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Bookseller Musings by Bronwyn, Where Books Meet People: Highlights from the ABA Conference.
I returned last week from the Australian Booksellers Conference in Canberra, three days packed with conversations, ideas and catching up with booksellers from around the country.
One of the sessions was about making bookshops more beautiful, and the one thing I remember was a photo of a Penguin display case on a table, at what I think was Beaufort Street Books (WA). Such a simple idea, but it made me realise that having the Penguin display case higher up would make the books easier for customers to access and help draw the eye. Since returning home, I've moved our Penguin bookcase onto a plinth and, remarkably, sales from that display have increased. Sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference and also adds a bit of visual interest as you enter the bookstore.
Highlights for me were chatting with authors S. K. Lynch, whose forthcoming novel Something He Did (out 29 Sep) whose book is being published by Ultimo Press, and Mary Colussi, author of Touch Grass, whose book is published by Penguin. Other highlights included sitting with the wonderful team from Magabala Books and Bruce Pascoe (whose new book The European Mind will be out 29 Sep) at the Gala Dinner and listening to author Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and Bliss and Sophie, Standing There (out 28 July), deliver the closing keynote speech.
It was also lovely to spend time with Jane Vaughan from Big Sky Stories, Broken Hill, whose enthusiasm for children's literature is infectious, and to catch up with Alison Rogers from Readers Retreat, Salamander Bay, Bella and Emma from Heads & Tales, Barwon Heads, Victoria and Amelia from Imprints Booksellers, Adelaide. I enjoyed having a yarn with Michael Heyward from Text Publishing about Chris Raja's new novel Eye of the Needle (out 4 August). It was wonderful, too, to reconnect with Becky and author-bookseller Mike Lucas from Shakespeare's Bookshop, Adelaide. Mike has published several books and his latest YA novel, Don't Let Them Leave, a spooky thriller in the best classic ghost story tradition, is available at Red Kangaroo Books. If you happen to be in the neighbourhood of these wonderful indie bookstores, give them a visit.
It was so busy and a little overwhelming that I only managed to take two photos. One was the view from outside my room — if you squint, you can just about make out Parliament House — and the other was one very blurry photo of Magda Szubanski in conversation with Michael Heyward (Text Publishing) about her wonderful memoir, I can't tell you but I will (out 1 September).
Thank you to the Australian Booksellers Association for bringing together such a passionate and generous community. I came home with new ideas, renewed enthusiasm and a reminder that bookselling is, above all, about people who love books.
Happy reading,
Bronwyn
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