SIBA Convention, Naples, FL

The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) convention is held annually. Last year it was in Charleston, next year it will be in New Orleans and this year it was held in beautiful Naples, Florida,



at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Here are some shots of the hotel's main lobby. They have with an amazing gravity-defying water feature, with a stream of water that runs continuously around the circle on both the outside and inside.

And of course there are plenty of other water features outside.

From the pool you can walk on this wonderful wooden boardwalk all the way to the beach.

On the way it takes you to a bridge overlooking this lagoon,

then on to the hotel's very own beach.

Naples itself is gorgeous. Huge Banyan trees are everywhere in the neighborhoods:

And there are so many great waterfront homes, both on the canals

and on the ocean front.

Back at the hotel, when I could get in to the convention site, this is what was waiting for me at our designated spot.

The convention hall before....

...and after all of the publishers have set up.

And here's our final booth.

My friend and fellow rep, Kristin Keith of W. W. Norton Publishing, took this photo from her booth.

Once the convention starts the next day, it's all work, especially for the authors that the publishing houses have sent. One of the many functions they are asked to attend is called "The Movable Feast of Authors". It is like speed dating for books. Each author has just a few minutes to present his or her book to a table of booksellers, then it's change partners and dance!

Eighty seven other publishers, distributors and wholesalers also attended the show. One was Harper Collins, here ably represented by Dawn Littman and 

Eric Svenson.

Author Ronda Rich,  a Southern favorite, talks to 
Eagle Eye Bookshop owner Doug Robinson, about her latest book, 

There's a Better Day A- Comin' from Running Press.

                                                                            

Here are Rich Rennicks of Unbridled Books and two of his acclaimed authors, Emily St. John Mandel (Lola Quartet) and Peter Geye (Lighthouse Road)

                                                           

Talking about his book Finding Florida is author T.D. Allman. Judy Hottensen, associate publisher at Grove/Atlantic, takes very good care of him.

                         If anyone, for an instant, thinks book people aren't fun, see how they react to an impromptu dance song right in the middle of a serious work day.

Alyse Hudson, the Group Marketing Manager from my own Perseus Books Group, flew down from our New York offices to lend a hand during the show and it was great to have her there.

Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler, holding copies of his brand new thriller, Hot Country, was there with his wife,  former journalist and bookseller, Kelly Lee Butler.

                                                           

Speaking of Grove/Atlantic, they held a very special dinner in honor of the four authors that they brought to SIBA: 
  Robert Olen Butler, The Hot Country,
T.D. Allman, Finding Florida,
Michael Kardos, Three-Day Affair and 
Jamie Quatro, I Want to Show You More. 
It was held at a fabulous Naples restaurant, 

Cafe dell'Amore, just one block from the gulf. Here Michael Kardos tells the attending booksellers about his book.

    

                                       

Finally, Michael Kardos, Jamie Quatro, myself and T. D. Allman, as we say goodnight after a very successful evening.