The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) Fall Tradeshow wrapped up in Spokane this week, leaving booksellers, authors, and publishing professionals buzzing with fresh ideas, signed ARCs, and conversations about the changing book industry.
From the moment attendees gathered for the Authors on the Map breakfast, it was clear this year’s show was as much about community and inspiration as it was about business. Authors signed books, booksellers swapped notes on new frontlist titles, and industry insiders discussed how shifting business models and even platform price hikes are reshaping the way books reach readers.
The Indie Identity Matters
Christine McDonald, owner of Secret Garden Books in Seattle, reminded attendees that authenticity is what keeps indie bookstores thriving. “People know when a store feels corporate,” she said, noting that customers gravitate toward shops with a genuine local identity. She compared the importance of indie character to the backlash against Starbucks, which just shuttered 100 stores, including one next door to her own.
New Stores, Fresh Energy
Among the first-timers was Morgan Lynch, who recently opened Jupiter’s Eye Book Café in Spokane. With a mix of fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, and horror, the café has already become a local hub for book clubs and poetry nights. Lynch explained her vision: “I love sitting at a bar with a book and a glass of wine, and I wanted to create that space for others too.”
Side Hustles and Bold Voices
Booksellers used the event to spotlight their creative projects. Cierra Cook, owner of Spoke and Word Books in Oregon, came both as a bookseller and as founder of Strong Feelings Press—a side venture producing bold, politically charged postcards. The idea was born from grassroots campaigns, and Cook now collaborates with a local print shop to create designs meant to spark civic conversations.
Booksellers Who Write
This year’s lineup also highlighted booksellers who are authors themselves.
- Gigi Little of Powell’s introduced her noir-inspired debut detective novel, Who Killed One of the Gun?
- Mo Daviau of Annie Bloom’s shared her latest novel, Epic and Lovely, which explores disability and motherhood.
- Willi Galloway, a cookbook author, connected her new release, Veggies for Breakfast, to her family’s bookselling roots.
Big-Name Authors and BuzzBooks
The tradeshow hosted 73 featured authors, who participated in dinners, signings, and panel talks. Highlights included:
- Carson Ellis, unveiling her illustrations for Rumpelstiltskin, written by Mac Barnett.
- Maria Semple, known for Where’d You Go, Bernadette, ” is introducing her upcoming novel Go Gentle.
- Sean Gerrity, speaking about restoring American grasslands in Wild on Purpose.
- Sonora Jha, presenting her India-inspired novel Intemperance.
- Tae Keller, who emphasized hope in children’s literature while previewing When Tomorrow Burns.
At the much-anticipated ARC signing session, lines formed for authors like Kathleen Boland (Scavengers), Shen Tao (The Poet Empress), and Victor Fusté, whose middle-grade graphic novel T.S. Hullabaloo explores Tourette’s Syndrome and empathy.
The PNBA also revealed its 2026 Book Awards Shortlist, narrowing down 300 nominations to 12 standout titles. Winners will be announced in January. Meanwhile, Kamilah Cole’s dark academia fantasy, An Arcane Inheritance, was chosen as this year’s BuzzBook, earning buzz across the tradeshow floor.
Looking Ahead
After days of books, conversations, and late-night signings at the Spokane Convention Center, attendees left with stacks of ARCs, fresh industry insights, and renewed excitement for the months ahead. The PNBA Fall Tradeshow will return in 2026, this time in Portland, Oregon, at the Holiday Inn–Columbia Riverfront.