From Kelly Justice, owner of Fountain Bookstore:

Welcome to the first ever JABBIESTM event.  

In response to your requests to learn more about the industry of publishing as well as individual authors, may I present JABBIESTM: Judge-A-Book-By-Its-Spine.  

This is a series of conversations with publishing professionals in editing, publishing, marketing, and publicity from publishers and imprints with very strong brands.  I will host these informal q&a's with these men and women at the top of their game with houses that consistently deliver great books.

You will learn:

--why certain books get published

--why some books become bestsellers and others fail

--the do's and don'ts of communication within the industry

--the latest in marketing trends

--the behind the scenes of the book industry from top to bottom

And please bring your questions!  This new programming is all about getting curious about the book industry.

For our inaugural event, I have invited Craig Popelars and Michael Reynolds, old friends and people I deeply respect.  

Craig has been in marketing with Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill (one of the most respected literary houses in the country publishing mainly books from the American South) for over 22 years.  I have seen him make books like Water For Elephants "happen" almost by sheer will!

But that's an exaggeration...what he did was head up one of the most successful grass roots marketing campaigns in the history of publishing for that book.  It was a work of freaking art, people!  You have something to learn from this man, whether you're working on your own book, your own company, or your personal brand.  

Michael Reynolds is the Editor in Chief of Europa Editions.  He is the force behind the recent blockbuster series by Elena Ferrente, The Neapolitan Novels, including My Brilliant Friend.  He was also the publisher of The Elegance of the Hedgehog and many other breakout hits.  

The strength of the Europa brand is so strong that it is truly a collection where people "judge a book by the spine". The elegant symmetry of the cover designs showcase a consistency of quality and a guarantee of reader satisfaction.  One of the most exceptional people I know in this business...he just has a wonderful gift for picking manuscripts and communicating their value to booksellers and the avid reader.

This event programming is also for anyone who just loves books and wants to know more about how they are made.  Craig and Michael are two of the most passionate book lovers I have ever met.  

A selection of wonderful Algonquin and Europa titles will be available for purchase the night of the event as well.  

Thank you in advance for supporting experimental programming at Fountain.  This is going to be great!

(JABBIES is a trademarked brand)