FOREWORD THIS WEEK 05.21.08

1. FOREWORD’S BOOKEXPO AMERICA EVENTS PREVIEW

2. FAST FOREWORD

News, awards and announcements from our wire.

3. FOREPLAY: AUTHOR DUNCAN WELLER

Meet Duncan, an award-winning children’s book author and romantic who hopes to some day become a self-publisher.

4. FOREWORD FOOTNOTES

Titles of note from our review stacks.

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Book Expo America

Book Expo America Dont miss top cookbook authors present their latest culinary delights at the Cookbook Expo. Whether you are eager to meet a celebrity chef, want to learn about the latest trends in cooking or just want to indulge your taste buds during BEA, be sure to check out the Cookbook Expo at BEA. For more information visit www.bookexpoamerica.com

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1. FOREWORD’S BOOKEXPO AMERICA EVENTS PREVIEW

ForeWord is busily preparing for our tenth BookExpo America. We are heading to Los Angeles at the end of the month for the biggest publishing event in the country. We are celebrating our anniversary by hosting the Independent Publishers Lounge with the New York Center for Independent Publishing in Booths 5631-5641. Industry experts will lead informational sessions. Reserve your space in any of the following mini-workshops by emailing smallpress@aol.com.

Friday, May 30

9:00 How to Get the Most Out of Book Expo: A Book Fair Briefing with Dan Poynter, Consultant, Publisher and Author of The Self Publishing Manual.

11:00 How to Make Real Money Selling Books with Brian Jud, Book Marketing Works, Author of Beyond the Bookstore and How to Make Real Money Selling Books

Saturday, May 31

11:00 How Publishers Can Maximize Sales Through Bookstores with Marcella Smith, Director of Small Press and Vendor Relations, Barnes and Noble.

12:00 How to Structure a Deal: Flat fees vs. Royalties vs. Profit Share with Deirdre Smerillo, Consutltant, Smerillo Associates, former Contracts Director of Hyperion and Random House.

1:00 Your Book Is Your Hook: How to Increase Your Sales with Jennifer S. Wilkov, book consultant, marketing platform strategist and author of Dating Your Money and co-author of The Green Guide Girls: Guide to Book Publishing.

2:00 Publishing Law 101: Copyright & Contract Myths Busted & Sneaky Lawyer Tricks Revealed with Lloyd Jassin, Specialist in Copyright, Trademark & Publishing Law and Author of The Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook.

Sunday June 1

11:00 The Seven Keys to Marketing Books This Year with John Kremer, Consultant and Author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books.

ForeWord’s tenth annual Book of the Year Awards will be presented at a ceremony in Level Two Concourse, Theatre Room #411 at 2:00 Friday afternoon. Join us in congratulating the winners in sixty categories, and our two Editor’s Choice Prize winners, who will receive cash prizes of $1,500 each. A special edition of ForeWord This Week announcing this year’s winners will be sent Friday afternoon following the ceremony.

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We also invite you to download our list of independent Galleys 2 Grab, and load up your tote bags with free offerings as you explore the exhibit hall. And be sure to make note of these events from our publisher friends:

600 Red Wheel Weiser Conari

God for President campaign buttons. Free astrology and kabbalah readings by Gahl Sasson, Sunday, June 1, at 2:00 pm.

606 Action Publishing

Dave Kluge will sign copies of The Peoples Guide the United States Constitution, ““a must for anyone who wishes to understand the Constitution [and] a top pick for library collections”” (Midwest Book Review), on Friday, May 30, from 2:30 to 3:00 pm.

Dr. Eric Berg will sign copies of The 7 Principles of Fat Burning, the breakthrough diet that ignites fat-burning hormones so you lose weight naturally, on Saturday, May 31, from 9:30 to 10:30 am at Autograph Table #3 in the West Hall. Due to popular demand there will be a second signing on Saturday, May 31, from 3:30 to 4:00 pm.

Scott E. Sutton will sign volumes #1 and #2 of his Adventures of Dinosaur Dog science fiction adventure series for young readers on Sunday, June 1, from 9:30 to 10:30 am at Autograph Table #26 in the West Hall.

