LQVLGH WNBA AWARD CEREMONY UN UPDATES PUBLICIZING YOUR BOOK BOSTON CHARLOTTE President's Message LOS ANGELES NASHVILLE A few weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting a remarkable woman, our WNBA NEW YORK CITY Award recipient, Masha Hamilton. After reading about her transforming work with SAN FRANCISCO $IJKDQZRPHQZULWHUVDQGFDPHOWUDQVSRUWHGERRNPRELOHV,ZDVVXUSULVHGWRÀQG that she walks and talks like you and I do. I mean, this woman has accomplished WASHINGTON, D.C. such important work—and much of it in what could be described as the most hostile place on the planet—yet she is as down-to-earth, and dare I say “ordinary,” as a person can be. Many of our heroines are larger-than-life, exalted beings who seem to inhabit another realm. To meet someone like Masha, though, impressed upon me the possibility of each of us “ordinary” people doing important work. Maybe not at the (continued on inside front) The

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1$1&<3($5/1$0('/,%5$5,$12)7+(<($5 edited by Shannon Janeczek Some of Nancy's many accomplishments include: ‡ Establishing the One City One Read program, where (NOTE: For a link to a longer article from Library Journal, click everyone in a geographic area reads the same book and here: http://bit.ly/fQlFpy) discusses it in various ways ‡ Developing a public relations campaign for the Cuyahoga In January, Library Journal named Nancy Pearl the Librarian County Public Library (CCPL) in the Cleveland suburbs of the Year. LJ writes that “no one other than Nancy Pearl has that helped the the print circulation surpass the overall so convinced Americans that libraries, books, and reading are circulation critical to our communities. Her passionate advocacy has ‡ Writing seven books about books (the Book Lust series); done that nationwide for thousands of individual readers and the newest one is Book Lust To Go: Recommended library workers in the trenches at the local level.” Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers

She also broadcasts on NPR and various TV shows, and A quote from Nancy, in the Library Journal article, talking teaches skills of collection development and readers' about reader's advisory: advisory to the students at the 's Information School. She is very busy as the country's most "When people ask, ‘What should I read next?’ we well-known librarian. should always try to give them three books. One should be pretty close to the one they loved. The But of couse, our tie is that Nancy was instrumental in the second should be a little bit different, a bit of a founding of the WBNA Seattle Chapter in 2008. We are also grateful for her participation in our National Reading Group stretch. The third book is the real stretch book, the Month program. We wish we could see more of her! reach book. The book they never would have IRXQGEHFDXVHLWLVQRQÀFWLRQDQGWKH\RQO\ORRNDW Her website is www.nancypearl.com. Westerns. People come into the library and head straight to the section where they have found the most pleasure.... It is our job to take them around to the rest.” Misc. Misc. Misc. Misc. ·›‘¡Ö (continued from front page) THANK YOU, level of embarking on a mission to Afghanistan or riding a camel to remote African villages, but the potential for doing GENEROUS SPONSORS important work through WNBA. It’s the reason I joined WNBA all those years ago—to be a part of an organization that makes a contribution to society through the written Chronicle Books word and, in so doing, changes the world. Dollar General/The Dollar I have a bumper sticker on my car that reads “You don’t General Literacy Foundation have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to Harper Collins Publishers stop reading them.” (Ray Bradbury) Harper Perennial The work that we do through WNBA does contribute to a better world—whether it’s by giving books to underprivi- Harper Paperbacks leged children, helping writers get their books into a wider Ingram Content Group world, recognizing hardworking independent booksellers, issuing grants and scholarships, or the myriad of other ways Penguin Young Readers Group that chapters connect with their communities.

Yes, it’s great to get together, network, eat meals, and enjoy A NEW BOOKWOMAN EDITOR! each other’s company, but every now and then we have After three years as Managing Editor of Bookwoman, to remind ourselves that we “ordinary” people are making Shannon Janeczek will be stepping down as of June 2011, a difference. due to family and work demands. "I thank everyone for - Mary Grey James their assistance and support during my tenure as editor. It's really been a valuable experience."

WNBA is a national organization of women and men who Gloria Toler of Nashville will be taking on the role of work with and value books. WNBA exists to promote Managing Editor. For those of you who do not know reading and to support the role of women in the commu- Gloria, she received a B.S. in Business Administration from nity of the book. The Bookwoman is the publication of the Women’s National Book Association, published in fall, the University of Central Missouri and studied graduate- winter and spring each year. level accounting at the University of Texas. She obtained KHU&3$OLFHQVHLQ7H[DVDQGZRUNHGIRUDORFDO&3$ÀUP before moving to Toronto, Ontario with her family. They The Bookwoman Women’s National Book have now lived in Franklin, Tennessee, for the past thirteen Association years She does freelance copyediting and proofreading c/o Susannah Greenberg Public and has been the editor of WNBA’s Nashville Chapter news- Relations letter, The Nashville EditionIRUWKHSDVWÀYHDQGDKDOI PO Box 237, FDR Station, New York, NY 10150 years. Gloria will continue serving as Webmaster for the www.wnba- books.org Nashville Chapter.

