MEETINGS
The next Free Member Teleconference will be
Thursday, June 5, 2008 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The number to call: 712-429-0700
Participant PIN: 270222
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congratulations to Tordis Isselhardt and Images from the Past!
On April 23, Tordis received the following message from Terry Nathan at PMA/IBPA (PMA--The Independent Book Publishers Association):
"Congratulations! Your title, Mighty Giants, has been named as one of three finalists in the 2008 Benjamin Franklin Awards competition, in the following category: Science/Environment." Visit the web page for the book.
For those who don't know, the Benjamin Franklin Award is a major achievement in the publishing world. The book Tordis published was in collaboration with the American Chestnut Society and is a beautiful illustrated history of chestnut trees, known as the "mighty giants" and now, alas, becoming rare.
Here, too, is a perfect example of the important role that smaller presses play in the cultural life of nations, bringing to the public important books on subjects that large corporations may not find commercially viable or profitable enough to publish.
An inspiration to us all!
Michael Dutton's short story, "The Notion of Zero," was accepted for inclusion in Best New Writing 2007, a literary anthology published by Hopewell Publications in October of 2007. The volume is currently available at www.writersnotes.com.
Publisher and member of IPNE, Michael is the author of the novel, Christmasville, a magical mystery tale, which occurs perennially on a model train platform. Intended readership for the novel is young adult through adult. Excerpts and reviews can be read at www.lindenparkpublishers.com.
Dutton is currently completing Finding Christmasville (Madeleine's Tale) and The Tower of Circular References, which is a collection of twelve short stories and a single one-act play. The literary collection is threaded by a common theme: "the persistence of memory, amplified by the insistence of desire."
Congratulations to the IPNE recipient of the 2008 PMA-U Scholarship, Jean Boggio of Colerith Press!
IPNE member Quill Pen Press is proud to announce that
New England Court Records: A Research Guide for Genealogists and Historians won the
2007 Benjamin Franklin Awards for Best History Book and Best Reference Book, and was a finalist for Best New Voice in Nonfiction! Congratulations, Quill Pen Press!
Read the Media Release(Rich Text File (.rtf) document)
To receive IPNE announcements automatically, join The IPNE Announcements e-list.
REGIONAL BOOK SHOWS
NEIBA AND NELA
Each fall IPNE exhibits at the trade shows of NEIBA, the New England Independent Booksellers Association,and NELA, the New England Library Association. In 2008 NEIBA is September 18-20 in Boston, MA, and NELA is October 19-21 in Manchester, NH. Check back on the IPNE web site for details. You will be able to register online at reduced rates to have IPNE exhibit your books at these shows. You also will be able to sign up to participate in the exhibits.
Connecticut Children's Book Fair
November 8-9, 2008
University of Connecticut, Storrs
bookfair.uconn.edu
32nd Annual Boston International
Antiquarian Book Fair 2008
November 14-16, 2008
Hynes Convention Center, Boston
www.bostonbookfair.com
If you know about other regional book fairs and events, let us know so we can list them here!
Send details to talktous@ipne.org
PAST EVENTS
STOREY WORKSHOP
On March 31, IPNE members and guests met at Storey Publishing in North Adams, MA. Elinor Goodwin and Storey staff gave a workshop on BOOK PUBLISHING BASICS. Read Mary Ellen Lepionka's report:
WHAT I LEARNED AT STOREY PUBLISHING
(Rich Text File (.rtf) document)
NELA
Read about the IPNE EXHIBIT at the October 2006 NELA show in Burlington, VT.
IPNE WORKSHOP
On September 15 in conjunction with the 2006 NEIBA trade show in Providence, RI, IPNE presented a workshop offering expert advice and discussion on back-office success for small publishers. Speakers included IPNE members Steve Carlson of Upper Access, Cate Monroe of Monroe Accounting Services, and Ron Lawrence of Publisher’s Assistant. The event was well attended.
Workshop Program
PAST MEETINGS
JUNE
IPNE members and guests met at the Hartsbrook School in Hadley, MA, on Saturday, June 17. The meeting opened with new member introductions and product displays, followed by a panel discussion on book publicity and promotion. The panelists were bookseller Nat Herold of Amherst Books, publicist Deidre Randall of Blueline Publicity, and niche publisher Pam Fenner of Michaelmas Press.
Read more about their presentations.
MARCH
On March 18 IPNE members and board met at 26 Pleasant Street in downtown Newburyport, MA. The event organizer was Ron Pullins of Focus Publishing in Newburyport. The meeting opened with new member and guest introductions and a display of members' products. Then we heard announcements about the Newburyport Literary Festival in April and Small Press Month (March).
Shel Horowitz spoke on what to do when you find your book is not selling. A panel discussion followed on how to sell to bookstores. Andrew Laties, author of The Rebel Bookseller and manager of the bookstore in the Eric Carle Museum, and Susan Little, owner and manager of The Jabberwocky Bookstore in Newburyport, talked to us about bookselling today and answered questions about building relationships with independent publishers.
JANUARY
On January 11 IPNE members and board met in Portsmouth, NH, at the offices of Peter Randall, Publisher, and Deidre Randall of Blueline Publicity Peter Randall and his daughter Deidre talked about their book publishing and marketing businesses, generously sharing their business models and secrets of success. They publish about 25 books per year, combining a foundation-supported nonprofit series with reprints, subsidy publishing, and marketing services.
The IPNE board also decided to have postcards and signs made for a membership drive and promotion at exhibits and book shows. Over 600 postcards have since been distributed. As of April 1, IPNE has 35 active members and over 100 participants in the Announce-Only listserv.
