Postage Goes Up One Cent

Postage goes up a penny today for first class stamps. If you have a basket full of old stamps with no printed values from other rate hikes, you can find out how much they are worth at the USPS website.

Other changes to postage rages are also listed at www.usps.com.

PNBA Outlines Changes to Fall Show

We received the following letter on May 5 from the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association. Please feel free to leave your comments about these changes.

Dear PNBA rep, publisher and author members,

We are making some very big changes to the fall show this year, and some of it may be confusing to you; so I am writing now to explain the changes, and to ask for your input on ways to help smooth the transition.

As background, last year's show in Bellevue was not well attended. We decided to move the show back to the Portland area, where we historically have had our best attendance.

We also have heard from many of you, and from some of our bookseller members as well, that the exhibits have been too spread out, with aisles much wider than we need and exhibitors too far away from each other. At the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, we used the entire exhibit hall, which was 35,000 square feet, down from 60,000 square feet that we were renting in the Oregon Convention Center. Many of you told me that that 35,000 sq ft space was still too large for our needs.

A large group of you have also suggested (some rather firmly) that we should cut the exhibit part of the show back to one-day, because the traffic in the last several years cannot justify two days. At the same time, many of you have asked that we not produce author events on the show floor during the exhibits, because of the sense that it drew customers away from your exhibits. Finally, in recent years many publishers have shown more interest in sending authors to the shows than they have in exhibiting.

To meld all of these interests into one new show is complicated, and will require adjustments for all of us. This 2008 show will be a trial effort for all of us; I hope that you will all be excited about the changes, and hopeful that they will re-invigorate the shows and our members. Here are the basic changes:

1) The next two fall shows (2008 and 2009) will be held at the Holiday Inn at the Portland Airport, whose Columbia Conference Center has only 15,500 square feet of exhibit space. Not only does this size require that we shrink the aisle space, it also means that our basic tables will be six feet long, not eight feet, and a basic booth size will be 8' x 8', not 8' x 10', as they have traditionally been each fall. (We did use six foot tables at most of our spring shows.)

2) PNBA will save some money using this independent exhibit hall, compared to the amount we spent at the OCC and the Meydenbauer. Therefore, we are reducing the cost of the table and booth space.

3) We are encouraging most vendors to exhibit for just one day, Tuesday, September 16. Those of you who tell us that you really need that second day (mostly independent reps, whose customers often pick up a catalog one day and come back the next to place orders) may sign up for two days, but will pay an additional fee for the second day, and will need to reserve your exhibit space much earlier than the vendors who will exhibit for only one day. After the two-day exhibitor deadline, I will have a short time to lay out the exhibit floor, to determine exactly how much space, in what locations, will be available for other uses on the second day, Wednesday, September 17. Only after those determinations are made will I be able to plan, promote, and schedule the other uses for those spaces.

4) There will be no author autographing on the show floor on the first day of exhibits, Tuesday, September 16. After the Book & Author Breakfast in the morning, there will be no author events and no educational events for booksellers until after the show floor closes Tuesday afternoon at 4:30. The emphasis on the show floor on Tuesday will be completely on the exhibitors. (I would love to hear any of your ideas about what PNBA might do to enliven and promote the exhibits.)

5) The second day of exhibits will now become Author Promotion Day, with those few exhibitors who paid extra for the second day sharing the hall with a diversity of author activities. In addition to the traditional author autographings, we will have authors meeting booksellers to discuss what types of presentation the authors might make when they visit stores, panels with authors discussing how booksellers can help promote their books, and seminars with authors and booksellers discussing how we can all work together to promote book sales. We will scatter the author events throughout the hall, to encourage booksellers to walk passed your exhibits on their way to the author events. And we will plan the author events so that they will not overwhelm the exhibitors who will be writing orders and talking with your customers.

6) We will be inviting a larger but limited number of librarians to attend the show (maximum 100), offering them free education on the first day of exhibits (Tuesday, the 16th) and complete access to the exhibit hall on Wednesday, the 17th. A main "theme" of this year's show will be "Booksellers and Librarians Working Together." I expect that the librarians will share our booksellers' interest in an Author Promotion Day.

As I mentioned earlier, I am anxious to hear from any of you with suggestions about how to make this new venue and schedule work best for you, the exhibitors, and for our booksellers. I will seriously consider any ideas and, if there are no problems with timing, space or expense, we will incorporate them into this year's event. If they are good ideas with problems that cannot be solved before this year's show, staff will discuss them after this show, in hopes of incorporating them into future events. If you have any questions or concerns about the new schedule, please contact me within the next two weeks, that is, before May 16. After the 16th, I will compile all of the concerns and post them, with our responses, on PNBA's web site, so that you may all share them.

To help you understand more completely what we envision for this year's show, we have posted several documents on our web site as pdfs. The links to those documents are at the end of this letter, after my signature.

Thank you for your consideration, patience and participation. We've got our fingers crossed, and hope that these changes will be well-received and will provide you with a re-invigorated show, well worth your time and effort. The PNBA Board has made it very clear to me that the most important consideration for the show is that it remain a valuable opportunity for booksellers to learn as much as they can about the industry and how to sell more books. With your help and enthusiasm, I believe that these changes will keep us working toward that end, and will provide us all with the best regional industry tradeshow possible.

Sincerely,

Thom

Thom Chambliss, Executive Director
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association
214 East 12th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401-3245
T: 541-683-4363
F: 541-683-3910
E: thom@pnba.org
W: www.pnba.org
2008 Show: Monday - Wednesday, September 15 -17.

Jackson Street Books Closes

Jackson Street Books will close at the end of the month. The mixed new-and-used bookstore's owners are relocating outside Seattle. According to their blog, they will continue to sell books online, but the walk-in bookstore never had "the sales we need to sustain ourselves and make a living."

Nautilus Nomination for Pale Surface

The Pale Surface of Things was named a finalist in the 2008 Nautilus Awards in the multicultural category.

The Nautilus Book Awards were conceived to recognize and reward a group of world-changing books, and to celebrate how they contribute to positive social change, spiritual growth, conscious living, high-level wellness, and responsible leadership. Nautilus winners will be announced at BEA.

Submitted by BPNW member Janey Bennett

PNWA Conference Set for July

Pacific Northwest Writers' Annual Summer Conference
July 17 to 20, 2008
Seattle Airport Hilton

* Online registration now available at www.pnwa.org
* Conference scholarships are available to PNWA Members

For details on 30 agents and editors attending the PNWA Conference as well as workshops, panels, keynote and featured speakers available at www.pnwa.org.

To take part in the Conference's On-Site Bookstore and/or Autograph Party, please download all listed forms on at the PNWA website. (You must be a current member of PNWA, speaker, or panel member).

Press Release from Rosetta Solutions

NetGalley(TM): An Innovative Service that Connects Publishers and Reviewers, Boosts Campaigns, and Controls Costs

Major book publishers go digital with NetGalley pilot program

SEATTLE, WA – April 24, 2008

NetGalley(TM), a new product and service that connects publishers and professional readers, streamlines the galley distribution process, and helps make marketing dollars more efficient, has been introduced by Rosetta Solutions, Inc. An online workflow solution, NetGalley enables book publishers, reviewers, media, librarians, booksellers, bloggers, educators and others to access and share content and information about today’s new titles. Launching commercially on May 28th at BookExpo America (BEA) in Los Angeles, the service is already drawing top publisher interest. Among the early adopters of NetGalley that are participating in a pilot program, St. Martin’s Press, Hachette Book Group, Bloomsbury USA, and Sourcebooks will submit their advance fall titles to Publishers Weekly (PW) through the NetGalley service. In February, Publishers Weekly announced that it would be the first major media organization to implement NetGalley, making the service its preferred way to manage galleys.

"We are delighted to be here at the beginning of this terrific program," said Matt Baldacci, VP, director of marketing and publishing operations at St. Martin's Press. "NetGalley will make our interaction with Publishers Weekly more efficient, and has the potential to show cost, resource, and environmental efficiencies. These benefits are good for PW, the publishers that will join the full roll-out, and the industry in general."

“We are excited to work with these first publishers in testing a process that creates significant efficiencies for both PW and publishers. PW will still continue to accept print galleys,” said Cevin Bryerman, associate publisher, Publishers Weekly. During the pilot period, publishers will submit their title information—and optionally digital galleys—electronically to PW. In return, PW will provide visibility on review acceptance and status through NetGalley.com. Pilot publishers will also have the opportunity to invite other reviewers, media, and bloggers to join their community and view their “NetGalleys” online.