607 History Publishing Company

Terry Turchie and Dr. Kathleen Puckett formerly of the FBI and co-authors of Hunting The American Terrorist, a ForeWord Book of the Year Awards finalist for true crime, will be handing out signed copies of Hunting The American Terrorist at 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 31. They will also answer questions about the unusual methods they used to capture Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, the subject of their book.

607 Beaufort Books

Beaufort Books, named one of the fastest growing independent publishers by Publishers Weekly, announces the publication of Food Jobs, the latest from culinary matriarch Irena Chalmers. Robert Mondavi has called her “a feast to read.” In celebration of this likely new Chalmers bestseller, Beaufort is giving away a personal tour of the Culinary Institute of Americas New York campus followed by dinner. To participate drop your card off at the Beaufort Books booth.

661 The Kent State University Press

Bestselling author of The House of God, Samuel Shem, will sign copies of his new book The Spirit of the Place on Friday, May 30, from 1:30 to 2:00 pm.

666 Capital Books

50% discount on all orders taken at the show plus free copies of Cruise Crazy, Win Without Competing, Hitting Your Stride. Meet authors Dr. Kruz Nutty (Friday and Saturday), Dr Arlene Barro (Friday afternoon), Jean Riescher Westcott and Amy Fries (Saturday), Nan Russell (Sunday). Enter to win a free iPod for Digitally Daunted and a free job coaching for Win Without Competing. Free bubble-blowing pens for Daydreams at Work and free analog pads for Digitally Daunted.

727 Legal Write Publications

Tonya Evans-Walls signs copies of Copyright Companion for Writers at our booth, Friday, May 30, at 1:00 pm. She will also sign Contracts Companion for Writers, nominated for ForeWord’s 2007 Reference Book of the Year, on Saturday, May 31, at 2:00 pm at Table #16, autographing area.

727 Cypress House

At 11:00 am on Sunday, June 1, Table #8, Dr. Molly Dwyer will autograph copies of her novel Requiem for the Author of Frankenstein. An impeccably researched tribute to the brilliant and daring Mary Shelley and to the creative genius of the feminine, this literary fiction, like its namesake, rides the fine line between the rational and the irrational. New York Times bestselling author John Lescroart called the novel ambitious and excellent. Readers, he said, will find enjoyment on every page.

732 Truth-Driven Strategies LLC

Stephen L. Gibson will be appearing at BEA with his new book, A Secret of the Universe at Booth 732 on Friday, May 30, from 12:30 to 1:00 pm. This is a story about belief--in God, sexual ethics, morals, political ideologies--told through two friends struggle to make sense of life’s triumphs and tragedies. Published by Truth-Driven Strategies, the book is also distributed to wholesalers and displayed at BEA by Atlasbooks, Booths 847/849.

754 Illumination Arts Publishing

Show Special: $12.00 per book, 5 or more books for $10.00 each. (Regular retail price $15.95-$16.95.) Authors Maureen Moss, John M. Thompson, and best-selling author/illustrator Janan Cain will be available for signing throughout the show.

755 Humane Exposures Publishing

Susan Madden Lankford’s Maggots in My Sweet Potatoes: Women Doing Time (Humane Exposures Publishing; September; National Distributor: Blu Sky Media Group) combines 326 black-and-white photographs and more than two years of in-depth interviews with the jailed and the jailers. Book tour to: Portland, OR (September 15-17); Seattle (September 18-19); Denver (September 24-26); San Francisco (October 1-5); San Diego (October 8-12 and after October 20); and Los Angeles (October 14-18).

834 Creative Book Publishers International

Meet Stephen Verona, author of Making of ’The Lords Of Flatbush,’ the story of the classic film that marked the first movie roles of Sylvester Stallone and Henry Winkler. Verona will be meeting fans at the booth Friday, May 30, at 2:30 pm after signing copies of the book at the autographing section at 2:00 pm; and Saturday, May 31, at 11:00 am, after his session at the autographing section. Stop by and pick up a free T-shirt showing Sylvester Stallone and Henry Winkler in a scene from their first movie.

835 Marcia Fine

Author signing by award-winning author, Marcia Fine, Saturday, May 31, at 11:30 am&. Paper Children, An Immigrant’s Story offers a trio of stories encompassing three generations of strong, passionate women. A truly unforgettable story of the Holocaust and its survivors.

