The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation has launched a survey to gather feedback that will allow it to better help the employees and owners of bookstores and comic shops with unforeseen emergencies such as housing stability, disasters, medical expenses, and mental health needs. And to encourage participation, Beacon Press will donate $25 to Binc for the first 100 completed surveys.
Most recently, survey results led to the foundation’s mental health wellness program, which provides access to professional therapy with a licensed therapist for eligible booksellers and comic retailers.
Five booksellers in stores from San Francisco to Boston have been selected to receive a $10,000 scholarship that provides the aspiring writer-booksellers with the financial support to focus on a full-length manuscript. The Susan Kamil Scholarship for Emerging Writers was established by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and bestselling author Charles Duhigg and wife, Liz Alter, a professor of biology at California State University Monterey Bay. The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation administers the scholarship.
The scholarship is named for Kamil, who was executive vice president and publisher of Random House when she died in 2019. Her publishing career, spanning more than 40 years, began in the 1970s working in the children’s book division of Macmillan Publishers. Over those years she was known for recognizing new literary voices and introducing them to the public.
The recipients are:
Nicole Brinkley is the manager of Oblong Books in Rhinebeck, NY, where she has won multiple awards for her work as a “legendary bookseller” (Boston.com). She reviews books professionally for BookPage and Shelf Awareness. You can find her online at nebrinkley.com. The genre of her submitted manuscript is science fiction.
Rachel Dillon is the Book Events and Programming Manager at Beacon Hill Books & Café in Boston, MA, and a graduate of the Boston University MFA program in poetry. She was a finalist for the Stephen Dunn Poetry Prize and the Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition. Her writing can be found in Asheville Poetry Review, The Adroit Journal, Broadsided Press, Solstice Literary Magazine, and elsewhere via her website. Her manuscript in progress is a poetry collection exploring the history and landscape of Gloucester, MA.
Brendan McHugh is a San Francisco based writer and oral historian documenting the history of San Francisco’s response to the AIDS crisis. He is a bookseller at Green Apple Books on the Park in San Francisco. He’s written on this and other topics for Brokeass Stuart, KQED, thewashingtonpost.com, Catapult, and others. He was a 2023-2024 Brown-Handler Writing Resident with Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. He describes his manuscript as hybrid.
Liv Morris has been hawking stories at Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, MA, since 2019. She holds an MA in Children’s Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons University and was a 2022 Lambda Literary Fellow. She grew up in Kentucky and now lives in Boston with her wife, cats (Bo and Pawl Simon), and dog (Diana Wynne Bones). Her manuscript is for middle grade readers.
Joanna Roddy is a writer, audiobook narrator, and proud indie bookseller at Roundabout Books in Bend, OR. She loves reading and writing about magic or murder–especially both. She is currently working on a YA contemporary dark fantasy about four girls who discover witchcraft to oppose the abuse rampant at their conservative religious high school. Joanna hopes to create stories that shed light on religious trauma, empower feminist awareness, and inspire young people to follow what and who they love with freedom and joy.
Any writer working on a full-length manuscript, graphic novel, or comic who is currently employed at a physical book or comic store in the U.S. and has been for a minimum of three months was eligible to apply.
The application for the first cohort of BincTank, the Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation’s bookstore business incubator program, will open Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, and run through Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. The application and eligibility guidelines are available.
BincTank will support new BIPOC-owned retail bookselling businesses that are physically located in their community. Bookmobiles, pop-up stores and bricks and mortar storefronts are eligible and stores that qualify are not yet open or have been open no more than six months from the time of application. Businesses interested in moving from one model to another, like a pop-up moving to a bricks and mortar location, are also eligible. Online only stores are not eligible.
Participants will be enrolled in weekly Professional Bookselling School classes March 11 through May 20; the core curriculum will take three to five hours per week. In addition to a rigorous education curriculum, the first cohort will be expected to attend an in-person orientation in early March and to participate in a mentorship program, webinars, guest speakers and panels after the PBS classes end. A resource library of materials will also be available.
