Educators: Brad Johnson, East Bay Booksellers; Casey Plett, Little Puss; James Crossley, Leviathan Bookstore, Javier Ramirez, Exile in Bookville; Mona Bismuth, Other Press Independent presses are vital to a vibrant literary ecosystem and many booksellers have built lasting, fruitful relationships with them. In this session, veteran booksellers with decades of experience will share how they work with their favorite indie presses, what makes those relationships successful, and the titles they’re most excited about. Representatives from independent publishers will also offer insight into how stores can better connect with smaller presses, from ordering and event planning to marketing and communication. Whether you're looking to deepen your existing relationships or build new ones, this session will offer inspiration and practical strategies for working together to bring bold, original books to your customers.