Outgoing Managing Editor: Shannon Janeczek When not reading or writing, Gloria enjoys playing the ([email protected]) Future Editor: Gloria Toler piano (and occasionally) the accordion, and loves following ([email protected]) her two college-aged sons in their musical endeavors, from songwriting to performing at local venues.

2 The Bookwoman Misc. Misc. Misc. Misc. ·›‘¡Ö HELP WANTED: Board Relations Communications Board Chair and ‡ Preparing a brief written report to Board members updat- Development Board Chair ing them about the organization’s communications activi- ties three times per year, or on a If you're interested in either of these chair positions, which VFKHGXOHDJUHHGWRE\WKH&KDLUDQG([HFXWLYH2IÀFHUVRI will be new Executive Board roles, please contact Mary the Board, in addition to the annual national Board meet- Grey James, or your chapter president. ing ‡ Reporting on the previous year and planning for the Both chairs should: upcoming year at the annual Board meeting. ‡ Possess knowledge of and passion for the Women’s National Book Association’s mission Development Board Chair ‡ Be a strategic thinker on behalf of WNBA’s This Board Chair will work in partnership with the Executive ongoing needs Board to discuss ongoing program, ‡ Serve a 2-year term with the possibility of renewal fundraising, and outreach initiatives upon vote by full Board ‡ Attend annual national Board meeting in person Fundraising ‡ Execute their responsibilities with the help of commit- ‡ Make introductions to professional colleagues, associates, tee members, to be chosen by each Chair friends and institutions on behalf of WNBA. ‡ Review and contribute to Board meeting agendas ‡ Research and apply for grants throughout the year. ‡ Work with the board on appropriate follow-through Communications Board Chair strategies to cultivate the interest, involvement and sup- This Board Chair will have previous experience in publicity port from prospective donors, thereby assisting in rela- and communications in either his or her own professional tionship-building for the organization. or volunteer work. ‡ Write thank you notes for contributions. ‡ Prepare a written report to Board members updating Responsibilities them about the organization’s progress, ‡ Publicity highlights and achievements. ‡ Overseeing and directing the implementation of an ‡ Develop template language describing WNBA which overall external communications strategy for the could be used by any chapter or chairperson to solicits QDWLRQDO:1%$ZLWKWKHKHOSRIWKH([HFXWLYH2IÀFHUV funding for the association. of the Board ‡ Maintain a current list of solicitations. This will ‡ Initiating and executing publicity campaigns for WNBA be important if Jill and WNBA Award chairperson or any- national-level activities, including the WNBA Award, one else is asking for funding, so no company or organi- the WNBA Pannell Award, and National Reading zation gets more than one solicitation. Group Month; and presenting plans for these cam- paigns to appropriate Board members for their input and approval in advance of executing them. Get listed in Publishers Weekly! ‡ Working with the Board on developing a Do you have an industry event you would like to comprehensive media list, updated regularly share with the publishing community? If so, send ‡ Assisting and advising the Board, including the news- details about upcoming happenings to events@ letter chair, to enhance the newsletter and other publishersweekly.com. (Please note, they will not run information about promotional events, such as internal communications as vehicles to increase inter- book parties.) And -- your event doesn't need to nal knowledge of and excitement for the organiza- be in NYC to be considered. tion, its work, and activities.

Spring 2011 3 MEMBER NEWS & BOOKS

WNBA members contribute to a wide variety of aspects of the book world. We created this column to celebrate our members’ most news- worthy accomplishments.

BOSTON LQWKH86DIWHU"´,QKHU &RPPXQLFDWLRQV,WZDV /RQJWLPH:1%$'& 'DSKQH.DORWD\¶VQRYHO UHVSRQVH1LHVFLWHGVRPHRI LQFRUUHFWO\LGHQWL¿HGLQWKH 0HPEHUDQGSURPRWHURI 5XVVLDQ:LQWHU +DUSHU&ROOLQV WKH$PHULFDQVWUXFWXUDO ODVWLVVXHDVWKH/HJDO$ZDUG :DVKLQJWRQDUHDZULWHUV  ZLOOEHUHOHDVHGLQ LVVXHVVXFKDVTXRWDVIRU 5LFKDUG3HDERG\ZDV SDSHUEDFNLQ$SULO$¿QDOLVW ZRPHQLQSURIHVVLRQDO WASHINGTON, D.C. UHFHQWO\WKHVXEMHFWRID IRUWKH-DPHV+RQHV)LUVW VFKRROVEDUULHUVLQWKHFRP /LO\:LOOHQVJDYHDWDONHQWL :DVKLQJWRQ3RVW0DJD]LQH 1RYHO)HOORZVKLS5XVVLDQ PXQLFDWLRQV¿HOGDQGODZV WOHG(\HZLWQHVV$FFRXQW IHDWXUH7KHH[WHQVLYHDUWL :LQWHUWHOOVWKHVWRU\RI WKDWGLUHFWO\GLVFULPLQDWHG 7ZR

