Administration/Projects
Send project-related
questions (Fall Discovery Show, Winter Catalog, Reading the West Book Awards, Website)
plus bills, invoices,
and payments to:

MPIBA Administration
c/o Kathy Keel
208 E. Lincoln Avenue

Fort Collins, CO 80524

Mark Your Calendar!

Fall Discovery Show (Trade Show) 2015

October 8-10, 2015
The Renaissance
Denver Hotel

Literary Festivals and Book Talks Abound!

Denver's Most Irreverent
Literary Festival

Denver bookstore/wine bar (and MPIBA member bookstore), BookBar, and indie band High Fiction have teamed up to bring a unique literary event to Tennyson Street in Denver's Berkeley neighborhood. For one night only at The Oriental Theater, BookBar and High Fiction will host a low-brow, highly accessible celebration of all things literary including local authors, book-related music, beer, improvisation and various forms of live performance.

Specifically, there will be sets from The Narrators, Stories on Stage, and The Novelistas, as well as an adult Spelling Bee, literary costume contest, tarot card reading, community poetry, and burlesque. Author appearances, performances, and book signings will include Gregory Hill, Jenny Shank, Matthew Taylor, Ian O'Dougherty and much, much more.

Lobby events, including book sales, signings, merchandise, and beer sales will begin at 7:00 p.m. Stage events begin at 8:00 p.m. Fiction Beer and Grimm Brothers Brewing will be on tap for the evening. Food trucks will be available.

July 31st 7:00 p.m.
The Oriental Theater
4335 West 44th Ave.
Denver, CO. 80212

Click here for more information.

Rocky Mountain Literary Festival:
Maura Weiler at HearthFire Books

Rocky Mountain Literary Festival will celebrate Arts Alive! with a Book Talk about CONTRITION by Maura Weiler at HearthFire Books on Tuesday, July 21, at 7:00 p.m.

In May, CONTRITION was on The Denver Post's bestseller list and is already in its 4th printing.

Anne Vickstrom will facilitate the discussion about this tale of twin sisters separated at birth who reconnect through art, faith, and a father who touched the world through his paintings.

HearthFire's Book Talks have fostered stimulating conversation. This one will, no doubt, do the same. Plan to attend ... and bring a friend!

Buy your tickets for the October 17 Literary Festival at www.RockyMountainLiteraryFestival.org.

Expert Advice on Building Successful Teen Programs

SummerTeen is a daylong virtual conference for public and school librarians, focusing on the teen and children's markets. Over 20 best-selling and debut authors will be participating in various panels and presentations to present current and forthcoming YA books. There are special panels devoted to teen programming being led by innovative librarians, including sessions on gaming in the library, developing successful teen volunteer programs, and launching a "Con" in the library. Again, this event has no registration fee and librarians participate from their computer (no travel, no hassle!).

Read more about SLJ's SummerTeen online here: http://www.slj.com/summerteen#

Booksellers, Beauty, Board

MPIBA Board Plans for New Fiscal Year at Brighton, Utah Retreat

MPIBA Board members and Executive Director Laura Ayrey planned for bookstores, books, and Board duties at their annual retreat, held this year in Brighton, Utah. Pictured above from left to right: Meg Sherman, W.W. Norton; Heather Duncan, Tattered Cover Book Stores in Denver, Colorado; Claudia Maceo, The Twig Bookshop in San Antonio, Texas; Danielle Foster, Bookworks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Anne Holman, The King's English in Salt Lake City, Utah.

MPIBA Remembers

Jean Brace

Jean Brace, beloved founder of Brace Books & More, passed away on July 11, 2015.

With a passion for reading, literature and a bit of entrepreneurship, Jean and Jerry Brace opened Brace Books & More in 1983 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Under Jean's creative leadership, the bookstore flourished, becoming a warm, inviting destination for locals and visitors alike. Multiple expansions allowed Jean, Jerry and staff to offer not only good books, but also a variety of toys and gifts.

As a member of the American Booksellers Association, Jean was an avid supporter of independent booksellers. For several years she was a part of the ABA education programs for prospective booksellers.

She shared her love of learning with her children and grandchildren. Her playful, adventurous spirit enriched the lives of her grandchildren, who loved taking trips with Granny and Papaw. She practiced her caring concern with every person who came into her life. She was an enthusiastic listener and encourager. She taught her family to always err on the side of generosity. Her humor and quick wit were her calling cards and her family will remember most the laughter she brought to our lives.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jerry; son, David Brace and wife Jamie, of Claremore; two daughters, Melissa Brace, of Ojai, Calif. and Rebecca Henley and husband Jeff, of Hurst, Texas; and four grandchildren, Averey Brace, Landon Brace, Julia Henley and Lila Henley. She is also survived by her sister, Debbi Marshall and her husband Bob, of Oklahoma City; her niece, Erin Page and husband Jordan, of Oklahoma City; and great-niece, Addison and great-nephew, Hutch.

She was eagerly anticipating the birth of a third great-niece or nephew. Jean delighted in her longtime relationships with cousins, aunts and extended family in Oklahoma City, as well as dear friends whom she considered family in Ponca City.

Making Donations in Jean's Name ...

A reception to honor Jean's life and legacy was held on Wednesday, July 15 and her memorial service was held on Thursday, July 16 at First Christian Church in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brace Books Christmas Book Angel Program, providing books to needy children. Donations will be accepted at Brace Books & More, First Christian Church, or online at www.bracebooks.com.

MPIBA Bookstores

in the News

Plains Trading Company
Mixes It Up

Isn't this the cutest social media post ever?

June's Cornbread mix is back in stock at The Plains Trading Company in Valentine, Nebraska. It's good stuff so go get yours before this batch sells out!

Hedgie the Hedgehog
at Old Firehouse Books

And the cutest critter ever?

Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins, Colorado, hosted a special story time with Jan Brett's "Hedgie the Hedgehog" on July 16, 2015. The kids enjoyed the adorable Hedgie, crafts, songs, and photos.