We like to be right in the middle of things
If it’s in the middle of the country, we go there. Fujii Associates visit 17 states in all: the 13 traditional Midwestern states, and the TOLA region (Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas).
MEET THE TEAM
OWNER, CALLING ON ALL EDUCATIONAL WHOLESALE & KEY ACCOUNTS
ERIC HEIDEMANN
I began my publishing career before Amazon was founded in Commerce, GA working at a Baker and Taylor pick and pack warehouse (I basically cut the grass) while attending the University of Georgia. I joined National Book Network as a sales rep in 1996 and moved into the vast Midwest covering 13 states in my Mitsubishi sedan. Don Sturtz called me in late 1998 and offered me a better car (Volvo) and a job as a Fujii sales rep covering 6 states; it was an offer I could not refuse (but almost did).
As a reluctant childhood reader myself, I saw the potential of trade publishers represented in schools and libraries through books like Diary of A Wimpy Kid, OK for Now, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, El Deafo, and series like Choose Your Own Adventure and now help publishers reach as many kids and families as possible through accounts like Follett School Solutions, Booksource and Classroom Library Company while also calling on Anderson’s Bookshops in Chicagoland.
Don Sturtz passed the ownership torch to me in 2010 and I now manage Fujii Associates, Book Rep Centraal (Andy Holcomb’s creation), and National Book Travelers from South Georgia, where I still drive a Volvo and cut even more grass than I did at the beginning of my career. I am currently a board member of EBMA (Educational Book and Media Association). I believe books make the world around us better and I am blessed to be surrounded by colleagues who share the same passion.
PRESIDENT EMERITUS, CALLING ON KEY ACCOUNTS
DON STURTZ
Don has sold books in the Midwest for his entire career. Driving his Ford Pinto, he headed into his territory, which included Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Later on, he added Ann Arbor, Michigan to his territory, where he was part of the Border’s and Walden growth. During this time, he purchased Fujii Associates and continued to manage the sales to Borders and Walden while assuming the responsibility of being Principal and owner of the company.
After passing the leadership of Fujii Associates on to Eric in 2010, Don has assumed the role of consultant and advisor. He screens new publishers who are looking for representation, offering his sage advice on how to best sell books and how to successfully navigate the publisher/representative relationship. He is also the initial contact for new bookseller accounts.
Don no longer drives a Ford Pinto. Most days he can be found driving his golf cart and enjoying the golf courses in Savannah, Georgia.
CALLING ON CHICAGO & CENTRAL/NORTH IL, IN, KY, LA, CENTRAL WI
MARK FLEEMAN
I’ve been with Fujii since 1988, many stories, and many miles.
It has been an honor to work around so many talented individuals, publishers, and book accounts in my 30 plus years with Fujii Associates.
The joy of my job is providing a lane for a child to discover a book that will stay in their hearts forever. Eleventh Hour is one of those special discoveries of a book, it encapsulates all that I love about this business. The book puts the reader to work, addresses problems, finds solutions, and ultimately leads to a celebration of community and friendship.
OFFICE MANAGER
ADRIENNE FRANCESCHI
Adrienne has always been a nerdy book lover; her only real punishment as a child was having her library books taken away from her, and she read through all of the Steinbeck section at the library, along with many other classics, by an early age. Books were her one constant love in life, and she was thrilled when she realized that she could make a career out of them! She studied English & Theater at Suffolk University in Boston and then got her Masters in Writing & Publishing at Emerson College.
After a few publishing internships in the Boston area, Adrienne took a leap of faith and moved to New York City to find a job. Luckily, Workman hired her six weeks later in the sales department, where she worked with Barnes & Noble, Borders, Ingram, and Calendar Club–and made many life-long connections. A few years later, while working as the Trade & Gift Sales Manager for Storey Publishing and Timber Press, two of Workman’s imprints, she and her husband moved to Milwaukee–right around the time that former Fujii rep Barb Aaronson was looking to retire. She loved working as a sales rep with the Fujii crew, calling on indie bookstores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois, as well as national accounts like Readerlink.
Adrienne and her family moved back to the east coast in 2021. She still supports the Fujii team part-time in her new role as Office Manager, and her two sons, Gary and Dean, are thankfully big book lovers! These days she is reading a lot of Little Blue Truck and Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site.
CALLING ON SELECT ACCOUNTS IN IL, EASTERN IA, MN, MO, AND MILWAUKEE, WI
JEN ALLEN
Jen and her husband Steve moved to Chicago, IL in 2021 after living in St. Louis for six years. They’ve settled into the Portage Park neighborhood and are within twelve blocks of a number of their best friends, making for fun weekends and board game nights. She and Steve miss their daughter Carrie who decided to make St. Louis home, toasted raviolis, gooey butter cake, and the much more laid-back traffic, but are loving the Windy City.
Jennifer received her B.A. in English from Eastern Illinois University and taught high school English and was a school librarian for a number of years. She was a Collection Development Librarian and Buyer at several educational wholesalers for over 18 years, served on the Board of Directors and as President of EBMA (Education Books & Media Association), and joined Fujii Associates in 2018.
Some key accounts include Women & Children First, Prairie Lights, Red Balloon, Boswell Book Company, Wild Rumpus, Novel Neighbor, and Left Bank Books. She is a board member of the nonprofit organization The Noble Neighbor, which brings books and authors to underserved St. Louis area schools.
Jen, a rabid reader since childhood, believes that getting to talk about books everyday with publishers, bookstores, and educational wholesalers is an absolute dream job! Favorite books are Little Women (Jo March is an idol!), The Secret Garden, Libertie, and John Green’s Will Grayson, Will Grayson (everyone needs a Tiny Cooper in their lives).