(continued on page 6)

4 The Bookwoman UN Updates ‡ World Day Against Child Labour (ILO), June 12. U.S. Fund for UNICEF: Disaster Relief Efforts http://tinyurl.com/28a99hk Japan Tsunami and Earthquake Donations. ‡ :RUOG'D\WR&RPEDW'HVHUWLÀFDWLRQDQG Support Japan — 100% of your donation will go to Drought, June 17. http://tinyurl.com/299bmg6 Japan. http://tinyurl.com/47kkrux ‡ World Refugee Day, June 20. h ttp://tinyurl.com/24vpn4z U.N. Forum Brings Women Entrepreneurs from ‡ United Nations Public Service Day, June 23. Around the World to Address MDG3 http://tinyurl.com/29dekqn ‡ International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit On International Women’s Day (March 8, 2011), hun- 7UDIÀFNLQJ-XQHKWWSWLQ\XUOFRPVT dreds of women from various businesses and non- ‡ United Nations International Day in Support of SURÀWRUJDQL]DWLRQVJDWKHUHGDWWKH81 Victims of Torture, June 26. Headquarters in New York City to discuss “investing http://tinyurl.com/253qlhy in women and entrepreneurship—solutions to addressing MDG 3.” This meeting was organized by The 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of WKH812IÀFHIRU3DUWQHUVKLSVDQGWKH%XVLQHVV Women: 22 February–4 March, 2011 Civic Leadership Center Forum and featured speakers from U.N. agencies, private and public sectors, and The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a civil society. High-level topics included: functional commission of the UN Economic and ‡ Why empowering women is good for business Social Council (ECOSOC), a global policy-making ‡ Increasing leadership and access to training at body, dedicated to gender equality and advancement the workplace of women. Each year, representatives from the UN ‡ Providing economic opportunity to women and 192 Member States meet at its Headquarters to connecting consumers and companies with appraise progress, set global standards, and prepare women entrepreneurs action-oriented policy recommendations. ‡ Decreasing gender disparity in primary and secondary education The purpose for the 55th Session is to discuss and promote women and girls’ access to education and Statistics to remember: WUDLQLQJLQVFLHQFHDQGWHFKQRORJ\ÀHOGV)RFXV ‡ Women represent 70% of the world’s poor Improving the quality of education and combating ‡ Women do two-thirds of the world’s work gender stereotypes; empowering women and girls to ‡ Women receive 10% of the world’s income contribute to science and technology; making sci- ‡ Women own 1% of the world’s land ence and technology work for women and men. ‡ Women produce over 50% of all food grown worldwide While the scope is wide, one area at the forefront of ‡ Women devote 90% of their wage income to the discussion is women’s representation in agricul- their families tural research in developing countries.

Commemorative Days, June 2011 ‡ International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, June 4. http://tinyurl.com/26wto86 ‡ World Environment Day (UNEP), June 5. http://tinyurl.com/2b6t5tp ‡ World Oceans Day, June 8. http://tinyurl.com/29lr4jp

