Jessica Stockton Bagnulo asked me to post this for booksellers in the area interested in attending:

On February 27, 2008, independent book wholesaler BookStream will host TitleWave, a unique event including a lunch with authors, new title information, author presentations, and handselling tools, for the benefit of independent booksellers. TitleWave will take place at the Sheraton East Hartford, a central location for many of the area’s finest bookstores, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The authors who will take part in this event are Steve Toltz, author of the novel Fraction of the Whole (Spiegel & Grau); Hillary Jordan, author of the novel Mudbound, (Algonquin); and Richard Price, author of the novel Lush Life, (Farrar Straus & Giroux). The event is free for booksellers, but space is limited; attendees must RSVP with BookStream for a place at the event.

As part of a new its innovative new TitleWave program, independent wholesaler BookStream seeks to bring booksellers from the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions together with authors. The goal is to provide booksellers with information about great new titles and build enthusiasm for specific authors’ work, which will result in sales in independent bookstores throughout the region. The event is geared toward bookstore buyers and frontline staff – any booksellers looking for great titles to feature and handsell in their stores. The TitleWave program will give these booksellers tools for making the most of the best new titles of the Spring list, for the benefit of author, publisher and bookstore. The centerpiece of the event will be an author lunch and presentation in the tradition of New York City bookseller lunches. This gives authors the chance to engage one-on-one with booksellers, chatting informally over lunch and then speaking briefly to the assembled booksellers.

The lineup of authors for this first event is diverse and exciting. Australian author Steve Toltz has received advance buzz for his first novel Fraction of the Whole (the debut offering of Random House’s new imprint Spiegel & Grau), a hilarious epic of fathers and sons. Hillary Jordan’s novel of Mississipi farmers, Mudbound, won the 2006 Bellwether Prize awarded by Barbara Kingsolver. Bookseller favorite Richard Price returns to New York City and takes on crime and gentrification with his new novel Lush Life.

To inquire about the February 27 event, booksellers should call BookStream sales rep Carolyn Bennett toll-free at 866-416-1112 x209, or email carolyn dot bennett at bookstream dot com.