The Heartland Fall Forum finished up last Friday on upbeat notes during the annual membership meetings for both host organizations, the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association.
GLIBA executive director Larry Law, calling GLIBA a “vital and thriving region,” highlighted the organization's "incredible growth": from 130 stores at the start of Law's tenure in 2018 to the current 410 stores.
Membership growth was also noted by Midwest Independent Booksellers Association executive director Grace Hagen, who reported that 110 new stores have joined MIBA within the last year.
An eager crowd gathers before Friday’s Marquee Author Brunch.
Marquee Author Brunch speakers: (l.-r.) Marisel Vera (The Girls from Humboldt Park, W.W. Norton); Daniel Nayeri (This Is a Door, Stonefruit Studio); Kao Choua Vue (The Spirit of Fearless Living, Minnesota Historical Society Press); Nicole Dennis Benn (Black Gold, Random House); Jason Prokowiew (War Boys, Trio House Press); and Kao Kalia Yang (The Waiting Years, Holiday House Books).
Shelf Awareness partnership marketing manager Kristianne Huntsberger and Independent Booksellers Association executive director Robert Martin enjoy a moment on the show floor.
The Book Industry Charitable Foundation's silent auction raised $7,088, plus a $5,000 matching donation from Lerner. Pictured: Binc CEO Pam French and Rachel Zugschwert, executive v-p, marketing and associate publisher at Lerner Publishing Group.