The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) holds its 2025 Fall Tradeshow in Spokane, Washington. The tradeshow takes place September 28-30 at the Downtown Convention Center. Attended by bookseller and librarian members of PNBA, the three-day event offers two days of exhibition for publishers and other vendors.
The exhibitor experience kicks off on Sunday, September 28, with afternoon setup followed by “The Big Pitch Rep Picks” event. The show floor officially opens with an “Explore the Floor” reception in the evening. On Monday, September 29, features a morning setup window before the exhibit hall opens for the majority of the day, concluding with exhibitor tear-down. An evening event, “Reps Behind the Desk Spotlight Picks,” also takes place on Monday.
The event concludes on September 30, which is designated as an Education Day with no exhibits.
PNBA offers several opportunities for exhibiting companies to enhance their visibility. Each exhibitor will have a profile promoted on the official Tradeshow page. Additionally, exhibitors hosting authors in their space during the opening night reception will receive website and show program listings for those authors. Further details regarding “Authors on the Floor” and other promotional opportunities will be released in June.
Separate sign-ups will be announced for the “Rep Picks” and “Reps Behind the Desk” events. Participation in these spotlight sessions is exclusive to exhibiting companies, with priority given to formal sales representatives who are PNBA members. Remaining slots will be offered to member in-house sales and marketing personnel.
Show Your Art: A 2025 Guide to Seattle Art Spots for New and Emerging Artists seeks to connect artists with local businesses and venues interested in showcasing their work. Set to launch in January 2025, this guidebook features over 100 artist-friendly spaces, including galleries, coffee shops, theaters, and other venues willing to display the work of artists
Curated by Northwest artist Sarah E. Miller, this guidebook is designed specifically for new and emerging artists looking to break into Seattle’s dynamic art scene. With detailed information on venue themes, submission processes, commission structures, and more, Miller wants to provide a helpful tool for artists to get their work out into the world.
“Inclusivity and accessibility are at the heart of this project,” Miller said. “The guide is designed to demystify the process for artists who may feel intimidated or unsure about how to start showcasing their work.”
Miller launched a crowdfunding campaign this winter on Indiegogo to create a print edition of the guide. Funds raised will go toward printing, distribution, and creating an online platform to further support artists. The initial goal is $3,000, with a stretch goal of $6,000 to fund a dedicated website to this project and additional resources. To learn more, see https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/show-your-art-100-seattle-spaces-for-artists/x/38164224#
Starting a publishing project? Have an event of interest to indie publishers and authors? Send your news to bpnwnews at aol.com.
Publicist Jenni Tyler promotes the books of Arcadia Publishing. Her “territory” is the West Coast so we took the opportunity to ask her about promoting books and authors in our region. Here’s what she had to say about her job and our friendly book scene.
How did you become a publicist?
I always knew that I wanted to work in publishing, but I initially thought I wanted to be an editor. I attended the Denver Publishing Institute at the University of Denver in 2010, and there I got to see what each role was in the book publishing process. And I just fell in love with publicity. At the time it seemed so glamorous getting to speak with the media and go to events. After DPI, I ended up moving to Charleston, South Carolina and saw that Arcadia Publishing had a job opening in their publicity and marketing department. I’ve been there ever since.
Could you tell us a little about your job for Arcadia Publishing?
Arcadia Publishing is a publisher of local history books, and as such we very much work by territory. I manage the West Coast for publicity and marketing. I reach out to and work with the media, and set up events for my authors to give their book the best coverage possible. Our books are different in terms of publicity because they are so localized – while we would love to see our books reach a national audience, the local audience is going to be our primary audience.
How many books are you currently promoting?
I’m currently working on about 25 books. We work on a rolling schedule so I always have books that have already published, are about to publish, and are pre-publication.
How would you describe the book culture of the Pacific Northwest?
From what I can see from my vantage point, the PNW is made up of readers. Most of our books do well there. I can only speak to this from that local history perspective, but it seems like people love to learn about the history of their towns and the stories surrounding them. Maybe it’s the rainy/foggy atmosphere, it definitely makes great reading weather!
Is it easier or harder to promote a book in the PNW than other regions?
I have worked on the East coast and the Midwest to promote our books, and I would say it is definitely easier to promote in the PNW. Everyone is generally enthusiastic about seeing new books come through and there is not as much competition when it comes to booksellers. The East coast is so small and congested, it feels like there’s a bookstore on every other corner (which, as a book-lover, I fully support!) but that makes it hard to market. If a bookstore has a signing event, the other bookstores within a mile radius aren’t going to also want to host the author because it will bring in the same (but smaller) audience. Whereas in the PNW everything is a little more spread out without taking hours to get between locations.