The Professional Bookseller School provides independent booksellers with an education, training and accreditation process that will elevate the trade of independent bookselling to a standard approaching that of professionals in similar industries related to education and public literary engagement.
Applicants should have a mission statement for their business, be able to describe their business and intended customers, and identify partners or organizations that will support their intentions, like a local chamber of commerce.
BincTank will initially support bookstores and book retail outlets operated by historically underrepresented entrepreneurs in communities impacted by systemic racism. A three-year pilot program, BincTank plans to evaluate results and then determine how to proceed.
Binc continues to seek funding for this BIPOC entrepreneur focused program. For more information contact Pam French or Kathy Bartson.
Discover the manga that inspired some of the year’s new and most popular anime series with the Kodansha 2022 Anime Recap from Kodansha and Humble Bundle! Join the search for the world’s greatest striker in the football saga Blue Lock. Get caught up in the historical fantasy timeslip comedy of Ya Boy Kongming!. Follow the story of Nagi and Erika, two teens caught up in the switched-at-birth comedy of A Couple of Cuckoos, and much more, and help support BINC (Book Industry Charitable Foundation with your purchase!
Pay $1 or more to get: A Couple of Cuckoos, Vol. 1 Police in a Pod, Vol. 1 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vol. 1 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 1
Pay $10 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 6-10 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 2-3 Police in a Pod, Vols. 2-4 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 2-3 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 2-3 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 2 Dawn of the Witch, Vol. 1
Pay $20 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 1-5 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 4-5 Police in a Pod, Vols. 5-7 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 4-5 Tokyo Mew Mew Omnibus, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 4-6 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 3 Dawn of the Witch, Vols. 2-3
Discover the manga that inspired some of the year’s new and most popular anime series with the Kodansha 2022 Anime Recap from Kodansha and Humble Bundle! Join the search for the world’s greatest striker in the football saga Blue Lock. Get caught up in the historical fantasy timeslip comedy of Ya Boy Kongming!. Follow the story of Nagi and Erika, two teens caught up in the switched-at-birth comedy of A Couple of Cuckoos, and much more, and help support BINC (Book Industry Charitable Foundation with your purchase!
Pay $1 or more to get: A Couple of Cuckoos, Vol. 1 Police in a Pod, Vol. 1 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vol. 1 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 1
Pay $10 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 6-10 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 2-3 Police in a Pod, Vols. 2-4 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 2-3 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 2-3 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 2 Dawn of the Witch, Vol. 1
Pay $20 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 1-5 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 4-5 Police in a Pod, Vols. 5-7 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 4-5 Tokyo Mew Mew Omnibus, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 4-6 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 3 Dawn of the Witch, Vols. 2-3
Discover the manga that inspired some of the year’s new and most popular anime series with the Kodansha 2022 Anime Recap from Kodansha and Humble Bundle! Join the search for the world’s greatest striker in the football saga Blue Lock. Get caught up in the historical fantasy timeslip comedy of Ya Boy Kongming!. Follow the story of Nagi and Erika, two teens caught up in the switched-at-birth comedy of A Couple of Cuckoos, and much more, and help support BINC (Book Industry Charitable Foundation with your purchase!
Pay $1 or more to get: A Couple of Cuckoos, Vol. 1 Police in a Pod, Vol. 1 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vol. 1 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 1
Pay $10 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 6-10 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 2-3 Police in a Pod, Vols. 2-4 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 2-3 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 2-3 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 2 Dawn of the Witch, Vol. 1
Pay $20 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 1-5 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 4-5 Police in a Pod, Vols. 5-7 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 4-5 Tokyo Mew Mew Omnibus, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 4-6 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 3 Dawn of the Witch, Vols. 2-3
Discover the manga that inspired some of the year’s new and most popular anime series with the Kodansha 2022 Anime Recap from Kodansha and Humble Bundle! Join the search for the world’s greatest striker in the football saga Blue Lock. Get caught up in the historical fantasy timeslip comedy of Ya Boy Kongming!. Follow the story of Nagi and Erika, two teens caught up in the switched-at-birth comedy of A Couple of Cuckoos, and much more, and help support BINC (Book Industry Charitable Foundation with your purchase!
