3/24/2009
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Advisory Committee Focuses on New Criteria for Selections
YA Buzz is Added to Schedule!
Norwalk, CT, March 24, 2009: BookExpo America (BEA) has today announced the editor and book selections for its popular Editor & Bookseller Buzz Forum which, officials note, will return to its traditional time slot on Thursday, May 28 at 4:15pm. Organizers have also announced that they have added a Young Adult Buzz Forum in order to address the growing interest in young adult books and to provide exposure and opportunity for this important market. The YA Buzz Forum will take place on Friday, May 29 at 2:30pm.
This year’s Buzz Forum has been the subject of considerable discussion among members of BEA’s Conference Advisory Board. Criteria for submission and participation have been under intense review with an eye towards reaching industry consensus on the final selections. While the potential for memorable presentations by the editors remains an important concern, the selection process has notably shifted to the book itself, and dialogue among members of the selection committee has centered on choosing books for presentation that will appeal to a wide range of readers.
A small "subgroup" of Advisory Board members was responsible for making final decisions regarding this year’s Buzz Forum. These committee members included: Michael Cader, Publisher’s Marketplace; Maria Campbell, Maria B. Campbell Associates; Carol Fitzgerald, Bookreporter.com; Tina Jordan, Association of American Publishers; and Talia Ross Sherer, Macmillan.
The programs and selections for both Buzz Forums are as follows:
BEA Editors’ Buzz, Thursday May 28, 4:15pm
Program Chair: John Freeman, American Editor, Granta.
Deb Futter, VP, Editor-in-Chief, Grand Central Publishing with Leila Meacham’s Roses.
Paul Elie, Editor, FSG with Michael Sandel’s Justice.
Alexis Gargagliano, Editor, Scribner with Alex Lemon’s Happy.
Harriet Popham Rigney, Executive Editor, Tor Books with Brandon Sanderson’s A Memory of Light.
Ben Sevier, Sr. Editor, Dutton with Jonathan Tropper’s This is Where I Leave You. Robert Weil, Executive Editor, WW Norton with David Small’s Stitches.
BEA Young Adult Editors’ Buzz, Friday May 29, 2:30pm
Program Chair: David Levithan, Vice President, Editorial Director, Scholastic Trade Publishing
Arthur Levine, VP & Editorial Dir., Arthur A. Levine Books with Laini Taylor’s Lips Touch.
Ari Lewin, Sr. Editor, Disney/Hyperion with Sarwat Chadda’s The Devil’s Kiss.
Krista Marino, Sr. Editor, Delacorte Press for Young Readers with James Dashner’s
The Maze Runner.
Mark Siegel, Editorial Director, First Second Books with Danica Novgorodoff’s Refresh, Refresh.
Liz Szabla, Editor-in-Chief, Feiwel & Friends with Jill S. Alexander’s The Sweetheart of Prosper County.
Tara Weikum, Executive Editor, HarperCollins Children’s Books with Adriana Trigiani’s Viola in Reel Life.
In commenting on the selection process, Michael Cader stated: "Together the committee set out to try and put the ‘buzz’ back into one of BEA's signature events. With a strict focus on true fall releases already inspiring talk within the business, the group surveyed submissions and culled deal reports and other sources to curate a diverse panel of books aimed to inspire a variety of readers.
From memoir and an adaptation of the most popular undergraduate course at Harvard to a crossover graphic novel from a renowned children's illustrator, a debut epic tale of three generations of Texas, a potential breakout book from a novelist already popular in Hollywood and the special opportunity to hear about the final volume in the late Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series from his wife and editor, this year's panel stands for the richness of what booksellers and media hope to find throughout the show floor and the fall lists."
Maria Campbell noted: "Being part of the selection process for this year’s buzz panel has been an educational and exhilarating experience. The dedicated members are drawn from all parts of the industry reflecting its diversity. We have reviewed a legion of books
published by a host of publishers that will appeal to the full spectrum of readers. The final selections were hard earned and much discussed. They range from thought provoking and timely books like Justice, to a life altering graphic memoir, Stitches and a good old fashioned Southern yarn like Roses. In our media saturated age there is still nothing like word of mouth to launch a good book. So spread the word! There is something for everyone on this list."
Carol Fitzgerald, a vocal proponent of creating a separate and dedicated forum for the young adult community, commented: "Given the vitality of the YA market, it's exciting to be adding this new buzz forum to the BEA programming. Our list represents the depth and range of powerful writing in this category that is driving dramatic increases in sales."
Convention officials note that criteria for buzz book consideration has now been formalized for future years and the buzz book program will provide considerable promotional opportunity extending beyond the initial presentation in the Buzz Forum. All nominated books must have a fall release timeline (September – January). All submissions must have a digital packet which includes jacket art, first chapter, imprint logo, author photo and SMPR (social media press release). BEA will create a "Books with Buzz" tab on its web site that contains all this info. The sessions will also be recorded and posted as part of BEA’s ongoing podcast coverage of its main events. Additionally, all final selected buzz authors are requested to attend BEA and be available for a live special buzz author panel on BEA’s new Author Stages.
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