What do you think is the best thing a publisher or author can do to get their work noticed?
Social media is key these days. Authors need to have a strong social presence to get noticed. Again, our books are very localized, so the media attention we get are also localized (think the local paper or a regional radio station) – so in order to get noticed by a broader audience you have to have a strong social media presence (both the author and the publisher).
Picture of Jenni Tyler and Arcadia Publishing book courtesy of Tyler. To find out more about Arcadia Publishing, visit their website at https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/. Please note an earlier version of this article was attacked by autocorrect and misspelled Tyler’s last name. Our sincere apologies!
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Becky Garrison’s latest book, Distilled in Washington, delves into the fascinating history of making liquor, especially American Single Malt. With a topic like that, Garrison finds herself giving presentations throughout the region that go outside the standard reading and book signing (she does those too!). We asked Garrison for a few tips on engaging readers no matter what size the audience.
Distilled in Washington: A History was published in 2024 by Arcadia Publishing. Garrison will be speaking on “How Whiskey Won Western Washington” at McMenamins at Anderson School in Bothell, WA, on June 25. Doors open at 6pm. For more information see McMenamins’ website at www.mcmenamins.com.
How long a presentation do you normally give?
What I do varies depending on the venue and the audience obviously.
For my upcoming presentation with McMennamin’s Anderson School I’ve been asked to give a 50-60 minute lecture with slides allowing 5-10 minutes for questions. The crowds who come to a History Pub expect to leave being informed with both words and visuals. A whiskey tasting is preceding this event, thus making a very easy transition for tasting to talk.
If the audience is expecting a typical author book event, I try not to read more than 20 minutes, and then use the remaining time to engage the audience. That said, I will have additional sections flagged that I can read if the audience would prefer that I do the talking.
Should I get a very small crowd where reading to say a few folks feels “weird,” I will switch to a more conversational tone by asking them questions that I will then answer extemporaneously. That said, I will tune in and read from the book if I sense this is what they want.
When I’m part of a festival such as Portland Book Week where folks are coming in and out, I keep it loose. If a crowd starts to gather, then I’ll do a reading. If it’s just a few folks coming in and out, then I engage with them individually.
How are you working with Washington distillers?
I’m planning some events with distillers that are timed with their new releases. In these cases, they will do a guided tasting followed by me explaining the history behind what they’re drinking in that glass. These presentations are very interactive will last as long as there’s audience interest.
Also, I will be at the next Washington Distiller’s Guild annual tasting event called Proof. For events like this, the presentation is a short elevator pitch of less than 60 seconds as this is a party not educational space. That said, I will offer to do a slide show of photos from my book or other interactive ways to engage the audience in a fun and playful manner.
What do you think is the best way to do a presentation on a subject that keeps the audience engaged and sells the book?
Think interactive. Unless I am doing a formal lecture where the Q&A is not expected until I end my speech, I open by asking the audience questions relating to my book such as “How do you define whiskey?” When possible, I bring along a friend who has agreed to function as a social lubricant by breaking the ice in answering the first question or two.
If a venue will permit me to serve liquor, I will bring along a few bottles of whiskey along with promotional materials about these whiskeys. I’ll open with a spirits tasting to get the vibe going and then ease into the reading as applicable. When I attend an event of this nature, I will don a T-shirt from a WA State distillery featured in the book.
I have on hand pins and literature from the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission for those who like to take something home. I hold on to items that have a fiscal value such as coupons for free tastings, and distribute on an individual basis.
Also, I bring along postcards of the book with a QR code on the back where folks can order the book. If the venue can sell the book, then I bring along postcards that don’t have a QR code. I’ve chosen not to sell books myself as I still have a few too many books from my last book that came out in March 2020. Simply put, I learned I’m a writer not a marketer and that self-publishing or even semi-traditional publishing isn’t the route for me.
Do you vary your presentation to fit your audience?
Of course. Here I rely on the advice given to me by futurist Brad Sargent when I was preparing to give a talk at the 2009 Slot Festival in Poland. I knew hardly anyone there and was concerned that no one would come to my talk. He said, pray that those who need to hear what you say will come, and that those whose contributions would be disruptive stay at home. This advice continues to serve me well as it keeps me from getting upset if an event doesn’t achieve the desired results.
