For Cliff Knighten, installed in February as executive director of the Catholic Book Publishers Association, the show offers "a significant opportunity for these members to connect with trade bookstores, renew relationships and introduce new products."

RBTE President Bob Byrns said the event was "all about vendors getting together to sell and (to) meet retailers. It's a mutual business, it's a mutual struggle, and let's do this as best we can in light of each of our own experiences."

Wednesday's luncheon speaker is Bert Ghezzi, who wrote Everyday Encounters With God with Benedict J. Groeschel (The Word Among Us Press). At Thursday's luncheon, Esther de Waal, author of Seeking Life: The Baptismal Invitation of the Rule of St. Benedict (Liturgical Press), will be the featured speaker.

Other speakers include Richard J. Foster and Gayle D. Beebe, who together wrote the InterVarsity Press book Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion (Formatio/IVP Books), and LeAnn Thieman, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Catholic Faith (Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing) with Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.

Two retail associations--the Catholic Retailers Association and the Episcopal Booksellers Association--have their annual meetings at the show.