Winter/Spring 2023 Indies Introduce Featured Titles

ABA is proud to announce the titles selected for the Winter/Spring 2023 Indies Introduce program.

Each year, the Indies Introduce program brings booksellers together from across the US for conversation and connection centered around exciting upcoming debut adult, middle grade, and young adult titles.

“I’ve had a phenomenal summer thanks to participating in the Kids’ Indies Introduce panel!” said Kids’ Panelist Gabriella Crivilare of Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa, Illionis. “It was such a pleasure to connect with other booksellers. Listening to their thoughts on what makes a book great and discovering their tastes was entertaining and often thought-provoking, and I loved seeing my fellow panelists champion their favorite titles! I also loved being assigned reading (yes, I’m that kind of nerd), as it led me out of my comfort zone to some truly wonderful books. Narrowing the list down to the final selection was excruciating, but started some excellent discussions.”

Adult Panelist Sara Rishforth of Roundabout Books in Bend, Oregon, said, “Being part of the committee made me leave my comfort zone, and I slowly became more comfortable with every call. I really enjoyed talking to friendly booksellers from all over the US and listening to their opinions of the books. I read some incredible debuts, and I’m so excited to handsell the top ten books!”

Once again this year, publishers are offering specials on all titles appearing on the lists.

For stores that have taken part in past Indies Introduce promotions, there’s no need to sign up to take advantage of publishers’ Winter/Spring 2023 offers. However, stores that are new to Indies Introduce must complete the Indies Introduce sign-up form by October 15 in order to participate in the program.

This list is available as a collection on Edelweiss. And, marketing assets for the Winter/Spring 2023 list are available now on BookWeb.org. 

Here are the Winter/Spring 2023 Indies Introduce Kids’ and Adult Debuts:

Adult Debuts

The New Life by Tom Crewe
Scribner, 9781668000830, Hardcover Historical Fiction, $28, On Sale: 1/3/2023.

The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley
Soft Skull Press, 9781593767273, Hardcover Fiction, $27, On Sale: 1/10/2023.

Brutes by Dizz Tate
Catapult, 9781646221677, Hardcover Fiction, $27, On Sale: 2/7/2023.

Endpapers by Jennifer Savran Kelly
Algonquin Books, 9781643751849, Hardcover Fiction, $27, On Sale: 2/7/2023.

The Applicant by Nazlı Koca
Grove Press, 9780802160546, Hardcover Fiction, $26, On Sale: 2/14/2023.

Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin
Henry Holt and Co., 9781250863461, Hardcover Fiction, $26.99, On Sale: 3/21/2023.

Under the Henfluence by Tove Danovich
Agate Surrey, 9781572843219, Hardcover Memoir, $27, On Sale: 3/28/2023.

Carmen and Grace by Melissa Coss Aquino
William Morrow, 9780063159068, Hardcover Fiction, $27.99, On Sale: 4/4/2023.

Saltwater Demands a Psalm: Poems by Kweku Abimbola
Graywolf Press, 9781644452271, Paperback Poetry, $16, On Sale: 4/4/2023.

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
Del Rey, 9780593498286, Paperback Fantasy, $18, On Sale: 5/9/2023.

Kids' Debuts

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
Dial Books, 9780593463338, Hardcover Young Adult, $19.99, On Sale: 1/31/2023.

The Pearl Hunter by Miya T. Beck
Balzer + Bray, 9780063238190, Hardcover Middle Grade, $16.99, On Sale: 2/7/2023.

The Swifts by Beth Lincoln
Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9780593533239, Hardcover Middle Grade, $17.99, On Sale: 2/7/2023.

There Goes The Neighborhood by Jade Adia
Disney-Hyperion, 9781368084321, Hardcover Young Adult, $18.99, On Sale: 3/7/2023.

Hidden Systems by Dan Nott
Random House Graphic, 9781984896049, Paperback Young Adult, $17.99, On Sale: 3/14/2023.

Turtles of the Midnight Moon by María José Fitzgerald
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593488706, Hardcover Middle Grade, $17.99, On Sale: 3/14/2023.

Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans
Clarion Books, 9780358721642, Hardcover Young Adult, $18.99, On Sale: 4/11/2023.

I Kick and I Fly by Ruchira Gupta
Scholastic, 9781338825091, Hardcover Young Adult, $18.99, On Sale: 4/18/2023.

Jude Saves the World by Ronnie Riley
Scholastic, 9781338855876, Hardcover Middle Grade, $18.99, On Sale: 4/18/2023.

Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest
Scholastic, 9781338813838, Hardcover Young Adult, $19.99, On Sale: 4/18/2023.

Bookseller panelists who served on the adult and kids' panels include:

Adult Panelists

Chair: Camden Avery, The Booksmith, San Francisco, CA
Nikita Imafidon, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS
Jason Jefferies, Explore Booksellers, Aspen, CO
Laura Kendall, Second Flight Books, Lafayette, IN
Tanya Parker Mills, The Book Bungalow, St. George, UT
Emerson Perper, Curious Iguana, Frederick, MD
Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books, Beverly, MA
Sara Rishforth, Roundabout Books, Bend, OR

Kids’ Panelists
Chair: Brandi Stewart, Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ
Emily Autenrieth, A Seat at the Table Books, Elk Grove, CA
Kaliisha Cole, Whitelam Books, Reading, MA
Justin Colussy-Estes, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
Gabriella Crivilare, Prairie Fox Books, Ottowa, IL
Earl Dizon, Green Bean Books, Portland, OR
Tory Hall, Chapters Books & Gifts, Seward, NE
Rebekah Shoaf, Boogie Down Books, Bronx, NY