Hello all,

Fall is officially here, bringing cool weather, hot tea, and new releases.

This month, we’re excited to share some key updates on The Booksellers’ List, Popcorn & Pages, and the 2027 RISE Bookselling Conference. You’ll also find a round-up of resources to make holiday planning easier. 

Happy reading!

TBL Updates

Nominate now

Booksellers: only 2.5 weeks remain to nominate books for TBL Winter 2027! We welcome all CIBA Bookseller Members to nominate titles for an adult or young adult audience published January 1-March 31, 2027.

The nomination deadline is Monday, November 2. Titles can be nominated via:

TBL 2027 Program Dates

We are excited to share our TBL campaign dates and deadlines for 2027. You can find all program information in the image below and on our website. We hope you’ll join us in supporting this important program!

TBL Kids 2026 Correction

After launching TBL Kids on October 6, we learned of an error in our graphics. Henri and Miko: Winter in Bosk Olivette was mistakenly listed as having a Canadian author. We've now removed the maple leaf from graphics featuring this title—please find updated images in our marketing toolkit.

Our sincere apologies for the error.

Register Now: Upcoming Events

Sound Investment: Maximizing the Libro.fm Revenue Stream
Thursday, October 22
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland

Independent bookstores operate on famously thin margins, where rising operational costs and fixed retail realities require creative, diversified revenue streams to survive and thrive. Join Lee Hooyboer, Senior Manager of Bookseller Partnerships at Libro.fm, for an actionable, toolkit-focused session dedicated to transforming your Libro.fm sales into a sustainable, low-effort, high-efficiency revenue stream for your store.

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Event Recording: The Magazine Mix

Want to make your store’s magazine section more varied, vibrant, and engaging to readers? Check out our latest event recording!

In this session, representatives from Magazines Canada spoke about a wide range of Canadian magazines, including literary and art journals, hobby and special-interest magazines, and kids’ magazines. They also discussed distribution channels, order processes, display tips, and more.

Not a CIBA member? Join now to access a range of benefits, including access to live events, recordings, and other business resources. 

Popcorn & Pages Updates

CIBA’s Popcorn & Pages partnership with Landmark Cinemas continues this fall, connecting book lovers with the biggest book-to-screen adaptations.

Advance screening schedule

Our next advance screening is Wildwood on October 20. Member bookstores in participating markets will receive screening tickets to share with customers through giveaways or as a gift-with-purchase. One indie will also attend to meet readers and sell books before each screening. We are grateful to the participating bookstores and HarperCollins Canada for supporting this event.

The final advance screening of the year will be The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping on November 17. We'll share more details with participating bookstores soon.

In both cases, members in non-screening markets may also receive Ticket & Treat vouchers for customers to see Wildwood and Sunrise on the Reaping in theatres once they are open to the public. To secure vouchers for your nearest Landmark, please email Kayla Calder.

Other upcoming adaptations

Several other major adaptations are coming this fall. These releases offer a great opportunity to revisit backlist titles, tie-in editions, displays, and social content around books heading to the screen.

Upcoming theatrical releases include Whalefall and Sense and Sensibility (October 16), Klara and the Sun (October 23), and Victorian Psycho (November 13). Adaptations hitting streamers soon include The Mosquito Bowl and Nocturne (October 30), The Good Daughter (November 12), and Way of the Warrior Kid (November 25).

Members are encouraged to revisit CIBA’s Book-to-Screen Adaptation Calendar to help plan ordering and displays for the coming months.

Preparing for the Holiday Season

The holiday shopping season is just around the corner! Whether you're putting the finishing touches on your gift guides, planning in-store events, or preparing for the seasonal rush, CIBA has resources and updates to help you make the most of the busiest time of year.

Key resources for booksellers

Check out recent event recordings in the Member Portal. In Holiday Success Starts Here: Tips from Penguin Random House Canada, booksellers will find practical tips and insights to help prepare for a successful season. In Ask the Bookseller: Creating Holiday Gift Guides That Work, learn how some indie booksellers approach creating gift guides that drive holiday sales.

CIBA Bookstore Members should also review our latest Supplier Relations updates for important info on distribution delays, service standards, and ordering considerations. As a reminder, booksellers should place orders holiday orders as early as possible.

Libro.fm’s holiday campaign

Libro.fm has released its 2026 Holiday Gifting Toolkit to help booksellers promote audiobooks this holiday season. The toolkit includes digital and printable marketing assets featuring artwork by Subin Yang, suggested copy, tips, key dates, and more.

Libro.fm also shared some steps to help booksellers get ready:

If they haven’t already, booksellers are also encouraged to create an audiobooks page on their website or have Libro. fm build one.

CIBA's holiday marketing plans

CIBA will also encourage Canadians to shop indie this holiday season via our public-facing newsletter and a series of shareable social media posts.

As in past years, our streamlined campaign will encourage readers to shop early, celebrate indie expertise, and promote gift cards as thoughtful holiday gifts. We will also create content for Small Business Saturday (November 28).

Instead of producing a separate holiday marketing toolkit, we're focused on content that bookstores can easily share. Keep an eye on our social channels to share our posts on your feeds and stories.

Here's to a fruitful holiday season for Canadian indie bookstores!

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Q4 Notable Public Dates Calendar

To help members plan their marketing activities, CIBA maintains a living calendar of key dates, including public holidays, themed days/weeks/months, award announcements, and more. You can access this resource as a date-based list or a traditional calendar.

We also create a printable resource for the coming quarter. Members can access the October-December resource and the full calendar here.

Please email us with any questions.

RISE Bookselling Conference: Remaining Tickets Available October 22

The second round of ticket sales for the 2027 RISE Bookselling Conference in Galway, Ireland, opens Thursday, October 22. At this time, all remaining tickets will be available to booksellers worldwide on a first-come, first-served basis.

Booksellers hoping to attend should subscribe to the RISE Bookselling newsletter to receive the registration list. You can sign up on the RISE website by scrolling to the bottom third of the page.

With limited tickets available and many booksellers hoping to attend, we also encourage people to set a calendar reminder for themselves. Good luck!

BookNet Canada: September Sales & Insights

How did Canadian indies perform last month? BookNet Canada is here to help!

Some highlights:

  • Overall year-to-date (YTD) sales are up 7% over last YTD
  • Titles by Canadian contributors are up 8% over last YTD
  • Fiction sales are up 20% over last YTD, and up 29% over September 2025

The report also highlights top-selling September releases by Canadian writers, including End Times Fascism, Exit Party, Housing Inc., The Birthing Tree, The Sorceress of Sky Serpents, and Women Walking, all of which were selected for TBL Fall 2026.

Members can read the full report in the Member Portal.
 

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