Ted Treanor, CEO of Rosetta Solutions, commented, “The response from publishers to support this initiative has been extraordinarily positive. NetGalley selected this group for their diversity of size and publishing type, and their willingness to innovate. We’re counting on these partners to help us continue to refine NetGalley.com.”

An easy-to-use online service and connection point for book publishers, reviewers, media, librarians, booksellers, bloggers and educators, NetGalley helps users harness the power of digital content and electronic communications to dramatically cut costs, speed time to market, improve marketing campaigns and broaden global reach. By providing electronic distribution and tracking of galleys, digital press kit materials, and title metadata, NetGalley facilitates and boosts recognition of books and authors through the professional channels that recommend and purchase new titles.

With NetGalley, publishers can reach out to the blogosphere and use modern tools like e-galleys and print-on-demand, and promote their titles to an expanded universe of professional readers—including media, online reviewers, bloggers, and specialty publications—without incurring the cost of producing and distributing more physical galleys. (Print galley copies can be requested.) Publishers can send the galley for a featured title to a broad, personalized reader community with one touch, electronically. Professional readers can use NetGalley for free to access rich background information about upcoming titles, and look across the publishing community to filter all offerings down to specific titles of interest. Plus, NetGalley allows users to track communications, report on activities, and use linking to build broader, permission-based communities.

NetGalley is currently accepting pilot publishers to test other areas of the service including advance title promotion to booksellers, bloggers, librarians and educators.

###

About NetGalley/Rosetta Solutions (online at www.netgalley.com)

NetGalley, developed by Rosetta Solutions, Inc., is an innovative and easy-to-use online service and connection point for book publishers, reviewers, media, librarians, booksellers, bloggers and educators. NetGalley facilitates and boosts recognition of books and authors through the professional channels that recommend and purchase new titles.

Parkplace Books Asks for Help

This e-mail was forwarded to us by a member.


A Special Request from Parkplace Books

Dear Customers and Friends,
In all the years we have been working at Parkplace Books, this is the hardest letter we have written to you. We need your help. We need it soon.

The challenges that independent booksellers face in competing with the Internet and the huge box stores have resulted in the closing of most of the independent bookstores on the Eastside. With your past support, we have just managed to keep up with those challenges.

But now we face new changes that force us to retrench. The downturn in the economy is pinching most small retail businesses. Parkplace Books faces another particular problem: the departure from Kirkland Parkplace Center of several compatible retail stores . Without them, we have experienced a continuing drop in the foot traffic we need to sustain sales and maintain a desirable selection level of inventory. As the owners of Kirkland Parkplace Center work toward a massive expansion and remodeling, our future becomes more uncertain.

This week is particularly tough. We have a large bill coming due Monday, April 28. We do not have the resources to pay this bill and we need your help. If many of you help us by donating small amounts, we will be able to pay this bill and continue forward on our plan for the future. Please help us by sending a donation to the address at the end of this letter.

To address the continuing survival for Parkplace Books, we have called together a group of longtime advisers/friends to assist us in developing a long range plan.
That plan is likely to include:
* a greater emphasis on the Internet and online sales
* smaller, more efficient quarters at a probable new location in the Kirkland area
* and new ways for fans of the bookstore to be involved and stay in touch
We are eager to add your ideas to this mix. Please send them to us.

In the immediate future, you can help us most by coming to the store, saying hello and buying books and art. When our advisers met with us recently, they all exclaimed that Parkplace Books is essential to the community of Kirkland. They pointed out how -- in meetings about plans for Kirkland Parkplace Center, speaker after speaker expressed concern for keeping two vital businesses -- Parkplace Books and the movie theater.

And what is the bookstore? It's selection and knowledge about books. It's a staff who can respond to your questions and help you find the books you want. It's a comfortable space where people can relax and chat while they browse. It's a place where children can read and dream. It's a community gathering place that supports diversity and the exchange of ideas. It's an independent bookstore on the Eastside owned by two people that are passionate about the inherent value of books and reading.

Without you, there wouldn't be a bookstore. So please come in, say hello and help us in any way you can. We are keeping in mind the adage that in Chinese the ideogram for crisis is the same as that for opportunity. This IS an opportunity for us to rethink both our short & long-range plans and find new ways for Parkplace Books to serve you, our community. We believe Kirkland deserves the continued presence of a quality independent bookstore as part of our city's identity.

Mary and Rebecca

Our mailing address:
Parkplace Books
348 Parkplace Center
Kirkland, WA. 98033

ParkPlace Books
Kirkland's Community Bookstore
348 Parkplace Center
Kirkland, WA 98033
Phone: 425-828-6546
Fax: 425-739-6876
parkplacebooks@integra.net

April 22 Meeting CANCELED

We are sad to announce that the April 22 meeting at Eagle Harbor Book Company has been canceled.

PNBA president Paul Hanson will try to reschedule this meeting later in the year.

Plan to come to our May meeting on PR at the Good Shepherd Center in Seattle.

Susan Burnash of Purple Duck Marketing will address how publishers can improve their PR on May 15, 4 pm, at Good Shepherd Center in Seattle.

New Title from Bright Ring

Bright Ring Publishing, Inc. is publishing its first full-color art activity/art appreciation book for children, due July 4, 2008. The book is in process with Doosan Printing, Korea.

Great American Artists for Kids: Hands-On Art Experiences in the Styles of Great American Masters (July 2008)
MaryAnn F. Kohl and Kim Solga
144 pages • $18.95
ISBN 9780935607000

Take a pre-peek at the book at www.brightring.com

MaryAnn Kohl was the guest expert April 10 with the State University of New York's video conference, Leo Lionni: An Author Study, offered to 6000 teachers and childcare workers interested in providing quality art experiences for children. Kohl will be the keynote speaker at the Crayola Factory, May 5, for the Abrakadoodle art franchise owners' annual training conference.

April 17: Meet the Editors

Join us on April 17 as Book Publishers Northwest presents “How to Polish a Manuscript to Perfection.” Don't miss these amazing independent editors: Nancy Burkhalter, Wendy Call, Waverly Fitzgerald, Karalynn Ott, and Michele Whitehead. Be ready to bring your questions to BPNW's April 17 meeting, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside N., Room 221, in Seattle.

This meeting is free for members of Book Publishers Northwest, Northwest Independent Editors Guild, and Seattle Writergrrls

Nancy Burkhalter, Ph.D.
Legacy Consultants
burkhaltern@earthlink.net
http://www.legacyconsultants.com/, 206.250.8520
In my business, Legacy Consultants, I help clients complete nonfiction manuscripts, which can entail everything from reorganizing ideas to editing for grammar, punctuation, flow, and meaning. I also specialize in ghostwriting, including compiling personal, family-business, or corporate histories. This process demands expertise in interviewing, editing, organizing, and managing its design and printing. I have gained this expertise through 25 years as a writer and composition teacher. My education includes a master's in journalism and doctorate in linguistics. I also teach and coach writing.

Wendy Call
Writer in Residence, Richard Hugo House
Co-editor, Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide
http://www.wendycall.com/
wlc@wendycall.com

Wendy Call is a developmental and substantive editor for books published by trade and university presses. Specialties include biography, environment, international subjects, memoir, narrative nonfiction, political/social issues, travel writing, and literary translation from Spanish. She works with writers from the initial idea stage all the way to final manuscript submission.

Waverly Fitzgerald
Editor, Teacher, and Writing Coach
waverly@waverlyfitzgerald.com, 206.325.1452

I specialize in developmental editing, which means I love looking at books in progress or rough draft, when I can provide perspective and focus. I coach writers working on non-fiction books, providing accountability, feedback, and light line-editing. I teach classes on writing novels, non-fiction book proposals, and intermediate level craft issues.

Verve Editorial

Karalynn Ott
karaott@comcast.net, 206.781.3661

Michele Whitehead
michelekw@comcast.net, 206.650.6861

Verve Editorial is a Seattle-based freelance partnership of editors Michele Whitehead and Karalynn Ott. We offer comprehensive editorial services for authors, including developmental editing, substantive editing, and copyediting of fiction and nonfiction book manuscripts, as well as shorter works (essays, articles, contest submissions, query letters, and book proposals). Above all, we are dedicated to nurturing clear, resonant writing while respecting each writer's individual voice and style. We strive to help our clients draw on their strengths and come away reenergized about their projects.

Karalynn Ott is on the Steering Committee of the Northwest Independent Editors Guild and her interests include both fiction and nonfiction-particularly novels, creative nonfiction, travel and outdoors, memoir, and biography.

