12.04.25 CALIBA Publisher News & Information

December 4, 2025

in Publisher Newsletter,

For Your Considerations - Booksellers start voting on January 1st

IN THIS ISSUE

IN THE NEWS

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

2025 Golden Poppy Book Awards Finalists Announced & For Your Consideration Promotions

How Booksellers Will Promote the Golden Poppies

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

*DUE DEC. 18TH* January Social Media Book Submissions

*DUE FEB. 3RD* Spring 2026 Shelf Insider Book Submissions

PLANNING YOUR 2026 BUDGETS

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

WINTER INSTITUTE 2026

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

Dates and Deadlines

Bookseller Shoutouts

Bestseller Lists

Classifieds

CALIBA Currently Reading

Resources

CALIBA Bookstore Map

CALIBA Staff

MEMBER CORNER

Welcome to CALIBA, Temerity Books!

Owners: Alexis Clay and Nat Conrad

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Planned Opening: February 2026

About Our New Member: We are a mobile bookshop with a carefully curated selection. We aim to diversify readers' bookshelves, and educate our community regarding the current political situation and what to do about it. We can't wait to start seeing everyone at events!

TOP 5 BESTSELLERS

FLYING OFF THE SHELVES AT...

The Book Catapult in San Diego

1 - Dog Man: Big Jim Believes (Dog Man #14) by Dav Pilkey

2 - The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson

3 - Heart the Lover by Lily King

4 - How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen

5 - On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) by Solvej Balle

REP DIRECTORY

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU CHECKED YOUR LISTING? CALL FOR REP DIRECTORY UPDATES

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!

IN THE NEWS

Libro.fm's 2025 Bookseller Choice Awards

LIBRO.FM BOOKSELLER CHOICE AWARD WINNERS

Audiobooks of Amal El-Mohtar’s The River Has Roots and John Green’s Everything Is Tuberculosis are among the winners of this year’s Libro.fm Bookseller Choice Awards, as selected by indie bookshops around the world.

BINC YEAR-END CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

Need Continues to Grow; Donate to Help Book and Comic People on Giving Tuesday and Double Your Donation

EDELWEISS PRICE HIKE ROILS INDUSTRY

Significant cost increases implemented by the company are causing publishers to reevaluate how they use the service, including cutting the number of titles they list. Edelweiss execs say the higher prices reflect its current value and are needed to keep it viable.

A NOVEL AFFAIR

Romance Pop-Up to Land in California: A Novel Affair will open its doors this weekend in downtown Los Altos.

BOOKSHOP SANTA CRUZ

Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Calif.: "We're so excited and proud to participate in Plaid Friday this year! Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of local and independent businesses. It’s a fun and enjoyable alternative to the big box store 'Black Friday' consumer frenzy. Also, it’s a way to show your support for your local economy and commitment to the Choose Indie Local movement."

SKYLIGHT BOOKS

At Skylight Books in Los Angeles, Calif., it was a standing-room-only crowd for an event with musician Roddy Bottum (Faith No More, Imperial Teen), who discussed his memoir, The Royal We (Akashic), with comedian Margaret Cho.

LIBRARY SHOP MISSION HILLS

Indie Bookstore Lands in San Diego: Library Shop Mission Hills opened its doors earlier this week.

CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE

On November 19, City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco hosted Mexican author Daniela Rea and her translator John Gibler to celebrate her new book, Fruto: Bearing the Burden of Care (City Lights).

CALIBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

2025 GOLDEN POPPY BOOK AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Golden Poppy Committees submitted their finalist lists and the staff has started promoting them! Click here to view the 2025 Golden Poppy Award Finalists. Congratulations to the authors and publishers whose books made the lists! The Shelf Awareness finalist email was sent to the public on December 2nd. Bookseller voting will take place January 1st-11th. The Virtual Golden Poppy Awards will take place on January 29th at 7 PM PST.

RSVP FOR VIRTUAL CEREMONY

Golden Poppy For Your Consideration Eblast

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION PROMOTIONS

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 November 25th-January 11th.