835 Advantage Media Group

The Art of Conscious Creation, How You Can Transform the World. Meet author Jackie Lapin on Friday, May 30, at 1:00 pm during her USA BookAward Signing. Take charge of your life and start Consciously Creating what you want now!

961 University of Nebraska Press

Attendees can register to win a collection of books from UNP’s Outdoor Lives series, including Bicycling Beyond the Divide: Two Journeys into the West by Daryl Farmer and Kayaking Alone: Nine Hundred Miles from Idaho’s Mountains to the Pacific Ocean by Mike Barenti. UNP will also give away bison key chains throughout the conference.

1646 Meadowbrook Press

On Saturday, May 31, beginning at 10:00 am, Bruce Lansky will be signing his newest poetry book, I Hope I Don’t Strike Out! On Sunday, June 1, Bruce Lansky will be signing his newest baby name book, 5-Star Baby Name Advisor.

1654 Pelican Publishing Company

BEA Special: 47% discount with an order of 10 or more titles to one location. Dean Turnbloom will be autographing Prizewinning Political Cartoons: 2008 Edition. Peter Osbaldeston will be autographing The Palm Springs Diner’s Bible. Mike Hernacki will be autographing The Ultimate Secret to Getting Absolutely Everything You Want.

1840 Quayside Publishing Group

Jonny Bowden, Ph.D. signing The Most Effective Cures on Earth, Saturday, May 31, from 11:00-12:00 pm. Give-aways include a Led Zeppelin signed guitar promoting the book Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin.

1925 Menasha Ridge Press

Renowned adventurer Richard Bangs will sign copies of Quest for Kaitiakitanga: The Ancient Maori Secret that Could Save the Earth on Friday, May 30, from 4-5 pm. Advance reading copies of Going Vertical: The Life of an Extreme Kayaker by Tao Berman with Pam Withers will be available.

1957 John F. Blair, Publisher

We will be promoting Captivity by Debbie Wesselmann; Ghost Cats of the South by Randy Russell. There will be a drawing for a getaway to Asheville, NC, and special offers on orders of five books or more (46% (returnable) or 50% (non-returnable), free freight.

1973 Hay House

Stop by for author signings by Brian Klemmer (The Compassionate Samurai), Doreen Virtue (How to Hear Your Angels), Dr. Steven Farmer (Animal Spirit Guides), and many more of your favorite Hay House authors to be announced.

2004 Demos Health

Demos Health will be giving away a collection of three accessible travel guide books by author Candy B. Harrington: 101 Accessible Vacations, There is Room at the Inn, and Barrier-Free Travel. Essential reading for every traveler with mobility limitations!

2246/2247 The Globe Pequot Press

Meet Nadia G, author of The Bitchin Kitchen Cookbook, and star of the popular Web and mobile cooking series, Bitchin Kitchen TV, during her signing in Booth 2246 on Friday, May 30, from 2:00-3:00 pm.

2246/2247 The Globe Pequot Press

Meet author and radio show host Tom Kraeutler during a live taping of the popular radio show The Money Pit on Saturday, May 31, from 9:00-11:00 am.

2358 AMACOM Books

Authors on BookExpo Panels: Kathleen Taylor & Eric Butow on “How to Succeed in Publishing Using LinkedIn””; Matthew J. Kiernan, Ph.D. on ““Investing in a Sustainable World””; Giveaways: Bound excerpts of How to Succeed in Business Using LinkedIn (at panel, signing & booth) and bound galleys of Scheisshaus Luck (at booth); Booksignings in autographing area: Kathleen Taylor & Eric Butow, authors of How to Succeed in Business Using LinkedIn on Thursday, May 29; Scott Fox, author of Internet Riches on Sunday, June 1.

2605 Freedom Press

Author signings: Saturday, May 31, 1:30 pm - Walter Bader, author of Toxic Bedrooms: Your Guide to a Safe Night’s Sleep; Saturday, May 31, 3:00 pm - David Steinman, author of 50 Simple Steps to Save the Earth from Global Warming; Sunday, June 1, 11:00 am - David Sandoval, author of The Green Foods Bible: Everything You Need to Know About Barley Grass, Wheatgrass, Kamut, Chlorella, Spirulina and More.

