Presenter: Pamela Jaffee – Senior Publicity & Brand Director, Avon Books (an imprint of HarperCollins Publisher

This is California, land of the gold rush – you understand a good opportunity when you see it.  So why aren’t more Indies building dedicated genre (read: non-literary—gasp!) collections?  We understand that Romance, Young Adult, and Sci Fi/Fantasy are an uncharted frontier for many, but stores across the United States have been building discrete collections (which flow seamlessly into their existing shelves), and discovering a bit of a cash bonanza.  But – yikes – you have no one on staff who reads these types of books.  How do you know what to stock?  How can you pan for readers in the market around you?  How can your store cultivate genre readers, make them feel welcome and provide a judgement-free reading and shopping experience?

The genre fiction market continues to grow, and this panel will inform entrepreneurial Indie booksellers how to recognize and utilize the resources available to them as they stake a claim in this lucrative segment.

Note: Avon Books will provide refreshment to make this topic sweeter for SCIBA attendees!