Brooklyn, Miami, Seattle - wait what day is it?

I'm blogging remotely so my usual disclaimer applies here - please excuse a lack of links, typos and general goofiness......

I spent the past weekend at the Brooklyn Book Festival and had a great time. BookExpo sponsored the opening night party and upon arrival I learned that I'd be speaking. No worries, my BEA cohort Steve Rosato long ago taught me not to choose my words too carefully as no one really listens at those reception speaches! I did get to meet Paul Auster who received the first ever Brooklyn Book Award and I must say he's a splendid guy. Johnny Temple of Akashik Books, who is the chair of the fest has become a good friend and I'm really proud that BEA was able to support the fledgling fair. Johnny also introduced me to one of his authors, Mike Farrell (aka BJ Honeycut of MASH fame). He's done great work in animal rights issues (and just landed a plumb role on Desperate Houswives) but of course I was in a tizzy because, after meeting Alan Alda at BEA in June I'm only a Gary Burgough away from a near complete MASH set!

The fair was a great mix of author events and mostly indy presses on display. It seems posied to grow and considering that NYC is without a major public fair (save the Harlem Book Fest) it seems needed. BEA helped to market the event and we plan to do some podcasts as well. In the course of promoting the event I got emails from at least 6 other public book fairs around the country asking about partnering with BEA on promotion. This got me thinking about the theme of my last post on how BEA can work to keep the lines between content creators and consumers porous. I'd love to explore ways that BEA can create a marketing arm to help promote and support these various fairs around the country. Afterall, anything that helps to get books into the hands of readers is the ultimate goal of BEA and its customers.

On a similar topic I was in Miami Monday for a press conference with Miami media to announce a new partnership between BEA and the Miami Book Fair. We are launching an event this November (the 8th to be exact) on the subject of translations. This is an exciting partnership and event that will focus on education this year and grow into much more in coming years. The U.S. Is not known as a country that is friendly to works of translation, yet every editor and rights agent I've spoken with are passionate about that concept. So in a more ambitious way I hope the Translation Market will begin to open up conversations on how we, as a domestic industry can create a more fertile enviroment for non English works. Furthermore I hope this event will grow into more than education and create an oppertunity for the business of translation and foreogn rights to be done. I'm extreemly pleased to be in a long term partnership with the Miami Book Fair.

Both The Translation Market event and the concept of supporting public book fairs around the country fit well with my vision of BEA offering information, events and connections throughout the calendar year.

Check out www.thetranslationmarket for details.

This morning I boarded a fight from Miami to Seattle and I had 7 hours to contemplate if there are two points further from each other in the U.S. I'm out for the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association gathering. BEA is helping to support the local chapter of the Emerging Leaders with a kick ass party Wednesday night at Third Place Books. It should be fun and when I think about the changing face of our business, supporting young booksellers like the Emerging Leaders seems to be one of the best things BEA can do to help seed the new business models of bookstores. And when I say support I mean defray the cost of beer and the band. Yes, as Mrs. BEA would say, "Boy, your job is tough.......". I love what I do, what can I say!

-L
Lance Fensterman
Event Director BookExpo America
Blog:

www.bookexpo-lance.blogspot.com

203-840-5507 (office)
203-417-3607 (mobile)
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