Michele Whitehead has a decade of editorial experience that includes feature writing for several local publications and her interests include contemporary literary novels, historical and young adult fiction, and creative nonfiction such as travel, essays, and memoir.

NWABP Offers Saturday Seminars

Portland's Northwest Association of Book Publishers is sponsoring a seminar series on the third Saturdays of May, July and September.

Each Saturday is different; all will focus on the changes in the publishing industry and marketing strategies which encompass the tried and true as well as utilizing the Internet and technology to one's advantage.

PMA on Amazon's POD Policy

PMA, The Independent Book Publishers Association, representing more than 4,000 independent publishers, is speaking out against Amazon’s recent policy aimed at publishers who use print-on-demand technology to sell directly on amazon.com. The company has directed that publishers either must print their books on demand exclusively at Amazon’s subsidiary printer for fulfillment of orders placed with Amazon, or incur additional cost to print elsewhere and maintain inventory with the online retailer.

“This policy imposes a significant financial burden on tens of thousands of small and independent publishers who can least afford it,” points out Executive Director Terry Nathan. “Without the opportunity to benefit from competitive pricing, small publishers risk at best an expensive and needless overhaul of their manufacturing process, and at worst, the loss of their livelihood.

“On behalf of all the small and independent publishers whose businesses are in jeopardy, we urge Amazon to reconsider its position,” continues Nathan. “Over the years, Jeff Bezos and his company have given small and independent publishers a level playing field to compete with the largest of companies. Suddenly, this magnificent playing field has been converted into a ‘members only’ club, to the detriment of those very publishers who have contributed to Amazon’s success. We will continue to monitor developments in the weeks ahead.”

Free Skyline Seminar May 20

If you're heading off to BEA or any of the large exhibitions, you might want to check out Skyline's free seminars on better ways to run a exhibition booth. Skyline is in the business of manufacturing trade show booths, but they keep their pitches down and the information high in these sessions (as we discovered in a mini-session that they did for Book Publishers Northwest).

The next free Skyline seminar is May 20 and includes

Successful Trade Show Marketing Strategies
9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Bonus Afternoon Session:
Better Booth Staffing - May 20, 2008
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm


Presented by and Hosted at:
Skyline Pacific Northwest
4105 Airport Way South
Seattle, WA 98108

Register for free at Skyline.com

Basho's April/May Appearances

Mukilteo author David Ash, the poet and publisher of the humorous Haiku for Life™ series (including Haiku for Catholics, Haiku for Baseball Lovers, Haiku for Poker Players, Haiku for Coffee Lovers, and the recent Haiku for Chocolate Lovers) will make the following appearances to read from and/or sign copies of his books. For general information, check the Basho Press web site at www.BashoPress.com or call (206)
200-9525.

Friday, April 25 at 6:00 p.m.: reading and signing at Barnes & Noble Northgate, 401 NE Northgate Way, Seattle, WA. For specific information and directions, call the store at (206) 417-2967.

Saturday, April 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: reading and signing atBurning Word: The Festival of Poetic Fire, Whidbey Island’s Greenbank Farm, Greenbank, WA. For specific information and directions, log on to www.burningword.org and click on Burning Word Festival.

Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m.: reading and signing at Parkplace Books, 5th St. and Central Way, Kirkland, WA. For specific information and directions, call the store at (425) 828-6546.

Franca's Story Out in Paperback

Franca's Story: Survival in World War II Italy will be published in paperback on April 30, 2008.

Highlights of the 2008 schedule for Franca's Story include:
- InternetVoicesRadio.com, January 1 with Lillian Cauldwell (interview posted on web site)
- InternetVoicesRadio.com, January 30 with E. Everett McFall (interview posted on web site)
- Holy Names Academy, Seattle, March 12 - Peace and Justice Day
- Sons of Italy, Bremerton, April 16
- InDepthYOU Radio Show, May 7
- Mercer Island Senior Foundation, May 7
- Special guests at numerous private book club meetings

"Franca's 82nd birthday is April 9, and we are continuing to fulfill her fondest wish: to speak with middle school and high school student audiences." said publisher Diane Kinman.

Flenniken Teaches Graphic Novel Class

Scripting the Graphic Novel for Writers and Artists

The graphic novel has come into its own as a Pulitzer Prize-winning literary form and the inspiration for many feature films. Whether your story is pure fantasy or gritty nonfiction, as the auteur of your graphic novel you have complete control of your personal vision. Bring your idea, life story, intriguing scenario or blank page to this class and find out how to build your graphic novel from the ground up. Explore common sense techniques that will help you develop themes, structure your story and create legendary characters. Your finished product will engage the reader and easily translate to the silver screen. If you can draw a stick figure, you're ready for this class! Instructor will e-mail students before class with a list of materials to bring.

Instructor: Shary Flenniken
Meets: Saturday, April 12, 1–5 p.m. Min. 5 Max. 15
General: $95 Hugo House Member: $85.50

Hugo House is located at 1634 Eleventh Avenue in Seattle

HOW TO REGISTER

Call Hugo House at (206) 322-7030 with your credit card information (Visa and MasterCard only), noon to 9 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays (except holidays). If you have any questions about registration, please e-mail Brian McGuigan at brianmcguigan@hugohouse.org or check http://www.hugohouse.org for registration forms.

Shary Flenniken is a member of Book Publishers Northwest. We welcome news from members, just e-mail your announcement to bpnwnews@aol.com.

Follow-up to March Power E-mail Meeting

If you couldn't make the March meeting on "Powerful E-mails" or want to contact Michael Clark directly, please use the information below.

Constant Contact Northwest Resources:
Email: michael@constantcontact.com
Web: http://seattle.constantcontact.com
Michael’s Phone: 866.373.2997
Customer Support Questions: 866.289.2101
Greater Seattle Metro Accounts Consultant: 800.239.0158 (Dann)

Email Quickstart or other Professional Services: http://seattle.constantcontact.com/services/index.jsp

A communications expert with more than seven years experience in education, marketing, and graphic design, Michael has led the development of successful educational programs and presentations for dozens of programs for small organizations. He has also helped organizations develop branding strategies to enhance their public awareness, including new strategies on how to market their organization on the Internet. Michael seeks to provide small businesses and organizations with the tools and knowledge to enhance their visibility and grow their business or organization through e-mail marketing and online surveys.

Join Michael's mailing list for more updates

PNBA New Title Program

PNBA is now accepting entries for the Summer/Fall edition of the Northwest New Title Preview.

The Preview designed to help publishers target the distribution of free review copies of forthcoming books, ARCs, or galleys directly to bookstore buyers in the Northwest.

For $120, PNBA will add a book to the online listing of new and regional titles with jacket art, a blurb, and a linked email address of the contact person at the publishers.

Listings are sent directly to booksellers, and they e-mail you to request the books.

The deadline for materials is Friday May 2, 2008

The titles will become active on the site on May 16, 2008.
An order form is available at:
http://www.pnba.org/images/08NWNTPform.pdf

No Cooking the Books in 2008

Organizers announced today that "Cook the Books," the celebration of edible tributes to great reading, has been canceled for 2008. The organization hopes to return to frosting fine literature in 2009.

Until then, past edible creations can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/frybooks/

More information on "Cook the Books" can be found at the new website:

www.frybooks.com

Acknowledge Your Help

When writing his Haiku for Coffee Lovers (and other Haiku for… books), David Ash said he asks several guest editors to give feedback on his books, then includes their names on the acknowledgments page. They turn out to be his best customers. So you may want to lengthen your acknowledgments page to accommodate those who helped on your book.

This is part of a series of articles provided by Nancy Burkhalter and Jack McKee following the February meeting on ways publishers can work together. Click on member suggestions in labels to see these articles and any follow-up.

Working With Printing Companies

There are sales reps from printing companies that will help. People mentioned those from Malloy (http://www.malloy.com), Thompson Shore (http://www.tshore.com), United Graphics (http://www.unitedgraphicsinc.com), and Friesens in Canada (http://www.friesens.com), all of whom are quite helpful. Don’t feel shy about calling them.

Be sure to go shopping and quote exactly the same thing to each one. If you go with a print broker, get 30 quotes.

Printing a book with a CD in the back is more difficult to publish because you have to coordinate the production of the CDs as well as their delivery to the publisher on time and with sufficient numbers of them. If there aren’t enough CDs to accommodate the print run, the printer may not alert you and print several copies without the CD.

Get sample sheets to see what the book will look like on that paper

This is part of a series of articles provided by Nancy Burkhalter and Jack McKee following the February meeting on ways publishers can work together. Click on member suggestions in labels to see these articles and any follow-up.

