Annual Member Awards

We present two awards to members of our community at the annual Fall Conference: the Saul Gilman Award for sales representatives (which is awarded by the NEIBA board) and the Independent Spirit Award for independent bookstores (which is awarded by BPRNE).

The Saul Gilman Award

The Saul Gilman Award is presented annually for outstanding service as a sales representative to New England independent bookstores.

To be eligible, a sales representative cannot have won in the last ten years.

Past Winners

• 2025: Keith Arsenault, Chesapeake & Hudson

• 2024: Ben White, Macmillan

• 2023: Jason Rice, Ingram Content Group

• 2022: Susie Albert, Penguin Random House

• 2021: Stacie Williams, Ingram Publisher Services

• 2020: Suzette Ciancio, W.W. Norton

• 2019: Emily Cervone, Chronicle Books

• 2018: Kate Sullivan, Random House Children’s Books

• 2017: Maureen Karb, Como Sales

• 2016: Anne DeCourcey, HarperCollins

• 2015: Biff Donovan, Penguin Children’s

• 2014: Debra Woodward, Candlewick

• 2013: Nikki Mutch, Scholastic

• 2012: Bob Werner, Macmillan

• 2011: Ann Wachur, Penguin Group

• 2010: Ellen Pyle, Macmillan

• 2009: Roger Saginario, Hachette

• 2008: Tony Giordano, New England Book Sales

• 2007: Katie McGarry, Simon & Schuster

• 2006: Peter Redding, Como Sales

• 2005: Bill Palizzolo, Northeast Publishers Reps

• 2004: John Muse, Simon & Schuster

• 2003: Random House New England Sales Force

• 2002: Nanci McCrackin

• 2001: Karen Gudmundson, HarperCollins

• 2000: Marc Seager

• 1999: Adena Siegel, Harvard/MIT/Yale University

• 1998: Karl Krueger, Penguin

• 1997: David Epstein

• 1996: Horace Coward, University Marketing

• 1995: Alan Fairbanks, Little Brown

• 1994: Arnold Nickelsberg, New England Book Sales

• 1993: Ralph Woodward, Woodward & Consolino

• 1992: Raymond “Bud” Fairbanks, Random House

• 1991: Jane Sherrill, St. Martin’s

• 1990: Hal Wilson

The Independent Spirit Award

The Independent Spirit Award presented by the Book Publishers Representatives of New England (BPRNE) recognizes the New England independent bookstore of the year.

Candidates shall be a current member of New England Independent Booksellers Association, principally a bookstore, have been in business for three years or more, and have exhibited creative excellence in the broad spectrum of retail book selling.

Recommendations for a particular bookstore are open to the BPRNE membership. Each year any member may submit the name of one nominee accompanied by a short statement in support of the choice. The submittals should be sent to the Officers at least two weeks before the spring meeting. The officers will prepare a ballot of all qualifying nominees for the spring meeting for a discussion and a vote by the attending membership. In the event of a tie, there shall be a run-off.

Past Winners

• 2025: The Silver Unicorn Bookshop in Acton, MA

• 2024: Charter Books in Newport, RI

• 2023: Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, VT

• 2022: Titcomb's Bookshop in East Sandwich, MA

• 2021: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT

• 2020: All NEIBA Member Bookstores

• 2019: Wellesley Books in Wellesley, MA

• 2018: Eight Cousins Bookstore in Falmouth, MA

• 2017: Water Street Bookstore in Exeter, NH

• 2016: Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT

• 2015: Phoenix Books in Essex in Burlington & Rutland, VT

• 2014: Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, NH

• 2013: Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, VT

• 2012: Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, MA

• 2011: Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT

• 2010: Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, MA

• 2009: Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA

• 2008: Maine Coast Book Shop in Damariscotta, ME

• 2007: New England Mobile Book Fair in Newton, MA

• 2006: Brunswick Bookland in Brunswick, ME

• 2005: Toadstool Bookshops in Nashua, Peterborough & Keene, NH