BookExpo America: Publishing University

This time next week, I’ll be halfway to New York en route to BookExpo America 2010 (aka BEA). BEA doesn’t open until Wednesday, but on Tuesday, I will be participating in a panel as part of Publishing University, the Independent Book Publisher’s Association  (IBPA) educational conference created BY publishers FOR publishers.

I am truly honored to be asked to be on a panel with …

• Claudia Gryvatz Copquin, Long Island Parent;
• Gregory Cowles,The New York Times Book Review;
• Louisa Ermelino, Publishers Weekly;  and
• Jesse Kornbluth, Amazon top reviewer and co-founder of Bookreporter.com, among others.

Kate Bandos of KSB Promotions is moderating our panel. In our session, The New Book Review: Citizen and Professional Reviewers – How Publishers Can Reach Both – we will be sharing the nuts and boolts of the review process. Here is Kate’s writeup in the syllabus: “In this session featuring experts from print and online review sources, you will discover what reviewers are looking for, do’s and don’ts for submissions and the secrets to catching their eye with your book. Forget all that you thought you knew about book reviews—this session will give you the real scoop.”

The IBPA has been sponsoring Publishing University for three decades. This year’s theme is Transitions-How to Start, Grow and Succeed in Publishing’s New World.  The U will be at the Roosevelt Hotel (45 East 45th Street – corner of 45th and Madison Ave), and the curriculum offers two full days with more than 20 break-out sessions, and several pre- and post-event “Ask the Expert” sessions. There are three tracks: Getting Started, for those still deciding what path to take; Making a Living, for those who have started a company but need strategies for profitable publishing; and Growing Your Business, for established publishers looking to grow their business.

So why am I talking about all that? Because there are some excellent sessions that have relevance to anyone interested in books and BookExpo America even if you aren’t a publisher. I don’t write or produce books, but I can certainly benefit from “Social Media Beyond the Basics” and “Building an Online Presence Without Breaking the Bank.”

If you’d like to learn more, I’d encourage you to visit the IBPA Publishing University website (http://thepublishinguniversity.com) or call IBPA at 310-372-2732 to learn about early-bird pricing.

I’m sure I’ll learn a lot while I’m there, and I promise I’ll come back and share!