no need for admin or model files in the api app, but *do* need serializers and urls

bookshare/api/admin.py

-from django.contrib import admin
-
-# Register your models here.

bookshare/api/models.py

-from django.db import models
-
-# Create your models here.

bookshare/api/serializers.py

+# standard library imports
+from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
+# third party imports
+# imports from your apps
+from trades.models import Listing

bookshare/api/urls.py

+# standard libary imports
+from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
+# core django imports
+from django.conf.urls import patterns, include, url
+
+# API v1
+
+urlpatterns = patterns('',
+)