Heartland Fall Forum is the premiere gathering place for independent bookstores throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes and those doing business with them.
October 6 - 9, 2024
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Hilton Milwaukee City Center
Join us in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a three-day celebration of independent bookselling, including awards celebrations, author events, bookstore tours, education, networking, and a vibrant trade show floor where booksellers and our industry partners can do business together and get to know one another. Heartland Fall Forum is hosted collaboratively by the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association. We can't wait to see you all in Milwaukee!
This Buyers retreat offers learning and sharing opportunities, starting with "Ideas that Work" and general education. Buyers will join breakout groups on inventory, marketing, and staff utilization. Enhance your buying skills and network.
This retreat for events and marketing staff begins with "ideas that work" and educational sessions. Participants will join breakout groups on topics like author events, social media, AI, and book bans, ending with key insights.
This Managers-only retreat covers management essentials with practical case studies. It starts with "Ideas That Work," followed by sessions and breakout groups on staff management, HR, co-op, and leadership.
The retreat will begin with "ideas that work," followed by education and breakout groups on topics like non-traditional models, core business areas, and ownership dynamics.
Enjoy hearing from Ada Calhoun, Nickolas Butler, Emi Watanabe Cohen, Denise Williams, and Alice Austen as they discuss their newest books, followed by a book signing with all authors.
Learn the ropes with veterans during this walk-through of the show experience designed for booksellers who are new to Heartland or have been in bookselling for less than a year.
Celebrate the award-winning authors of the Heartland Booksellers Award and the Voice of the Heartland Award. The vibrant Ira Madison III will host. Authors will hold a book signing for booksellers to meet them after the awards are presented.
The gorgeous Milwaukee Public Library, 3 blocks away from the site of Heartland (7 minute walk), is an inspiring public institution dedicated to literary discovery.
Entry to Heartland is free to all booksellers, so we ask you to attend the free Rep Picks Breakfast. Attendees will enjoy breakfast while listening to our publishing partners pitch their forthcoming books.
A free, fun, and engaging lunch will be provided for all bookseller attendees with programming from Ex Fabula, a nonprofit that connects Milwaukee through true stories.
Huddle up in the Hilton, which happens to be located in a haunted corner of Milwaukee, for a creepy and compelling ghost story happy hour, brought to you by author Anna Lardinois, sponsored by Arcadia Publishers.
Join your friends to mount a veritable summit of formidable literary trivia at our annual competition. Join a team of up to 6 at the event or prepare your perfect team ahead of time. All are invited to join and no registration is not required.
Eve Ewing is the author of Original Sins (Penguin Random House 2/2025). In Original Sins, "Ewing makes the case that there should be a profound re-evaluation of what schools are supposed to do, and for whom."
ABA will discuss cash flow tools briefly then guide stores through ten essential steps to improve your store’s cash flow, financial stability, and long-term resilience.
Take your Edelweiss skills to the next level! This session for experienced buyers covers optimizing order setup, using reviews and catalog content for strategic decisions, and leveraging tags and notes for improved team communication and workflow.
Source and support BIPOC sideline vendors while broadening customer perspectives. This session offers creative cross-merchandising strategies for a more inclusive shopping experience. Don’t miss Microcosm Publishing's live display on October 8.
Join us for a session on business operations tailored for mid-level booksellers. Learn essential tools, create effective documentation, and enhance project management skills to streamline operations and boost your bookstore's efficiency.
Join us to address rising operational costs affecting bookstores. From payroll hikes to new competition, learn how to adjust budgets and share cost-cutting strategies. Pool knowledge on savings, from reusable towels to lower credit card fees.
Empower your bookstore staff with Edelweiss! This session for non-buyers shows how to showcase staff reading preferences to sales reps, access digital review copies, and improve team communication on upcoming titles, boosting knowledge and sales.
Join Jason and Monique from Blue Cactus Photography for a hands-on session on photography basics. Learn to use your phone, master lighting, and stage shots for eye-catching photos that enhance your store’s website, social media, and event marketing.
Learn to leverage ABACUS, the annual benchmarking survey, to boost your bookstore's financial health. Experienced booksellers will guide you in interpreting reports and show how your results can help you optimize financial operations at your bookstore.
Cybersecurity 101 for bookstore owners: Learn essential best practices to protect your business, avoid scams, and enhance security with easy, actionable tips. Ideal for those looking to boost cybersecurity without getting bogged down in technical details.
Learn from experienced booksellers as they share lessons, challenges, and insights. Topics include bookselling fundamentals, building publisher relationships, handling customer microaggressions, thriving as a BIPOC bookseller, and collaborating locally.
