PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL
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We're building out the topics and materials now, and will be ready to start in the fall. For the first year, we'll be accepting stores that have been open three years or fewer. You can join any month and stay for the full year!
Interested? We knew you would be! We're offering the opportunity to find out more by signing up for our pre-list! This will ensure you'll be the first to know about our news, and pre-list members will be the opportunity to enroll before we go public.
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BOOKSELLER & INDUSTRY NEWS
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OBITUARY: BOB DITTER (A MESSAGE FROM TOWNE CENTER BOOKS)
It is with sadness that I'm writing to let our book-loving community know that Bob Ditter passed away Saturday evening as a result of a heart attack.
Bob was a long-time book person. He loved sharing stories and meeting buyers, booksellers, authors, and publishers during his 40+ years as a publisher’s rep. Those experiences fuel many conversations at our bookstore to this day.
He and his wife, Judy, bought Towne Center Books in 1998. Many of you know that Saturday was Bob and Judy's "date night" at the store. They enjoyed spending time together talking about books with anyone who ventured into the store. Bob enjoyed discussing books with friends, family and customers, sharing favorite passages and recommending new titles. While sharing a book, he may have slipped a sports comment, fishing story or even a grandchild anecdote into the conversation.
He would meet you as you walked in the door with a "have you heard about this [insert book]" and then he would start telling his stories. If you needed a history book (or even if you didn't), you left the store a little more knowledgeable (and quite possibly with a book) after talking with Bob.
We’re putting together a special display of Bob’s picks, which should be completed by Saturday, July 12th. Please stop in if you’re in the area and take a look, share a memory or add a comment to our journal. (We will keep the display up for a little while, so no need to rush in or make a special trip.)
Please hold Judy, the family, and our staff in your thoughts.
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In memory of Bob, please consider a memorial contribution to one of his passions Freedom to Read (American Booksellers for Free Expression) or share a story with family or friends.
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OBITUARY: MARTIN CRUZ SMITH
Martin Cruz Smith, best known for the Arkady Renko series that started with Gorky Park, died on Saturday at age 82. As noted by his publisher Simon & Schuster, the New York Times called Smith "the master of the international thriller," the New Yorker wrote that he was "brilliant," and the Washington Post called the series "a work of art." Read the full Shelf Awareness Obituary here.
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CALIBA's Martin Cruz Smith Award: Emerging Diverse Voices (Golden Poppy Awards) are named after acclaimed novelist Martin Cruz Smith—this award celebrates emerging diverse voices in literature.
Originally, the Martin Cruz Smith Award recognized excellence in mystery and suspense. As CALIBA evolved, the award was reimagined to reflect the organization’s commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices across all genres. In this new form, the award honors early-career writers whose work embodies originality, insight, and powerful storytelling from diverse perspectives.
When CALIBA launched the newly focused Martin Cruz Smith Award: Emerging Diverse Voices, Martin Cruz Smith generously offered to cover the cost of submissions to ensure the award would be accessible to all eligible authors and publishers, regardless of budget. His support helped solidify the award’s role as both a literary honor and a platform for inclusion.
We were saddened to learn that Martin Cruz Smith passed away on Friday, July 11th, 2025. His legacy lives on not only through his groundbreaking fiction, but also through his generosity and belief in the importance of uplifting new voices. CALIBA is honored to carry forward his name through this award.
Photo: Martin Cruz Smith with his daughter Luisa Smith at NCIBA in 2016.
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2025 WINTER CATALOG: IMPRINT PROOFS DUE TO STORES
You haven't missed anything! Due to unexpected delays, proofs will be sent out at a later date. We will let you know the new time-frame as soon as we can.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- New Date TBD: Imprint proofs to stores.
- September 5: Marketing assets available and digital catalog pages published.
- October 1: Catalogs shipped to stores and to newspapers.
- November 1: Catalog direct mailing date.
Prep for your marketing, buys, and hand selling with the catalog resources page.
Have any questions? Contact Alecia, alecia@caliballiance.org.
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CALIBA MARKETING ASSETS: NEW ASSETS AVAILABLE
We've created assets that you can share with your customers to give you time back for other projects. Visit our Marketing Assets webpage.
July themes:
August themes:
- Back to School Month
- International Cat Day (available July 24)
- National Dog Day (available August 7)
- National Beach Day (available August 14)
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INDIE TO INDIE
The Independent Publishers Caucus has TWO playlists to help corral the kiddos and give parents some solace — one focusing on climate change and the other their latest Young Readers Edition of the Indie-to-Indie Playlist, focusing on summer reading. Also, check out the Indie Press Backlist Essentials!
