11.13.25 CALIBA Publisher News & Information

November 13, 2025

in Publisher Newsletter,

IN THIS ISSUE

GOLDEN POPPY BOOK AWARDS

2026 Golden Poppy Awards: Exciting News

2025 Golden Poppy Awards For Your Consideration Promotions: Opening Soon

BOOKSELLER SCHOLARSHIPS

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

PLANNING YOUR 2026 BUDGETS

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

Dates and Deadlines

Bookseller Shoutouts

Bestseller Lists

Classifieds

CALIBA Currently Reading

Resources

CALIBA Bookstore Map

CALIBA Staff

NEW MEMBER CORNER

Welcome, Bee’s Books & Binds!

Owner Name: Molly Benda

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Planned opening: Fall 2026

About Our New Member: Bee's Books & Binds is an independent bookstore and community space celebrating diverse voices and the art of the book, founded by Molly Benda—a USC film graduate with over a decade of set decoration experience in television—after she discovered bookbinding during the 2023 entertainment strikes. Guided by creativity, inclusivity, and togetherness, we spotlight titles by women and LGBTQIA+ authors while reviving the craft of bookbinding through supplies, tool rentals, and classes, providing a welcoming haven where book lovers and makers of all backgrounds can connect and share their passion for literature and craft.

REP DIRECTORY

It's that time of year again! The directory is alphabetized by publisher/rep group and remains keyword searchable. Please take a look and email Valentina if any corrections are necessary!

2026 GOLDEN POPPY AWARDS: EXCITING NEWS

As the Golden Poppy Committee Members get ready to announce their 2025 finalists, the CALIBA Staff and Board are thrilled to announce exciting changes to the program.

Since its creation in 2020, the dream of the CALIBA Board has been an in-person Golden Poppy Award ceremony and in 2026 we are finally making it happen!

This exciting news comes with some important changes:

We will be moving up our schedule so we can celebrate together at Fall Fest in San Diego!
We'll be forming our committees and opening up submissions before the announcement of our 2025 winners in January.
All committees will transition to a juried selection process.
All Finalists will be notified in August and invited to attend the ceremony at Fall Fest in September.
After Fall Fest, the CALIBA staff will work closely with its members to promote the finalists and winners throughout the very important 4th Quarter and holiday season.

We are so excited to be finally bringing this dream into reality. We hope you and your authors are as excited by this update as we are!

PUBLISHERS - REVIEW THE SUBMISSION SCHEDULE HERE

Click here to learn about the Golden Poppy Awards History.

Golden Poppy For Your Consideration Eblast

2025 GOLDEN POPPY AWARDS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION PROMOTIONS: OPENING SOON

Promote your Golden Poppy Finalist in our weekly Bookseller Newsletter with a Banner Ad or an E-Blast. For Your Consideration Promotions open soon and will run until January 11th.

2025 Golden Poppy important dates:

Week of November 17: CALIBA Office Will Contact Finalists' Publishers
November 24: Shelf Awareness x Golden Poppy Awards Finalists Emails Sent to Bookstore Customers
January 1-11: Bookseller Voting Period
Week of January 12: CALIBA Office Will Contact Winners
January 29: Virtual Ceremony - RSVP Here
January 30:
Shelf Awareness x Golden Poppy Awards Winners Emails Sent to Bookstore Customers

BOOKSELLER SCHOLARSHIPS

Children's Institute 2026 Scholarship Applications

*CLOSES NOV. 20TH* 2026 CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE SCHOLARSHIP Click here for more information to apply.

FAIRE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT Click here to learn more and apply for this grant by Dec. 31st.

BLACK BOOKSTORE HERITAGE GRANT Applications are now open.

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Get your books in front of the most reliable influencers: California's Independent Booksellers

Click here for more information.

REACH BOOKSELLERS AS THEY HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON!

Ensure your book is top of mind as booksellers prepare for the biggest show of the year. Our various promotional options will give your titles the spotlight they need right when booksellers are making key decisions.

*BOOK SUBMISSIONS CLOSE NOV. 20TH* DECEMBER SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ASSETS

National Cookie Day (12/4)
National Cocoa Day (12/13)
International Tea Day (12/15)

JANUARY SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ASSET

Booksellers have voted - and they would like to promote National Bird Day (1/4/26). Submit your bird related titles by December 18th for inclusion in our marketing assets. Limit to 1 title per publisher. Spaces limited.

SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION - BOOK NOW

Have more marketing ideas or special events members would find useful? Send in your ideas here.

PLANNING YOUR BUDGETS FOR 2026?

Save the date for these future Sponsorship Opportunities with CALIBA Programs & Events:

OPENING IN DECEMBER

-2026 NorCal Spring Forum

-2026 SoCal Spring Forum

OPENING IN JANUARY

-2026 Summer Reading Guide

-2026 Golden Poppy Book Awards Ceremony

OPENING IN MARCH

-2026 Winter Catalog

OPENING IN MAY

-2026 Tri-West Summer School

OPENING IN JUNE

-2026 Fall Fest

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

Publishers, Sales Reps & Book Industry Professionals (Non-voting)

Individual: $150

Small House & Commission Groups: $250 (up to 3 sales reps)

Large House: $550 (up to 6 sales reps)

Membership Perks:

Discounted admission/exhibit space to our annual Fall Fest
Free or discounted rates at education and member programs
Subscription to our weekly e-newsletter & bestseller list
Stay up-to-date with industry, association and bookstore news
Access to our online Rep Directory
Post your job openings in our classifieds

JOIN CALIBA NOW

Click here for more details.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

November: National Native American Heritage Month / Picture Book Month / National Novel Writing Month / Nonfiction November

November 10-14: University Press Week

November 19: National Book Awards

November 20: December Social Media Promotions - book submission deadline

November 24: 2025 Golden Poppy Awards Finalists Announcement

November 27: CALIBA Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving

November 28: Plaid Friday

November 29: Small Business Saturday / Indies First

1 - Tía Chucha's Centro Cultural, in Sylmar, celebrated 24 years with a Rock concert. Congratulations!

2 - The Quirky Crow Bookshop, in San Ramon, is working hard to open by November 22nd.

3 - The Love Potion Library, in San Francisco, has a lease and will open in early 2026!

4 - Eureka Books participated in the Indigenous Voices Bookstagram Tour with Indigenous Owned Bookstores, Bookstagrammers, and Authors for Native American Heritage Month.

5 - Word Horde Emporium, in Petaluma dropped off their first batch of food from their Fall Food Drive.

6 - Vroman's Bookstore, in Pasadena, has partnered with Friends in Deed Food Pantry for their annual Holiday Food Drive.

7 - Two Birds Books, in Santa Cruz has partnered with Second Harvest for a Holiday Food & Fund Drive.

8 - La Playa Books, in San Diego, is working on their annual Holiday Book Drive to provide books to 200 children.

In the News

Grand Opening Set for Bird Rock Bookshop in La Jolla, Calif.

The Best Bookstore in Union Square Coming Soon to San Francisco, Calif.

Sidelines Snapshot: Stickers, Candles, Chocolates, and Cards

Image of the Day: Mrs. Dalloway's Hosts Hayley Kiyoko

Don't forget to follow CALIBA (@caliba_20)!

BESTSELLER LISTS

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

CLASSIFIEDS

Associate Buyer - Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
Bookstore for Sale - Camino Books, Del Mar
Bookstore Manager - Chevalier's, Los Angeles
Copy, Sales & Publicity Positions - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
Publishing Assistant - The Collective Book Studio, Oakland

VIEW MORE LISTINGS

CALIBA CURRENTLY READING

Alecia

Supporting Staff

Witchful Thinking

Celestine Martin

9781538738078

Hannah

Executive Director

His Face is the Sun

Michelle Jabès Corpora

9781464290480

Valentina

Operations Manager

Katabasis

R.F. Kuang

9780063021471

RESOURCES

Click here for a complete list.

HOUSEKEEPING

ADDRESS CHANGE AND BANK UPDATE

California Independent Booksellers Alliance (CALIBA), has changed our address and bank. We request that all ACH payments be deposited in our new account. For our updated W-9 and ACH instructions, please email Valentina Moberg at valentina@caliballiance.org.

CALIBA

266 Wood St Unit 404

Livermore, CA 94550