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THE BOOKSELLER from the Isle of Wight peers out the window of the airport mini - van. Panhandlers target idling cars. Neighbourhoods of cardboard houses line the sidewalks. Overhead, turquoise banners flutter from light standards: American Booksellers Association Convention, May 28 - 31. The bookseller, a first - time delegate, looks heavenward: "Rather a lot of razzmatazz, the ABA, isn't it?" he says hopefully.
Razzmatazz, indeed.
Anything less would be a disappointment at this annual pep rally of the American book trade. For a growing number of international visitors, the ABA provides an English - language meeting point like no other. With a population of about 30,000, ABA '94 was a good 20% larger than in 1993, and it continues to be more than twice the size of the fast - growing London International Book Fair.
The sheer bulk of the ABA hit home with many participants this year as they sprinted between the three halls of the Los Angeles Convention Centre, hefting canvas bags full of galleys and shrugging off trade - show glaze to do some energetic glad - handing along the way. "You know publishers are masochists when they do this to each other four times a year," said Scott McIntyre, of Douglas & McIntyre, referring to the London - Bologna - ABA - Frankfurt cycle.
McIntyre was part of the small and diffuse contingent of Canadians at this year's ABA. The 25 - member Canadian stand was slightly smaller than last year - and disturbingly quiet. The stand was in a poor location, it's true, and many Canadian publishers had already opted for their own booths elsewhere at the fair, including Whitecap, Stoddart, McClelland & Stewart, Crabtree, and a small block that included feminist presses Women's Press, Press Gang, gynergy books, Sister Vision, and Second Story.
Luc Jutras, executive director of the Association for the Export of Canadian Books, support this breakaway trend: "Publishers say they do three times more business on their own." Meanwhile, the Canadian stand's usual opening - day party was cancelled in order to pay for a two - page ad in the ABA show directory announcing that Canadian book sales to the U.S. recently rose 50% in one year.
Although Canadian publishers are increasingly dedicated...