Pay $1 or more to get: A Couple of Cuckoos, Vol. 1 Police in a Pod, Vol. 1 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vol. 1 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 1
Pay $10 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 6-10 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 2-3 Police in a Pod, Vols. 2-4 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 2-3 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 2-3 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 2 Dawn of the Witch, Vol. 1
Pay $20 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 1-5 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 4-5 Police in a Pod, Vols. 5-7 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 4-5 Tokyo Mew Mew Omnibus, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 4-6 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 3 Dawn of the Witch, Vols. 2-3
Discover the manga that inspired some of the year’s new and most popular anime series with the Kodansha 2022 Anime Recap from Kodansha and Humble Bundle! Join the search for the world’s greatest striker in the football saga Blue Lock. Get caught up in the historical fantasy timeslip comedy of Ya Boy Kongming!. Follow the story of Nagi and Erika, two teens caught up in the switched-at-birth comedy of A Couple of Cuckoos, and much more, and help support BINC (Book Industry Charitable Foundation with your purchase!
Pay $1 or more to get: A Couple of Cuckoos, Vol. 1 Police in a Pod, Vol. 1 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vol. 1 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 1
Pay $10 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 6-10 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 2-3 Police in a Pod, Vols. 2-4 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 2-3 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 2-3 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 2 Dawn of the Witch, Vol. 1
Pay $20 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 1-5 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 4-5 Police in a Pod, Vols. 5-7 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 4-5 Tokyo Mew Mew Omnibus, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 4-6 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 3 Dawn of the Witch, Vols. 2-3
Discover the manga that inspired some of the year’s new and most popular anime series with the Kodansha 2022 Anime Recap from Kodansha and Humble Bundle! Join the search for the world’s greatest striker in the football saga Blue Lock. Get caught up in the historical fantasy timeslip comedy of Ya Boy Kongming!. Follow the story of Nagi and Erika, two teens caught up in the switched-at-birth comedy of A Couple of Cuckoos, and much more, and help support BINC (Book Industry Charitable Foundation with your purchase!
Pay $1 or more to get: A Couple of Cuckoos, Vol. 1 Police in a Pod, Vol. 1 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vol. 1 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 1
Pay $10 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 6-10 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 2-3 Police in a Pod, Vols. 2-4 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 2-3 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 2-3 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 2 Dawn of the Witch, Vol. 1
Pay $20 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 1-5 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 4-5 Police in a Pod, Vols. 5-7 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 4-5 Tokyo Mew Mew Omnibus, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 4-6 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 3 Dawn of the Witch, Vols. 2-3
Discover the manga that inspired some of the year’s new and most popular anime series with the Kodansha 2022 Anime Recap from Kodansha and Humble Bundle! Join the search for the world’s greatest striker in the football saga Blue Lock. Get caught up in the historical fantasy timeslip comedy of Ya Boy Kongming!. Follow the story of Nagi and Erika, two teens caught up in the switched-at-birth comedy of A Couple of Cuckoos, and much more, and help support BINC (Book Industry Charitable Foundation with your purchase!
Pay $1 or more to get: A Couple of Cuckoos, Vol. 1 Police in a Pod, Vol. 1 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vol. 1 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 1
Pay $10 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 6-10 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 2-3 Police in a Pod, Vols. 2-4 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 2-3 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 2-3 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 2 Dawn of the Witch, Vol. 1
Pay $20 or more to get: Blue Lock, Vols. 1-5 A Couple of Cuckoos, Vols. 4-5 Police in a Pod, Vols. 5-7 Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Vols. 4-5 Tokyo Mew Mew Omnibus, Vol. 1 Ya Boy Kongming!, Vols. 4-6 When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, Vol. 3 Dawn of the Witch, Vols. 2-3
