Building Buzz for Fall Books, U.S. Book Show Offers a Garden of Variety

100 Editors and 80 Exhibitors Scheduled for Virtual Trade Fair

NEW YORK—April 14, 2021—More than 100 of publishing’s most influential editors will be on hand at the U.S. Book Show to herald the buzzworthiest books of Fall 2021. The book fair, which is presented by the industry standard-bearer, Publishers Weekly, will offer 14 panels geared to librarians, booksellers and publishing professionals. With something for nearly everyone, attendees can buzz over to hear comics and graphic novels editors discuss their big fall books, sample a heady discussion of literary fiction or dip into mysteries or YA.

In addition, more than 80 publishers and allied vendors will populate the exhibit halls at the virtual conference, which takes place over three days, May 25 – 27, 2021. One-on-one conversations, awards ceremonies, entertainment and networking offer an even more prismatic assortment of experiences for attendees to participate in.

Still to be announced, authors appearances, top-tier and celebrity keynote speeches and live-streamed entertainment will round out the show’s offerings.

Publishers Weekly has a deep, organic relationship with book publishers, librarians, booksellers, agents and those most deeply committed to the health and flourishing of the industry,” said Krista Rafanello, senior marketing director of Publishers Weekly and the show manager of the U.S. Book Show. “The U.S. Book Show will do what PW does best: build buzz around books, and connect the community in one—this time virtual—place.”

Editors’ Picks Panels Offer Varietal Choices: A Sampling

The Editors’ Picks panels feature editors discussing their forthcoming titles and the stories behind the stories. Diversity and inclusion are part of the panels’ foundation. Books were hand-selected by Publishers Weekly editors, editors were invited to participate, and panels, with few exceptions, are to be moderated by Publishers Weekly editors. Livestreaming Q&A sessions follow each panel.

Children’s and Adult Comics and Graphic Novels

Moderated by Meg Lemke

The Eightfold Path by authors Charles Johnson and Steven Barnes and illustrator Bryan Christopher Moss (Abrams ComicArts/Megascope), edited by John Jennings

Himawari House by Harmony Becker (First Second), edited by Kiara Valdez

Magical Boy by The Kao (Graphix), edited by Michael Petranek

No One Else by R. Kikuo Johnson (Fantagraphics), edited by Eric Reynolds
Power Born of Dreams: My Story Is Palestine by Mohammad Sabaaneh (Street Noise Books), edited by Liz Frances

Passport by Sophia Glock (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), edited by Susan Rich

The Unfinished Corner by author Dani Colman and illustrator Rachel “Tuna” Petrovicz (Wonderbound), edited by Rebecca “Tay” Taylor

The Waiting by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim (Drawn & Quarterly), edited by Tracy Hurren

Literary Fiction

Moderated by David Varno

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney (FSG), edited by Mitzi Angel

L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón (Flatiron), edited by Nadxieli Nieto

Matrix by Lauren Groff (Riverhead), edited by Sarah McGrath

My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson (Holt), edited by Retha Powers

Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart (Random House), edited by David Ebershoff

Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo (Catapult), edited by Jonathan Lee

Still Life by Sarah Winman (Putnam), edited by Sally Kim

The War for Gloria by Atticus Lish (Knopf), edited by Jordan Pavlin

YA

Moderated by Sarah Yung and Sanina Clark

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman (Tor Teen), edited by Ali Fisher

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), edited by Kendra Levin

HUDA F ARE YOU? by Huda Fahmy (Dial), edited by Dana Chidiac

Revolution in Our Time by Kekla Magoon (Candlewick Press), edited by Andrea Tompa

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido), edited by Nick Thomas

Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix (Katherine Tegen Books), edited by Katherine Tegen

We Are Not Broken by George M. Johnson (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), edited by Alexandra Hightower

We Light Up the Sky by Lilliam Rivera (Bloomsbury), edited by Mary Kate Castellani

Into the Heart of the Industry: Selected Panels and Conversations

Bookselling Today

Moderated by Ed Nawotka

Danny Caine, Owner, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, Kansas

Bryanne Hoeg, Store Manager, Powell’s City of Books, Portland, Oregon

Kwame Spearman, Co-Owner and CEO, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, Colorado

Political Books: What Does the Post-Trump Landscape Hold?

Moderated by Jimmy So, Editor, Columbia Global Reports, Columbia University

Eamon Dolan, Vice President, Executive Editor, Simon & Schuster

Tanya McKinnon, Principal, McKinnon Literary

Eric Nelson, Vice President and Editorial Director, Broadside Books

Keith Urbahn, President and Co-Founder, Javelin

Hiring: How to Prioritize Inclusivity in Your Workforce

Carrie Bloxson, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Hachette Book Group

Stacey A. Gordon, author of UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work (Wiley, 2021)

Jason Low, Publisher, Lee and Low Books

Ayesha Pande, Proprietor, Ayesha Pande Literary and Head of the Association of Author Representatives’ diversity committee

About the U.S. Book Show

The inaugural U.S. Book Show is a three-day virtual conference conceived and crafted by Publishers Weekly to serve the bookselling, library, media and book publishing industry.

The most trusted voice in the industry for nearly 150 years, Publishers Weekly offers deep editorial expertise and dedication to excellence.

The U.S. Book Show, which runs May 25 – 27, 2021, features a wide array of editor, book and author panels; livestreaming Q&A sessions with panelists; topical library panels; professional programming geared to publishing professionals; networking opportunities and awards celebrations; and robust exhibit halls featuring publishers, big and small.

Participants and attendees will discover valuable information about forthcoming Fall 2021 titles and delight in one-to-one connections with exhibitors, booksellers, librarians, book media, publishers, authors, editors, members of the book publishing industry and allied professionals.

There is information about panels, speakers, registration, media passes, group sales, exhibiting and more at https://www.usbookshow.com (#USBookShow).

For more information, contact Christi Cassidy, +1-917-217-4269, ccassidy@publishersweekly.com.

About Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is the international news platform of the book publishing industry. Founded in 1872 and published weekly since then, the magazine boasts 1.23 million social media followers; publishes 10 e-newsletters, BookLife (a website and semimonthly supplement), Publishers Weekly en Español (in partnership with Lantia), two blogs, podcasts, a mobile edition, digital editions, and apps; and features a thriving website that reaches 14 million unique visitors annually. In conjunction with the Sharjah Book Fair, the magazine is also published in an Arabic
edition.

In the last 10 years, Publishers Weekly has launched several events for the international publishing community, including New York Rights Fair, which was held in conjunction with BookExpo in New York; PubTechConnect, a series of high-level conversations about the convergence of technology and publishing, cosponsored by NYU School of Professional Studies Center for Publishing; and Global Kids Connect, an occasional conference held with BolognaFiere.

In 2020, in response to the pandemic restrictions on in-person events, Publishers Weekly launched Books on Tap, a sponsored networking event with authors; Library Lounge LIVE, a regular panel discussion on library topics; and the U.S. Selfies, an awards program for self-published authors, produced in conjunction with BookBrunch and based on the U.K. Selfies awards. PW Star Watch, an annual event to promote up-and-coming talent in the publishing industry, celebrated its sixth year with a virtual event in September 2020.