PROMOTE YOUR FINALIST NOW

IMPORTANT DATES

Now-January 11: For Your Consideration Promotions sent to Booksellers
January 1-11: Bookseller Voting Period
Week of January 12: CALIBA Office Will
Reach Out to Winners' Submission Contacts
January 29: Virtual Ceremony
January 30: Shelf Awareness x
Golden Poppy Awards Winners Emails Sent
to Bookstore Customers

2026 Golden Poppy Book Awards Timeline

Learn about the Golden Poppy Awards History

HOW BOOKSELLERS WILL PROMOTE THE GOLDEN POPPIES

Golden Poppy 2024 Display Contest Winner: Linden Tree Books

GOLDEN POPPY DISPLAY CONTEST that will be running through January 11th.

2024 Display Contest Winner: Linden Tree Books (pictured).

GOLDEN POPPY RESOURCES

Finalist posters, QR code sign, and shelf-talkers for bookstore displays.

GOLDEN POPPY MERCHANDISE

CALIBA Bookstores can request FREE removable Finalist stickers and purchase Golden Poppy merchandise to sell in their stores!

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

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.

Bird Nerd by Jennifer Ann Richter 9780823461837

JANUARY SOCIAL MEDIA - BOOK SUBMISSIONS DUE DEC. 18TH

Booksellers have voted - and they would like to promote National Bird Day (1/5/26). Submit your bird related titles for inclusion in our social media assets. Limit to 1 title per publisher. Spaces limited. Price: $100

SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION - BOOK NOW

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

SPRING 2026 SHELF INSIDER - BOOK SUBMISSIONS DUE FEB. 3RD

Want to maximize visibility for your latest titles? Our seasonal newsletters offer prime space to showcase your books to our engaged booksellers and their audiences. Your book will be included in an email listing with cover art, blurb, and a contact link for ARCs or galley requests. Reaching over 1,000 booksellers, our first Shelf Insider had a 48% open rate. Member Price: $275 | Non-Member Price: $300

SHELF INSIDER PROMOTION - BOOK NOW

PLANNING YOUR BUDGETS FOR 2026?

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

OPENING THIS MONTH

-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

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

The James Patterson + Bookshop.org Prize

JAMES PATTERSON & BOOKSHOP.ORG LAUNCH $15,000 LITERARY PRIZE FOR DEBUT AUTHORS Click here for more information.

BLACK BOOKSTORE HERITAGE GRANT Applications are now open.

Have a grant or scholarship for booksellers? Email Alecia to be listed on our site.

WINTER INSTITUTE 2026

Winter Institute 2026 program announced. Click here to view the full schedule.

Will you be attending the Winter Institute? Hannah will be attending; if you'd like to schedule a meeting, please email Hannah.

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

December 1-7: #ReadingAfrica

December 14-22: Hanukkah

December 24: Jólabókaflóð

December 25: CALIBA Office Closed
in Observance of Christmas

December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa

January: #JanuaryinJapan / International Creativity Month / Financial Wellness Month / National Book Blitz Month

January 1: CALIBA Office Closed in
Observance of New Year's Day

January 1-11: Booksellers vote for the 2025 Golden Poppy
Book Awards

January 29: 2025 Golden Poppy Virtual Ceremony - RSVP Here

1 - Readers’ Books, in Sonoma, celebrated their 34th (!!) birthday on Small Business Saturday.

2 - A Seat at the Table Books, in Elk Grove, is celebrating their 4th birthday with a gift card bonus until December 31st.

3 - Once Upon a Time Bookstore, in Montrose, reflected on the many things they’re grateful for this year - like their store being featured in EVOKE magazine in October.

4 - Pages: A Bookstore, in Manhattan Beach, had their first wedding proposal. Congrats to the couple!

5 - PostalWorks Silverlake gave thanks to their community for their visits, smiles, and keeping their store thriving.

6 - Alibi Bookshop, in Vallejo, has partnered with Another Chapter for a giving tree to promote literacy by providing books to individuals and families in need in Solano County.

7 - Copperfield’s Books, showed off their advent calendar collection for all of their stores.

8 - The Book Jewel, in Westchester, is sharing their curated list of gift ideas from the Winter Catalog!

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
Publishing Assistant - The Collective Book Studio, Oakland

VIEW MORE LISTINGS

CALIBA CURRENTLY READING

Alecia

Supporting Staff

Black-Owned

Char Adams

9780593474235

Hannah

Executive Director

The Everlasting

Alix E. Harrow

9781250799081

Valentina

Operations Manager

The Hollow Places

T. Kingfisher

9781534451124

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