Print Brokers

Print brokers are a clearinghouse to help decide which printer to use. You can find a printer on your own, but it’s time consuming. If you do it on your own, you have to make a lot of decisions, such as whether it’s a hard back or a case book, what paper and finish and weight to use, whether it’s color or b/w, etc. You need to know about all these options to do it on your own.

The broker pays the printer and takes cut. A sales rep gets a fee too but it’s built into the salary, which ends up being comparable to a print broker. Brokers will find the most low-cost company, but the choices are not as broad as you can find on your own.

PMA has a list of printers to choose from that are not necessarily good – just choices. Dan Poynter, How to Self Publish, has lots of information. Also see John Kramer’s 1001 Ways to Market Your Book.

This is part of a series of articles provided by Nancy Burkhalter and Jack McKee following the February meeting on ways publishers can work together. Click on member suggestions in labels to see these articles and any follow-up.

Article Directories by Jack McKee

Article Directories are internet sites where there are 1000's of articles that can be republished (with proper credit given) or just read by anyone for pleasure. There are lots of them and some are interconnected, I think. Articledashboard.com, artipot.com, goarticles.com, isnare.com, articleally.com, and articlecentral.com are a few. There are specialty sites like edarticles.com and probably sites for dog articles or airplane articles. Some have a stats page so you can see how many times your article has been read or downloaded.

I've used them for no cost nonfiction book promotion. It only has been a month, so it is a bit early to tell but here is what I did and what seems to be happening: I wrote several one page articles, taken from my books, added a couple more articles that were loosely related, and a couple more that didn't make the cut for the book. Six or seven one-page articles all totaled and submitted them to six or eight directories.

Here is one reference. I shortened up the introduction from my book: Woodworking at Articledashboard.com

This article is about how I stumbled across the idea for Builder Boards (the title to my first book): Builder Boards at Articledashboard.com

At the end of each article you get to put an about the article and, of course, I mentioned the two books I wrote.

There has been no incredible spike in sales or website hits. Maybe a slight increase in sales of one book. But when I google my titles those articles are popping up so there are many more references to my books. We'll see if there will be a more long term effect.

If anyone else has anything to add, or more long term experience, I would like to hear about it.

This is part of a series of articles provided by Nancy Burkhalter and Jack McKee following the February meeting on ways publishers can work together. Click on member suggestions in labels to see these articles and any follow-up.

NWABP Posts Newsletter Online

Book Publishers Northwest's sister organization, NWABP, now has a complete archive of newsletters on the web. Focused on the needs of Oregon publishers, this group also is an affiliate of PMA.

BPNW and NWABP have partnered on various projects and trade shows in the past and plan to bring back our joint catalog in 2008. Keep an eye on our websites for more information.

February Meeting: Pool Your Talents!

"What I Do, What You Do, What We Can Do Together"
Bring your questions about a project, your search for some help, and/or your considerable talents to the next meeting of Book Publishers Northwest. This is a chance for the publishing community to show off latest projects, ask questions, and make a few contacts.

BPNW's February meeting will take place at Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford on Feb. 21, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The February meeting is free and open to the public.

All meetings scheduled for third Thursday of the month, 4 pm to 6 pm, at Good Shepherd Center. Meeting topics subject to change, please check this website frequently for more information.

Update on Rosetta

BPNW member Ted Treanor just sent in the following report on his company's netGalley project:

We’ve been busy building netGalley and growing Rosetta Solutions. Thought you would like an update. Publishers Weekly published PW-netGalley deal as the lead article with PW Tries New Galley Service as the subject of the email for the online publication. New netGalley registrations and email inquiries have been flowing steadily. Sweet!

Also below are some blog responses to the announcement. There is very interesting excitement about netGalley from Oxford in reviewing the first day of O’Reilly’s Tools of Change conference announcements. I also like the fact that many of the bloggers see netGalley as supporting ‘Green’ initiatives.

Publisher’s Weekly

Oxford University Press
Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
Book Promotion Blog & Book Promotion by S.J. Miller
PersonaNonData

M Coy Closes

M Coy Books, a small and always interesting independent, is hanging the final "closed" sign on the doors in downtown Seattle. Increasingly high rents was the reason given for the closure. Local media have mourned the loss of yet another singular business in the downtown core but owner Michael Coy states clearly in interviews like the one published in the P.I. that independents only survive in the neighborhoods that protect and nurture them.

The bookstore is currently selling off its fixtures. Bookcases, display tables, and more are now available. Call 206.623.5354 for more information. Items are available for pick-up after Feb. 17.

Printing with a Steamroller

For the fourth year, King's Books in Tacoma presents Wayzgoose, a gathering of local letterpress printers and book artists celebrating Small Press Month.

These artists will be on hand to demonstrate how books and other fine printing was made before computers.

The organizers also promise Steamroller Printing with a real steamroller! Visit King's Books on March 2 from noon to 4:00 p.m. to find out how you print with a really big industrial truck.

Got a Penny for the Postman?

Start saving your pennies now. Or buy a FOREVER stamps. Because the cost of a first-class stamp increases to 42 cents in May.

The US Post Office announced this week that prices for Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, and Special Services will increase on May 12.

Eaglemont Distributed by Scholastic

Bellevue-based Eaglemont Press's Adventures of Riley series have been picked up by Scholastic. The giant publisher Scholastic will license world English rights to publish and distribute the books by Amanda Lumry and Laura Hurwitz. Eaglemont was founded in 1997 to produce books focusing on conservation and the preservation of wildlife, habitats, and cultures.

E-Book Conference in Portland

EPIC (Electronically Published Internet Connection) national conference will be held in Portland, Oregon, at the Lloyd Center Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center, March 6 through March 9, 2008.

“It’s Not Easy Being E” conference’s keynote address will be given by Michael Powell, owner of Portland's really big bookstore. Other conference highlights include the annual awards banquet where the EPPIES (for excellence in electronic publishing) are handed out.

Fees for the three-day conference are $155 for EPIC members and $185 for non-members. A single day rate of $75 is also available. These rates are good until Feb. 10, 2008.

For more information contact Judith B. Glad, the conference coordinator, at EPICon2008@gmail, or visit the EPICon websites, www.epic-conference.com/ and http://www.hevanet.com/gladhaus/EPICon/unoffmain.html .

Write in a Cottage, Live in Belltown

Richard Hugo House is offering two cottages near the Belltown P-Patch for writers. The "Hugo Huts" will be rented to two writers at a "below market" rate in return for the writers' participation in Hugo House programs.

The writers will begin their residency on September 1, 2008, with a term of 12 months, subject to a month-to-month approval by the Parks Department. The residency is renewable, with a two-term limit. The below-market rent does not include utilities. Applications are due by April 11

The Belltown Cottage Park Project is a collaboration between “Friends of Belltown P-Patch,” Seattle Parks, and Recreation and Richard Hugo House. The housing is in two refurbished cannery cottages at Elliott and Vine Streets in Belltown neighborhood, north of downtown Seattle. A third cottage at the site is available as a community venue for neighborhood meetings and events. Each cottage is 440 square feet, with a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and living room.

The selection process will be complete by the first two weeks in June. For more information about Richard Hugo House and the "Hugo Huts," please see www.hugohouse.org.

Facebook Marketing

Everyone is talking about how touring your book through various websites can be a great way to cut down your promotional expenses. Hard on the heels of our successful January meeting on "Blog Tours," industry bible PW discusses social networking on Facebook.

PW's "Are You on Facebook?" chronicles a weeklong search of the 125 book-related tools on Facebook—and why publishers and authors should be using them.

PMA Pub U in May

The 2008 Publishing University takes place May 27-29 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles, just prior to the start of BEA.

We have added a lot of new bells and whistles to the 2008 University. Check us out at www.pma-online.org and click on the 2008 PMA University. We are looking forward to a great event!

Sincere best wishes,

Robin
Robin Bartlett
Educational Chair
Publishing University
PMA, The Independent Book Publishers Association

For Book Publishers Northwest’s members, PMA is offering a special discount. If you haven’t received your discount code yet, just e-mail bpnwnews@aol.com. You must be a 2008 member to receive this discount. BPNW members also receive discounts for PMA membership and other services.

BPNW Annual Report 2007

BPNW 2007 Income and Expenses

Book Publishers Northwest was able to end its fiscal year 2007 (January through December) with a slight surplus. This was due to early renewal of 2008 memberships in November and December as well as a successful all-day conference held in September 2007.