CALLING ON AR, LA, OK, AND TX
TOM BOWEN
Tom (or Tommy, either is just fine) joined Fujii Associates in 1997 and has been based in Dallas, Texas for his entire publishing career. Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Tom follows the credo that “I wasn’t born in Texas, but got here as soon as I could!”. He has now lived in his adopted state for over 50 years, and should you want to know where to find a good margarita or equally good Mexican food, he’s your guy.
Upon graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University with a master’s in communication, Tom joined Fujii Associates in 1997. Over the next 25+ years he has cultivated many valued relationships within the independent bookstore community. He additionally partners with specialty accounts such as museums, multi-store retail operations such as Half Price Books and Whole Earth Provision Company, and specialized book wholesalers like Complete Book & Media. Tom also has had a lengthy and ongoing productive relationship with Literati Inc., the subscription box and national book fair operation based in Austin.
Tom and his wife enjoy cooking at home for friends and family, a good joke and travel whenever the opportunity arises. As for finding where the best margarita is in Texas, Tom will tell you it’s unquestionably at his house.
CALLING ON OH + MI, DATABASE MANAGER
ANDY HOLCOMB
I’ve always been surrounded by books. Our house has books in every room, Ann Arbor has always been full of bookstores and the libraries are world-class. I began working in the library in 8th grade and worked in various branches all the way through High School and College.
I was Publisher Liaison and Buyer with Book Inventory Systems/Borders starting in 1992 as they began to grow. It was an exciting time to build systems, stores, and relationships. This is where I met Don Sturtz and his unmatched efficiency, respect and optimism have been my models ever since.
My first Rep job was with McGraw-Hill as a Regional Rep and later as a National Accounts Rep. In 2000, Don hired me into Fujii and I moved to Austin to help cover Texas and Louisiana. With support from the group, my family moved back to Michigan in 2003 and I’ve been in this territory ever since. I feel lucky every day that I am part of Fujii Associates.
My first computer project was in 8th grade when I coded a Tree Identification Program on a TRS-80. This included many breaks to play Asteroids. My next big project was building a Purchase Order System in Apple’s Hypercard for my first job out of college. That system was in use many years after I left. Working at Borders further refined my data chops. With Fujii, when I got my hands on the bones of the Filemaker Ordering System, we were able to abandon 3-part order forms forever.
I manage the data for Fujii and for 20+ reps in our Book Rep Centraal program. I process 20+ unique Onix Data Feeds every week and disseminate those updates across many accounts. I have trained 100+ reps on the Filemaker system and have customized versions for rep groups in the US and Canada, selling books all over the world.
My favorite subjects to read are cooking and professional kitchens ops, Cold War history, and breathwork - Wim Hoff FTW! The authors I read over and over include Gary Schmidt, Emily St. John Mandel, Thomas Perry, Cormac McCarthy and Jeff Vandermeer.
CALLING ON NE, KS, CENTRAL +WESTERN IA, ND, SD, CENTRAL + WESTERN MO.
BETH CHANG
I began my publishing career in New York at Alfred A. Knopf and Vintage Books as part of the Sales & Marketing team. Later, I became the first US employee from Dorling Kindersley as they launched their US Publishing program under their own name. I moved to Nebraska in 1994 and began working for Heinecken & Associates for Gift and Trade Book Sales. I joined Fujii Associates in 2008, and I currently live in Lincoln, NE.
Join forces with Fujii
If Fujii Associates were a book, we’d be a long one.
OUR HISTORY
Hank Fujii, a giant and legend in the world of publishing, had made a name for himself in Chicago’s bookselling trade in the 1950s and 60s, working for places like Kroch’s & Brentano’s (the largest bookstore in the world at that time) and Encyclopaedia Britannica. While he was forging his path, he often acted as a mentor for young booksellers, like Ted Heinecken and Jay Ide.
Hank had been an entrepreneur during his years at Cornell College, so starting another company seemed doable, and a good way to create his own legacy. He launched Fujii Associates in 1967. Everyone knew Hank for his boundless energy and enthusiasm. He worked hard and played hard, taking clients out after work.
Our storied past begins in 1967.
Hank Fujii, c. 1945, as a young man at Cornell College,
Photo from the archives of Cornell College
The original logo for Fujii Associates was this kanji which means wisteria. Its connection to the company was a mystery until a language teacher offered that each syllable of the kanji would be said as ‘fu’ + ‘ji,’ a clever nod to Hank’s name.
Hank had an unfailing work ethic. Stories go that despite health complications, Hank worked right up until he died, at a Midwest Book Travelers dinner. His reputation inspired those who came after to continue his tradition of excellence and loyalty.
When Hank passed away, Jerry Stroud took over the company in 1976 and continued Hank’s tradition of mentoring and teaching. Jerry was thoughtful, generous, and had a keen sense of style. He was known for wearing bright Missoni sweaters to sales meetings. Jerry oversaw the expansion of Fujii into the TOLA region.
Don Sturtz joined the company in 1983, learning from Jerry, and took over in 1998. Don oversaw the merger with Heinecken & Associates in 2008, the other top company in the Midwest. Ted Heinecken, having been a protege of Hank Fujii, couldn’t resist joining.
In 2011, Eric Heidemann took over as owner, with Don Sturtz generously staying on to guide the company as President Emeritus. During this new period in company history, Don and Eric formed a partnership with Book Travelers West and Como Sales to increase their territory to the entire United States.
From Trusted Hands to Trusted Hands
Jerry Stroud, former Fujii owner, c. 1980. From the archives of Don Sturtz
“Being a part of the book trade is a special calling, requiring a love of the book and a belief in the printed (whether or not on paper) word as a keystone of our culture.”
— Ted Heinecken
Fujii Sales Rep from 2008-2015 and mentee of Hank Fujii. Photo by Claire Kitsch