diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py
index 4eb91de4..cfafd286 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py
@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@
 from .settings import CONNECTORS
 from .abstract_connector import ConnectorException
 from .abstract_connector import get_data, get_image
+
+from .connector_manager import search, local_search, first_search_result
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
index 3461e80f..82b99378 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
@@ -6,17 +6,13 @@ from urllib3.exceptions import RequestError
 
 from django.db import transaction
 import requests
-from requests import HTTPError
 from requests.exceptions import SSLError
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub, models, settings
+from .connector_manager import load_more_data, ConnectorException
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-class ConnectorException(HTTPError):
-    ''' when the connector can't do what was asked '''
-
-
 class AbstractMinimalConnector(ABC):
     ''' just the bare bones, for other bookwyrm instances '''
     def __init__(self, identifier):
@@ -90,7 +86,6 @@ class AbstractConnector(AbstractMinimalConnector):
         return True
 
 
-    @transaction.atomic
     def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
         ''' translate arbitrary json into an Activitypub dataclass '''
         # first, check if we have the origin_id saved
@@ -123,13 +118,17 @@ class AbstractConnector(AbstractMinimalConnector):
         if not work_data or not edition_data:
             raise ConnectorException('Unable to load book data: %s' % remote_id)
 
-        # create activitypub object
-        work_activity = activitypub.Work(**work_data)
-        # this will dedupe automatically
-        work = work_activity.to_model(models.Work)
-        for author in self.get_authors_from_data(data):
-            work.authors.add(author)
-        return self.create_edition_from_data(work, edition_data)
+        with transaction.atomic():
+            # create activitypub object
+            work_activity = activitypub.Work(**work_data)
+            # this will dedupe automatically
+            work = work_activity.to_model(models.Work)
+            for author in self.get_authors_from_data(data):
+                work.authors.add(author)
+
+            edition = self.create_edition_from_data(work, edition_data)
+        load_more_data.delay(self.connector.id, work.id)
+        return edition
 
 
     def create_edition_from_data(self, work, edition_data):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/books_manager.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
similarity index 86%
rename from bookwyrm/books_manager.py
rename to bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
index bc1fa723..d3b01f7a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/books_manager.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
@@ -1,51 +1,15 @@
-''' select and call a connector for whatever book task needs doing '''
+''' interface with whatever connectors the app has '''
 import importlib
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 from requests import HTTPError
 
 from bookwyrm import models
-from bookwyrm.connectors import ConnectorException
 from bookwyrm.tasks import app
 
 
-def get_edition(book_id):
-    ''' look up a book in the db and return an edition '''
-    book = models.Book.objects.select_subclasses().get(id=book_id)
-    if isinstance(book, models.Work):
-        book = book.default_edition
-    return book
-
-
-def get_or_create_connector(remote_id):
-    ''' get the connector related to the author's server '''
-    url = urlparse(remote_id)
-    identifier = url.netloc
-    if not identifier:
-        raise ValueError('Invalid remote id')
-
-    try:
-        connector_info = models.Connector.objects.get(identifier=identifier)
-    except models.Connector.DoesNotExist:
-        connector_info = models.Connector.objects.create(
-            identifier=identifier,
-            connector_file='bookwyrm_connector',
-            base_url='https://%s' % identifier,
-            books_url='https://%s/book' % identifier,
-            covers_url='https://%s/images/covers' % identifier,
-            search_url='https://%s/search?q=' % identifier,
-            priority=2
-        )
-
-    return load_connector(connector_info)
-
-
-@app.task
-def load_more_data(book_id):
-    ''' background the work of getting all 10,000 editions of LoTR '''
-    book = models.Book.objects.select_subclasses().get(id=book_id)
-    connector = load_connector(book.connector)
-    connector.expand_book_data(book)
+class ConnectorException(HTTPError):
+    ''' when the connector can't do what was asked '''
 
 
 def search(query, min_confidence=0.1):
@@ -92,6 +56,38 @@ def get_connectors():
         yield load_connector(info)
 