Spring 2011 5 FRQWLQXHGIURPSDJH DUHDZRPHQ*UDFHDQG*UDYLW\(QKDQFHG*UDYLW\(OHFWULF 815(6285&(6 *UDFH+LVGHGLFDWLRQWRQXUWXULQJZULWHUVLVZHOONQRZQLQ :DVKLQJWRQOLWHUDU\FLUFOHV±KHKDVPDQ\VXFFHVVVWRULHVWR %RRNV ‡ Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for KLVFUHGLW,QIDFW-DLP\*RUGRQZLQQHURIWKH1DWLRQDO Women Worldwide, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn %RRN$ZDUGIRUKHUQRYHO/RUGRI0LVUXOHPHQWLRQHG (Vintage, 2010) ‡ Social Entrepreneurship: What Everyone Needs to Know, by *DUJR\OHLQKHUDFFHSWDQFHVSHHFK David Bornstein and Susan Davis (Oxford University Press, 2010) ‡ The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them NASHVILLE Safe, by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (Harper, 2011) 3UHVLGHQW*LQQD)RVWHU&DQQRQKDVUHLQVWDWHGKHUSRSXODU ‡ The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World, by Jacqueline Novogratz VHULHV³$Q(YHQLQJZLWKDQ$XWKRU±%RRNV:LQHDQG6PDUW (Rodale, 2010) &RQYHUVDWLRQ´7KHPRQWKO\SURJUDPVIHDWXUHORFDODXWKRUV ‡ Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail, by Paul Polak (Berrett-Koehler, 2009) UHDGLQJDQGGLVFXVVLQJWKHLUODWHVWERRNV ‡ The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time, by Jeffrey D. Sachs (Penguin, 2006) ‡ Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur’s 5LYHU-RUGDQLVQRZDUHJXODUFRQWULEXWRUWR3V\FKRORJ\ Odyssey to Educate the World’s Children, by John Wood 7RGD\¶VVSLULWXDOLW\EORJZZZSV\FKRORJ\WRGD\FRP6KH¶OOEH (Harper Paperbacks, 2007) SRVWLQJRQWKHVLWHHYHU\RWKHU7XHVGD\DQGLW¶VDOODUHVXOWRI :HEVLWHV KHUODWHVWERRN3UD\LQJIRU6WUDQJHUV. ‡ Beijing Platform for Action: http://tinyurl.com/4cse24k ‡ Business Civic Leadership Center: http://bclc.uschamber.com ‡ Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE): www.cipe.org SAN FRANCISCO ‡ Commission on the Status of Women, Complete Schedule (with Speakers:) http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/55sess.htm 7HUHVD/H

6 The Bookwoman from your publisher, and you’re currently working full-time as a When is a publicist not a publicist? publicist for other books, are you prepared to put in the time When she’s the author. But can’t she be both? and funds necessary to boost visibility and sales for the book you Five questions to ask authored? 3. Contacts. I’ve promoted practically every literary genre except romance novels and children’s picture books, and my by Lucine Kasbarian Rolodex shows it. Researching to customize a media list for a ,·YHEHHQRQOHDYHIURPP\RZQÀUP3URJUHVVLYH%RRN3XE- book is nothing new. But cultivating personal relationships -- licity, since my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Some- VRPHWKLQJWKDWFDQLQÁXHQFHUHVSRQVLYHQHVVWR\RXUERRNLV how, in the throes of eldercare, I managed to meet, fall in love not something that happens overnight. Thankfully, my publicist with and marry my husband, and produce a book -- my second offered to compare our contact lists to weed out duplication, and -- an Armenian folktale retold. supplement it with contacts I don’t have. Upon graduating from NYU with a degree in Journalism, I 4. Ingenuity. As the author, are you ready to absorb the ODQGHGP\ÀUVWMREDVDSURPRWLRQDVVLVWDQWIRU$OIUHG$.QRSI cost of obtaining promotional copies beyond what your contract From then on, publishing was my thing. Sometimes writing for stipulates? It can really add up, when you consider the cost of consumer and trade magazines, at other times writing for news- postage and mailing supplies. Is your publicist willing to ship papers, and still at other times promoting books for publishers. review copies to your media contacts, as mine offered to do? Publicists often say they’ve “worked on the other side of the He also invited me to craft the media materials for the book and fence,” meaning that they, too, have been journalists. As such, JHQHURXVO\RIIHUHGWRGXSOLFDWHDQGPDLOWKHPIURPKLVRIÀFH WKH\NQRZÀUVWKDQGKRZWRÀQGDQHZVKRRNLQDERRNZKDW This is a win-win situation. The publisher gets an extra publicist kind of stories journalists like to see, and how journalists like to without paying for one, and the author doesn’t have have to dip be pitched. But how about when the other side of the fence so deeply into his/her advance to cover expenses. means that you’re an author as well as a publicist? And what if  %UHYLW\(YHQWKHPRVWFRQFLVHSHUVRQFDQÀOLEXVWHU you’re about to come out with a new book? Will your publisher when talking about a book s/he authored. When approaching welcome your dual background, or cringe at the thought of the press, can you pitch your book succinctly as if you were the unwanted interference? More to the point, are you the right per- publicist -- that is, with passion, and knowledge, but with some son for the job? Some questions for the publicist-cum-author: emotional distance? Since journalists are pressed for time, publi-  6DYRLU)DLUH'XULQJ\RXUÀUVWFRQYHUVDWLRQZLWK\RXU cists master the art of the sound byte when following up about a publisher’s publicist (at least 6 months before pub date), have book, article and/or story idea. As such, you as a publicist must you made it clear that you would like to apply your acumen to be able to pitch a book or idea in 10 seconds or less. your book campaign? If you demonstrate your chops but do not But does that same axiom hold true when the book has been beseige your publicist, chances are that you’ll develop a great written by you? Authors are brimming with more ideas than an working relationship. Since most in-house publicity departments in-house publicist has time in which to listen. When on the are understaffed, it’s an advantage if tasks are assigned to each phone with your publicist, get to the point and then let your of you. Perhaps the most important outcome from your dialogue publicist go. My publisher’s publicist prefers weekly contact, and is that you’ll avoid the duplication of effort that sometimes hap- asks that all requests be put into one email. This helps him to pens from lack of communication between author and publicist. stay organized and to focus his eyes on the prize: garnering 2. Managing expectations: Even though you’re a publicist media coverage for books in his stable. And isn’t that what whose job it is to make magic happen with books you promote, everyone in the industry would most like to see? can you realistically assess a book's media potential when you are its author? Authors can be as subjective about their literary Lucine Kasbarian is a journalist, political cartoonist, WNBA- offspring as they are about their biological ones. If yours is a NYC member and publicist-on-leave. Her forthcoming children’s children’s folk tale, as is mine, is there still a news hook or human picture book, The Greedy Sparrow: An Armenian Tale, debuted in interest story you can weave from the book? Can you live with April 2011 with Marshall Cavendish Publishers (http://www.mar- the fact that this book may not have the budget for a book tour? shallcavendish.us/kids/). Her website-to-be is If yours is a midlist book that will get limited publicity attention www.lucinekasbarian.com.

