FOREWORD THIS WEEK
03.26.08
1. NY BOOK SHOW CELEBRATES INDIES
Of 85 winning imprints, seven university presses and four small presses are recognized.
2. FAST FOREWORD
News, awards and announcements from our wire.
3. FOREWORD FOOTNOTES
Titles of note from our review stacks.
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When: May 27-29, 2008
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1. NY BOOK SHOW CELEBRATES INDIES
The New York Bookbinders Guild, founded in 1926, is the oldest and largest book production association in the country. This year in its twenty-second annual New York Book Show, it aggressively expanded its reach to invite small and independent presses to submit entries.
Among the nearly 1,000 entries, 173 books, covers, jackets in five categories, and six sales catalogues were recognized for awards to eighty-five publishers and imprints. The five categories, further broken down into twenty-four sub-categories (for each of which there are first, second, and third place and, in some cases, merit awards), were: General Trade, Children’s Trade, Special Trade, School Publishing, and Scholarly Reference.
Close to 800 industry professionals--editors, book production managers, designers, printers, paper merchants, and pre-press services--packed the Manhattan Center ballroom on Tuesday, March 11.
In addition to four small independent presses (listed below), seven university presses and two cultural institutions were recognized: Columbia (five awards), Johns Hopkins, Metropolitan Museum of Art (three awards), Oxford (three awards), Princeton (seven awards), Smithsonian Books (two awards), U. of Chicago, and U. of Tennessee. The Book Show receives entries nationwide.
Here are the small indie presses winning awards in this year’s show:
Alimentum: First place in General Trade, Quality Paperback Series: Alimentum: The Literature of Food. A twice-yearly subscription journal and paperback series, self-described as “the first-ever literary review devoted to the subject of food: original fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.” (Issue #1, 978-0-9773528-0-7) New York City based, first published in winter of 2006, with five editions now in print. Publisher/editor Paulette Licitra is a Writer and Chef. She has traveled extensively in Europe for culinary research. Licitra teaches cooking classes and was Food Editor for the webzine Urban Desires. She also writes for museums, theatre, and television.
Wave Books: First place in Special Trade, Poetry: Awe by Dorothea Lasky (978-1-933517-25-4). Publishers Weekly wrote, “Most notable in this slim debut is Lasky’s recurring and refreshingly un-ironic awe of God, the soul and the spirit…Lasky negotiates a young woman’s world with true belief.” Seattle, WA based Wave Books is an independent poetry press. It was founded in 2005, “joining forces” with already-established publisher Verse Press.
Encounter Books: Second place in Scholarly/Reference, One and Two Color Series. Culture Counts: Faith and Feeling in a World Besieged, by Roger Scruton (978-1-59403-194-6), and In Place of Prejudice by Theodore Dalyrimple (978-1-59403-202-8). “Encounter Books is an activity of Encounter for Culture and Education, a tax exempt, non profit corporation dedicated to strengthening the marketplace of ideas and engaging in educational activities to help preserve democratic culture.” It is New York based and publishes “serious non-fiction in the areas of history, religion, biography, education, public policy, current affairs, social sciences, and politics.”
Black Barn Editions: Third place in Special Trade, Photography: Suspended in Time by Matthew Larkin. Larkin is a wet plate collodion photographer. The judges commented, “richness and luster of black pages is extraordinary.” (978-0-9793352-0-4) Massachusetts-based and established in 2006 “as an independent publisher of books on fine art, photography, design, curiosities, and ephemera.”
As is customary, major New York publishers have a large presence at the show, and the largest number of awards, fifteen, went to Harper Collins. Random House received four; Norton, four; Pearson Education, five; Scholastic, six; Simon and Schuster, five; Wiley, three. Among the more established mid-range independents recognized were Black Dog and Leventhal, Boyds Mills, Deseret Book, M.E. Sharpe and Workman.
Michelle Rothfarb (Courier Corporation), BBGNY President, observed that “the Book Show is an enormous undertaking and a yearlong effort” The judging process is carefully planned and twenty-four volunteer judges assemble for a full day to review and select the awards and to provide their comments. The co-chairs of the Book Show, Adriana Coada (St. Martin’s) and Karen Fuchs (Scholastic), were responsible for selecting and supervising the judging as well as organizing the entire affair. A 312 page full color catalog was distributed at the show, the product also of a large volunteer design, editorial and production group.
BBGNY along with Bookbuilders West (San Francisco), Chicago Book Clinic, Bookbuilders of Boston (whose book show will be held on Wednesday April 9) and the AAUP at its annual meetings, remain sponsors of the major juried shows that judge books for their quality of design, production and manufacturing.
By Eugene G. Schwartz, Editor at Large.
