by Chloe Townson
Our Jessie with author, Holly Ringland
From June 11th to June 13th, a handful of Riverbend Staff abandoned the store and headed to Sydney for the Australian Bookseller’s Association Conference. Excited is an understatement. Due to Covid, this is the first in-person conference we have had in at least three years. It was an absolute joy to see everyone face to face, and there’s something to be said about the independent booksellers of Australia, the way they support each other and help each other. They’re not our competitors, they’re our friends.
From the very beginning there was a vibe of hope — empathy was shared where needed, and those who are new to the industry were welcomed with open arms.
The high point of any conference, most of the time, is the trade fair. The Riverbend Staff divided and conquered, visiting each publisher stand to find out what new, great books are coming for Christmas. And, oh boy! There are a lot. Keep an eye on future blog posts - I’ll list them all so you can pre-order at your leisure!
On a serious note, the topic that continued to be raised over and over across the course of the conference was sustainability. What are we doing to offset the carbon created by our industry? What can we do to lower our emissions, or offset them completely? Here at Riverbend we already do a lot of recycling and are conscious of which brands we support. Soon, we’ll reveal our goals to the public and will share the ways in which we have been and will become more ecologically friendly. Watch this space!
We also came home pondering what’s important to our customers. We think we know you pretty good already but we’d like to get to know you better. What are your reading habits? Where do you find your recommendations? Do you come to the store armed with the titles you’d like to read or do you like it better when we can find something for you? Are you influenced by social media or would you rather do without?
We met many inspiring authors and speakers and ate so much food. A few cheeky cocktails were enjoyed, too. When in Rome, right? We have returned to Brisbane armed with knowledge, enthusiasm, and hope - we don’t need the reminder, but we do love this industry. We love books, and we love the readers that we get to chat to on a daily basis. Here’s to you!
ABIA BOOK OF THE YEAR WINNERS
ABIA BOOK OF THE YEAR
ABIA LITERARY FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR
Michaela and Eve are two bright, bold women who befriend each other their first year at a residential college at university, where they live in adjacent rooms. They could not be more different; one assured and popular – the other uncertain and eager-to-please. But something happens one night in O-week – a drunken encounter, a foggy memory that will force them to confront the realities of consent and wrestle with the dynamics of power.
Initially bonded by their wit and sharp eye for the colleges’ mix of material wealth and moral poverty, Michaela and Eve soon discover how fragile friendship is, and how capable of betrayal they both are.