2611 Tallfellow Press

Doctor for The Biggest Loser TV Show, Dr. Rob Huizenga, will sign Where Did All the Fat Go? on Saturday, May 31, at 10:00 am. Rachel Ingegneri will sign Ten Minutes to the Job Interview, the latest addition to the 10 Minutes 2 Success series, on Saturday, May 31, at 2:00 pm. Dennis Palumbo, screenwriter of My Favorite Year will sign From Crime to Crime on Saturday, May 31, at 4:00 pm.

2625 National Book Network

NBN is an independent, full-service sales, marketing, and distribution company serving North American and overseas independent publishers of non-fiction, fiction, and children’s titles. We provide sales, marketing, order fulfillment, and credit and collections services. Our growth is based on the successful partnership we’ve developed with each of our clients.

2626 Harvard Common Press

Win a Wine Mondays dinner for two! To celebrate our October 2008 publication of Wine Mondays: Simple Wine Pairings with Seasonal Menus, by Frank McClelland and Christie Matheson, we will be giving away three gift certificates to a wine pairing dinner for two. Just drop off your business card to enter!

2629 Karen Brown’s Guides

Karen Brown is recognized as the most reliable authority for travel guides to Europe, the United States and Mexico. They include regional itineraries & recommendations of charming places to stay. Researched and updated annually, Karen Brown’s Guides (17 titles) are distributed by National Book Network, NBN. Stop by and enter your name to receive a free guide! Drawing to be held at the end of the show.

2630 Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group

Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is a preeminent publisher of critically acclaimed general interest and scholarly books in the social sciences and humanities as well as college textbooks, professional titles, journals and award winning reference titles. Imprints such as Scarecrow Press, Government Institute, and AltaMira are under the RLPG umbrella.

2631 The Intrepid Traveler

Jon Wassner, co-author of Americas Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families (May 2008) will be signing copies of his book on Friday, May 30, from 11:00-11:45 am at the NBN autographing booth (2640). We will also be giving away copies of his book and Travia: The Ultimate Book of Travel Trivia, by Nadine Godwin (June 2008) at booth 2631.

2631 Accent Press

Accent Press is an exciting new publisher buyers & readers alike will turn to for books in popular categories that stand out from the mass in their unusual settings, inventive plots or original storylines. Mainstream enough for broad appeal, unique & edgy enough to attract those tired of reading what everyone else is reading. Stop by our stand to check out Accent Extras section were adding at the back of our books with reader’s guides, “setting the scene,”” conversations with the author & more!

2641 Glitterati Incorporated

Publisher of illustrated and giftbook nonfiction to the trade.

2675 National Book Network

100 Essential Modern Poems by Women, edited by Joseph Parisi and Kathleen Welton is a guide to modern poetry filled with wisdom and inspiration. Published by Ivan R. Dee. Book signing on Saturday, May 31, from 9:30-10:30 am, Table #7 in the autographing area.

2700 Fulcrum Publishing

Signings: Gary Hart (Under the Eagles Wing) Heraldo Munoz (A Solitary War), Joseph M. Marshall (Hundred in the Hand), John Trudell (Lines from a Mined Mind), Tony Bender (If Every Month Were June). Giveaways: Chapter excerpts of Buffalo Gal by Laura Pedersen. Chapter excerpts of The Long Knives are Crying by Joseph M. Marshall. Galleys of Going Green by Sally Kneidel and Sadie Kneidel. Galleys of DeKok and the Dead Lovers by Baantjer.

2715 Jula Jane

In booth signings. The top book for anyone interested in dating. Free signed book giveaway every hour on the hour. Booth 15 book signing on Saturday, May 31, from 1:00 to 1:30 pm.

2727 YMAA Publication Center

Publisher of books and videos rooted in Asian Culture. New: Martial Arts Fiction Tengu-The Mountain Goblin. Primary subject categories: martial arts, Qigong, health, fitness, eastern thought. Established 1982 by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming to bridge the gap between East and West through serious works from knowledgeable authors.

2728 AAA Publishing

AAA publishes travel guides (Essential Guides, Spiral Guides, TravelBooks) for domestic and foreign destinations, atlases, and the annual Traveling With Your Pet, The AAA PetBook.

2729 Davies-Black Publishing

Author signing, Friday, May 30, 2:00 pm: What If? by Steve Robbins. Give-aways: What If? post-its, luggage tags.

