calif., which focuses on how technology is transforming publishing--and ways to create new, profitable opportunities. The conference includes analysis, workshops and general sessions.

The many speakers include Chris Anderson, author of The Long Tail; Kelly Gallagher, general manager for the Business Intelligence Unit at Bowker; Michael Healy, executive director of the Book Industry Study Group; John Ingram, chairman of Ingram Book Group; James Lichtenberg, president of Lightspeed and chair of BISG's RFID Working Group; Brian Murray, group president of HarperCollins; Tim O'Reilly, founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media; and Phil Zuckerman, founder and president of Applewood Books.

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If the Canadian loonie is soaring in value against the U.S. dollar, why do American books still cost so much? asked the Victoria Times Colonist. The article cited the latest Harlen Coben title, which sells for $26.95 in the U.S., but $33.50 in Canada--considerably higher than the exchange rate.

"Booksellers say their hands are tied," according to the Times Colonist. "If they can buy directly from U.S. publishers, yes, they can, and do, pass the exchange-rate advantage to customers, says Munro Books owner Jim Munro. But usually the retailers must order from whichever Canadian company has the Canadian distribution rights. In that case, the retailer pays the publisher an amount based on the Canadian price printed on the dustcover."

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In other news from the north, the Toronto Globe and Mail asked a pertinent--or impertinent, depending upon your perspective--question: "Can BookExpo Canada, which begins tomorrow in Toronto, ever become more than a schmoozefest?" One answer came from Laurie Greenwood, owner of Volume II Books in Edmonton, Alberta, who said "Every year I waffle about attending and then every year I go," adding that the event "lacks a certain joie de vivre. . . . It's not exciting."

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Would you like a book with that coffee? In what is perhaps a sign of the times, the caffeinated expectations of readers were put to the test recently with a proposal to serve coffee to patrons of the Milford Library in Milford, Conn. The Connecticut Post reported that "Several patrons asked for a coffee bar, pointing out that providing the opportunity to curl up with a cup of coffee and a good book has become a key to the success of chain bookstores."

Library director Jean Tsang said, "We looked into it, but I am not in favor of it. I don't want the mess in here, but even more than that, there are small businesses nearby trying hard to sell coffee and we all want to see them succeed." Tsang indicated she would be willing to reconsider the idea in a few years.

 

May general retail sales improved compared to April but were still a mix.

"Year to date, we've seen a modest pace of spending relative to last year, the year before that, or the year before that," Michael Niemira, chief economics of the International Council of Shopping Centers, told the Wall Street Journal. "We have a consumer slowdown--it's real, it's continuing and largely driven by the slowdown in housing." According to the Council, sales at stores open at least a year rose 2.5% in May, compared to the 1.9% decline in May and the 4.5% gain in May 2006. (April had been hurt by a major jump in gasoline prices and bad weather as well.)

"It wasn't a blowout, but the [May] gains were a solid snap back," Ken Perkins, president of RetailMetrics, said, speaking with the New York Times.

Some discounters and luxury stores did well. Saks's comp-store sales rose 37.5% in May compared to the same period in 2006. Kohl's climbed 10.5%, Costco rose 7%, Nordstrom grew 6.3% and Target was up 5.8%

Wal-Mart comp store sales were up 1.1%, at the low end of the store's expectations. Macy's was off 3.3% and Penney fell 2%.

Road map suits, metallic umbrellas and dominatrix outfits seem to be big this year, and took on added meaning when coupled with an "industry professional" badge.

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Chip off the old block department: Perry Kerr, a college student and son of longtime rep Chris Kerr of Parson Weems, filled in for much of the show at the Toby Press booth. He enjoyed the work, he told us, but was slightly uncomfortable recommending books that he hadn't read and wasn't sure what to say beyond "it's a good read" and the like. We suggested "surefire bestseller," which made him laugh. When the next browser looked at the pile of ARCs, he said with some authority, "It's a surefire bestseller." The woman nodded and took the book.

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A very happy birthday surprise:

James Peltz, interim director of SUNY Press, Albany, N.Y., would likely have been happy enough to win a free year's lease on a Prius--the prize in a contest sponsored by Perseus Books, Consortium and PGW to emphasize their hybrid, "new model" of independent publisher. But last Thursday, May 31, Peltz's family's car was totaled in an accident. (Other than a little whiplash and emotional upset, his wife and children were fine.) On Friday, he wrote, "my son asked whether we could get a Prius to replace it (he's seven years old and all about saving the earth, not to mention playing with cool technology)." So on Saturday, Peltz saw the Prius on display at the Perseus booth and entered the contest, which required him also to visit the PGW and Consortium booths.