Total Income 2007 $7,137.97
Total Expenses 2007 $6,826.88
Surplus for 2007 $311.09

The organization's financial statements were prepared by past treasurer Lani Jacobsen (January through June) and board secretary Rosemary Jones (July through December). These statements are currently being reviewed by the board treasurer Tom Blaschko. As a nonprofit incorporated in the state of Washington, Book Publishers Northwest makes its annual report available to the public. For more detailed financial statements, please contact BPNW in writing.

2006-2007 BPNW Board
President: Tom Masters
Vice-President: Sheryn Hara
Treasurer: Tom Blaschko*
Secretary: Rosemary Jones
Advising Board Members: Lani Jacobsen,* Margaret Doyle, Duse McLean, Nate Woodward

*Blaschko assumed the post of treasurer in July 2007, replacing former treasurer Lani Jacobsen.

NW Publisher Seeks Reviewers

Chris Salditt, author of 50 Ways to Leave Your Mother, is seeking reviews of the book at online booksellers Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The book is a humorous, easy-to-read survival guide for grown kids who are thinking of moving, or who are already out there, away from their parents. It deals with renting, roommates, and the ramen noodle diet, and so much more. If you are interested in writing a review, e-mail Chris at motherlovepublishing@comcast.net for a copy of the book.

Keeping Up-to-Date with BPNW

Subscribe to the newsletter? Or subscribe to the blog? Do either, and you'll stay up-to-date with Book Publishers Northwest. For some people, our monthly newsletter acts as a nice digest of the blog and keeps all the information in one place.

If you have trouble opening e-mails with pictures or don't want to receive a newsletter once or twice the month, use the "bookmark" button to add the blog to your newsfeed. Then you'll get information as it is posted, often days before the newsletter.

To the right of this entry, you'll see buttoms for both subscribing to the newsletter and adding the BPNW blog to your newsfeed. Do one, do both, but keep up-to-date with Book Publishers Northwest.

Member looking for editor

Larry Fisher at Pangean Sun is looking for someone to edit/proofread a novel. For more information, please contact him at sales@pangeansun.com.

Powell's Books Grows Up

Powell's Books recently announced that it will continue to expand its flagship store in downtown Portland. Current plans call for adding one to three floors of retail by 2010.

Basho's Bookstore Tour

Mukilteo author David Ash, the poet and publisher of the humorous Haiku for Life™ series (including Haiku for Catholics, Haiku for Baseball Lovers, Haiku for Poker Players, Haiku for Coffee Lovers, and the recent Haiku for Chocolate Lovers) will make the following appearances to read from and/or sign copies of his books. For general information, check the Bashō Press web site at www.BashoPress.com or call (206) 200-9525.

Sunday, January 27 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.: signing at Barnes & Noble Alderwood, 19401 Alderwood Mall Parkway, Lynnwood, WA as part of the chain’s fundraiser for local Catholic schools. For specific information and directions, call the store at (425) 771-2220.

Wednesday, February 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.: reading and signing at The BookWORKS, 1510 Third Street, Marysville, WA. For specific information and directions, call the store at (360) 659-4997.

Blog Tour Information from Tom Masters

The following information is provided by Tom Masters. For a complete PDF of his Blog Tour presentation, please contact him at tom.masters@orionwellspring.com

a blog tour is . . .
guest appearances of you and/or your book, on one or more relevant blogs, during a time close to the launch of your title.

• the blogosphere is big, with most topics & audiences represented
• blogs tend to be audience and/or topic focused
• topic / audience related blogs tend to link to each other, increasing reach
• blog “reach”is measurable

blog tours
• virtual, no travel
• advertise on your book site the blog(s) you’ll be a guest on
• light coordination
• exposure not limited by geography or time
• sell via links to online book sellers or publisher site
• inexpensive

blog tour tools
• template contact letters
• tracking spreadsheet
• author bio & photo
• book cover art & book description
• author statement
• sample interview
• purchase links & info

researching blogs
• technorati
• Google

scheduling considerations
• Blogs may have varying requirements
• Blog owners may be slow to respond
• Allow time to publicize your blog tour
• The number of blogs you contact depends on the availability of high traffic and high authority blogs in your topic space

publicize your blog tour
• online press releases
• blog or book web site

caveats
• blog touring takes time: research alone can be 4-8 hours per audience
• typical response rates from blog owners are about 20-25%
• not all comments will be favorable

For more information
Tom Masters
Orion Wellspring, Inc.
tom.masters@orionwellspring.com
blog: www.futureperfectpublishing.com

BPNW respectfully asks others to honor Masters' copyright on this material and to ask permission before reproducing.

Kahle's Novel In Amazon.com's Breakthrough Contest

Pete Kahle’s novel Passage of the Kissing People was one of 836 semi-finalists selected for Amazon.com’s first Breakthrough Novel Award. Approximately 5,000 manuscripts were entered and initially judged by Amazon’s top reviewers and members of the PW staff.

Now Amazon is letting the customers do the reviews. Readers can download excerpts of those entries, rate, and review them.

Penguin editors will consider these comments when picking 10 finalists by March 3, with the winner announced April 7.

“I promise a damn good party if I get to the next level,” said Kahle (74th Street Productions). “And even if I don't - hey - we'll celebrate anyway. Besides, you could also win cool stuff: apparently the three customers who provide the most high quality reviews will be qualified to win one of three customer prizes, including an Amazon kindle reader, $2000 in Amazon gift card value, and an HP photo printer.”

You can find Kahle’s entry on Amazon.com via the following link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011G9XOG, and access the main contest page where all entries are located at www.amazon.com/abna.

Book Publishers Northwest extends a hearty congratulation to member Pete Kahle for his achievement.

Blog Tours A Blowout!

If you squeezed into the room for our first meeting of 2008, you know that Blog Tours 101 attracted a crowd of enthusiastic writers and publishers.

Tom Masters, author of Blogging Quick & Easy, gave simple step-by-step instructions on how to launch an author on a tour around the world. He ran out of handouts, but Tom will be making the information available for readers of this blog!

January 17 Meeting: Blog Touring 101

Explore the reasons why an author or publisher might want to consider a blog tour as well as the planning, implementation and tracking of a blog tour.

This meeting is scheduled for 4 pm to 6 pm, January 17, in Room 221 at the Good Shepherd Center in Seattle WA. The Good Shepherd Center is located at 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle. From the 45th or 50th N.E. exits, it is about eight blocks west of I-5.

Tom Masters will be leading this meeting. He sent the following examples of Blog Tours:

Cottage Tales
Ethnic Knitting Discovery
Ten Zen Seconds

Distribution for Small Press

Book Publishers Northwest member Chris Salditt sent in the following suggestion:

As a one-title publisher, I have been frustrated lately by how difficult it is to get reps and wholesalers to carry my book. Everything I've read warns people like me that these people do not want to bother doing business with us "one-title wonders," that it is a small payback for the effort. Do you think there is any merit in several small publishers like myself banding together, not as a publishing company, but under some umbrella of some sort, i.e., "Sound Spirit Society," "Not Ready for Big Time Players," or "The Big Fish in a Small Pond Writers Group?" (This is supposed to be funny.)

I don't know if it's doable, legal, or practical, but if it has any merit at all, then maybe there is someone out there who is knowledgeable and could speak to us about the possibility of such a venture.

Feel free to comment on this idea or suggest a possible speaker. BPNW welcomes members' suggestions for meetings.

Molalla Bookeroo in January

Molalla Writers Faire and Bookeroo runs January 25 through 27 in Molalla, Oregon.

This writer's weekend is $89.00 per person for the opening reception, Bookeroo (bookfair), roundtable, three workshops, banquet, and fireside chat. Mollala B&Bs Prairie House Inn (shown here in warmer weather) or Rosse Posse Acres offer housing for an additional $200.00 plus room tax.

Call (503) 829-2359 ext. 250 for more information on the Bookeroo or to register for the Writer's Faire.

Meeting Topics for 2008

Book Publishers Northwest’s Board met on Dec. 13 to discuss topics for meetings next year. Dates and speakers will be announced later. Among the topics suggested by the Board and BPNW members were:

Adapting Books for Amazon.com’s Kindle
Blog to Book: How to Make This Work
Book PR Tips
Cracking the Gift Market
Effective Marketing through E-mail
Getting Reviewed by PW
Making Book Videos
NW Regional Publishing
Selling through Social Networks
Understanding Google Ad Words
Used Book Websites Expand to Small Press Sales
Working with Freelance Editors/Proofreaders

The Board is also planning a survey of members and other subscribers to BPNW E-newsletter to better determine the needs of the membership and interest in various BPNW projects.

Members are encouraged to help with meetings. Comments are welcome! If you’d like to organize a meeting, volunteer as a speaker, or suggest a speaker, please contact BPNW at bpnwnews@aol.com.