2735 Himalayan Institute Press

New Release/Giveaway: The Pursuit of Power & Freedom: Katha Upanishad with translation and commentary by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait. New Release/Giveaway: Healing the Whole Person: Applications of Yoga Psychotherapy by Swami Ajaya. Award Winner: Chinas Sacred Sites, Nan Shunxun and Beverly Foit-Albert, takes the Gold award from Nautilus and is a ForeWord Magazine finalist! Award Winner: Downward Dogs and Warriors by Zo Newell-Nautilus Silver award and finalist with ForeWord Magazine!

2737 American Bar Association

ABA Books are distributed to the trade by National Book Network. We are the premier publisher of practical legal information in both book and electronic formats. Featured author signings: The Reflective Counselor by Maureen C. Kessler and F. Gregory Coffey and The Little Green Book of Golf Law by Jack Minan. Both book signings are on Saturday, May 31, at Booth 2737.

2738 ASTD Press

ASTD Press is an internationally renowned source of insightful and practical information on workplace learning and performance topics, including training basics, evaluation and return on investment, instructional systems development, e-learning, leadership, and career development.

2754 Travel Publishers Assn

We give away the entire collection of travel titles from over 50 publishers. The winner is chosen after the show from business cards left at the booth. Books are mailed to the winner.

2851 Inkwater Press

Copies of Salmon Run, a novel by S.W. Capps, will be on display in the Inkwater Press booth at the BEA show. For more information on S.W. Capps’ debut novel, contact Lindsay Burt in Booth 2851.

2865 Jewish Lights / SkyLight Paths Publishing

BEA Show Special 50% Discount (12 or more books, free freight). Must ship by June 30, 2008.

2902 Inner Traditions/Bear & Co.

50% and free freight on orders of 10 or more books

3033 University of North Carolina Press

50% on all titles returnable accounts; 55% non-returnable accounts; one order; retail and library accounts only; course adoptions excluded; OS titles cancel except NYP; expires June 30, 2008

4256A Chocolate Pages

Giving away 2 signed copies of The Life of a Lily: Growing in His Strength, Blooming in His Love, 2 bookmarks, and 2 signed photographs of the author, Lily L. Ratliff

4330 Palari Publishing

Renowned attorney Cody Fowler Davis will sign Implied Consent. Actress Marcia Strassman from Welcome Back, Kotter will sign her book about how to deal with cancer in a positive manner.

4415 Westminster John Knox Press

BEA attendees can order anything on the WJK list at buyer’s choice of 50% discount, or 45% discount plus free freight. Robert Short, author of the original Gospel According to Peanuts (1965), will be signing his new book, The Parables of Dr. Seuss, in WJK Exhibit 4415, plus Table #13 in Autographing on Saturday, May 31, 1:00-1:30 pm. Connie Neal, author of The Gospel According to Harry Potter: Now Exploring Books 1-7 (2008), will be signing her new book in-booth and at Table #13 on Saturday, May 31, from 1:30 to 2:00 pm.

4610 Encounter Books

Climate Confusion, Roy Spencer Saturday, May 31, 2:00-3:00 pm. Author autograph area, Table #1. Willful Blindness, Andy McCarthy Saturday, May 31, 2:00-3:00 pm author autograph area, Table #12.

4834 Teach Me Tapes, Inc

Experience the Teach Me approach to language learning. These award-winning books draw on familiar songs to teach children foreign language basics like vocabulary, alphabet, numbers and colors, days of the week and more. Easy, engaging, and available in 10 languages! Show Special: Free freight plus 30 days dating for show orders, $100 minimum order.

5030 Tilbury House, Publishers

BEA Special: 50% and free freight on show orders of 20 or more books!

5213 Lerner Publishing Group

Visit author Laurie Friedman in the autographing area on Friday, May 30, from 3:00-4:00 pm to receive a free copy of Angel Girl, a new picture book from Lerner Publishing Group. A young boy survives a concentration camp thanks to a daily apple provided by his angel girl, who risked her life for him. Years later, they are amazingly reunited. Based on a Holocaust survivor’s true story, Angel Girl is an unforgettable tale of love, hope and the strength of the human spirit.

5216 Free Spirit Publishing

Special 25th anniversary drawing for booksellers! Enter to win a $250 gift certificate for Free Spirit products.