Peltz continued: "On Sunday, June 3rd, which just happens to be my BIRTHDAY, Rick Joyce of Perseus called and told me I'd won the lease. Happy birthday to me! And a HUGE 'thank you' to Rick and the folks at Perseus." For his family, "winning the lease has sort of taken some of sting out of" being in an accident.

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People seemed to gather and disperse on the trade show floor like flash mobs--perhaps it was part of the dynamic of having more signings and author appearances on the show floor. (Thanks to Rob Haley for pointing this out.) At one point, as several of us stood in an aisle chatting, a pair of people came up, stood expectantly next to us, then after a few minutes, asked if we were standing on line. 

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Life was a beach for the nearly 100 people who turned out to meet Claire Cook in the Hyperion booth on Friday afternoon. Along with a signed copy of the author's new novel, Life's a Beach (Voice/June), they indulged in seashell-shaped chocolates and walked away with new footwear: a pair of brightly hued flip-flops.

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Everyone's favorite pig, Olivia, was available for photo ops at the Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing booth. Dressed in a scarlet-colored gown and sparkling jewelry, the storybook character promoted her latest book, Olivia Helps with Christmas (Atheneum/October). A steady stream of admirers had their picture with the larger-than-life mannequin.

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Want to know who that church sign guy was at BEA? How about man of supreme Borat impersonation? Caryn Brooks, asap's arts and entertainment editor, offers video documentation as proof that you weren't imagining all that last weekend.

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The New York Post's Friday edition had what was the best--or worst, depending upon your perspective and grammar standards--headline of the weekend: Writer's Block Party.

 

HP VII, though ever-present, was nonetheless absent, except for the rug in Scholastic's booth and the Knight Bus that ran between the Hotel ABA in Brooklyn and the Javits Center.

But let us travel back, as if via Dumbledore's Pensieve, to a few key moments at BEA--at least for children's book devotees.

Thursday's ABC Annual Meeting and New Voices Luncheon

The organization is in the black.
The ABC gained 100 new members, 15 of them bookstores.
President Ellen Davis of Dragonwings stepped down (after seven years on the ABC board).
Becky Anderson of Anderson's Bookshops stepped up as the new president.
Eight Cousins' Carol Chittenden won the ABC Spirit Award, largely for her mentoring role on the ABC listserv (see Shelf Awareness, May 15).
Executive director Kristen McLean explained the expanded New Voices Program and catalogue (also May 15).
Melissa Marr revealed the inspirations behind her debut novel, Wicked Lovely (Harper, June).
Pseudonymous Bosch, author of The Name of this Book Is Secret (Little, Brown, October), pulled a speech out of a hat.
An above-average array of sandwiches, chips, pasta salad, fruit salad and a fine chocolate chip cookie were served.

Children's Book & Author Breakfast, Friday

Let's just say that the food was better at the ABC Luncheon.
Who knew that Libba Bray was a comedian?
She channeled a cross between Marcel Marceau and Shields and Yarnell to dramatize the plot of A Sweet Far Thing, the final book in the trilogy begun with A Great and Terrible Beauty (Knopf, December).
Mo Willems was there, too.
He said, "I don't want my books to be read, I want my books to be played."
He made everyone draw Pigeon.
Can you imagine?
Jacqueline Wilson is a Lady.
Not just because she's the British children's laureate.
Probably because she's read Betty MacDonald's Nancy and Plum, and What Katie Did and Little Women.
But don't let her fool you: in her next book about Tracy Beaker, the heroine lists her top 10 children's classics about naughty children.
Candyfloss (Roaring Brook/Brodie, September), incidentally, is what the Brits call cotton candy.
Lastly, but in no way leastly, Daniel Pinkwater read his letter of invitation to speak at the breakfast.
Audience members looked concerned.
They need not have been.
Pinkwater spoke of buying his very first reading material, "the #122 or #123 Batman comic."
While living in Los Angeles--like the hero of his The Neddiad (Houghton, April)--at a half-block-long newsstand on Hollywood Boulevard, the author bought the very first issue of Mad magazine.
(Curious? Check out Mad #1 at collectmad.com.)
And he spoke of buying volumes of Thurber from ship libraries in California as well as how a boxer named Chopper that guarded the stock in a bookstore in Chicago helped plant the seed for his work as a dog trainer.
 