Spring 2011 7 CHAPTER NEWS

WASHINGTON, D.C. heritage of food will not be lost. cuisine, or as she called it, “The She noted that organic feed "WNBA Panel Takes Food from O’Neil’s blogs are at nowhite- original Mediterranean diet.” makes up less than 5% of the Farm to Table" By Judy Orvos food.wordpress.com, pyre- Affectionately referring to the market, four companies control Locally-renowned authors neespilgrimage.wordpress.com Turks as “culinary plunderers,” she 83% of beef production in the enthralled an audience of WNBA and peatoneil.wordpress.com. explained how their cuisine U.S., and four grocery chains pre- members with facts, anecdotes Wellness and nutritional incorporates the best of food dominate. “Only a handful of and advice about getting food counselor Teri Cochrane, a certi- from every country that com- companies stand between 3 mil- from farm to table at a panel dis- ÀHGQXWULWLRQLVWDQGIDPLO\KHUE- prised the Ottoman Empire. lion consumers and 2 million cussion on February 24. Held at alist, emphasized the importance “Everything fresh and seasonal,” farmers,” she said. “We need to the Georgetown Library, the of fueling our bodies with whole Kaufman said, is the crux of transform the growing excite- panel “What’s Eating You DC? Let foods rather than processed Turkish cooking and “vegetables ment of the whole foods move- Us Tell You!“ featured travel products. Among the top “cul- are queen. A Turkish woman was ment into action. We should vote writer L. Peat O’Neil, nutritionist prits” in the country’s poor nutri- supposed to be able to make 40 with more than our forks—at the Teri Cochrane, cookbook author tion, Cochrane said, are high to 50 types of eggplant before ballot box.” Sheilah Kaufman, and expert on fructose corn syrup, food dyes she got married.” Known for food policy Wenonah Hauter. and additives and preservatives. demystifying gourmet cooking, NASHVILLE Washington Post Deputy Food “What we’re eating—the stan- Kaufman is the author of 26 On March 12, WNBA Award chair Editor, Bonnie Benwick, moder- dard American diet—is a leading cookbooks and counts 1100 Lee Fairbend and the New York ated the panel. cause of health problems,” she cookbooks in her personal col- chapter hosted a reception for Kicking off the discussion, said. “High fructose corn syrup is lection. She teaches cooking 2011 award winner Masha O’Neil described the connection cheaper than cane sugar but it classes at venues such as Cooks Hamilton. The well-attended between food and culture that raises triglycerides and promotes Warehouse and Sur La Table, and event took place at the Center she has explored as a travel weight gain.” She recommended has done programs on Turkish for Fiction at the Mercantile writer. She is the author of Travel focusing on “whole foods,” prod- cuisine for Epcot’s Food and Library in New York. Writing: See the World-Sell the XFWVWKDWDUHXQUHÀQHGRUDVWKH\ Wine Festival. Her book, The This summer, Lipscomb Story and other books. “We are come from nature. To identify Turkish Cookbook: Regional University will host its 21st also all farmers,” she said under- whole foods and grains, read Recipes and Stories, is available Summer Reading Series, a joint scoring the consumers’ responsi- food labels and avoid items with on . project of the university’s bility to understand how the terms such as “enriched” or WNBA’s tribute to food con- Beaman Library and WNBA food they eat is consumed. “unbleached.” “If you can’t cluded with insight into a blue- Nashville. Carolyn Wilson has O’Neil herself is a beekeeper and pronounce it, don’t eat it,“ print for a healthy food system, chosen “Humor” as this year’s reminded audience members Cochrane said. “We can change offered by Wenonah Hauter, theme, a topic sure to prove that the largest agricultural pre- the statistics on obesity and executive director of Food & popular with regulars and new- serve in the country is in heart disease by what we put in Water Watch (http://www.foo- comers alike. As always, she will Montgomery County, Maryland our bodies. It’s important to con- dandwaterwatch.org). The coun- solicit area librarians and univer- and “under dire threat.” (More sume ‘good’ fats and cruciferous try’s food system is broken, sity professors to host the discus- than 93,000 of the county’s vegetables and to support sus- Hauter said, and the reauthoriza- sions, and she’s a master at 316,000 acres are still in agricul- tainable growing methods.” tion of the Farm Bill in 2012 matching book to facilitator. ture.) In closing, she urged audi- Cookbook author Kaufman offers an opportunity for reform The six-week series is always ence members to cherish their provided a personal testimonial by supporting fair markets, sus- well-attended, and have proved family recipes by writing them about Cochrane’s nutritional tainable livestock, diversity, a wonderful community outreach down and passing them to the guidance and regaled the audi- regional and seasonal markets for WNBA. next generation so the cultural ence with the wonders of Turkish and safe workplaces and wages.

