What to expect at March Madness: Week 2

The second week of March Madness brings booksellers to the Gulf Coast for events at Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, LA and The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, AL.

Register here

All March Madness events run from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM local time and include an author luncheon. The general format for all events is:

• 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Education Session presented by hosting store
• 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Author Luncheon
• 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Bookseller Idea Share

Some stores may have special presentations planned, depending on the location and topic. Updated information will be included below and on the event page.

March 12:

In an interview several years ago Rayna Nielsen, one of the co-owners of Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, LA, described one of those nightmare moments all booksellers have faced at some point: a zoom event with Chuck Palahniuk had to be cancelled right at the start because the author couldn't log on. "The attendees were already in the Zoom waiting and they were amazing, they spent over an hour swapping stories and sharing their memorabilia with each other. It was a really special thing to be a part of," said Nielsen.

Blue Cypress Books has created a vibrant social media community through an authentic, personality-forward content approach. Over the last 3 years, this strategy has increased their follower count by over 70% and consistently resulted in both online engagement and in-store sales. In the same time period they have expanded their event space with a move to a new location and added a robust selection of engaging events to their calendar. They will hold a workshop-style overview of their approach, tips and tricks, and tools to help your social media and events work build community among your customers.

March 13:

Owner Angela Trigg says that The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, AL is "haunted by the ghosts of great literature." The store specializes in genre-focused bookselling tailored for Gen Z and Millennial readers, (see what Angela has been reading) offering a unique experience through hyper-categorized genres, engaging staff, and dynamic events. At their March Madness event, they will explore their innovative approach to bookselling, highlighting why they thrive alongside giants like Amazon by focusing on experience over transactions, as illustrated in the owner's 'widget vs. experience-seeking shopper' theory.