I will be at ALA Annual Friday-Monday. I will be driving back and forth each day because 1. I live right off the highway that goes right into the convention center and 2. I already spent 4 night away from home this week and I miss my bed.
Below, I will list the programs and events I am not going to miss. I do this both to give you my professional opinion on what I think is worth your time, and to let you know where I will be. Come find me, say hello. I have pens and stickers for anyone who wants them, but you have to ask. You are going to know who I am, but I am not going to know who you are.
Okay, let's start with my public appearances. I don't have anything until Saturday night, but it's a big one!
2023 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Award Ceremony and Reception
Saturday, June 24, 20237:00 PM – 10:00 PM CTLocation: Off Site, American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd FlCelebrate the winners of the 2023 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction during a special award ceremony at the American Writers Museum in Chicago. Presented by Booklist and RUSA and generously supported by NoveList and a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, this year's show will honor winners Julie Otsuka and Ed Yong and will feature acclaimed novelist and poet, Chris Abani, as the keynote speaker. The event will kick off with a cocktail hour and close with a reception and book signing.
This is a ticketed event and I heard it might be sold out.
I may be more excited about the committee's pre-reception dinner that I organized as I am about the reception itself. Being on the Andrew Carnegie Medals committee was a career highlight. This evening is our closure. A chance to see our winners get their medals and give speeches. A chance for us to spend time with the authors we felt so strongly about. A true celebration.
ALA Connect Huddle: How can libraries support horror fans?
Sunday, June 25, 20239:30 AM – 9:50 AM CTLocation: McCormick Place, ALA Connect Lounge, Hall F2 LobbyAs Horror is increasing in mainstream popularity and sales (up 79% over the last 2 years), what can libraries do to support Horror fans of all ages? (ALA Editions | Neal-Schuman)
I am not sure what to expect with this "Huddle," but its was organized by my publisher. I am super excited to have a chance to connect with library worker who want to do a better job supporting their horror readers, but I am not sure how many people will come. Hopefully some of you will. I realize it is early on Sunday morning, but when they asked me to schedule a time, it was literally all I had left.
And finally the most fun but hardest event to get to:
It is literally a Family Feud show featuring 2 teams, each captained by an author and then 3 local Chicago area librarians on each team and we play for charity. Here are the awesome details (not available on the conference site)
TEAM SHELTON HARRIS
CAPTAIN: Terah Shelton Harris, author of One Summer in Savannah
TEAMMATES:
- Migdalia Jimenez, Chicago Public Library
- Becky Spratford, Readers' Advisory Consultant, RA For All
- Brian Wilson, Evanston Public Library
“Team Shelton Harris” is playing for Chicago Books to Women in Prison, an all-volunteer based non-profit organization that provides used books to educate incarcerated people nationwide, focusing on all women and trans/non-binary people. http://www.chicagobwp.org
TEAM JONES
- Captain: Stephen Mack Jones (author of DEUS X)
TEAMMATES:
- Ashley Rayner, NORC
- Magan Szwarek, Schaumburg Public Library
- Rebecca Vnuk, Executive Director, Library Reads
“Team Jones” is playing for Open Books, a nonprofit, full service used bookstore. All proceeds go to providing inspiring reading and writing programs and book giveaways..
I know all of the librarians appearing; we are a fun bunch. You NEED to come to this. It is not to miss. Please note though, it is at the Hilton on Michigan Ave. It is one of the conference hotels. You will need to take the free ROUTE 5 shuttle from the convention center. I suggest leaving around 11:30 and grabbing lunch near the Hilton after you arrive so you can see us. Seriously, this is NOT TO MISS. Plus, it's good to get away from the convention center and this hotel is in an awesome area. You could even go visit Exile in Bookville while you are there. Side note, Exile in Bookville is in the historic Fine Arts Building.
Okay those are the things I am participating in. Now here are a few panel I know I will attend and I highly suggest you join me:
Booklist Reviewers Meetup
Friday, June 23, 202310:30 AM – 11:30 AM CTLocation: Hyatt Regency McCormick, Hyde Park BDo you review for Booklist? Then come meet your fellow reviewers and editors! We'll have light refreshments and update everyone on the latest reviewer guidelines, news, and what's happening at Booklist!
For this one, if you don't review for Booklist, you can't come, but if you want to meet up after, I have some time until my lunch plans.
Friday, from 4-5 I will be at the opening Session with Judy Blume and then I will head to the Exhibit Hall when it opens. I should be there until 6:30 before I have dinner with an out of town client.
Saturday is a long one, mostly because of the Carnegie stuff, but here are a few highlights:
HarperCollins Adult Fall/Winter Preview
Saturday, June 24, 2023 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM CT Location: McCormick Place, W192
BOO! - Horror in Middle Grade & Young Adult Literature.
Saturday, June 24, 20239:30 AM – 10:20 AM CTLocation: Exhibit Hall – PopTop Stage (End of 1600 Aisle)• Alex Brown, NIGHT OF THE LIVING QUEERS (Wednesday Books) and DAMNED IF YOU DO (Page Street Kids)
• Daniel Kraus, SCREAM FOR THE CAMERA, Graveyard Girls series, Book #2 (Union Square Kids)
• Ryan La Sala, BEHOLDER, (Scholastic, Inc.)
• Kristen Simmons, FIND HIM WHERE YOU LEFT HIM DEAD, (Tor Teen)
Panel moderated by Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library.