8 The Bookwoman Another community outreach, back of the room. The panel was our book discussion group at the moderated by Dr. Harry Eiss, a Nashville Public Library, will wind professor of children's literature up another successful year in at Eastern Michigan University. May. Joanne Slaughter has done The evening of the event an incredible job of choosing came, and by 7 p.m. there wasn't books and hosting our delightful a seat to be had. The discussion Saturday morning get-togethers. ranged from ebooks and digital production to how someone DETROIT could get noticed by a publisher The date April 7 may live on in and the various reasons to have The Detroit children's publishing panel (L to R): Dr. Harry Eiss; Erin infamy in Ann Arbor, MI, from an agent—or not. Stead and Philip Stead; Marian Nelson of Nelson Publishing and this point forward. A panel dis- The attendees were having Marketing; Heather Hughes of Sleeping Bear Press; Shutta Crum, Author/Storyteller; and Colleen Kammer, Owner of BookBeat. cussion on children's book pub- such a great time that even by lishing ended up as standing 8:15 it seemed there was much room only (by estimation, almost more to say, but books needed 100 people were in the small to be sold and signed by the events room at a branch of the authors. Further discussions Ann Arbor Public Library) on an popped up among most of the ordinary Thursday evening. attendees and the panel. To the But the panel was anything but co-chairs' astonishment, people ordinary. were there right up until the Months ago, event co-chairs library's closing time. Ahuva Rogers and Shannon Detroit is now looking for- Janeczek sat down to discuss ZDUGWRLWVÀQDOFKDSWHUPHHWLQJ some creative event ideas, and of the year in May, when the A memorable quote from Philip Stead about getting into children's book publishing: "Make friends with disappointment." thought a children's book "Privy Historian" will do an publishing panel discussion enlightening talk on the artifacts might be pretty popular. They he discovered while digging had no idea! through layers of what used to Just a month or so after book- be outhouse trenches. ing Erin and Philip Stead, a local husband and wife team who write and illustrate children's books, as panelists, they won the 2011 Caldecott medal for their newest book, A Sick Day for

Amos Magee. Above: The Ann Arbor crowd was standing room only! An Two local publishers agreed active discussion went on for over an hour, with very spe- cific questions from the attendees, and detailed answers to join the panel, including from the panel. Sleeping Bear Press. Another Left photo (L to R): Detroit members and event c0- chairs local award-winning author, Ahuva Rogers and Shannon Janeczek hold a copy of A Sick Shutta Crum, signed on as well, Day for Amos Magee, and are smiling at the full house! and a local children's bookseller was asked to not only be part of the panel but to sell books at the

