The International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), formerly the CBA, will be on from Jul. 13-17, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Join retailers, suppliers, book distributors, and book industry professionals at the largest show in Christian retail. As a staple of the Best Christian Conferences, this book show is one of the most important all year.

With the wealth of book reviews and information online, and the massive discounts offered by places like Amazon.com, book clubs are being given a run for their money. How can online book clubs still thrive? The Progressive Book Club (PBC) has set out to revive them by providing a central place for title recommendations, and promotion of books by smaller publishers that might have difficulty receiving attention elsewhere.

Started by Elizabeth Wagley, a liberal-minded former fund-raiser and communications adviser for nonprofit groups, this online book club is meant to push back against conservative ideology. The Progressive Book Club will be a place for meeting new friends, forum for learning, joining online and off-line discussions, and all while helping to build a movement by underwriting progressive organizations and media with the money you spend on their books. When you join, you can buy 3 books at $1 apiece in exchange for the obligation to buy 4 books over the next 2 years.

This online book club seeks to improve on the old model by getting rid of paper catalogs and offering a social networking component. Filling a void for progressively minded readers just might be the way to revive the ever less popular book club structure. Cutting through the clutter of all the titles out there is still a valuable service, especially for like-minded readers.

On June 26, from 6:30pm – 8:00pm in NYC’s famed Bryant Park Reading Room, the Secrets of Book Publishing will take place. Of particular interest to those looking for advice on how to write a great book and nail a publishing deal, this event will be hosted by notable writing instructor and author Susan Shapiro of Media Bistro. Other authors and literary agents that will be speakering include Alice Feiring, Dana Jennings, Elizabeth Kaplan, Liza Monroy, and Karen Siplin. 

Rain Venue:
The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen
20 West 44th Street (between 5th & 6th Avenues)

On June 28, at 3:30pm Vanita Oelschlager will be interviewed by Ingram Library Services for their Author Interview series at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference booth number 800. The podcast of this interview will be available on IngramLibrary.com and iPage. Vanita will speak about VanitaBooks and their title Made in China, a story of foreign adoption and childhood transitions.

Translating your company’s brand identity, promoting products, and driving sales online can present a big challenge in the face of smaller niche markets. Thankfully, for as many obstacles as the Internet presents, it also offers innovative solutions. Not only must you specifically tailor your efforts but also carefully track what is working. These online tools and resources can help in your marketing efforts.

Keeping up with the latest methods of reaching people is important in the ever changing online world. Prominent Internet marketing strategist, and social media marketer B.L. Ochman’s What’s Next Blog, an AdAge Power 150 blog, provides up-to-the-minute news, trends, and resources of social media marketing.

Tracking your efforts can also give you insight into what works online. Google provides a free service called Google Alerts, enter in your key titles and receive emails every time they are mentioned online.

The Internet has forever changed the dynamics of effective book marketing strategy and brand building. Online the landscape is one of many to many, no longer one to many. Reaching out to consumers on their terms in their niche fields on interest is of utmost importance.

The American Library Association (ALA) will be holding its 2008 Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA, from June 26–July 2, at the Anaheim Convention Center. Committee and business meetings take place June 28-July 1, Council Meetings run to July 2, and education programs take place primarily from June 28-30 during the exhibition.

The Barnes and Noble Fairlawn store in Akron, Ohio will host a reading and signing of Made in China by Vanita Oelschlager on Jun. 19th from 10-11am.

B&N Store Location: 4015 Medina Road, Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330-665-5199

If you’re around Akron, Ohio on June 19th stop in for the Made in China author reading at Barnes and Noble Fairlawn store. Author Vanita Oelschlager will be at “Story Time” from 10-11am reading and signing 3 books including Made in China published by Vanita Books, an illustrated children’s book for ages 4-8 about adopted Chinese children and getting adjusted. The illustrator Kristin Blackwood will also draw inside of each book sold. The family that inspired this tale of international adoption will also be on hand so children can meet the real life characters. The Oak Adoptive Center in Akron has been supportive of this book and getting the word out about this event. This event is for all families, and can be enjoyed by not only adoptive parents and their children, but everyone. Enjoy!

B&N Store Location: 4015 Medina Road, Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330-665-5199

The Renegade Craft Fair (RCF) will commence from June 14-15 at the McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn. The RCF is a new but fast growing event that showcases DIY products with handmade crafts ranging from comic books to craft kits, silkscreened posters to reconstructed clothing, great for the gift market. The event is held 4 times a year in Brooklyn, NY, Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA.

The New York Center for Independent Publishing (NYCIP) will hold its next event in the Emerging Voices Series on Wednesday June 12, starting 6:30pm at The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen library. This installment will highlight and discuss the authors and publishers of influential small presses in New York, with particular focus on a panel discussion featuring Europa Editions, an independent press dedicated to bringing a new voice to the American literary market.