Greetings,

September is such an exciting time of year.

This month, we released the Fall 2026 edition of The Booksellers’ List, marking one full year since we launched this new program. We are so grateful to the booksellers who have championed titles and promoted the lists.

We also recently launched our new Popcorn & Pages program to the public and we’re gearing up for the release of our inaugural TBL Kids list on October 6, just in time for the holiday shopping season. It’s going to be a busy fall—but isn’t it always?

A final reminder that our Annual General Meeting is taking place next Wednesday, September 23. It’s essential that every CIBA Bookstore Member register to attend or vote in advance so we can meet quorum and carry out required association business.

Okay, onto the newsletter!

TBL Updates

Nominate now: which hot books will make for cozy winter reads?

Booksellers, it’s time to start nominating for TBL Winter 2027! We welcome all CIBA Bookseller Members to nominate titles for adult and young adult audiences. Books must be published January 1 to March 31, 2027.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, November 2. Titles can be nominated via:

To simplify and speed up the process, our new web form allows booksellers to easily paste a list of ISBNs into our new webform, or attach an Excel sheet that’s been exported from your POS. It’s as simple as that!

Celebrate one year of TBL with an evergreen display

TBL has just celebrated its first birthday, which means booksellers will soon have 100 indie-recommended titles to promote in-store. If you’re interested in creating a year-round display for TBL titles, don’t forget we have an evergreen poster available in the marketing toolkit to support your display. 

TBL Spring 2026 report now available

We are excited to present our report on the Spring 2026 campaign—now available in the Member Portal. This summary provides information on our activities, marketing highlights, and sales stats. We’re thrilled with the impact of the program thus far.

Sponsored: Celebrate TBL Kids 2026 Selections

Register Now: Upcoming Events

The Magazine Mix: Titles for Every Reader with Magazines Canada
Tuesday, September 29
4pm PT, 5pm MT, 6pm CT, 7pm ET, 8pm AT, 8:30pm Newfoundland

Wondering what you can do to make your magazine section more varied, more vibrant, and more engaging to readers? Join the team from Magazines Canada to talk about the range and breadth of amazing Canadian magazines available.

  • Booksellers and look forward to hearing about:
  • Literary and art journals from across the country
  • A wide range of hobby and special-interest magazines
  • Consumer and general-interest mags for everyone
  • Kids' magazines for learning and for fun
  • Distribution channels and processes for all of the above, and more!

This session will also feature a Q&A opportunity, and we will explore the brand-new Magazines Canada Catalogue. Feel free to send questions in advance to Kayla Calder so the team can come prepared.

Event Recording of Holiday Success Starts Here: Tips from Penguin Random House Canada

Last month, Penguin Random House Canada’s Athmika Punja, Senior Director of Retail Sales and Operations, and Kelly Rankin, Senior Manager, Customer Operations, walked booksellers through the essential steps to ensure optimal stock positioning for the holiday sales period.

Our latest event recording will help you anticipate the incoming challenges of the holiday selling season. Topics include an overall supply chain review, an ordering calendar highlighting key moments that impact delivery times, and updates on Western Canada bookstores and the Reno, NV warehouse.

Not a CIBA member? Join now to access a range of benefits, including access to live events, recordings, and other business resources.

Sponsored: Discover the 2026 Cundill Prize Shortlist

Popcorn & Pages Updates

The Popcorn & Pages fall slate features several book-to-screen adaptations that booksellers can help promote in stores and online.

First up is Verity, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling thriller and starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett. Landmark Cinemas will host advance screenings in five markets on September 29, ahead of the film’s theatrical release on October 2. Participating bookstores have been invited to be on site to introduce local audiences to their stores and encourage attendees to shop indie. Other CIBA members in relevant markets will have access to vouchers for customer giveaways.

Three more adaptations follow in October:

  • Sense and Sensibility, opening October 16, offers a new take on Jane Austen’s classic novel. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles star as sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood.
  • Whalefall, also opening October 16, is based on Daniel Kraus’s survival thriller about a scuba diver who is swallowed by a whale while searching for his father’s remains. Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin lead the cast.
  • Wildwood, opening October 23, is LAIKA’s stop-motion adaptation of the fantasy novel by Colin Meloy, illustrated by Carson Ellis. The voice cast includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, and Awkwafina.

One programming update: Victorian Psycho, originally scheduled to open September 25, has been moved to November 13. We will share more information about any related opportunities once details are confirmed.

Booksellers can use these releases to build displays, revisit backlist titles, and share adaptation-themed recommendations with customers. Stay tuned for additional resources and opportunities connected to the fall slate!

Sponsored: Dog Man Celebrates 70 (Dog) Years!

Update on the 2027 RISE Bookselling Conference

Booksellers interested in attending the 2027 RISE Bookselling Conference in Galway, Ireland should plan to register beginning on September 23, 2026.

This year, tickets will be released in two rounds to support geographical representation among EIBF members. During the first round, which runs from September 23 to October 20, a very limited number of tickets will be reserved for CIBA members to purchase.

Once CIBA’s reserved tickets are claimed, members may still be able to register through the second round, which opens to everyone on October 20 on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability.

Please email Laura Carter as soon as possible if you are eager to attend the 2027 conference. We will do our best to accommodate all members, but interest does not guarantee you will be selected to receive the reserved tickets.

BookNet Canada: August Sales & Market Insights

Curious how Canadian indies performed during the dog days of summer? BookNet Canada has the scoop.

Some highlights:

  • Overall year-to-date (YTD) sales are up 6.2% over last YTD
  • Titles by Canadian contributors are up 7.8% over last YTD
  • Books by Canadian contributors made up 19% of sales so far this year

The report also highlights top-selling August releases by Canadian writers, including TBL Summer 2026 selections The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson, Eliza Sunshine by Michelle Good, You’ll Love It Here by Natalie Sue, and Asha in Her Garden by Anita Rau Badami. Woohoo!

Members can read the full report in the Member Portal.

 

This message was sent to you by the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe at any time.

{Organization_URL}