Explore strategies for successful author events, focusing on social media tactics. Learn to optimize tags, identify sales-driving authors locally and beyond, and build strong, profitable relationships to boost your store’s event success.
Join the final session of Heartland Fall Forum to explore how Milwaukee Public Library's TikTok uses humor, pop culture, and engagement to reach readers. Learn how booksellers can apply these strategies, followed by a moderated discussion and Q&A.
Endings can be hard. We will host a casual book swap, announce the winners of the show floor BINGO card challenge, and facilitate a collection of social opportunities to head out and enjoy the night with friends new and old.
Eve Ewing is the author of Original Sins (Penguin Random House 2/2025). In Original Sins, "Ewing makes the case that there should be a profound re-evaluation of what schools are supposed to do, and for whom."
Ada Calhoun is the author of Crush (Penguin 2/2025), described as "a sumptuous exploration of how desire takes us over without a shred of moral hedging"
Butler is the bestselling author of Shotgun Lovesongs. His upcoming title is A Forty Year Kiss (Sourcebooks 2/2025). It has been described as "a big-hearted, comforting novel about second chances—at love, at recovery, at forgiveness and redemption."
Alice Austen is the author of 33 Place Brugmann (Grove Atlantic 3/2025). Austen's title has been described as "an achingly suspenseful historical novel, sad at moments, but always intriguing, with a complex cast of vivid and involving characters."
Emi Watanabe Cohen is the author of Golemcrafters (Levine Querido 12/2024), whose story "travels from the most awkward surface tensions to the beautiful depths of Jewish culture and lore for a tale of magical and emotional discovery"
Eve Ewing is the author of Original Sins (Penguin Random House 2/2025). In Original Sins, "Ewing makes the case that there should be a profound re-evaluation of what schools are supposed to do, and for whom."
Ada Calhoun is the author of Crush (Penguin 2/2025), described as "a sumptuous exploration of how desire takes us over without a shred of moral hedging"
Butler is the bestselling author of Shotgun Lovesongs. His upcoming title is A Forty Year Kiss (Sourcebooks 2/2025). It has been described as "a big-hearted, comforting novel about second chances—at love, at recovery, at forgiveness and redemption."
Alice Austen is the author of 33 Place Brugmann (Grove Atlantic 3/2025). Austen's title has been described as "an achingly suspenseful historical novel, sad at moments, but always intriguing, with a complex cast of vivid and involving characters."
Emi Watanabe Cohen is the author of Golemcrafters (Levine Querido 12/2024), whose story "travels from the most awkward surface tensions to the beautiful depths of Jewish culture and lore for a tale of magical and emotional discovery"
Eve Ewing is the author of Original Sins (Penguin Random House 2/2025). In Original Sins, "Ewing makes the case that there should be a profound re-evaluation of what schools are supposed to do, and for whom."
Ada Calhoun is the author of Crush (Penguin 2/2025), described as "a sumptuous exploration of how desire takes us over without a shred of moral hedging"
Butler is the bestselling author of Shotgun Lovesongs. His upcoming title is A Forty Year Kiss (Sourcebooks 2/2025). It has been described as "a big-hearted, comforting novel about second chances—at love, at recovery, at forgiveness and redemption."
Alice Austen is the author of 33 Place Brugmann (Grove Atlantic 3/2025). Austen's title has been described as "an achingly suspenseful historical novel, sad at moments, but always intriguing, with a complex cast of vivid and involving characters."
Emi Watanabe Cohen is the author of Golemcrafters (Levine Querido 12/2024), whose story "travels from the most awkward surface tensions to the beautiful depths of Jewish culture and lore for a tale of magical and emotional discovery"
Through its seven main imprints, AdventureKEEN publishes books that get readers outside. From hiking guides and bird identification guides to children’s books and cookbooks, the company is a go-to source for readers who love nature and wildlife.
Libro.fm is an employee-owned Social Purpose Corporation that shares profits from audiobook purchases with bookshops, giving readers the power to keep money within your local economy.
An independent publisher since 1975, Andrews McMeel Publishing specializes in comics and graphic novels, illustrated humor, poetry, and inspirational books for both kids and adults.
A modern POS and inventory management system designed for independent booksellers. Integrated with Edelweiss, Edelweiss Analytics, E360, IndieCommerce, Pubnet, Ingram, Bookazine, Square POS and more.
Be sure to stop by the Book Industry Charitable Foundation's exhibit at #436-439 to bid on the silent auction. Auction items are donated by exhibitors and all proceeds go BINC.
