10.01.26 CALIBA Publisher News & Information

October 1, 2026

in Publisher Newsletter,

GOLDEN POPPY E-BLAST | GOLDEN POPPY TOP NEWSLETTER BANNER

IN THIS ISSUE

BOOKSELLER SCHOLARSHIPS

James Patterson Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

2026 Fall Fest: Exhibitor Evaluation Form

2026 Golden Poppy Awards: Winners Announced

*Promotion Extended* Golden Poppy Finalist & Winner Congratulations

How Booksellers will Promote the Golden Poppies in Q4

How to Promote Your Titles with CALIBA

CALIBA's BIPOC Committee Presents - We Are America: Reflecting on 250 Years of the United States

HOUSEKEEPING

Dates and Deadlines

Bookseller Shoutouts & In the News

CALIBA's Currently Reading

Resources

Become a Member Today

CALIBA Staff

BESTSELLERS LISTS

The Los Angeles Times & Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List

The San Francisco Chronicle & Northern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List

Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers

Indie Next List & Kids' Indie Next List

BLK Bestsellers list - September 2026

BOOKSELLER SCHOLARSHIPS

James Patterson Bookseller Bonus Program Fall 2026

JAMES PATTERSON HOLIDAY BOOKSTORE BONUS PROGRAM

James Patterson is once again supporting independent booksellers with a revival of his Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program!

Patterson has pledged a personal contribution of $300,000, to be distributed in amounts of $500, to 600 booksellers from ABA member bookstores.

The nomination form is open until October 29th. Click here for more information and to nominate booksellers.

MORE SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDRAISERS

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

2026 FALL FEST: EXHIBITOR EVALUATION FORM

Your feedback is important to us! Help us make Fall Fest better next year by filling out the survey below.

EXHIBITOR EVALUATION FORM

POST-FALL FEST RESOURCES

2026 GOLDEN POPPY AWARDS: WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to the 2026 Golden Poppy Award Winners & Finalists! Thank you to everyone who attended the first in-person ceremony! In case you missed it, you can view photo highlights below in the Bookseller Shoutouts.

for your consideration golden poppy eblast

*PROMOTION EXTENDED* GOLDEN POPPY FINALIST & WINNER CONGRATULATIONS!

Celebrate your Golden Poppy Finalist or Winner in our weekly Bookseller Newsletter or a daily E-Blast (reduced prices). Golden Poppy Digital Promotions are open now and will run through December 31st, 2026.

GP E-BLAST - $150

GP NEWSLETTER AD - $500

WANT TO ANNOUNCE YOUR FINALIST OR WINNING AUTHOR?

Golden Poppy 2026 marketing resources created by CALIBA are available to download here: finalists' assets and winners' assets.

INCLUDES

Industry Partner Assets: Edelweiss, IndieCommerce, Bookmanager, Bookshop.org, Libro.fm
Print Marketing: Posters and Shelf Talkers
Online Marketing: Site Banners and Social Media

HOW BOOKSELLERS WILL PROMOTE THE GOLDEN POPPIES IN Q4

Moonstone and Mist Bookshop - 2025 Golden Poppy Display Contest Winner

DISPLAY CONTEST that will be running through January 31st. Winners will be announced in February 2027. 2025 Display Contest Winner: Moonstone & Mist Bookshop (pictured).

MARKETING RESOURCES

In-Store Marketing: Posters, Shelf Talkers, and Winners Bookmarks; Online Marketing: Site Banners, Social Posts, and Partnerships with Edelweiss, IndieCommerce, Bookmanager, Bookshop.org, Libro.fm

GOLDEN POPPY MERCHANDISE

CALIBA Bookstores can request FREE removable Finalist & Winner stickers and purchase Golden Poppy merchandise (stickers and pins) to sell in their stores!

If you're interested in sponsoring the Golden Poppy Display Contest prize, please email Hannah.

*NEW* CUSTOMER ACTIVITIES BEING INTRODUCED THIS YEAR

READERS' CHOICE AWARDS (public-facing)
will be promoted by bookstores online and in-store, with readers picking their 2026 winner(s) from the Golden Poppy Finalists list in January.

WINTER BOOK BINGO (public-facing)
will be promoted by bookstores online and
in-store, with stores providing prizes for completed bingo cards.

2027 GOLDEN POPPY BOOK AWARDS: SUBMIT YOUR TITLES BY CA AUTHORS SOON

We will be opening submission forms soon for the 2027 Golden Poppy Awards in recognition of the most distinguished books written and illustrated by creators who have made California their home. Click here to learn more about the Golden Poppy Awards.

*NEW PROCESS* HOW-TO PROMOTE YOUR TITLES WITH CALIBA

We updated the digital promotions submission and payment process in May.

Schedule your promotion* on Schedulista.
To submit your creative materials: visit our Promotional Opportunities portal, select your promotion type, and complete the order form.
When it's time to checkout** you can request an invoice, or pay by credit or ACH.
Alecia will follow up via email when your promotion send has been scheduled.

*Social Media and Shelf Insider Newsletter promotions excluded from process update

**You will need an account login connected to your company to use promo codes and select invoicing for payments

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

HOUSEKEEPING

CALIBA SALES REP DIRECTORY -
ARE YOU ON THE LIST?

It's time to update the rep directory (Login required)! The directory is alphabetized by publisher/rep

group and remains keyword searchable. Please check and email Valentina if corrections are needed!

ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATION

Check Your Membership Status/Dues so you don't miss out on any of our programming

*GET ON THE LIST* BOOKSELLERS ACCOUNT SETUP WITH PUBLISHERS & WHOLESALERS

We would like to help our new bookstore members get a head start on setting up their sales accounts with publishers and wholesalers. Please fill out this form so that booksellers can utilize the information to create accounts.

Opening Accounts Page.

CALIBA BOOKSTORE MAP

This map shows our current

bookstore members.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

October: LGBTQ+ History Month / Filipino American History Month / National Book Month / National Reading Group Month / National Cookbook Month / TeenTober™ / National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)

October 1-7: Mystery Series Week

October 4-10: Banned Books Week

October 10: World Mental Health Day

October 12: Indigenous Peoples' Day

October 29: James Patterson Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program Nominations Close