When people come to events, what is the most frequent question that you are asked about Distilled in Washington?
When most people think of the Washington State’s food and drink culture, they conjure up images of suds or Syrah, not spirits. Hence, they tend to be surprised (and even shocked) wen I inform then that Washington State is one of the leading states in terms of the number of distilleries, and that this is the first book to record the history of distilling in this state. In particular, they are often not aware of the Pacific Northwest’s role as a leading player in the evolution of the American Single Malt category, and how PNW brewers are playing a unique role in the creation of this category. They seem to take pride in learning how this development that has put the PNW on the map as an international player in the whiskey world. Along those lines, they groan a bit when I let them know that this state also has the highest distilling taxes in the country.
Also, whenever I chat up the book, inevitably someone will come up to me and say to me in a whispered voice that their relative was a moonshiner or bootlegger during Prohibition. I encourage them to delve into their family’s history and tell their stories in the hopes that through such storytelling, we can connect to our past filled with pride for our badass ancestors and not become consumed with shame for coming from such lawless stock.
Where’s the most unusual or fun place that you have or are talking about Distilled in Washington this summer?
I am delighted to be asked to give a presentation at McMennamin’s History Pub on June 25 since an academic type presentation is a deviation from the typical book reading. Also, I’m looking forward to doing some joint events with Copperworks at both their Kenmore and Seattle locations as it’s exciting to see people connect with both the stories in the book and then the distiller pouring the whiskey that was informed by these stories.
Distilled in Washington photo courtesy of publisher Arcadia Publishing. Photo of author Becky Garrison (top) courtesy of author.
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Pacific Northwest Bookseller Association’s September tradeshow returns to Oregon in 2024. Show dates are September 29 to October 1 at the Holiday Inn on the Columbia River, Portland, OR. Attendees will be bookstore buyers and librarians from the Pacific Northwest. Publishers and those serving the bookstore trade are encourage to display their upcoming titles as well as backlist.
The schedule is once again designed to keep attendees focused on reps and the show floor during all exhibitor hours, says PNBA’s recent call for exhibitor registration. PNBA will promote a profile of each exhibiting company on the official Tradeshow page.
Exhibitors will also receive website and show program listing for any author appearing in their home space during the first night Explore the Floor reception.
Oregon poet, author, publisher, and podcaster Benjamin Gorman decided to do something different with his weekly podcast featuring writers. The result was Writers Not Writing, which has received more than 10,000 views on YouTube and is available for download from all the podcasting platforms. Rather than dive into craft or how to be published like other podcasts, Gorman concentrates on what writers do when they are procrastinating…or perhaps just living a fully rounded life.
We wanted to know more about what Gorman does when he is not podcasting, including his publishing company Not a Pipe Publishing and how the podcast came to be. Following is a recent interview via email.
Please tell us about Not a Pipe Publishing.
Not a Pipe Publishing is an indie press located, fittingly, in Independence, Oregon. We started off publishing exclusively sci-fi and fantasy for adult and YA audiences, but we’ve expanded into paranormal and horror, a thriller, a bunch of anthologies around different themes, and collections of poetry.
How did you come up with the “Not a Pipe” name?
The name of the company is a reference to René Magritte’s famous painting “The Treachery of Images,” the one with a pipe on it that says (in French), “This is not a pipe.” The painting is about how an image of a thing isn’t the thing itself, and I thought that would be perfect for a company which publishes fiction. One of our central animating principles is that fiction isn’t an accurate description of the world but can tell deeper truths.
What inspired you to start the Writers Not Writing podcast?
I’d been a guest on many podcasts and a few TV shows, and while I’m grateful to all those interviewers, I found that I kept responding to the same questions about writing process. That’s great for other writers, but I suspected the lines of questioning weren’t very entertaining for readers. I wanted to create a show that is reader-focused, so instead of asking writers about how they write, I ask them how they do something every reader also does: Procrastinate. I think the show helps readers get to know authors as more well-rounded human beings, and I hope that makes the viewers/listeners more interested in checking out our work.
How many writers have you interviewed?
As of this writing, we’ve aired 65 episodes, but I try to keep a little ahead, so I’ve recorded 70. It’s been a wonderful experience because I’ve been able to meet these big-name Emmy winners and New York Times best-sellers, and also authors who are just starting out in their careers. I like to keep that mix because everyone has a unique collection of fun procrastination behavior.
Do you hear any common themes?