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ISBN 9780935343816
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Moving Forward
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ATTENTION PUBLISHERS:
PROMOTE YOUR BEA GALLEYS
If you plan to have advance reading copies to give away at BEA, ForeWord can help you promote them! ForeWord is working with the organizers at BEA to showcase independent presses and their forthcoming works of fiction, poetry and nonfiction through a galleys2grab program for visiting booksellers, librarians and agents. In order to participate, please REGISTER ONLINE by April 30th. There is no charge for this service. We will create a downloadable PDF file of the list and your booth location, plus provide takeaway paper copies at the show from The Independent Press Lounge, booth number 5641.
2. FAST FOREWORD
Archipelago Books Wins Miriam Bass Prize
Archipelago Books, a not-for-profit literary press specializing in world literature, is the recipient of this year’s Miriam Bass Award for Creativity in Independent Publishing. Archipelago Books was selected for “their commitment to enriching and broadening the American literary landscape through the publication of classic and contemporary literature by a host of distinguished international authors.”
The award, which carries a cash prize of $5,000, was created to honor Miriam Bass and her contributions to the independent book publishing community. It is co-sponsored by AAP, Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, and National Book Network and will be presented at BookExpo America in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 29, during the AAP Smaller and Independent Publishers Annual Meeting.
ASPCA Hosts Live Chat With Indie Author
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) will host a live chat with J. Patrick Lewis, author of Swan Song (Creative Editions, 978-1-56846-175-5) on Wednesday, March 26, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (EST). To join the discussion group, go to http://henrysbookclub.ning.com/group/swansong to register.
Swan Song by Lewis, who has written several illustrated children’s books for Creative Company, “features 22 poems about animals who have gone extinct, including the saddleback tortoise, the elephant bird and the Bali tiger.”
Orange Prize Longlist Announced
The longlist for the Orange Broadband Prize, the UK’s only annual book award for fiction written by a woman, includes two books published in the US by independent publishers:
- The Gathering by Anne Enright (Grove Press, 978-0-8021-1873-8)
- Sorry by Gail Jones (Europa Editions, 978-1-933372-48-8)
According to the Web site, “the Prize celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in women’s writing.” The shortlist will be announced next month and the winner, who will receive a cash prize of 30,000 ($59,000), will be named on June 4.
Quirk Books Sales to Benefit Literacy Project
Quirk Books has teamed up with 826 Valencia, a San Francisco group co-founded by Dave Eggers that is dedicated to helping children and teens develop their writing skills. Orders placed online at quirkbooks.com with the promotional code 826VALENCIA will be discounted ten percent. Thirty percent of the total sale will be donated to 826 Valencia.
Registration Open for NYCIP Round Table Writers’ Conference
The New York Round Table Writers’ Conference will be held Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12. The event, sponsored by the New York Center for Independent Publishing, will feature keynote speaker John Berendt, the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Focusing on the business and career of writing, the conference features programming on a variety of publishing topics, including: independent publishing, marketing, memoirs, online publishing, and query letters. For more information and registration, visit http://www.writersconferencenyc.org/.
PubWest Invites Proposals for Conference Sessions
The National Publishing Conference and Book Industry Trade Show of the Publishers Association of the West (PubWest) will be held November 13-15 at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland. This year’s theme will be “Advancing the Book” and will focus on the increasing need for publishers to “understand and embrace digital opportunities as well as other advances in publishing.”
PubWest is accepting proposals for sessions and speakers. The deadline is March 14. For more information, visit the conference page of the Web site.
From Staff Reports. Share your news and information with Whitney Hallberg, Managing Editor.
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ISBN 9780977256600
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Becoming What You Want to See in the World
Award-winning book (2007 Best Books and Indie Excellence) on living an inspired life of peace, joy and balance. "This book could not have come at a more opportune time. A ray of hope amid chaos." Arun Gandhi
Website: www.riverbirchpublishing.com
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This week at Editor’s Notes, Editor in Chief Heather Shaw finds a new entry in the category of perfect books for children.
At Publishing Insider, Victoria Blake talks about pushing boundaries online.
At Shelf Space, Adrienne Eaton discusses online used bookstores.
At Publishing Matters, Eugene G. Schwartz delves into the changing definition of a publisher.
Visit www.forewordmagazine.com for publishing news, book reviews, and the ForeWord Book Club.
3. FOREWORD FOOTNOTES
Biography & Autobiography. BOMBAY ANNA: THE REAL STORY AND REMARKABLE ADVENTURES OF THE KING AND I GOVERNESS by Susan Morgan (University of California Press, 15 b/w photographs, 272 pages, hardcover, $24.95, 978-0-520-25226-4): distinguished professor of English presents Anna Leonowens (1834-1915) whose life was far more fascinating than the story of the Victorian governess who went to work for the King of Siam in 1862 Bangkok and became a well-known travel writer; details include biographical notes such as her employer King Mongkut’s twenty-seven years as a Buddhist monk before ascending Siam’s throne in 1850.