Blackstone Publishing's uncompromising dedication to superior content, award-winning authors and narrators, and eye-catching packaging amounts to the highest quality print and audio books available in retail, libraries, and online.
Disruption Books is a publisher of nonfiction books in all formats. We believe that a brilliant idea can change the world. But first, it has to change minds.
Publishing celebrated non-fiction books since 1989. We explore the dark and musty corners of culture and tell stories of forgotten creators and thinkers.
Fulcrum Publishing is a leading independent publisher of literary works that explore conservation and stewardship, American culture, civics, and the American West.
Established in 2018, HarperCollins Focus owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints, that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community.
Join the Independent Publishers Caucus and IPC member presses Haymarket Books, NBM Graphics, and Book*hug Press at Booth #534! Check out the presses latest titles, as well as opportunities to connect with all of IPC's independent publisher members.
IPG represents a global range of publishers and books for every kind of reader and on every imaginable subject from art, biography, cooking, children's books crafts, fiction, health, history, parenting, pop culture, spirituality, sports, and spanish.
The Indiana Historical Society Press collects and shares unique stories about Indiana’s people and places as well as Indiana’s contributions to national history, industry, and society.
Indiana University Press’s mission is to inform and inspire scholars, students, and thoughtful general readers by disseminating ideas and knowledge of global significance, regional importance, and lasting value.
Ingram Content Group provides booksellers with content in all forms. With an expansive global network, Ingram’s services include digital & physical book distribution, print-on-demand, and more.
Since 1947, InterVarsity Press (IVP) has been publishing thoughtful Christian books that shape both the lives of readers and the cultures they inhabit.
Knock Knock puts the fun in functional, creating pads, planners, journals and books to help people accomplish their goals, express their feelings, and laugh at the absurdity of modern existence.
Orca Book Publishers is an independently owned children’s book publisher of award-winning, bestselling books. Orca prides itself on publishing Canadian authors and illustrators and bringing them to a wider market.
Princeton University Press is a nonprofit publisher that brings influential voices and ideas to the world stage through their academic scholarship, advancing the frontiers of scholarly knowledge and promoting the human conversation.
Authentic Stories and Illustrations Reflecting the Voice and Vision of Children
At REYCRAFT BOOKS our mission is to create books of interest for ALL children.
Steerforth Press and Pushkin Press, publishing the world’s best stories, novels, narrative non-fiction, crime, and children’s books — everything from timeless classics to the urgent and contemporary —are distributed by Penguin Random House.
Trio House Press is an indie nonprofit press located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, publishing memoirs, creative nonfiction, and poetry by underrepresented writers.
Tyndale products include many New York Times best sellers, including the popular Left Behind fiction series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, novels by Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury and Joel C. Rosenberg, plus numerous nonfiction works.
At Union Square & Co. our mission is to publish books and products with a point of view. We promote excellence in contemporary book publishing and honor the vision of our creators by providing best-in-class editorial and design.
The University of Minnesota Press is best known as a publisher of groundbreaking work in a variety of scholarly fields, as well as works on the cultural and natural heritage of the upper Midwest region.
The University of Nebraska Press publishes both scholarly and general interest books under its Nebraska, Bison Books, Potomac Books, and Backwaters Press imprints, and in partnership with the Jewish Publication Society.
The University of Notre Dame Press, the largest Catholic university press in the world, publishes academic and general interest books that engage the most enduring questions of our time.
The University of Wisconsin Press is a not-for-profit publisher of books and journals. Its mission embodies the Wisconsin Idea by publishing work of distinction that serves the people of Wisconsin and the world.
The University Press of Kentucky is the statewide nonprofit scholarly publisher for Kentucky, serving all state-sponsored institutions of higher learning as well as eight private colleges and Kentucky’s two major historical societies.
Wayne State University Press is a distinctive publisher of exceptional books and journals based in and shaped by the city of Detroit.
Fulfillment through Hopkins Fulfillment Services.
Since publishing its first book in 1855, the Wisconsin Historical Society Press has connected people to the past while illuminating the relevance of history in our lives today.
Through its seven main imprints, AdventureKEEN publishes books that get readers outside. From hiking guides and bird identification guides to children’s books and cookbooks, the company is a go-to source for readers who love nature and wildlife.
Libro.fm is an employee-owned Social Purpose Corporation that shares profits from audiobook purchases with bookshops, giving readers the power to keep money within your local economy.
