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Well, our first TitleWave event at BookStream was a smashing success. I'm working on writing up the press release now, but I can tell you informally here that the whole thing was awesome. Around 30 booksellers, plus sales reps and other folks, were in attendance. Our three authors -- Richard Price, Steve Toltz, and Hillary Jordan -- were each completely compelling in different ways. And Ken Abramson did a bang-up job of presenting his "pick of the lists" for great literary fiction and nonfiction from all publishers for the spring and summer seasons. You'll be hearing more about it from me and Carolyn Bennett in the days to come. If you're a bookseller who was there, I'd particularly love to hear from you! Thanks to everyone who made this possible, and who attended and enjoyed. On to the next event!

This morning I'm scrambling, along with my BookStream colleagues, to pull together the final details for our fabulous TitleWave event this Wednesday, February 27, in Hartford, CT. If somehow you've failed to hear all about it, here's what several dozen lucky booksellers have to look forward to:

10:00-10:15 arrive at the Sheraton East Hartford (free parking! TitleWave is in the Junior Ballroom)

10:15-10:30 introduction by BookStream CEO Jack Herr

10:30-11:00 Pick of the spring lists by sales rep extraordinaire Ken Abramson

11:00-11:30 Picks from the rest of the BookStream staff, presented by Carolyn Bennett and Jessica Stockton Bagnulo

11:30-12:00 Pick of the summer lists by Ken Abramson

12:00-12:30 Presentation by Richard Price, author of Lush Life (Farrar, Straus, Giroux)

12:30-12:45 short break for book signing & galley pickup

12:45-1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:00 Presentation by Steve Toltz, author of A Fraction of the Whole (Spiegel & Grau)

2:00-2:30 Presentation by Hillary Jordan, author of Mudbound (Algonquin)

2:30-2:45 short break for book signing and galley pickup

2:45-3:45 Bookseller picks of the list: the best of what YOU’VE been reading!

3:45-4:00 Closing remarks & evaluations

The momentum is building for TitleWave, the awesome (free!) event for booksellers I've been helping to put together at BookStream!

Bookselling This Week has a nice writeup of the event...

Today's Shelf Awareness mentions TitleWave (though I can't seem to link to today's issue in the archive yet)...

And Megan at Bookdwarf gives it a mention as well...

For myself, I spent the last week missing subway stops reading Mudbound by Hillary Jordan, one of the authors who will be speaking at TitleWave. I was trying to explain to myself its addictive appeal -- it's not unusual structurally or formally, and the setup is almost Greek or Shakespearean in its simplicity: struggling farm, stoic husband, unhappy wife, charming brother, plus nasty racist father, plus bright black WWII vet, plus resourceful midwife and preacher husband, and a big storm on the way. But I couldn't put it down, nor predict just what would happen. Jordan writes effectively in every voice (except the father's, thankfully) and builds her story so carefully but so inevitably that you're panting for more.

I know Carolyn at BookStream is a huge fan too (see today's BookStream Current), and Jordan was buzzed about at Winter Institute. Don't miss your chance to hear her speak and share lunch with her.

And if that's not enough, you'll also have the chance to meet Steve Toltz, the Australian author of Fraction of the Whole (an early offering for brilliant upstart Random House imprint Spiegel & Grau), and the inimitable Richard Price (Clockers, anyone?), whose new novel Lush Life brings him back to a gentrifying New York City (the ALP gives that one his stamp of approval).

And if that's not enough, you also get to hear the one and only Ken Abramson, sales rep extraordinaire, talk up the very best titles coming out this February to June. And Carolyn Bennett and yours truly talking about the pop culture side of the things. AND more galleys than you can shake a stick at, plus bags to carry them home. AND free lunch. AND free parking. Honestly, what more could you ask?

It's all happening February 27 in Hartford, Connecticut -- it's free to any bookseller, but you do have to RSVP (and space is limited!). Click the links to email me or email Carolyn or email Ken for more info or to sign up. Hope to see you there!