Corporate Book Events

Corporate book events, those talks and book signings held at corporations like Microsoft or Starbucks, were the subject of a recent San Francisco Chronicle article.

Among the experts quoted was Kim Ricketts, NW entrepreneur who spoke at BPNW's Sept. 8 Business of Books meeting.

Time for PNBA's New Title Program

It's time for the Winter/Spring edition of PNBA's Northwest New Title Preview. If you have a title you think will be a hit with Northwest booksellers, this PNBA program helps target your distribution of free review copies of forthcoming books, ARCs, or galleys directly to bookstore buyers in the Northwest.

For $120, PNBA will include your book in an online listing of new and regional titles with jacket art, a blurb, and a linked email address of the contact person at your company for bookseller requests. PNBA sends booksellers the listings, and they e-mail you directly to request the books.

The PNBA Fall/Winter Northwest New Title Preview is available at:

http://www.pnba.org/NTP0807.htm

The deadline for materials is Friday January 11, 2008. The titles will become active on the site on January 25, 2008. An order form is available at:

http://www.pnba.org/images/08NWNTPform.pdf

Pig Becomes Poet

Snyder: The Pig's Tale
Author: Morten Nilsen
Format: Cloth hardcover with dust jacket
Publisher: Counterbalance Books
ISBN: 978-0-9774906-0-8
Price (US$): $24.95

The biography of a pig who escapes the farm to become a poet and street performer.

To learn more about Snyder, visit http://www.thepigstale.com.

Counterbalance Books is a member of Book Publishers Northwest.

Do You Know About These Contests?

Recently, several of our members have received invitations for various competitions. We're wondering if anyone has actual experience with these organizations and what that experience was. Feel free to comment on the following:


Eric Hoffer Awards
www.HofferAward.com or www.WritersNotes.com

Books and Authors Awards
www.Books-And-Authors.net

SPGA Brown Bag Event

Viewing of "Macworld and Photoshop World 2007 - You Are There!"
Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 12-2pm
Location:
Greenwood Branch, Seattle Public Library
8016 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle WA

The SPGA Seattle Chapter of the Graphic Artists Guild presents a brown-bag lunch event, "Macworld and Photoshop World 2007-You Are There!", at the Greenwood branch of the Seattle Public Library on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 12 to 1:30.

Lots of free parking available. Bring your lunch and be ready to take notes as we show a double feature DVD from Peachpit filmed at their booth at Photoshop World Conference Las Vegas and Macworld Conference and Expo San Francisco 2007 showing their top Mac and Photoshop authors sharing their digital savvy, great tips and inside info on the hottest applications and technology trends. And best of all, it's FREE!

Questions? Email info@seattleguild.org

Mailing to Washington Bookstores in December

Book Publishers Northwest will be mailing our remaining copies of the Spring and Fall catalogs as well as holiday best wishes from all of our members to the Washington state bookstore members of Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association.

If you are currently a member of Book Publishers Northwest (see below), you may add one (1) title recommendation to this mailing. Please e-mail the following information to bpnwnews@aol.com by December 1.
Title:
Author:
Publisher/Website:
ISBN:
Price (US$):
One sentence description: (not to exceed 15 words)

This information will be added to a very simple flyer inserted with the full-color catalogs. We will be working with the Northwest Association of Book Publishers to create a new full-color catalog for 2008. More details about that project will be announced early next year.


We currently show the 2007 and 2008 members of BPNW to be:
74th Street Productions, Adoxography Books, Ananse Press, Bascho Press, Bennett-Hastings Publishing Services, Janey Bennett (Proofreader), Book Publishers Network, Bright Ring Publishing, Inc, bytewrite LLC, Sherrill Carlson (Editor), Cedar Creek Publisher, Counterbalance Books, Crabman Press, Denim Books, Detour Farm, Dog Hollow Press, Dogwise Publishing, Dunamis House, Empress Publishing, Epicenter Press Inc., Ericson Dorow Inc, Eye-Scapes, Globe Trekker Press, Graphic Artists Guild, Green Elms, Hands On Books, Healing Pages, Idyll Arbor, Illumination Arts, Impassio Press, Inside Out Publishing, Isaiah 11:6 Publishing Co, Island Publishing, Mary Kabrich (Author), Kearney Street Books, Legacy Consultants, Living Free Press, Malloy Inc, Marquette Books, Jennifer McCord Associates LLC, Clare Meeker (Author), Metacreative Press, Mindcastle, Mother Love Publishing, Muddy Puddle Press, October Mist, One Sock Press, Orion/Wellspring Publishing, Pangean Sun, Parenting Press Inc., Patina Productions, Pentode Press, Ray Pfortner & Company, Pickle Point Publishing, Port Gamble Publishing, Pun & Oink Graphics, Raconteurs Press LLC, Raston Publishing, Raven Publishing, Rivendell Publishing Nw, Rodnik Publishing Co, Rose Alley Press, Rosebriar Publishing, Seattle Book/Rosetta Solution, Slave To Her Pets, Sojourner Publishers Inc., South Slope Productions, Stagger Lee Books, Stoneleigh Press, Sundial Press, TCN Inc, Them Potatoes, Thistle Press, Thomson-Shore, Timebridges Publishers LLC, Van Patten Publishing, Dorothy Van Soest (Author/Publisher), Vital Self Inc, Wilder Productions, and Wimer Publishing Co.

If you are a member of Book Publishers Northwest and your name does not appear on this list, please contact bpnwnews@aol.com.

Guild Social December 5

Graphic Artists Guild Festive Holiday Party & Portfolio Extravaganza!

Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm at
Rock Salt Steaks and Seafood Lake Union, 1232 Westlake Ave N., Seattle WA

Come one, come all, to the Annual Graphic Artists Guild Festive Holiday Party and Portfolio Extravaganza! The Guild is pulling out all the stops this year and having an event to remember, and celebrating the National Guild's 40th Anniversary, too!

Bring your portfolio (sorry, no internet access) for folks to look at and admire if you'd like, grab your reindeer sweater and light-up earrings and prepare to party. It'll be the meet and greet event of the season. This year, to make the holiday spirit more real, we are accepting cash or check donations for Northwest Harvest. Do not bring food, please, just cash or checks. Let's share our blessings.

The Guild will offeran assortment of yummy finger foods, a no-host bar, and you can participate in the Ornament Exchange (optional). If you'd like to join the game, bring a creative or gorgeous WRAPPED ornament, costing under $10, for a very enjoyable holiday amusement. You're sure to go home with something wonderful if you play, according to the organizers.

And there's more! There will be a prize (rumor has it that it's a box of fine chocolates) for best holiday garb, so deck yourself in something festive and and party with the artists on Wednesday, December 5, 5:30 at the Rock Salt Grill.

Cost:
$15 Members and their spouses/ sig others,
$20 nonmembers,
$15 full-time students with ID, with online RSVP by Friday, November 30.

Cost at the door:
$20 Members and their spouses/ sig others,
$25 nonmembers,
$20 full-time students with ID.

Credit cards OK at the door.

RESERVATIONS: RSVP via PayPal before NOON on November 28.


Questions: president@seattleguild.org

Jud Looking for Sales Stories

Brian Jud is updating his book, Beyond the Bookstore, on how to sell books to non-bookstore markets, needs updating. The second edition will be published in mid 2008.

If you have a special-sales success story, or know of someone who has sold books in large quantities to non-bookstore markets, Jud would like to hear from you as he is seeking such examples for his next edition.

Contact Brian Jud at P. O. Box 715, Avon, CT 06001; (860) 675-1344; brianjud@bookmarketing.com or go to http://www.bookmarketing.com

Blogger Seeks Books to Review

Hi, I have a blog where I write about self-published and small press books. I have not worked on it for about a year because of work pressures but I am gathering up stuff to read and write about.

http://smallpressures.blogspot.com
akritenbrink@gmail.com

A person who wishes to have a book reviewed can email me for further information. One caveat -- I can't promise that if someone sends me a book, it will appear on the blog.

Angie Kritenbrink

Are you a reviewer or a member of the media? Would you like to be added to BPNW's media list to get announcements from Book Publishers Northwest or our members? Just send an e-mail to bpnwnews@aol.com

Chocolate for Haiku

In honor of the fifth book in the Basho Press Haiku series, Haiku for Chocolate Lovers, Jack Bateman and the Rose Hill Chocolate Company of Mukilteo has designed a special Haiku Truffle.

"Our family absolutely loves it! It’s a dark chocolate truffle with a light creamy ginger flavor and a small piece of dried ginger to decorate the top," reported Basho founder David Ash.