An independent publisher since 1975, Andrews McMeel Publishing specializes in comics and graphic novels, illustrated humor, poetry, and inspirational books for both kids and adults.
A modern POS and inventory management system designed for independent booksellers. Integrated with Edelweiss, Edelweiss Analytics, E360, IndieCommerce, Pubnet, Ingram, Bookazine, Square POS and more.
Be sure to stop by the Book Industry Charitable Foundation's exhibit at #436-439 to bid on the silent auction. Auction items are donated by exhibitors and all proceeds go BINC.
Blackstone Publishing's uncompromising dedication to superior content, award-winning authors and narrators, and eye-catching packaging amounts to the highest quality print and audio books available in retail, libraries, and online.
Disruption Books is a publisher of nonfiction books in all formats. We believe that a brilliant idea can change the world. But first, it has to change minds.
Publishing celebrated non-fiction books since 1989. We explore the dark and musty corners of culture and tell stories of forgotten creators and thinkers.
Fulcrum Publishing is a leading independent publisher of literary works that explore conservation and stewardship, American culture, civics, and the American West.
Established in 2018, HarperCollins Focus owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints, that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community.
Join the Independent Publishers Caucus and IPC member presses Haymarket Books, NBM Graphics, and Book*hug Press at Booth #534! Check out the presses latest titles, as well as opportunities to connect with all of IPC's independent publisher members.
IPG represents a global range of publishers and books for every kind of reader and on every imaginable subject from art, biography, cooking, children's books crafts, fiction, health, history, parenting, pop culture, spirituality, sports, and spanish.
The Indiana Historical Society Press collects and shares unique stories about Indiana’s people and places as well as Indiana’s contributions to national history, industry, and society.
Indiana University Press’s mission is to inform and inspire scholars, students, and thoughtful general readers by disseminating ideas and knowledge of global significance, regional importance, and lasting value.
Ingram Content Group provides booksellers with content in all forms. With an expansive global network, Ingram’s services include digital & physical book distribution, print-on-demand, and more.
Since 1947, InterVarsity Press (IVP) has been publishing thoughtful Christian books that shape both the lives of readers and the cultures they inhabit.
Knock Knock puts the fun in functional, creating pads, planners, journals and books to help people accomplish their goals, express their feelings, and laugh at the absurdity of modern existence.
Orca Book Publishers is an independently owned children’s book publisher of award-winning, bestselling books. Orca prides itself on publishing Canadian authors and illustrators and bringing them to a wider market.
Princeton University Press is a nonprofit publisher that brings influential voices and ideas to the world stage through their academic scholarship, advancing the frontiers of scholarly knowledge and promoting the human conversation.
Authentic Stories and Illustrations Reflecting the Voice and Vision of Children
At REYCRAFT BOOKS our mission is to create books of interest for ALL children.
Steerforth Press and Pushkin Press, publishing the world’s best stories, novels, narrative non-fiction, crime, and children’s books — everything from timeless classics to the urgent and contemporary —are distributed by Penguin Random House.
Trio House Press is an indie nonprofit press located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, publishing memoirs, creative nonfiction, and poetry by underrepresented writers.
Tyndale products include many New York Times best sellers, including the popular Left Behind fiction series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, novels by Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury and Joel C. Rosenberg, plus numerous nonfiction works.
At Union Square & Co. our mission is to publish books and products with a point of view. We promote excellence in contemporary book publishing and honor the vision of our creators by providing best-in-class editorial and design.
The University of Minnesota Press is best known as a publisher of groundbreaking work in a variety of scholarly fields, as well as works on the cultural and natural heritage of the upper Midwest region.
The University of Nebraska Press publishes both scholarly and general interest books under its Nebraska, Bison Books, Potomac Books, and Backwaters Press imprints, and in partnership with the Jewish Publication Society.
The University of Notre Dame Press, the largest Catholic university press in the world, publishes academic and general interest books that engage the most enduring questions of our time.
The University of Wisconsin Press is a not-for-profit publisher of books and journals. Its mission embodies the Wisconsin Idea by publishing work of distinction that serves the people of Wisconsin and the world.
The University Press of Kentucky is the statewide nonprofit scholarly publisher for Kentucky, serving all state-sponsored institutions of higher learning as well as eight private colleges and Kentucky’s two major historical societies.
Wayne State University Press is a distinctive publisher of exceptional books and journals based in and shaped by the city of Detroit.
Fulfillment through Hopkins Fulfillment Services.
Since publishing its first book in 1855, the Wisconsin Historical Society Press has connected people to the past while illuminating the relevance of history in our lives today.
