In September, I was a leader for a People to People Book Industry Tour in Beijing and Xi’an, China. It was an incredible experience! What follows are some notes from my journal.
Our delegation represented seven different stores from across the US. All stores are members of the American Booksellers Association and most are also members of regional associations.
Each store has survived competition, economic downturns, and changes in reading habits of our customer base.
Several people had recently sold their businesses.
Several stores have local authors that receive world-wide attention.
While none of us is an expert, we are experienced and look forward to our time in China, meeting booksellers and industry leaders, seeing bookstores, and sharing ways to expand our reading public. Along the way we hope to make many new friends and to experience the Chinese culture.
As a first time leader, I was anxious to see how our hosts would receive us. Did we need to have formal answers? Would the meeting be formal or relaxed? Would anyone talk? Would anyone have questions?
As a first time Book Industry Tour we were all thinking the same things!
So many days, so many memories…
Arriving with a missing delegate and three pieces of lost luggage
No check the “boxies”—advice on filling out the health forms
Viewing hundreds of tanks in the early morning from the hotel window
Tanks had been rehearsing at midnight for National Day celebration
Eat! Server not willing to remove dish until the last dumpling was eaten
Leaving Hong Kong in typhoon No.8 warnings
We took many photos, shared wonderful food and yes, wrote a few reports. You can read more about the trip in the The Bookselling This Week and Missoulian articles.