Bennett Wins Best Book Award

I wanted to let you know that Pale Surface of Things received the BEST BOOK 2007 reward in the Multicultural Fiction category.

The award is presented by USA Book News.

Yippee!
Janey


Pale Surface of Things by BPNW member Janey Bennett is a "fast-moving novel in a Cretan village — kidnaps and killings, prayers and healing, ethics and ritual, and a darned good tale..." The book is currently available through bookstores or through Bennett's website.

Salditt's Book Finalist in National Best Books

I just got word that my book, 50 Ways to Leave Your Mother was an award-winning finalist in the humor category of the National Best Books 2007 Awards.

I'm excited to add this to my finalist award for the 2007 PMA Benjamin Franklin Book Awards for the same book.

Regards,
Ms. Chris Salditt
http://www.fiftywaysbooks.com/

Sheryn Hara and Tom Masters on Radio

Sheryn Hara and Tom Masters will be interviewed on Evergreen Radio's live call-in show from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 24. Hara is the president and owner of Book Publishers Network and has been publishing books for 23 years. Masters founded Orion/Wellspring and recently published his first title on blogging. He also teaches classes on blogging and marketing and serves as a consultant for websites. Both Hara and Masters are members of the BPNW Board: Masters is the current president and Hara is vice-president.

Evergreen Radio Reading Service is part of Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, and broadcasts live talk shows, radio dramas, and news stories read aloud for the blind and visually impaired throughout Washington State. Listeners tune in through special receivers checked out from the library or the library's new webstreaming service.

Craig Johnson, Lead Broadcaster for Evergreen, said that the station has two long running literary programs. "Literary News is an author interview program and Publications Northwest focuses on regional works. Obviously our listeners are very interested in all things about publishing and bookselling," he said in a recent e-mail.

Cheap Wine and Poetry, November 8

With $1 glasses of wine and an open microphone, "Cheap Wine and Poetry" attracts standing room only crowds of poets, writers, artists, art lovers, literati, students, hipsters, cheap wine lovers, furious knitters, and the occasional dog, according to our friends at Richard Hugo House. The series features local and national artists and writers, many published in the print publication when it rains from the ground up.

Series curator Brian McGuigan will read at the next "Cheap Wine and Poetry" on Thursday, November 8, 2007, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Richard Hugo House. Also expected that night are poet and performer Rajnii Eddins, fiction writer Chris Leasure, and Ryan Boudinot, author of “The Littlest Hitler.”

Although admission is free, donations are welcome. Open mic sign-up is at the door. Hugo House is located at 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA.

Wordstock Still Has Exhibitor Space

Wordstock, the annual festival of books, writers, and storytelling in Portland, Oregon, is expecting up to 25,000 people to participate in the book fair on November 10-11, 2007.

Organizers recently sent out a letter saying that exhibitor booths are available at very reasonable rates. For more information about how you can participate Wordstock, contact Katherine Pfeiffer at Katherine@wordstockfestival.com or Greg Netzer at greg@wordstockfestival.com, or call 503-546-1012.

Tacoma Small Press Event

T.A.L.E. (Tacoma Area Literary Enthusiasts) are hosting their first annual celebration of Puget Sound literary artists on November 3rd, 2007. Tacoma Word! Northwest Perspectives in Literary Art will be a one day festival that will include workshops, performances, open mic readings, and plenty of other exciting activities. The event will be free and open to the public. We are searching for authors, playwrights, poets, songwriters, small presses, and other literary artists who would like to promote, display and sell their work at our Literary Open House, which will be held from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Tables are free, but space is limited and first come, first serve. We are also looking for a a small press willing to put on a paper making demonstration and a children's storyteller.

Emaill at JessieMcGuffey@gmail.com before September 30th if you would like to participate.

PNBA Trade Show, Sept 20-21

Approximately 400 booksellers from 140 Northwest bookstores attended the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) Trade Show in Bellevue, Washington. Among the many displays that the booksellers browsed were six tables of books from PMA, BPNW, and NWABP members. Many publishers also visited the display to learn how they could join PMA or the organization's Northwest affiliates.

Fifteen volunteers from Book Publishers Northwest (Seattle, WA) and Northwest Association of Book Publishers (Portland, OR) staffed the booth. It was a chance to meet old friends and make new ones. New BPNW member Michael Lalumiere (right) of Staggerlee Books came to the PNBA show to help at the PMA table and promote a new novel set at Crater Lake.

BPNW also worked with PNBA to help local members to set their exhibits near the PMA tables. Just behind the PMA exhibit, publisher Tom Blaschko discusses Idyll Arbor's latest titles.

At the end of the show, the display books were donated to PNBA's Rural Library Drive, a charity that collects books for small rural libraries with little or no book-buying budget. The grateful librarians were impressed with the incredible variety of the titles that they received from the independent publishers.

Book Publishers Northwest at PNBA

Book Publishers Northwest will be displaying our members' books at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association's Fall Trade Show, Sept. 20 and 21. Our display will be located at tables 108-113 at the PNBA Fall Trade Show. We are sharing this space with PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and the Northwest Association of Book Publishers (NWABP).

The Fall Trade Show is the largest industry event for booksellers and publishers located in the Northwest. This year, it takes place at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA.

The Trade Show begins with educational session on Wednesday, Sept. 19, including a presentation at 3 p.m. by BPNW Board President Tom Masters. For full schedule of PNBA events, see www.pnba.org.

Funding for our display was generously provided by PMA, the largest trade association for indepedent publishers in the United States. This organization provides a full complement of services to small presses AND members of BPNW receive a $26 discount off PMA memberships.

Dish Up Literacy Night

Numerous Seattle restaurants are donating a portion of their sales on Sept. 26 to Page Ahead, a non-profit literacy program dedicated to fostering a love of reading in at-risk children. Every year Page Ahead distributes approximately 150,000 new books to nearly 50,000 children from low-income families in Washington. They also offer workshops and resources for parents and other community programs.

For more information: www.dishupliteracy.org

Carlson in USA Today and on CNBC

Linda Carlson consults to Northwest publishers, including the 28-year-old Parenting Press, where she has handled marketing since 2000. She is the author of 11 books, a contributor to the Publishers Marketing Association newsletter, a member of the Humanities Washington speakers' bureau, and a former board member of Book Publishers Northwest. She recently spoke on PR and marketing at the Business of Books. Linda just sent us the following update on her activities

It was fun to see my Company Towns of the Pacific Northwest (UW Press) mentioned in a page 3 story in USA Today on Tuesday in conjunction with my comments regarding company towns in general and Scotia, Calif., in particular. And today I was called by CNBC and scheduled for an appearance on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 19...at about 5 a.m. Pacific time.

The producer who scheduled me is being sent a copy of the book and she said the cover of it will be shown on air.

Linda Carlson
www.lindacarlson.com
info@lindacarlson.com
Seattle WA 98199

Member Review of New Business of Books

First let me say how much I enjoyed the BPNW publishing seminar last Saturday. I learned a lot and I am already incorporating some of the suggestions into my publishing/promotional/marketing plans.

PARA Publishing (Dan Poynter) offers newsletter space to authors who are seeking other authors to write reviews of their books on Amazon and Barnes & Noble sites. Would that be something BPNW might offer their authors? It would just be giving space for authors to list their desire for reviewers, with contact info and genre. Then interested reviewers would contact them to get a copy of the book. That way your BPNW members are getting much desired reviews on those sites, thereby improving their rankings. Is this something you might be able to do?

Thanks for listening.

(Ms.)Chris Salditt
Mother Love Publishing

Chris has a great idea. As an old PR pro, I'm a little uncomfortable with Poynter's restriction that this must be a four-star review. I think reviews should be honest--as a publisher or writer, I would want to know why a book doesn't connect with the reader. Might not agree with the review, but I would want to see it.

However, if BPNW members want to make offers to reviewers, I'm happy to post them on this website. Are there other marketing ideas that you think we should pursue as an organization? Feel free to comment below.

Rosemary Jones
BPNW Blogmaster

A Full Day at New Business of Books

The New Business of Books conference began with a welcome from Tom Masters, board president of Book Publishers Northwest and author of Blogging Quick And Easy. It was a terrific start to a full day of education for publishers.

Over the next few weeks, we will be posting information from the speakers who led the panels at the New Business of Books on September 8. If you have a question for them or any member of Book Publishers Northwest, simply post a comment or e-mail bpnwnews@aol.com.

