The American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature held their joint annual meeting in Atlanta, Ga., November 22-25. It was a far quieter conclave than last year's, which was held in Toronto just pre-SARS and enlivened by fears about how Canadian tax laws would affect the business of exhibiting publishers (not much, as it turned out).
The 2003 meeting offered no such drama, though there was low-level buzz about the separation of the two groups' annual meetings, planned for 2008. This year's gathering drew the largest number of scholars ever—8,799 vs. last year's 8,647—with the number of publishers in the all-important book exhibit holding steady at 142, according to AAR's associate director, religion news adviser Kyle Cole. In addition to selling books to scholars at deep discount, the book exhibit allows publishers to promote their books for course adoptions as well as to meet with authors and scout for new projects.
In spite of the financial challenges of the past few years, there were promising signs and several stories of revitalization. Carey Newman, formerly senior academic editor at Westminster John Knox Press, told PW how Baylor University Press bounced back from a near-death experience. He left WJK in January 2002 for the president's office at Baylor, and late that summer the director of its long-moribund press resigned. There was talk of disbanding the 106-year-old publishing arm of the Baptist university (which Newman believes is the third-oldest academic press in the U.S.). Instead, Newman proposed revamping it. "The press was in disarray," said Newman. "We had no quality backlist, and no books had been acquired for 2004." With what Newman described as a generous infusion of cash from the university, he quadrupled the budget, tripled the staff and undertook a $100,000 renovation of the press's headquarters. "Our two newest acquisitions have pre-sold more than all of last year's revenues," said Newman, who was appointed director this past February.
Another story of revitalization is reflected by Augsburg Fortress's domination of this year's Theologos Awards, annual recognition from the Association of Theological Booksellers. After several years of internal struggle and multiple reorganizations, the publishing arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America denomination took Publisher of the Year and scored with N.T. Wright's The Resurrection of the Son of God (Fortress, May), which won both Book of the Year and Best Academic Book. The house also won Best Children's Book for God Created by Mark Francisco-Bozzuti, illustrated by Jui Ishida (Augsburg, Aug.).
One non-scholarly book that caught PW's eye at the meeting was The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss, to be published by Judson Press in January. The book is newsworthy in a couple of ways, first because, according to associate publisher Linda Peavey, the press had no trouble obtaining permission to use the Dr. Seuss name and content both from the Dr. Seuss Foundation (through ICM) and from Random House. "That was our first concern," said Peavey, "and they were very cooperative." Second, the book and the list it leads signals Judson's return to publishing after a reorganization at the American Baptist denomination of which Judson is the trade publishing arm. In the midst of that upheaval, Judson temporarily suspended publishing and had no fall list. The press was subsequently placed under a different department and Laura Alden has been appointed publisher.
Continuum has generated all kinds of enthusiasm in religion with its aggressive expansion over the past few years. Henry Carrigan, publisher since 1999 of Continuum's Trinity Press International imprint (and a former PW Forecasts editor), debuted at this AAR/SBL as publisher of the brand-new U.S. division of Continuum's T&T Clark imprint. Under an ambitious re-organization plan, celebrated with a lavish reception at the meeting, the Continuum Group has integrated its TPI, T&T Clark and Sheffield Academic Press divisions under the T&T Clark name, with offices in both New York and London. The absorption of the Trinity and Sheffield lines positions T&T Clark as among the largest few English-language publishers in the field of academic religion.
Every publisher PW talked to reported a busy meeting, with strong sales and heavy floor traffic. Abingdon Press and Pilgrim Press participated this year in the Golden Sponsors Program that AAR/SBL initiated in 2002. At a cost of $10,000 apiece, each got center entrance signage in convention hotels and exhibition areas, print ads in the program books, and one catered social event during a time slot with no competing events. Michael Lawrence, director of marketing and trade sales at Pilgrim, called the sponsorship "a very good use of our marketing dollars, and we'll do it again."
Next year's AAR/SBL meeting will be held in San Antonio, Tex., November 20—23, 2004.