Spring 2011 9 1DWLRQDO5HDGLQJ*URXS0RQWKDQG *UHDW*URXS5HDGV 6R)DU 1(;7%22.:20$1 :KLOHPRVWRIWKHFRXQWU\ZDVVWLOOLQWKHJULSVRIZLQWU\ ZHDWKHUSODQVIRUWKLV\HDU¶V1DWLRQDO5HDGLQJ*URXS0RQWK '($'/,1( 15*0 DQGLWV*UHDW*URXS5HDGV **5 PDUNHWLQJLQLWLDWLYH To submit items for the September 2011 newsletter, EROWHGRXWRIWKHJDWHGXHWRWKHHIIRUWVRI15*0FKDLU-LOO 7DUGLIIDQG**5FRRUGLQDWRU5R]5HLVQHU2QHDXWKRU$QQ email your articles, high-resolution photos, 3DWFKHWWLVDOUHDG\VLJQHGXSIRUWKH15*06LJQDWXUH(YHQW announcements, and notable successes to ³%UHDNIDVWZLWK$XWKRUV´DWWKH6RXWKHUQ)HVWLYDORI%RRNV GLORIA TOLER at [email protected] 2FWREHU± /LNHZLVH**5LVRIIWRDH[FHOOHQW VWDUWZLWKFRPPLWWHHPHPEHUVFRPSULVLQJUHDGHUVIURP before DOPRVWDOOFKDSWHUVZLWKPRUHWKDQWLWOHVIURPYDULRXV -8/< VL]HVDQGW\SHVRISXEOLVKHUVLQWKHGRFNHW7KDQNVJRHVWR DOO:1%$FKDSWHUSUHVLGHQWVDQGPHGLDRXWOHWV VXFKDV6KHOI $ZDUHQHVV IRUWKHFDOORXW

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10 The Bookwoman Goes Digital," (http://on.wsj.com/cWsO0s), following on the heels 6(/)38%/,6+253(5,6+" of an email I received (re: Apple looking to give more presence 3/86/,1.6727+( to self-published authors in its iBookstore), that got me thinking, 1(:',*,7$/,03(5$7,9( what if? Some of the key players noted in the article were listed as Apple-approved ‘aggregators’ (don’t you love that word?) — a good starting point for choosing a publishing/distribution plat- by Deborah Batterman form. Aggregators offer a variety of services, both for indie pub- Back in 2004, the National Endowment for the Arts published lishers and authors going digital. I opted to go with Smashwords, DVXUYH\ZLWKDFXULRXVÀQGLQJ KWWSZZZQHDJRYQHZV (www.smashwords.com), mostly for its cross-platform technology news04/readingatrisk.html): literary reading is down, creative and very user-friendly site. The Smashwords blog, (http://blog. writing is up. smashwords.com/) maintained by founder Mark Coker, is a good With the explosion of blogs and web sites (literary and other- source of information and links relevant to wise), the impulse to write has gained not self-publishing. The July 13th post is worth only a new medium but one that stands to 83 percent of reading for its insights on traditional pub- JUDQWLPPHGLDWHJUDWLÀFDWLRQLI\RXEXLOGLW Americans dream of lishing vs. self-publishing. they will come. By logical extension, self- writing a book. The rationale is even more colorfully SXEOLVKHGERRNVDUHÁ\LQJWRWKHSDJHYLD Ninety-three spelled out by DIY success story Steve print-on-demand (POD) technology and/or percent of those Almond in his column at The Rumpus, being downloaded to the latest and great- who actually make "Presto Book-O (Why I Went Ahead and Self- est ebook devices. the effort and get Published)." (http://bit.ly/aFvVC0). Using As a writer with a short story collection published via POD technology--Harvard Bookstore’s that went the ‘defunct-small-publisher’ traditional channels Espresso Book Machine--Almond produced route before it had a chance to get off the will sell less than books (with two covers) to be sold only at ground, do I seize the moment, and hitch a 1,000 books. readings. Sometimes less really is more. ride on this wave of digital books? You The bottom line: As Diane Gedymin, GRQ·WKDYHWRGLJGHHSWRÀQGVWRULHVRI founder of The Publisher’s Desk, noted at BookExpo America writers disappointed with traditional publishing experiences, who 2010: "The Changing DIY Ethos," (http://bit.ly/909MOY), some 83 took the leap into self-publishing. Likewise for those writers and, percent of Americans dream of writing a book. Ninety-three per- frustrated by years of rejection, decided there has to be a better cent of those who actually make the effort and get published via way. Call it timing. Call it faith. Call it going digital. traditional channels will sell less than 1,000 books. There’s a rea- And yet I admit to some reservations about going full-throttle son that taking a more proactive role in controlling the means of into digital DIY mode. As a reader, I love the feel of a book in my publishing and distribution is on the rise. KDQGVWKHUHÁHFWLYHQDWXUHWKDWVHHPVGLPLQLVKHGE\WKHYLVXDO All of which brings me back to a simple premise: yes, writing nature of reading on-screen. As a writer, I love the way words (unless it’s in a journal or diary, for the writer’s eyes only) take shape in my mind and on the page. The ‘page’ as it exists demands an audience, and yet the impulse to write – steadily, on a digital reader is not the same: differences in the technology draft after draft, with heart and skill that (hopefully) matures with that drives each ereader result in variances in formatting. If I go time – demands solitary hours in a room of one’s own. For a WKLVURXWHDP,VDFULÀFLQJP\VHQVHRIZKDWDERRN,6DQGHYHU\- reminder of what drives that impulse, I’ll go back to Janet Stern- thing it takes to bring one to fruition? Yes. burg’s The Writer on Her Work, in particular one essay that spar- At the same time, as a writer seeking ways to increase my kles with Didion-esque insight: "Why I Write" (http://amzn.to/ exposure, why not tap that market of readers shelving their iRLhAX). And all it takes is one click of the mouse to bring read- paperbacks in favor of viewing books on portable screens? And ers right to Amazon, and into the book. even if my plunge into the world of self-published digital books To read about and order the e-book of Deborah carries the risk that my own work (now a thumbnail image in an Batterman's collection Shoes, Hair, Nails, click here: http://www. ebookstore) may get lost in a sea of ‘vanity’ books, all it takes is smashwords.com/books/view/17915. Her website is one good wave to lift it out of the water. www.deborahbatterman.com. It was a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, " ‘Vanity’ Press