One question I always ask authors is what they’ve been daydreaming about, and I’ve appreciated the common recognition that daydreaming, while it can feel like procrastination, is an essential part of the work we do. Authors have fascinating answers ranging from the weirdest flights of fancy to very practical wonderings, and it’s great to contemplate how those inform their work.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing indie authors and publishers?
I think the publishing industry is going through a transition that’s very similar to what the music industry experienced with the rise of Napster. Before, music was limited to what a small number of gatekeepers allowed. Suddenly everything was accessible, and anyone could throw their music out into the world. That was wonderful for listeners (at first) because there was this glut of great stuff, but it made it so difficult for artists to break out, and then it made it nearly impossible for artists to make a living creating their art. Those pressures then become bad for music listeners (and now readers), because the quantity of work is huge, but it’s being created by people who are essentially donating it to the world. That’s not good for artists of any kind, and when the artists are exploiting themselves, it ultimately isn’t good for readers, either. I suspect that, like iTunes, we’ll eventually settle on some other gatekeeping method that will allow some people to get attention without those decisions being made by a bunch of white, male billionaires picking from among their friends. Instead, it will be white, male billionaires choosing from what they see bubbling up from a much larger pool. That’s still far from perfect, but it will lead to more diverse literature that will be at least slightly more representative of the readers (who are predominantly women and disproportionately people of color) while providing more authors a living wage. I hope indie authors and publishers will play a vital role in that future ecosystem, creating meaningful connections between authors and readers on smaller scales, like the bands that are figuring out ways to make ends meet by doing live shows in more intimate venues rather than selling out arenas and living off of hit albums. We’ll see. I could be overly optimistic. But I hope we’ll find ourselves in a world of more public readings and more intimate signings at small, independent bookstores. It’s a tight time for indie publishers and indie bookstores now, but I really hope the ones who can weather this tenuous time will be the places readers look to when they want to find the voices of their own communities in a future of homogeneous, AI generated schlock.
For those who want to learn more about Not a Pipe Publishing, where can they find you?
Please come learn more about our authors and their marvelous books at www.notapipepublishing.com We have some great novels we’ll be releasing this year by Amanda Cherry, Beth Gibbs, and Karen Eisenbrey. We’re also publishing our first translation, a powerful collection of poetry by the renowned Mexican poet Verónica Arredondo translated by A.A. deFreese. And we just released a beautiful collection of found poetry and art by Jennifer Rood. There will be cover reveals, launch parties, and signings for all of these, so check out the events page on the site or follow us on any of the social media apps. (We’re on all of them. It’s awful, but we have to go where the readers are, so please follow us to make it worth our while!)
The Portland Book Festival selects featured books for the November event on a rolling basis from now through June. The 2024 festival is scheduled for Saturday, November 2, 2024. Organizers plan to feature a diverse group of contemporary authors in conversations, panels, and presentations.
Literary Arts must receive complete submissions by June 14 for consideration. All selected authors will be contacted by September.
Note that the consideration for self-published titles uses the same criteria as traditionally published books. For the 2024 festival, Literary Arts will not accept self-published titles that exist only in ebook format.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Western Washington chapter is offering a free online class on marketing this month.
In his class, Northwest writer Will Taylor promises to explore: “How to optimize marketing efforts via language tricks, framing, and behavioral science. How to create simple systems that take the guesswork out of marketing and leave you reassured, relaxed, and ready to focus on your real work. Come learn to make your marketing process easier, more fun, and more effective!”
Taylor is a published author of stories for “current and former kids.” More about his books for Scholastic and Harper Collins can be found at willtaylorbooks.com. He also works as a copywriter for Fran’s Chocolates, the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), and LAIKA Studios.
Local authors and indie publishers are showing up at holiday fairs throughout the month, because nothing makes a better gift than a book!
The Author Event Network, an association of local award-winning authors, will be signing books at the Mercer Island Holiday Market on December 2. Look for Peter Stockwell, Patrick Foley, Karen Eisenbrey, Susan Kemp, Guy Morris, and Mi Ae Lupe at the Mercer Island Community Center, 10am to 3pm.
Joyce Yarrow and 25 other Washington authors will be at Issaquah’s Historically Hip Author Fair on December 9 at the Issaquah Library, 11am to 4pm. The one-day event will have books for adults, teens and kids in a variety of genres, perfect for gift-giving or your own winter reading! Don’t forget to visit the Historically Hip Artisan Market at the Historic Issaquah Train Depot for locally crafted gifts.
Have an event to share? Send us a note at bpnwnews at aol.com.
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