 
+def get_or_create_connector(remote_id):
+    ''' get the connector related to the author's server '''
+    url = urlparse(remote_id)
+    identifier = url.netloc
+    if not identifier:
+        raise ValueError('Invalid remote id')
+
+    try:
+        connector_info = models.Connector.objects.get(identifier=identifier)
+    except models.Connector.DoesNotExist:
+        connector_info = models.Connector.objects.create(
+            identifier=identifier,
+            connector_file='bookwyrm_connector',
+            base_url='https://%s' % identifier,
+            books_url='https://%s/book' % identifier,
+            covers_url='https://%s/images/covers' % identifier,
+            search_url='https://%s/search?q=' % identifier,
+            priority=2
+        )
+
+    return load_connector(connector_info)
+
+
+@app.task
+def load_more_data(connector_id, book_id):
+    ''' background the work of getting all 10,000 editions of LoTR '''
+    connector_info = models.Connector.objects.get(id=connector_id)
+    connector = load_connector(connector_info)
+    book = models.Book.objects.select_subclasses().get(id=book_id)
+    connector.expand_book_data(book)
+
+
 def load_connector(connector_info):
     ''' instantiate the connector class '''
     connector = importlib.import_module(
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
index a1155d2d..ee7c6271 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ import re
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, SearchResult, Mapping
-from .abstract_connector import ConnectorException, get_data
+from .abstract_connector import get_data
+from .connector_manager import ConnectorException
 from .openlibrary_languages import languages
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
index 576dd07d..1ebe9b31 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from django.contrib.postgres.fields import JSONField
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils import timezone
 
-from bookwyrm import books_manager
+from bookwyrm.connectors import connector_manager
 from bookwyrm.models import ReadThrough, User, Book
 from .fields import PrivacyLevels
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
 
     def get_book_from_isbn(self):
         ''' search by isbn '''
-        search_result = books_manager.first_search_result(
+        search_result = connector_manager.first_search_result(
             self.isbn, min_confidence=0.999
         )
         if search_result:
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
             self.data['Title'],
             self.data['Author']
         )
-        search_result = books_manager.first_search_result(
+        search_result = connector_manager.first_search_result(
             search_term, min_confidence=0.999
         )
         if search_result:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
index 6bcfc76b..6e912858 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 ''' testing book data connectors '''
+from unittest.mock import patch
 from django.test import TestCase
 import responses
 
@@ -104,8 +105,10 @@ class AbstractConnector(TestCase):
             'https://example.com/book/abcd',
             json=self.edition_data
         )
-        result = self.connector.get_or_create_book(
-            'https://example.com/book/abcd')
+        with patch(
+                'bookwyrm.connectors.abstract_connector.load_more_data.delay'):
+            result = self.connector.get_or_create_book(
+                'https://example.com/book/abcd')
         self.assertEqual(result, self.book)
         self.assertEqual(models.Edition.objects.count(), 1)
         self.assertEqual(models.Edition.objects.count(), 1)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_books_manager.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_connector_manager.py
similarity index 59%
rename from bookwyrm/tests/test_books_manager.py
rename to bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_connector_manager.py
index 039bdfc5..783b5a27 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_books_manager.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_connector_manager.py
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
+''' interface between the app and various connectors '''
 from django.test import TestCase
 
-from bookwyrm import books_manager, models
-from bookwyrm.connectors.bookwyrm_connector import Connector as BookWyrmConnector
-from bookwyrm.connectors.self_connector import Connector as SelfConnector
+from bookwyrm import models
+from bookwyrm.connectors import connector_manager
+from bookwyrm.connectors.bookwyrm_connector \
+    import Connector as BookWyrmConnector
+from bookwyrm.connectors.self_connector \
+    import Connector as SelfConnector
 
 
-class Book(TestCase):
+class ConnectorManager(TestCase):
+    ''' interface between the app and various connectors '''
     def setUp(self):
+        ''' we'll need some books and a connector info entry '''
         self.work = models.Work.objects.create(
             title='Example Work'
         )
@@ -28,53 +34,50 @@ class Book(TestCase):
             covers_url='http://test.com/',
         )
 
-    def test_get_edition(self):
-        edition = books_manager.get_edition(self.edition.id)
-        self.assertEqual(edition, self.edition)
-
-
-    def test_get_edition_work(self):
-        edition = books_manager.get_edition(self.work.id)
-        self.assertEqual(edition, self.edition)
-
 
     def test_get_or_create_connector(self):
+        ''' loads a connector if the data source is known or creates one '''
         remote_id = 'https://example.com/object/1'
-        connector = books_manager.get_or_create_connector(remote_id)
+        connector = connector_manager.get_or_create_connector(remote_id)
         self.assertIsInstance(connector, BookWyrmConnector)
         self.assertEqual(connector.identifier, 'example.com')
         self.assertEqual(connector.base_url, 'https://example.com')
 
