The Heartland Fall Forum in Minneapolis, Minnesota, began in earnest Thursday with a day of author events, education, and the trade show floor.
Midwest Independent Booksellers Association executive director Grace Hagen reported record-breaking participation in all attendee categories. Of the 688 attendees, 350 are booksellers and represent 163 indie bookstores. And this year there are "more exhibitors than ever," said Hagen, with at least 225 exhibitors from 130 companies, and 98 authors.
The Heartland Fall Festival Marquee Author Breakfast featured five children's and young adult authors, hosted by author Ari Tison, talking about the origins of their work and what inspires them. (l.-r.) Margaret Rogerson, (Knight Eternal, Margaret K. McElderry Books), Matthew Cordell (Starman: The Cosmic Voyage of David Bowie, Neal Porter Books), Ari Tison (Together We See, Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers), Christopher Paul Curtis (Bud Not Buddy, Random House Graphic), and Eve L. Ewing (The Best Poem: And Other Poems, Too, Kokila).
At the "Bookselling Year Zero" session, prospective booksellers and those with recently opened stores met for two hours with experienced bookselling and publishing professionals. Among the attendees: Emily Zhao, Whispering Shelf, Indianapolis, Ind.; Kristin Burkart, The Reading Nest, Cedarburg, Wis.; and Fiona Mundy, Content, Northfield, Minn.
The team from Open Book at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport having a huddle between events: Kassidy Wellnitz, Ashton Anderson, Izzy Behl, Kay King, and Erik Zimmerman.
During a session called "Books Through and Beyond Bars" attendees learned about the work of the 15-year-old Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and its recently established nonprofit publisher, Lost Kite Editions, run by writers and editors inside and out of the carceral system. Pictured: (from l.) Jennifer Bowen, founding artistic director, Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop; David Jansich, editor, Lost Kite Editions; and Maria Carlos, managing editor, Lost Kite Editions.
At "Beyond Four Walls: Rethinking the Independent Bookstore," led by Barbara Cerda, co-owner, La Revo Books, Milwaukee, Wis., booksellers shared ideas for partnerships; pop-up stores and mobile stores as bookselling business models; and outreach beyond, and without, a traditional bricks-and-mortar location. (l.-r.) Panelists Harriett Logan, owner, Loganberry Books, Cleveland, Ohio; Valeria Cerda, co-owner, La Revo Books, Milwaukee, Wis; Rachel Cleveland, owner, Little Charity Book Truck, Twin Cities, Minn.; and Barbara Cerda.
After meeting at the "Beyond Four Walls" session, three booksellers continued the conversation: (l.-r.) Meghan Trimble and Danae Mosknes, Whimsy Quill Coffee & Bookshop, Coon Rapids, Minn.; and Evelyn Burnett, ThirdSpace Reading Room, Cleveland, Ohio.
The very busy Heartland Fall Forum show floor.