5331 Mandy and Pandy, LLC

Award-winning author Chris Lin will be giving away a Mandy and Pandy bucket every day. The bucket is filled with both Mandy and Pandy books, finger puppets and the Mandy and Pandy dolls. Stop by and drop your card off for your chance to win.

5430 Mom’s Choice Foundation

Tiny Titan - A Journey of Hope by Ann Yurcek. Meet the author and hear her story. Autograph Signing Session Sunday, June 1, at 10:00 am in Mom’s Choice Booth 5430.

5642B Concierge Marketing

Concierge Marketing will have book signings by Steve Fischer, author of When the Mob Ran Vegas, named a finalist in the 2008 Beach Book Festival, while the audiobook version was named a finalist in ForeWord Magazine’s 2007 Book of the Year Awards, the 2008 Ben Franklin Awards, and the 2008 Indie Excellence Awards. Sourena Vasseghi will be signing his book Love Your Life and It Will Love You Back, winner of the 2008 Indie Excellence Award.

5706 Divine Design

Meet author Eva Dillner and book event for release tour of Secrets of Transformation. Beyond the misery memoir - writing to transform the pain. Are you tired of tripping over your past? Find out how to quit your whining, leave your baggage behind and create a new you. Available worldwide in hardcover, softcover, audio and e-book formats. Events: Book signings, workshops on creative dance, the playful artist, the writer within, perpetual learning, sound meditations and shen therapy.

5740 Book Publicists of Southern California

Angel Park, an award-winning novel about transforming ourselves, our schools, our world, will be available from Book Publicists of Southern California at Booth 5740, where a free book will be given with every book purchased.

-- from staff reports

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PMA Publishing University

PMA Publishing University PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association presents: Publishing University 2008: Creative Strategies for Growth, Profit and Success     - Start your publishing company   - Grow your publishing company   - Learn how from 100+ industry experts in a 3-day education extravaganza of more than 80 sessions covering everything from web marketing to publicity, editorial to finance, sales to manufacturingand more! When: May 27-29, 2008 Where: Wilshire Grand Hotel, Los Angeles How: Visit www.pma-online.org for details. Register now and use discount code FW-08 to save $50!

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2. FAST FOREWORD

Children’s Choice Book Award Winners Announced

As Children’s Book Week wraps up, the Children’s Choice Book Award winners were announced. Two independent publishers took home prizes for their winning books. More than 55,000 votes were received from children across the country. The awards program was sponsored by the Children’s Book Council.

Self-Publisher Loves His Job

Peter Bowerman, author of The Well-Fed Writer and The Well-Fed Self-Publisher was interviewed last week in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a feature called “Why I Love My Job.”

“’My quality of life is really good…I don’t have to ask permission to take a day off or go on a vacation,’” Bowerman told the paper.

Chelsea Green Tests New Interactive Site

Chelsea Green, an independent publisher of books on political and environmental issues, is beta testing a new Web site. The new site features blogs, videos, audio interviews, and a schedule of author appearances. Chelsea Green invites users to test out the site and provide them with feedback.

Watson-Guptill is Independent No More

Watson-Guptill Publications, a publisher of art instruction, craft, photography, and reference books, has been purchased by Random House. Watson-Guptill will become a stand-alone imprint in RH’s Crown Publishing Group.

“With a solid and successful backlist of more than a thousand titles as well as a robust frontlist publishing program, Watson-Guptill is a wonderful addition to our publishing program,” Crown President and Publisher Jenny Frost said in a statement.

From staff reports. Share your news and information with Whitney Hallberg, Managing Editor.

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ISBN 9781571204530

Making History: Quilts and Fabric from 1890-1970 Learn the Fascinating True Story of Fabrics in America. Make Your Own Period Quilts! Includes 9 quilt projects inspired by vintage quilt designs and fabrics. Packed with historic photos, stories, and insights into the role of fabrics in everyday life. Website: www.ctpub.com

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3. FOREPLAY: AUTHOR DUNCAN WELLER

Duncan Weller is an author of children’s books, including Nightwall, Spacesnake, and The Boy From the Sun (978-1-894965-33-0), which was published last year by Simply Read Books. The book, in which three urban children are shown the beauty of the natural world, has been in the news recently after winning two prestigious awards.

