Dear fellow ABC-ites,

We're off and running into the last quarter of the year.  It's that season to be squirrels and not only to gather our nuts but to "make our nuts" too.  I hope you all feel as optimistic as I do about year-end; that the numbers will come in and we'll feel vindicated.  This year feels-tastes-smells-and-looks like a good harvest but let's be smart squirrels and remember where we buried our stash. 

So with the beginning of a new school year and the beginning of the season of giving, I'm sure you are fending off or giving in to all of the requests for sponsorships, free books and merchandise, gift cards, etc. etc. It's that fatigue of  "not another donation" and I'm damned if I do or don't do.   So in my old age and advancing  squirreliness, I've decided to become soooooo much more vocal about Local!  So many times these solicitations from organizations come without any support, partnership or patronage.  That is they ask but don't give in return. 

So I now immediately go into the "Buy Local, buy independent, support community, and so on-" mode.  I explain to the point of exhaustion to all those who ask and don't give in return.  What does it take to explain what local, independently owned means to someone who has chain on the brain! 

But there is hope--be more vocal about Local! Remember we have those nuts to gather by year's end and we will conquer!  Support goes both ways in a community that sustains. We as booksellers in our communities are the voice and places for ideas and change.

To help you get the BUY LOCAL word out, we've added branding to the ABC Best Books Catalog this year. This is a great way to get your customers to take the message home.

 If any of you have any great stories to share about your efforts on buy local or independent business initiatives, please share your nuggets of wisdom.  I wish all of you a prosperous and nut filled last quarter and autumn!

Books make everything better!

Squirrely and bushy-tailed in Illinois,

Becky Anderson
Anderson's Bookshops
Naperville, Illinois
ABC President

The ABC Catalog goes LOCAL

The ABC Best Books for Children catalog is rolling off the presses and shipping off to our member stores right now.

In an effort to make the catalog the hardest working consumer piece possible we've added a strong BUY LOCAL message throughout the catalog this year.

The branding starts with a prominent medallion on the front cover, and continues with positive BUY LOCAL mini medallions in the right hand footer of each page, each with a different message.

The message is driven home on the inside back cover with a column praising the consumer for the "10 Great Things" they just did by Buying Local. With the Buy Local branding and a store imprint, this year's catalog is an eye-catching and fun addition to your Buy Local program.

Also available is a companion downloadable counter talker of the "Thanks for shopping here. Here's what you just did!"  flyer. Display it with the catalog to double the message.

Feeling left out? There is still a limited quantity of unimprinted catalogs available. If you didn't order any but still want a case or two, let Kristen know.

Many thanks to all of the publishers who participated in the catalog this year. The 2007 Best Books catalog is one of our strongest ever!

Download the PDF booklist alpha by publisher.

Download a low-res copy of the catalog.

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 10/1/08

• 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.