November 10th – New Plans for Iconic Tattered Cover
WHERE: The Historic Denver Press Club, 1330 Glenarm Place, Denver, second
floor.
WHEN: Thursday, November 10th. 6:30 p.m. conversation and cash bar; 7:00
p.m. Dinner; and 8:00 p.m. Program
COST: Via PayPal, cost for the meeting with meal is $20 for members; $23 for
non-members. Payment at door for meeting with meal is $25 for everyone!
Attending the meeting without meal is $5 through PayPal and at the door.
RSVPs are necessary. Please email our Caterer Director,
<mailto:spat87506> Susan Paturzo by Monday, November 7th, to
ensure your reservation or simply RSVP and pay via PayPal on the
<http://www.rmmwa.org/> website! Walk-ins are welcome if space and food
allows.
MENU: Balsamic marinated London broil served on a bed of caramelized red
onions and mushrooms with garlic mashed potatoes along with a grilled
vegetable salad ~ marinated and grilled seasonal vegetables and feta cheese,
atop a bed of organic spring greens with sun dried tomato vinaigrette.
Program details:
Kristen Gilligan and Len Vlahos: "We Just Bought America’s Most Iconic Indie
Bookstore.Now What Do We Do?"
The bookstore in question is the Tattered Cover and Kristen and Len’s
presentation will cover items of great interest to authors, including trends
they’re seeing, future plans for the stores, their personal histories
working with books, and a brief history of disruption in the book industry.
With four locations in and around Denver, and three branded locations at
Denver International Airport, Tattered Cover is an iconic brand not only in
Colorado, but nationally. Built over four decades by current owner, the
legendary Joyce Meskis, the stores are known for an inviting atmosphere, a
large and well-curated selection of books, a robust schedule of author
events, full service coffee shops, and legendary customer service.
Before joining Tattered Cover, Len was the Executive Director of the Book
Industry Study Group, a national not-for-profit trade association doing
standards, research, and education on behalf of the entire book industry.
Prior to that, Len spent nearly twenty years at the American Booksellers
Association (ABA) where he served a variety of roles, including overseeing
ABA’s e-commerce and education programs, leaving in 2011 as Chief Operating
Officer. In his early career Len worked in indie, chain, and university
bookstores. He has also served on the boards of directors for EDItEUR, the
International Digital Publishing Forum, and as a citizen’s advisor to the
Stamford Public Library. Len is also the author of *The Scar Boys* (Lerner),
a critically acclaimed young adult novel published in January 2014 and its
sequel, *Scar Girl* (Lerner. He is under contract with Bloomsbury Kids USA
to publish to new YA novels in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Kristen also worked at ABA, where, for a decade, she held a variety of
positions, including Director of Meetings and Events. As a member of the
ABA’s senior staff, Kristen was privy to and participated in strategic
discussions on the current state and future of the book industry with many
of the industry’s leaders. She was also directly involved in the creation of
ABA’s education program; assisted and counseled potential members on opening
a bookstore; managed ABA’s public relations and publicity; and advocated on
behalf of independent booksellers on First Amendment issues, Internet sales
tax, and the development of sustainable local economies. During her tenure
at ABA, Kristen was a member of the American Society of Association
Executives and sat on the Children’s Booksellers & Publishers Committee, a
joint group of ABA, the Association of American Publishers, and the
Children’s Book Council. Before joining ABA, Kristen managed an independent
bookstore in her hometown of Chappaqua, New York.
Kristen and Len are actively involved in the education of their two sons,
Charlie (age seven) and Luke (age five). They live in Littleton, Colorado
with one very large cat.
(Parking at the Denver Press Club usually runs $5 after 6 p.m., but
sometimes if there are special events in town, the rate will bump higher. If
you need directions, <http://bit.ly/1YUFHFe> click here.)
Book Organizations of Colorado 