-        same_connector = books_manager.get_or_create_connector(remote_id)
+        same_connector = connector_manager.get_or_create_connector(remote_id)
         self.assertEqual(connector.identifier, same_connector.identifier)
 
     def test_get_connectors(self):
+        ''' load all connectors '''
         remote_id = 'https://example.com/object/1'
-        books_manager.get_or_create_connector(remote_id)
-        connectors = list(books_manager.get_connectors())
+        connector_manager.get_or_create_connector(remote_id)
+        connectors = list(connector_manager.get_connectors())
         self.assertEqual(len(connectors), 2)
         self.assertIsInstance(connectors[0], SelfConnector)
         self.assertIsInstance(connectors[1], BookWyrmConnector)
 
     def test_search(self):
-        results = books_manager.search('Example')
+        ''' search all connectors '''
+        results = connector_manager.search('Example')
         self.assertEqual(len(results), 1)
         self.assertIsInstance(results[0]['connector'], SelfConnector)
         self.assertEqual(len(results[0]['results']), 1)
         self.assertEqual(results[0]['results'][0].title, 'Example Edition')
 
     def test_local_search(self):
-        results = books_manager.local_search('Example')
+        ''' search only the local database '''
+        results = connector_manager.local_search('Example')
         self.assertEqual(len(results), 1)
         self.assertEqual(results[0].title, 'Example Edition')
 
     def test_first_search_result(self):
-        result = books_manager.first_search_result('Example')
+        ''' only get one search result '''
+        result = connector_manager.first_search_result('Example')
         self.assertEqual(result.title, 'Example Edition')
-        no_result = books_manager.first_search_result('dkjfhg')
+        no_result = connector_manager.first_search_result('dkjfhg')
         self.assertIsNone(no_result)
 
     def test_load_connector(self):
-        connector = books_manager.load_connector(self.connector)
+        ''' load a connector object from the database entry '''
+        connector = connector_manager.load_connector(self.connector)
         self.assertIsInstance(connector, SelfConnector)
         self.assertEqual(connector.identifier, 'test_connector')
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py
index 437b23dc..10e74770 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from bookwyrm.connectors.openlibrary import get_languages, get_description
 from bookwyrm.connectors.openlibrary import pick_default_edition, \
         get_openlibrary_key
 from bookwyrm.connectors.abstract_connector import SearchResult
-from bookwyrm.connectors.abstract_connector import ConnectorException
+from bookwyrm.connectors.connector_manager import ConnectorException
 
 
 class Openlibrary(TestCase):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_import_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_import_model.py
index a975f410..3d890141 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_import_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_import_model.py
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ from django.utils import timezone
 from django.test import TestCase
 import responses
 
-from bookwyrm import books_manager, models
+from bookwyrm import models
+from bookwyrm.connectors import connector_manager
 from bookwyrm.connectors.abstract_connector import SearchResult
 
 
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ class ImportJob(TestCase):
             search_url='https://openlibrary.org/search?q=',
             priority=3,
         )
-        connector = books_manager.load_connector(connector_info)
+        connector = connector_manager.load_connector(connector_info)
         result = SearchResult(
             title='Test Result',
             key='https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1234W',
@@ -163,8 +164,12 @@ class ImportJob(TestCase):
             json={'name': 'test author'},
             status=200)
 
-        with patch('bookwyrm.books_manager.first_search_result') as search:
-            search.return_value = result
-            book = self.item_1.get_book_from_isbn()
+        with patch(
+                'bookwyrm.connectors.abstract_connector.load_more_data.delay'):
+            with patch(
+                    'bookwyrm.connectors.connector_manager.first_search_result'
+                ) as search:
+                search.return_value = result
+                book = self.item_1.get_book_from_isbn()
 
         self.assertEqual(book.title, 'Sabriel')
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_views.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_views.py
index 51c6f502..34321e83 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_views.py
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ class Views(TestCase):
             )
 
 
+    def test_get_edition(self):
+        ''' given an edition or a work, returns an edition '''
+        self.assertEqual(
+            views.get_edition(self.book.id), self.book)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            views.get_edition(self.work.id), self.book)
+
+
     def test_get_user_from_username(self):
         ''' works for either localname or username '''
         self.assertEqual(
@@ -193,7 +201,8 @@ class Views(TestCase):
         request = self.factory.get('', {'q': 'Test Book'})
         with patch('bookwyrm.views.is_api_request') as is_api:
             is_api.return_value = False
-            with patch('bookwyrm.books_manager.search') as manager:
+            with patch(
+                    'bookwyrm.connectors.connector_manager.search') as manager:
                 manager.return_value = [search_result]
                 response = views.search(request)
         self.assertIsInstance(response, TemplateResponse)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/view_actions.py b/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
index 8a686bab..eb09a37a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@ from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
 from django.utils import timezone
 from django.views.decorators.http import require_GET, require_POST
 
