Live From BookExpo America -- Day 1

Author Kevin Baker welcomes booksellers to the Brooklyn Bridge walking tour.

Today, hundreds of ABA member booksellers began arriving at Hotel ABA, the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, for BookExpo America 2009. As the halls of the Marriott filled with upbeat greetings, reunions, and smiles, approximately 30 booksellers joined a late afternoon tour of the Brooklyn Bridge with author and New York City expert Kevin Baker.

Baker, who grew up in Massachusetts and who first came to New York to attend Columbia University in 1976, had also led a Brooklyn Bridge tour in '07. Waiting to begin this year's tour, he commented on the day's unexpected blue skies, which were a surprise given earlier forecasts: "It's a great day for a walking tour -- let's take two!"

Baker estimated that the walk, which would include stops along the span to discuss the history of the bridge and New York, would take approximately an hour, and would include a colorful destination on the Manhattan side of the East River. "For anyone who wants to come along, we'll make a stop at what was once Kit Burns Sportmen's Hall," a notorious tavern where, he said, in the 1850s, among other things, New Yorkers could wager on trained terriers killing rats.

Sitting before they walk -- booksellers meet up for the Brooklyn Bridge walking tour.

Gathering together in the Marriott Lounge just prior to the Brooklyn Bridge tour, booksellers were excited about taking in the sights of Manhattan -- and also looking forward to BookExpo America.

Lillie Woodward of Katy Budget Books in Houston, Texas, confided that this was her first time in New York City. "My daughters have been here before, and they said you absolutely cannot miss [the Brooklyn Bridge]," she told BTW. She noted that, after watching a PBS documentary on how the bridge was built, she was looking forward to taking in that history in person.

Woodward's colleague at Katy Budget Books, Alicia Deupree, said she was eager to see the sights from the bridge. "I've heard you can see the Statue of Liberty and that you get a great view of the city on the Brooklyn Bridge," she said. "I like the history of the bridge. I think it will be fun."

Wilma Bury of Hearthside Books in Bluefield, West Virginia, said she was looking forward to "the view, the history, and the architecture" of the bridge.

After a long plane flight, Brenda Eng of Kona Stories in Kealakekua, Hawaii, said simply, "I'm looking forward to the walk."

As for the convention, Woodward said, "The publishers' recommendations are always one of my favorites at BookExpo America ... as well as the trade show floor and finding that 'next new thing.'"

Bury is looking forward to "everything: the excitement, the authors, talking with other booksellers ... and the parties."

"The networking is always good for me, since we're the only indie bookstore in Hawaii," Eng said. She added that finding out more about IndieCommerce is a key goal for the store, and that she was looking forward "to getting a handle on the upgrade."

For Deupree, BEA is all about "meeting other booksellers and getting ideas on how they do things and then incorporating them to do my job better." As the children's buyer for Katy Budget Books, she was also looking forward to educational programming developed by ABA and the Association of Booksellers for Children.

Joining ABA members at the Brooklyn Marriott, and for the Day of Education on Thursday at the Javits Convention Center, are more than 30 booksellers from 21 countries. They are taking part in the annual gatherings of the European Booksellers Federation (EBF) and the International Booksellers Federation (IBF), held this year in New York at the invitation of ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz.

This evening, all Hotel ABA guest will have another opportunity to catch up with their bookselling colleagues at a reception hosted by BookExpo America and Random House (from 9:00 p.m. to midnight in the Marriott's Grand Ballroom).

Tomorrow's ABA programming, which is open to all BEA badge holders, begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Javits Center's Special Events Hall with a keynote panel discussion, "The Tie That Binds: A Conversation Between Authors & Indie Booksellers." The keynote will focus on the importance of the relationship between authors and independent bookstores, and will explore how that relationship can continue to grow and prosper in challenging times. Moderated by Roxanne Coady, owner of R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, Connecticut, the panel will feature four of today's bestselling authors: Sherman Alexie, Jon Meacham, James Patterson, and Lisa Scottoline. For details about all ABA Day of Education programming, see below.

• Thursday, May 28: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 29: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 30: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 31: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.