Dossier

Occupation: Writer/Artist

Residence: Canada - currently Thunder Bay because the rent is cheap and the woman of my dreams lives here.

Why you know the name: If you know my name you’re one of few. I’m a newcomer to the scene as a result of winning the Governor General’s Award and the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Picture Book award for my book, The Boy from the Sun.

In his free time: You are insinuating that I work for a living. What I do doesn’t feel like work, which doesn’t mean to say that I don’t have my troubles, but now I get money from what I used to do in my free time.

In his former life: I worked as a picture framer and as an art director in the Play Industry carving giant toys and climbing structures for children out of Styrofoam.

ForePlay Questions

What book are you currently reading, and where is your favorite place to read?

Currently, five books at the same time. I’ll mention three I’ve almost completed: History in Art (Lecture Syllabus for courses taught at the University of Victoria in 1972) by Alan Gowans. Gowans’ books are controversial because he considered Popular Art more worthy of study than Fine Art. I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land by Karolyn Smardz Frost. This book won the GG. I met Karolyn in Ottawa at the awards and this book is a continuation of my studies in African American history and art. (GO OBAMA!) I have a special interest in the Harlem Renaissance. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. This book won this year’s Caldecot Award. I was fortunate to be in Philadelphia for the American Library Association’s meeting when the awards were announced. The response and resulting press coverage for Selznick’s book was amazing and puts us to shame. I have had so little press coverage, it’s laughable.

What qualities do you value most professionally?

Persistence.

What are you still determined to learn to do?

To speak French.

If you were a member of a tribe, what would be your special role in it, and why?

Hunting and killing animals. Why? Because of the danger, the adventure, the sense of thrill and victory, the usefulness of the occupation, the importance of feeding my family, making my tribal wife so excited by my catch of the day that we will dance and make love all night long in our hut, and the challenge of outdoing my competitors. If you’re using this as a psychobabble question to metaphorically analyze a comparative relation to art--you’d be right to do so.

What is your favorite hometown library and/or bookstore?

The Westmount Public Library in Montreal. It’s the most beautiful library I’ve had the pleasure in which to read. The staff is great. My favorite bookstores have closed.

What kind of music do you enjoy while you are reading?

I can’t listen to music when I read. However, when reading on the beach, I love the sounds of ocean waves and children playing.

What would you save from your home if it were burning?

Everything.

What question has never been answered for you?

Why are people so afraid to be moderately skeptical, thus allowing themselves to be conned so easily?

What would surprise most people to learn about you?

I’m not Mr. Dressup.

If you could have any five people over for dinner, who would they be?

The woman I’m in love with who is going through a hellish divorce, who I’m trying to win back. Her two children. Their dog Wessley and whatever spirit or angel that can bring us together.

What book has impacted you the most and why?

The Unchanging Arts by Alan Gowans. This book completely contradicted what I was taught in my first year of fine arts in university, causing me to switch my study to English literature and reassuring me that there is great value in writing and illustrating children’s picture books. Gowans’ understanding of art history is phenomenal. He writes with great conviction and clarity. I don’t agree with everything he writes, but what he has taught me saved me from a world of confusion in which many other artists live--a world of confusion where they feel totally conflicted about their lack of function within society.

What is your prediction for independent publishing in 2008?

All organizations giving out awards will have to consider self-published books. I plan to publish my own books as it allows me to ditch the publisher, the distributor, and the bookstore, giving me more control and a better income. I will be doing a lot more over the Internet, including learning useful programs from www.vtc.com. All I need to survive as an artist is a thousand committed fans who will buy one or two books from my Web site a year. I hope to have my Web site shop open before Christmas. www.duncanweller.com.

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This week at Publishing Insider, Derek Armstrong discusses five lessons he has learned about literary agents and finding a publisher.

At Publishing Matters, Eugene Schwartz presents highlights from the IDPF's recent conference.

At Shelf Space, Jackie Parker explores trends in Young Adult literature by finding common themes in this year's Cybil entries.

At Editor’s Notes, Editor in Chief Heather Shaw Heather Shaw reviews Seeing Beyond Sight and Birds: The Art of Ornithology.

Visit www.forewordmagazine.com for publishing news, book reviews, and the ForeWord Book Club.

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4. FOREWORD FOOTNOTES