Transforming Readers Advisory: Read Beyond
Saturday, June 24, 20231:00 PM – 2:00 PM CTLocation: McCormick Place, W179b
Readers’ Advisory (RA) is a skill that must be continuously developed. When asked for book recommendations, library staff default to either tried and true authors or the most recent books they themselves have read. Too often, those books and authors are white, able-bodied, cisgender, heterosexual people writing about characters similar to them in some way. However, there is a vast landscape of diverse titles with which library staff can engage and recommend for the stumped reader. In this session, a panel of RA experts will share their views, tips, and tricks for recommending diverse materials. From the trademarks of genre fiction to author readalikes, these experts will engage in a dynamic conversation about book moods and appeals that will spark interest from any potential reader. Hear what our panelists have to say about their approach to RA, how they recommend books they’ve never read, how easy it is to include diverse recommendations, and what to do when a reader says they don’t want something in their suggestions.
While the focus will be on adult titles, we will also have commentary on RA for teens and how to leverage adult books for young adults. To wrap up the presentation, panelists will be asked to share their top five best books of the year so far. Q&A to follow.
Mysteries, Thrillers and True Crime- Oh My! Exciting Crime Reads from Independent Publishers featuring Cynthia Pelayo and Zhanna Slor
Saturday, June 24, 20232:30 PM – 3:20 PM CTLocation: Exhibit Hall – PopTop Stage (End of 1600 Aisle)There are a lot of great thrillers and chillers outside the big 5 publishers. Come meet exciting new thriller and crime authors from independent publishers! Meet 2 of your new favorite authors, Cynthia Pelayo and Zhanna Slor, from Polis Books.
Author(s) / Speaker(s): Cynthia Pelayo, International Latino Book Award winning and three-time Bram Stoker Awards® nominated author of Children of Chicago, Shoemaker's Magician and Loteria.
Zhanna Slor, author of Booklist Top Ten Crime Debuts At the End of the World, Turn Left, and Breakfall.
ALMA/LibraryReads Saturday Adult Author Panel
Saturday, June 24, 20234:00 PM – 5:00 PM CTLocation: McCormick Place, W184aModerator:
Ger ready for Fall's best "Feel-Good Reads" with the annual ALMA/LibraryReads Saturday Adult Authors panel, featuring the following authors: Gabriel Bump, The New Naturals (Hachette Book Group, Algonquin Books); Sophie Diener, Someone Somewhere Maybe (St. Martin's Griffen, Macmillan); Sy Montgomery, Of Time and Turtles (HarperCollins Publishers, Mariner);
Kennedy Ryan, Long Shot (Sourcebooks Casablanca);
Your RSVP will help us make sure we have enough free advance reader copies; thank you for your cooperation! Please RSVP here: https://bit.ly/FeelGoodReadsALA2023
Contact LibraryReads at info@libraryreads.org with questions.
Sunday begins with my Huddle (above). After that I have to head over to the Hilton for the Family Feud (above), but here is one I am not going to miss:
It's a Mystery to Me
Sunday, June 25, 20232:30 PM – 3:30 PM CTLocation: McCormick Place, W185a
Moderator:
Bestselling authors will discuss their latest mystery titles. Featuring Mindy Mejia (TO CATCH A STORM), Amber and Danielle Brown (PERFECT LITTLE LIVES), Spencer Quinn (MRS. PLANSKY’S REVENGE), James Kennedy (BRIDE OF THE TORNADO), and Lori Rader-Day (THE DEATH OF US). Moderated by Susan Maguire of Booklist. A book signing will follow.
Monday is the last full day of the conference. And it has two of my favorite annual panels BACK TO BACK in rooms right next to each other. These are worth getting up early for.
Your Morning is Booked: ALMA/LibraryReads Adult Author Panel
Monday, June 26, 20238:30 AM – 10:00 AM CTLocation: McCormick Place, W175ab
Moderator:
Join the Adult Library Marketing Assoc. and LibraryReads for their annual adult author panel. You'll hear 5 top authors talk about their upcoming releases, get galley access, and more!
Featuring the following authors: Bonnie Jo Campbell, The Waters: A Novel (W. W. Norton & Company);
Jean Kwok, The Leftover Woman (William Morrow, HarperCollins Publishers);
Thrity Umrigar, The Museum of Failures (Hachette Book Group, Algonquin Books);
Anise Vance, Hush Harbor (Harlequin, Hanover Square Press);
Pam Zhang, Land of Milk and Honey (Riverhead, Penguin Random House).
Your RSVP will help us make sure we have enough free advance reader copies; thank you for your cooperation! Please RSVP heret: https://bit.ly/YourMorningIsBooked2023
Contact LibraryReads at info@libraryreads.org with questions.
Booklist and LibraryReads Read 'N' Rave
Monday, June 26, 202310:30 AM – 11:30 AM CTLocation: McCormick Place, W176ab
Moderator(s)
Presenter(s)
Collection development specialists from across the country will RAVE about their favorite forthcoming READS in this lively presentation brought to you by LibraryReads and Booklist.
This one is my favorite because I know how hard I is to pull off. I have been on this panel a few times myself. This is a super fun one that you should not miss. Also, I personally know every single librarian and they are all awesome.
I have a few other interesting panels tagged for later in the day Monday, but I am going to see how I feel before I commit.
I have more on my schedule and have plans to visit many exhibitors, including my own publisher, ALA Editions, where I am supposed do record some videos. I have downloaded the app and you can message me on there. Seriously, if you cannot make any of the panels I listed, message me and we can meet up. Again, I have pens and stickers for ALL who ask.
And, if you want advice on where to eat dinner, places to visit, other things to do, I can answer that as well.
See some of you soon, but for those who are ALA Left Behind, I promise I will have recaps of each day up here at some point. Here is a reminder of how I recapped ALA Annual last year. (scroll down a tiny bit o find the ALA 2022 posts)
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