ABC Evening with Children's Booksellers, Friday

At the Copa, Copacabana,
We took refuge from the hottest spot North of Havana (Javits).
At the Copa, Copacabana,
Books were our passion and always in fashion
(As were the Fancy Nancy [HarperCollins] gals' boas and bananas)
At the Copa . . .
James Howe and Marie-Louise Gay took a bow for their E.B. White Read Aloud Award winner (in the picture books category), Houndsley and Catina (Candlewick).
Watt Key, the featured speaker at last year's New Voices Luncheon, got the spotlight when he accepted the E.B. White Award (for older readers) for his debut novel, Alabama Moon (FSG).
Two-month-old future showgirl Lola (McLean, youngest ABC member) made a cameo appearance.
No one will ever think of eggs the same way again, after Markus Zusak's (The Book Thief, Knopf) childhood tale.
If you weren't there, we're not telling (See, Markus? You can use the story again at the regionals.)
But how can he be that young and that talented? O.K., and good-looking.
Come on, now, he's married with a new daughter!
Stop thinking about him the way men would an attractive female author--aren't we better than that? We sell books to children!
 
Saturday Morning Speed Dating with Children's Authors

O.K., so Zusak is out of the running. Who's next?
You have three minutes to decide if this is the author or artist for you.
When the bell rings, your true love moves on.
Will it be Christopher Myers, whose art is too sexy for the New York Times? (Jazz, Holiday House, written by father Walter Dean Myers, 2006)
Or Sara Pennypacker, who threatened to reveal anything, anything at all that anyone asked of her ("Not Bokchoy's real name," begged Donna Bray, editor of Pennypacker's Clementine and The Talented Clementine, illustrated by Marla Frazee [Hyperion, Apr.])
Or--if you're into threesomes--Doreen Kronin and Harry Bliss, who, after describing how to represent flies regurgitating in a "nondisgusting and funny way," left the table asking booksellers, "You guys'll get the check, right?" (Diary of a Fly, HarperCollins/Cotler, Sept.)
With 20 authors and artists in all (if you count Cronin and Bliss as a unit), was a match made at BEA?--Jennifer M. Brown

 

Today on Morning Edition, Vicki Leon, author of Working IX to V: Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns, and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World (Bloomsbury, $16.95, 9780802715562/0802715567).

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Tonight on the Charlie Rose Show: Douglas Brinkley, historian and editor of The Reagan Diaries (HarperCollins, $35, 9780060876005/006087600X).

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On Sunday, Lifetime runs the premier of a new TV series called Army Wives, based on the book originally called Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives by Tanya Biank. A new paperback tie-in is called Army Wives: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage (St. Martin's Griffin, $13.95, 9780312333515/978031233351X). Biank is a journalist, the daughter of a career Army officer and the wife of an Army officer who tells the story of four Army wives.

Mark Lindquist is the trial team chief of the drug unit for the prosecuting attorney in Pierce County, Washington state, the epicenter of methamphetamine production on the West Coast. His fourth novel, The King of Methlehem (S&S, $23, 9781416535775/1416535772), was published in May. Here he answers questions we put to people in the industry occasionally:

On nightstand now:

The Art of Fiction by John Gardner, The Narrows by Michael Connelly and a poker book by Phil Gordon.

Favorite book when you were a child:

Go Dog Go by Dr. Seuss

Top five authors:

Hemingway, Kurt Vonnegut, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Haruki Murakami, Jack Kerouac

Book you've "faked" reading:

Law school textbooks

Book you are an "evangelist" for:

The Comedy Writer by Peter Farrelly

Book you've bought for the cover:

Several Vintage Contemporaries, including Bright Lights, Big City and The Sportswriter, which both proved to be important finds for me.

Book that changed your life:

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Favorite line from a book:

"It's the truth even if it didn't happen."--Ken Kesey in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

Go by John Clellon Holmes. I stumbled onto it in the Shakespeare and Company Bookshop in Paris when I was 22.

Trashy pop culture classic you've read twice:

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

In Wednesday's column on Reading the World Month, we misstated Chad Post's professional affiliation. Chad is now at the University of Rochester, where he is starting Open Letter Press, a new publisher that will focus upon international fiction and expects to launch its first list in the autumn of 2008. Our apologies and best wishes to Chad.

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In yesterday's issue our link to ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award winners went nowhere. Here is the way ForeWord.