-from bookwyrm import books_manager, forms, models, outgoing, goodreads_import
+from bookwyrm import forms, models, outgoing, goodreads_import
+from bookwyrm.connectors import connector_manager
 from bookwyrm.broadcast import broadcast
 from bookwyrm.emailing import password_reset_email
 from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
-from bookwyrm.views import get_user_from_username
+from bookwyrm.views import get_user_from_username, get_edition
 
 
 @require_POST
@@ -210,10 +211,8 @@ def edit_profile(request):
 def resolve_book(request):
     ''' figure out the local path to a book from a remote_id '''
     remote_id = request.POST.get('remote_id')
-    connector = books_manager.get_or_create_connector(remote_id)
+    connector = connector_manager.get_or_create_connector(remote_id)
     book = connector.get_or_create_book(remote_id)
-    if book.connector:
-        books_manager.load_more_data.delay(book.id)
 
     return redirect('/book/%d' % book.id)
 
@@ -371,7 +370,7 @@ def delete_shelf(request, shelf_id):
 @require_POST
 def shelve(request):
     ''' put a  on a user's shelf '''
-    book = books_manager.get_edition(request.POST['book'])
+    book = get_edition(request.POST['book'])
 
     desired_shelf = models.Shelf.objects.filter(
         identifier=request.POST['shelf'],
@@ -417,7 +416,7 @@ def unshelve(request):
 @require_POST
 def start_reading(request, book_id):
     ''' begin reading a book '''
-    book = books_manager.get_edition(book_id)
+    book = get_edition(book_id)
     shelf = models.Shelf.objects.filter(
         identifier='reading',
         user=request.user
@@ -453,7 +452,7 @@ def start_reading(request, book_id):
 @require_POST
 def finish_reading(request, book_id):
     ''' a user completed a book, yay '''
-    book = books_manager.get_edition(book_id)
+    book = get_edition(book_id)
     shelf = models.Shelf.objects.filter(
         identifier='read',
         user=request.user
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views.py b/bookwyrm/views.py
index 27492940..9a0157b1 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views.py
@@ -13,14 +13,22 @@ from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
 from django.views.decorators.http import require_GET
 
 from bookwyrm import outgoing
-from bookwyrm.activitypub import ActivitypubResponse
-from bookwyrm import forms, models, books_manager
+from bookwyrm import forms, models
 from bookwyrm import goodreads_import
+from bookwyrm.activitypub import ActivitypubResponse
+from bookwyrm.connectors import connector_manager
 from bookwyrm.settings import PAGE_LENGTH
 from bookwyrm.tasks import app
 from bookwyrm.utils import regex
 
 
+def get_edition(book_id):
+    ''' look up a book in the db and return an edition '''
+    book = models.Book.objects.select_subclasses().get(id=book_id)
+    if isinstance(book, models.Work):
+        book = book.get_default_edition()
+    return book
+
 def get_user_from_username(username):
     ''' helper function to resolve a localname or a username to a user '''
     # raises DoesNotExist if user is now found
@@ -211,7 +219,7 @@ def search(request):
 
     if is_api_request(request):
         # only return local book results via json so we don't cause a cascade
-        book_results = books_manager.local_search(query)
+        book_results = connector_manager.local_search(query)
         return JsonResponse([r.json() for r in book_results], safe=False)
 
     # use webfinger for mastodon style account@domain.com username
@@ -225,7 +233,7 @@ def search(request):
         similarity__gt=0.5,
     ).order_by('-similarity')[:10]
 
-    book_results = books_manager.search(query)
+    book_results = connector_manager.search(query)
     data = {
         'title': 'Search Results',
         'book_results': book_results,
@@ -645,7 +653,7 @@ def book_page(request, book_id):
 @require_GET
 def edit_book_page(request, book_id):
     ''' info about a book '''
-    book = books_manager.get_edition(book_id)
+    book = get_edition(book_id)
     if not book.description:
         book.description = book.parent_work.description
     data = {
diff --git a/celerywyrm/celery.py b/celerywyrm/celery.py
index efa081ee..5a53dab5 100644
--- a/celerywyrm/celery.py
+++ b/celerywyrm/celery.py
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ app.config_from_object('django.conf:settings', namespace='CELERY')
 # Load task modules from all registered Django app configs.
 app.autodiscover_tasks()
 app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='activitypub.base_activity')
-app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='books_manager')
 app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='broadcast')
+app.autodiscover_tasks(
+    ['bookwyrm'], related_name='connectors.abstract_connector')
 app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='emailing')
 app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='goodreads_import')
 app.autodiscover_tasks(['bookwyrm'], related_name='incoming')