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BOOKSTORE ROMANCE DAY
August 9th is a day designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction—its books, readers, and writers—and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community.
Mark your calendars for the seventh celebration of Bookstore Romance Day! Click here for information and to sign up to participate!
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2026 WINTER INSTITUTE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION: DUE JULY 24TH
ABA’s scholarship program aims to create a more equitable path to entry for booksellers and/or bookstore owners who hope to make a career in the industry, as well as booksellers/bookstore owners who might not be able to attend otherwise. The Winter Institute provides a valuable opportunity to engage in meaningful professional development and education, in addition to networking and community-building opportunities for booksellers, authors, and publisher reps. ABA is committed to awarding scholarships to booksellers from all backgrounds. Scholarship recipients receive waived registration fees to in-person Winter Institute, a comped hotel room during the Institute, and up to $600 reimbursement for travel to and from the Institute. Winter Institute registration also includes 5 complimentary meals (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches), and at least 2 receptions with light fare and refreshments. Click here to apply.
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CALIBA'S GLENN GOLDMAN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION: DUE AUGUST 31ST
Thanks to the generosity of booksellers and publishers, CALIBA is able to offer a scholarship, of up to $2,000, to ABA's Winter Institute, February 23-26th, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Scholarship will go towards the cost of registration, hotel reservations (up to 5 nights), and travel expenses. Click here to apply.
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NOMINATE A BOOKSELLER FOR THE DUENDE-WORD BIPOC BOOKSELLER AWARD: DUE JULY 31ST
Duende District and The Word’s annual BIPOC Bookseller Award celebrates and uplifts the BIPOC booksellers whose dedication to indie bookstores and their BIPOC colleagues and communities have influenced countless lives.
Awards are issued in three categories: Activism, Leadership, and Innovation.
All BIPOC booksellers who work in US independent bookstores are eligible for nomination. The winning booksellers will be honored during #MarginsBookselling Month and receive a plaque and $1,000 prize! Click here to apply.
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RISE BOOKSELLERS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME: DUE AUGUST 20TH
This program grants applicants a 3-day stay in a foreign host bookshop, and is designed to promote connection and inclusivity. Click here to apply.
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ABA STAFF UPDATES
ABA announced that former ABA Education Specialist, Emily Nason, is ABA’s new Director of Education!
Nason has been a valuable contributor to the ABA team and to ABA’s education this past year. She was responsible for many of the great changes to ABA’s education programming at Wi2025 and her positive, collaborative, solutions-oriented approach has earned her the appreciation and respect of her colleagues. Nason’s education background has been especially valuable as it’s helped us think in new ways about how we present education.
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ABA 2025 FALL SHOW SPECIAL
Not an ABA Member? No worries! The ABA is offering a Show Special for Non-ABA Members!
Test drive ABA membership for free until January 31, 2026, and enjoy all the benefits of membership. Use promo code FallPromo2025.
If you have any questions or want to set up an appointment with ABA, reach out to info@bookweb.org.
(Offer good until October 31, 2025 for Bookstore and Provisional members).
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Once Upon a Time Picture of the Day
The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs Moving to New Location
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Share your bookstore cats and dogs to celebrate International Cat Day (8/8)
and National Dog Day (8/26). Email your photos to Alecia.
Don't forget to follow and tag us (@caliba_20) to be featured! CALIBA resources has
info about being featured by Shelf Awareness, USA Today, and Bay City News.
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Click here for the Los Angeles Times & Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List
Click here for the San Francisco Chronicle & Northern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List
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- *NEW* Marketing Manager - Simon & Schuster, Virtual
- Part-Time Administrative Assistant - The Collective Book Studio, San Francisco Bay Area
- National Accounts Manager - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
- Social Media Assistant - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
- Contracts Manager - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
- Experienced Bookseller Wanted - Camino Books, Del Mar
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CALIBA CURRENTLY READING:
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Butcher & Blackbird
Brynne Weaver
9781638931737
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Hannah
Executive Director
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How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
Django Wexler
9780316392204
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Valentina
Operations Manager
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The Compound
Aisling Rawle
9780593977279
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Support CALIBA
Publishers support CALIBA when bookstores participate.
Bookstore Participation = Publisher Sponsorship = CALIBA = Bookstore Education, Advocacy, Networking +++
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