The countdown to Book Expo America has begun, and the Audio Publishers Association stands ready to host a series of meetings, workshops and events for its members and for booksellers attending the convention. Following APA's early-morning annual meeting open only to its voting membership, the BEA activities kick off in earnest with Thursday's day-long APA Conference at the Wilshire Grand Hotel. Entitled "Exchanging Ideas, Working on Solutions" the day's programming focuses on some key industry issues of the day. The morning's general session addresses "Driving Sales with Emerging Technologies" and is moderated by Joe Bates, manager of consumer research for the Consumer Electronics Association. Attendees will hear about the ongoing dialogue among CEA, APA and the automobile industry concerning viable audiobook formats and standards and what the future holds in this area.
Morning workshops include "Beyond the Bookstore: Exploring Special Sales and Non-Traditional Markets for Audiobooks," "Raising the Profile of the Audiobook Industry" and "Audio Publishing 101: Preparing Yourself for the Audiobook Industry."
A lunch break will be followed by the announcement of APA's outgoing and newly elected officers and board members. Then comedian/author/audiobook enthusiast Louie Anderson, whose most recent title, The F Word: How to Survive Your Family, is available from Time Warner AudioBooks, takes the microphone to deliver the keynote address.
Among the afternoon sessions, attendees will find "Bottom of the Food Chain: Returns and Reporting" and "Audiobooks on the Air: The Prospect of Traditional and Alternative Broadcasting." Roundtable groups will convene later in the afternoon to discuss industry challenges and potential solutions. And capping off the day's events is a cocktail party for participants.
On Friday evening APA members and their guests will honor the best in audio publishing for 2002 at the eighth annual Audie Awards dinner gala. This year's formal affair takes place at the Petersen Automotive Museum where special car exhibits will be on view. The Audies will recognize excellence in 27 categories ranging from narration to package design. Until May 30, audiobook fans can cast their vote for who will win in the "Can You Hear an Audie Winner?" found at the APA Web site (www.audiopub.org). Entrants become eligible for a grand prize drawing for the collected winning 2003 Audie titles and the bonus June issue of Audiofile magazine.
Saturday afternoon will find audio publishers and booksellers gathering for the third annual Audiobook Tea at the convention center. The event's three guest speakers are Doris Roberts, a star of TV's Everybody Loves Raymond and author (with Danelle Morton) of Are You Hungry Dear?: Life, Laughs and Lasagna (St. Martin's/Audio Renaissance); Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, author of The Dirty Girls Social Club (St. Martin's/Audio Renaissance) and T. Jefferson Parker, author of Cold Pursuit (Hyperion/Brilliance Audio).
Throughout the convention, information about the APA is available at APA member booths. For a listing of audio exhibitors at BEA, see pages 188—190.
