Both Len Vlahos and his wife, Kristen Gilligan, who are in the process of taking over the Tattered Cover, were on hand, along with new booksellers Dani Knight, who is opening Barefoot Cowgirl Books in Flagstaff, Ariz., with Nancy Nelson on Halloween, and Teresa Muhic, owner of the newly opened Legends Bookstore in Cody, Wy. Attendance at the show, which was held at the Renaissance Denver Hotel (October 7-10) for the fifth year in a row, was up 5% with 176 booksellers and 434 attendees overall.

Attendance was also strong at the show's three breakfasts, dinner, and afternoon gathering with authors, ranging from science fiction writer Pierce Brown, whose fans are eagerly awaiting book three in the Red Rising trilogy, to Douglas Brinkley for Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America; Stacy Schiff for The Witches, and Jennifer Chambliss Bertman for Book Scavenger. Pennypacker was among the many authors to thank booksellers for what they do. "We revere you," she said. "We would break into your house on Sunday morning and make you heart-shaped pancakes, if it weren't too creepy." Her words resonated with booksellers like Julie Shimada, children's and sidelines buyer at Maria's Bookshop in Durango, Colo., who said, "Breakfast was phenomenal. [Bookselling] is more than just selling books, and authors appreciate that."

MPIBA, which keeps its show floor open for a day and a half, is an important stop for publishers of all sizes. Shambhala Publications used the show to celebrate the press' return to Boulder, Colo., last month, after 29 years in Boston. Kirsten Johanna Allen, editorial director and co-publisher at Torrey House Press, said, "We love this show. We're a small publisher out of Utah. This has so much energy and enthusiasm for connecting with people."

In 2016 MPIBA's Fall Discovery Show will be back at the Renaissance Denver Hotel from October 6-8.