Freelance Editing September 10

A Panel Discussion about the Seattle Editing Marketplace
When: Monday, September 10, 2007, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Richard Hugo House on Capitol Hill in Seattle, 1634 11th Avenue (near Pine), Alice Room (second floor)
Cost: FREE! and open to anyone interested in the topic.

For more info: e-mail info@edsguild.org.

Are you a new editor starting a freelance career in Seattle? Or an experienced editor interested in expanding your clientele? Come find out about the diversity of the Seattle editing marketplace—our panel discussion will explore what type of freelance editorial work is available and what different industries look for in a freelance editor. We’ve invited people from local industries that regularly hire freelance editors to discuss how they work.

Panel will include representatives from the following sectors:
•Magazine publishing (Seattle Magazine)
•University (University of Washington’s Creative Consultants Network*)
•Advertising (Worktank Seattle)
•Nonprofit (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
*The CCN is a network of freelance writers, editors, and designers who are screened and approved to do contract work for the university.

A member of the steering committee will moderate the discussion, asking questions and eliciting responses from each panel member. So come learn more about these areas of the Seattle editing marketplace, including what they look for in editors, what tasks editors perform, how often freelancers are hired, and what demands or challenges an editor might face.

Directions to Business of Books Conference

New Business of Books: 2007 And Beyond
Saturday, September 8, 2007
9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Discover U in Belltown (less than 1 mile north of downtown Seattle)
2901 3rd Avenue, Suite 150, Seattle, WA
To register, call Discover U at 206-365-0400.

Discover U's new Belltown campus is located in the black building stretching between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue and bordered by Denny and Broad. Although the street address is 2901 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA, you should enter the first floor Suite 150 from the 2nd Avenue side or through the garage elevators.

If you are driving, the building garage will be $5 for the entire day.

This site is also within one block of several Metro routes traveling along Broad, Third, or Second Avenue.

Updated Schedule for Business of Books

New Business of Books: 2007 And Beyond
September 8, 2007
Discover U Downtown Campus, 2901 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA
9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
To register, use the link right to enter Discover U's secure page for Web registrations or call Discover U at 206-365-0400.

9:00 am - 9:50 am
Welcome from Book Publishers Northwest
Coffee and light refreshments, meet the publishers and other conference attendees

10:00 am - 10:50 am
Defining Your Genre: Publishers Talk About Their Niche

Children's books juvenile/young adult

General fiction/non-fiction

Travel books

Memoir/biography

Self help/how-to
Speakers include Tom Blaschko, Idyll Arbor; Margaret Doyle, Port Gamble Press; Sheryn Hara, Book Network; John Thompson, Illumination Arts; and Beth Whitman, Globe Trekker Press.

11:00 am - 11:50 am
Session 1: Marketing Your Title, Money Ideas
Panel A: Marketing Your Book

Traditional PR

Non-traditional marketing

Online PR
Speakers include: Erin Eaves, Amazon Advantage; Linda Carlson, Parenting Press; and Al Sampson, Seattle University

Panel B: Turning a Profit

Making your book make money

Subsidiary rights

Selling lots of books outside of the bookstore
Speakers include: Michael Duckworth, UW Press, Kent Sturgis, Epicenter Press, and Bette Filley, Dunamis House

12:00 pm - 1:20 pm
Lunch with the Experts (optional)

1:30 pm - 2:20 pm
Session 2: Legal issues, Distribution Via Web and Bookstores, More Marketing Ideas

Contracts and legal issues
Presented by Gary Marshall, lawyer

Organizing Events: book signings, author talks, and more
Speakers include Kim Ricketts, events organizer, and Al Sampson, Seattle University

Working with wholesalers and distributors
Speakers include Phil Garrett, Partners West, and Sheryn Hara, The Book Network

Design Part I: Cover and interior illustration
Two-hour design session with Shary Flenniken; Morten Nilsen, Z-N Enterprises; and Ray Pfortner, Pfortner & Assocs.

2:30 pm - 3:20 pm
Session 3: Marketing, Distribution, More on Production

Editorial: Proofreading and Indexing with Freelancers
Presented by Nancy Burkhalter

Printing Tips
With Sheryn Hara, The Book Network; Justin Smith, Bang Printing; Victor Judd, Houston Datum; and Bob Smith, BookPrinters Network.

Design Part II: Working with photographers and illustrators
Two-hour design session continues with: Shary Flenniken; Morten Nilsen, Z-N Enterprises; and Ray Pfortner, Pfortner & Assocs.

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Closing & Wrap-up: Meet Experts for Last Q&A (3:30 to 4:30)

Sessions may be broken into more than one room. Times and speakers subject to change without notice.

Sell Books at Business of Books

Book Publishers Northwest is offering you the opportunity to sell your books at the Business of Books conference. We will have a table of books set up where participants at the conference can buy books. Here is how you can sell your book there:

1. Be registered for the conference AND be a BPNW member for 2007 or 2008 (you can buy a membership there).
2. Send the name of the book, the author’s name, and the price of the book to tom@Idyllarbor.com by September 4.
3. Bring copies of the book with you to the conference. Two or three books should be enough. You’re carrying them, though, so you can bring more.
4. Pick up books that are left after the conference. We don’t have a place to store them for later pickup.

It’s that simple. We will sell the books, keep track of the sales, and mail you a check about a week after the conference. It would be sooner but I’m leaving for another conference the night of the BPNW conference.

We’re taking a 40% discount on the sale price, the same as a bookstore discount, and using the proceeds for future BPNW educational programs.

If you have any questions, please email me at tom@idyllarbor.com or give me a call (360-825-7797).

Tom Blaschko
BPNW Treasurer
Idyll Arbor

Lunch Added to Business of Books 2007

Attendees to the Business of Books seminar on September 8 now can purchase a box lunch with speakers and the members of the BPNW board. The seminar cost is $129 and the optional lunch is $13.

To register, use the link right to enter Discover U's secure page for Web registrations or call Discover U at 206-365-0400. New Business of Books: 2007 and Beyond will be held at the downtown Seattle campus of Discover U.

The New Business Of Books: 2007 and Beyond
September 8, 2007
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Discover U Downtown Campus, 2901 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA
Fee: $129.00
Lunch (Optional): $13.00
Registration: 206-365-0400

BPNW Members Can Display TWO Books at PNBA Fall Trade Show

BPNW's Board decided that all members can display TWO books at the PNBA Fall Trade Show. This applies to all members who have paid for 2007 and all new members who join for 2007-2008 using the form located on the website. Memberships should be posted by August 30 so BPNW has enough time to process payment and collect books for the show.

BPNW Members Receive Discounts From SPAN

Did you know that Book Publishers Northwest is a participant in Span’s Partner Program?

BPNW members can join the Small Publishers Association of North America for $70, a savings of $35.

BPNW provides its members with many different discounts throughout the year. To join, just download the BPNW Membership Form.

Supreme Court ruling on prices and how it affects the book industry

On June 28, 2007 the Supreme Court decided (5-4) that manufacturers could adopt and enforce "resale price maintenance agreements." In essence it means that in some cases a manufacturer can forbid discounting.

I think this is an incredibly important issue in the book-selling community with implications for both publishers and booksellers, especially independent booksellers who can't get the same discounts as the big internet retailers. If publishers are allowed to set prices, the independents will not need to compete against discounts they can't match. The publishers themselves will be in a better position to fight discount demands, too.

This affects me personally with a book (Writing for Wellness: A Prescription for Healing by Julie Davey) that is coming out in October. The book, which describes how to use a writing program as part of healing from cancer, will be sold primarily for fund raising for cancer hospitals and cancer research. As such, discounted books on Amazon.com, for example, will reduce the value of the book as a fund-raising tool. My question for you is whether the Supreme Court ruling applies to this book and how I should notify Amazon and others who are selling the book at a discount that they may not do that.

I'm hoping that the various perspectives will provide the best information on how to use this major change in the way the US does business.

Tom Blaschko
Idyll Arbor

Special Sales "Webinar" Given by SPAN

"What is Special-Sales and How Can It Increase Your Profits?"
hosted by Brian Jud

July 18, 7:00 pm Eastern Time

Sell more books and make more money through non-bookstore sales.
Nation-wide expert, Brian Jud will tell us how to sell through the military, airport store, catalogs and many more profitable markets.

The class is limited to 30 people, so sign up early.
SPAN Members: $30 Non-members: $40

For more information and to sign up: http://www.spannet.org/webinar.htm
You can also sign up by calling the SPAN office at 719-475-1726

SPAN is Small Publishers Association of North America. SPAN is a nonprofit professional trade association dedicated to enhancing the image and profits of authors and independent presses in the U.S. and Canada.