Spring 2011 11 :1%$$ZDUG&HUHPRQ\

The Women's National Book Association honored author, journalist, and activist Masha Hamilton as the WNBA Award winner for 2011, at a reception Saturday, March 12, at the Center for Fiction/Mercantile Library, 17 East 47th Street, in New York City.

The award is presented by WNBA to a living American woman who derives part or all of her income from books and allied arts, and who has done meritorious work in the world of books beyond the duties or responsibilities of her profession or occupation.

Masha is the founder of the Afghan Women’s Writing Project and the author of four novels, including most recently 31 Hours, which the Washington Post KDLOHGDVRQHRIWKHEHVWQRYHOVRI0DVKD·VÀFWLRQFOHDUO\GUDZVRQKHUFORVHXS observation and knowledge of contemporary concerns and current events. Her other award-winning, critically acclaimed novels include The Camel Bookmobile (2007), about a traveling library in Africa that brings precious books to villagers.

Masha is also a former foreign correspondent. As a journalist, Masha worked for the Associated Press, reporting from the Middle East, and for the Los Angeles TimesDQG1%&0XWXDO5DGLRUHSRUWLQJIURPWKH6RYLHW8QLRQGXULQJLWVÀQDO\HDUV

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The Women's National Book Association was established in 1917, 4. WNBA will provide a copy of the Information Overview from the before women in America even had the right to vote. WNBA is a WNBA National Manual. This provides an overview of memberships, EURDGEDVHGQRQSURÀWRUJDQL]DWLRQZLWKVRPHPHPEHUV DZDUGVÀVFDO\HDUDQGUHODWHGVXSSRUWLWHPV across the country. Our mission: promote reading and support the 5. Someone from the Executive Committee, committee chairs, or a role of women (and men) in the community of the book. chapter president from WNBA will be assigned as liaison and in The purposes of WNBA are educational and charitable. WNBA DWWHQGDQFHDWWKHÀUVWPHHWLQJ came into being to inform both women and men about matters rel- 6. WNBA can provide start-up funds for nominal costs, like postage evant to themselves and the book world so that we can inform and and copying, upon request. help one another. 7. An interested person must send a letter of intent to establish the That's what we still do, through bringing together women and chapter to the WNBA National President within 120 days from the men who are active in the world of books; educating and informing ÀUVWPHHWLQJ the public about the need to create, produce, distribute, and use books; responding to requests for information about books and the I'd like to join a chapter in my area. How can I do that? allied arts and generate and support projects that help to dissemi- WNBA has three main categories of membership: nate such information; serving as a catalyst for all in the book com- * Active Members -- chapter members who live in close proximity munity who wish to work together, and promoting recognition of to a chapter city and can attend meetings; women's achievements in the book industry. * Network Members -- individuals who do not live in a city with a :1%$FKDSWHUEXWZLVKWRKDYHQDWLRQDOPHPEHUEHQHÀWV How can I start a chapter in my city? * Sustaining Members are corporations or individuals that sup- 1. Make a list of people in educational realms, bookstores, libraries, SRUW:1%$ÀQDQFLDOO\ and book clubs who might be interested in forming a chapter. 2. Bring the core people together (10-15) and explore possibilities. For information on starting a chapter, or joining your local chapter, 3. WNBA will provide a copy of its by-laws, and a copy of another please contact Carin Seigfried at: [email protected]. chapter's by-laws for framework in establishing ones for the new chapter, and other sample publications.

Spring 2011 12