Biography & Autobiography. WORSHIPPING WALT: THE WHITMAN DISCIPLES by Michael Robertson (Princeton University Press, 27 b/w illustrations, 368 pages, Hardcover, $27.95, 978-0-691-12808-5): professor of English and New York Times contributor presents the eclectic group of devotees who regarded Whitman (1819-1892) not simply as a poet but as a religious prophet; included are Canadian psychiatrist R.M. Bucke, American nature writer John Burroughs, British activist Edward Carpenter, and Oscar Wilde, who met Whitman in 1882 during his American tour and said that he wrote so many autographs he was later hospitalized with writer’s cramp.
Family & Relationships. IT GETS EASIER! AND OTHER LIES WE TELL NEW MOTHERS by Claudine Wolk (New Buck Press, 200 pages, softcover, $12.95, 978-0-9797676-4-7): columnist and mother of three interviewed hundreds of mothers, distilling information and mixing in humor to present practical strategies; suggestions include putting baby down for naps and bedtime when drowsy, but not asleep, and burping baby in between feedings to release delayed gas.
Juvenile Non-fiction. OUR NEW HOME: IMMIGRANT CHILDREN SPEAK edited by Emily Hearn and Marywinn Milne (Second Story Press, b/w illustrations, 128 pages, Softcover, $13.95, 978-1-897187-32-6): CBC Radio writer and primary grade school teacher present the writings and art of children new to Canada that express feelings regarding language, weather, customs, and people; included are notes from Siddarth from India, Christina from Russia, and Padina from Iran, who said, “I like everything about Canada put aside the weather.”
Law. THE LAWYER MYTH: A DEFENSE OF THE AMERICAN LEGAL PROFESSION by Rennard Strickland and Frank T. Read (Ohio University Press, 174 pages, softcover, $16.95, 978-0-8040-111-2, hardcover, $32.95, 978-8040-1110-5): two professors of law refute many misconceptions that exist about lawyers and the legal system; they respond to questions such as “are there too many lawyers” by showing that there is a demand for more trained professionals.
Literary Criticism. AT THE BRINK OF INFINITY: POETIC HUMILITY IN BOUNDLESS AMERICAN SPACE by James E. Von Der Heydt (University of Iowa Press, 242 pages, hardcover, $42.50, 978-1-58729-628-4): instructor in English analyzes the inspirational lyric craft of Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, James Merrill, and Emily Dickinson, and their uncompromising visions of limitlessness; author connects Emerson’s philosophy of the incommensurable with Dickinson’s “I dwell in Possibility / A fairer House than Prose,” where “the housed self is linked by necessity with the questioning self.”
Literary Criticism. SEAMUS HEANEY AND MEDIEVAL POETRY by Conor McCarthy (Boydell & Brewer, 195 pages, hardcover, $90.00, 978-1-84384-141-8): poetry scholar examines the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature winner’s direct translations and his adaptation of medieval material in his poems; chapters include Station Island, Beowulf, and The Testament of Cresseid, a narrative about the Trojan woman who pledges everlasting love to Troilus, but reneges, connecting with the Greek Diomede, who later rejects her.
Literary Criticism. WALT WHITMAN: WHERE THE FUTURE BECOMES PRESENT edited by David Haven Blake and Michael Robertson (University of Iowa Press, 188 pages, hardcover, $39.95, 978-1-58729-638-3) two professors of English assemble ten essayists that affirm the truth of the Leaves of Grass premise that: “Past and present are not disjoined but joined”: writers include poetry professor David Lehman, author James Longenbach, and professor of art history Angela Miller, who believes that Whitman found his “literary voice in a powerful sense of democratic empathy.”
Music. MUSICIANS FROM A DIFFERENT SHORE: ASIANS AND ASIAN AMERICANS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC by Mari Yoshihara (Temple University Press, 18 b/w illustrations, 288 pages, hardcover, $29.50, 978-1-59213-332-1); professor of American Studies discusses how musicians of Asian descent enjoy unprecedented prominence in concert halls and classical performance competitions emanating from a confluence of culture, politics, and commerce after WW II; includes anecdotes of such people as violinist David Kim, Concertmaster for the Philadelphia Orchestra since 1999, who at age twelve appeared with Itzhak Perlman on WNEW-TV.
Nature. BUILT BY ANIMALS: THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ANIMAL ARCHITECTURE by Mike Hansell (Oxford University Press, b/w illustrations, 268 pages, hardcover, $29.95, 978-0-19-920556-1): professor of animal behavior discusses how small-brained creatures build structures that include homes, traps, and for courtship display, and considers what can be learned about evolution and animal intelligence; examples include how ventilation systems work in mounds built by termites, and how honey bees can calculate the size of a cavity in a tree.
By Alex Moore, Book Review Editor