I’m frequently perusing the internet looking at sites which relate to children’s books or encouraging children to read. Recently I discovered a site with a very creative poster by a reading advocacy organization called “Burning Through Pages.”
To order or see their other products, click here.
In addition to my work as a publisher, I’ve also been active on the Board of Directors of Independent Book Publishers of New England, IPNE. Founded in 2000, IPNE is an association for authors, publishers, and those who are affiliated with the book publishing industry.
Our 2nd Annual New England Publishing Conference this past weekend brought together speakers and attendees from all over New England to learn the latest information and tips about Book Marketing, Publicity, Production, Distribution, Digital Publishing, Video Book Trailers & YouTube, Rights, Finances, Planning and to meet our Exhibitor Sponsors who provide services to our industry. To learn more, click here.
Soon I will be exploring converting one or more of my titles into ebook formats, writing more regularly in this column, establishing more social networking venues, and meeting more authors and publishers at our Greater-Boston/Cambridge IPNE branch meetings in Arlington, MA. Here’s the “Picture of the Day” from the online eNewsletter of Publishers Weekly April 30th.
Picture of the Day
“Chris Morrow, general manager of Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, Vt., and Pamela Fenner, president of the Independent Publishers of New England Board of Directors, take a break at the IPNE conference on Saturday in Boxborough, Mass. Morrow delivered the keynote address on “The Bookstore is Dead, Long Live the Bookstore.” In it he spoke about industry changes such as 37% of his sales in 2011 were from non-book. He also talked about new programs his store is testing as part of the American Booksellers Association’s search for a new model, including co-pp from two of the big six that are being given as quarterly credits based on the previous year’s performance.”
I gave a presentation at the spring meeting of the Whittier Home Association, Amesbury, MA. This organization was founded in 1898 by a group of women whose mission was to maintain the home and preserve the legacy of the Quaker, poet, and abolistionist, John Greenleaf Whittier.
It is a very active organization—still only women—and it maintain the historic house museum, host events, and gives tours. It was here that Whittier led his fight against slavery and wrote his most famous work, Snowbound. I’ve been a member of the WHA since 1995. During the 2007 Bicentennial of Whittier’s birth, I researched and produced a book on the Whittier centennial of 1907.
The WHA had invited me to speak years ago when I was age 19 and 20. At that time, the WHA had monthly meetings. One talk was about my trip to sub-Sahara Africa and another about my volunteer lab job working with mice at a cancer research center in Rye, NY for Sloan Kettering.
For this year’s presentation, I traced my 21-year journey in book publishing and described some of the innovations in publishing today. More information on JGW can be found at the Whittier Home Association’s website: www.whittierhome.org. It was fun to show them samples of my books, including the four foreign translations of Beyond the Rainbow Bridge, my parenting title, and my new reading list Make Way for Reading.
One of the highlights of attending a conference for Waldorf teachers is the participating in the artistic/practical workshops. Usually there are so many offerings that it’s difficult to choose. This year was no exception at the 2012 Western Waldorf Educators’ Conference, ” A New Inspiration for Education,” held at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA. The choices included: Drawing, Painting, Blacksmithing, Beekeeping, Hatmaking with rafia, Food for the future, Soap-making, Basket-making, Singing, Movement and games, Felt making, working with a pole lathe and others.
Felt making
When I attended a teacher’s conference in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1998, I took a blacksmithing class, thinking it might be the only time I ever had a chance to do it. It was a cold week in March and most of the classes were held outdoors. I was the only woman in a class of five. We were bundled up in wool sweaters, hats and gloves. Most of us made small cheese knives and it was hard work learning how to forge.We rotated positions around the fire, and it was the only activity I knew where I could get warm. I still have fond memories of that class.
For this February conference, I signed up for the food preparation class and had fun making nut butters, almond milk, yogurt, cheese, kim chee, sauerkraut, and other treats. After three days of two sessions daily, each group set out their work for all of us to view and admire. Everything was so colorful. I was especially attracted to colored wool made into felted scenes or slippers. Maybe next time I’ll take the slipper class. Here are some photographs. I’m still learning how large to make these images on my blog. Click on any to see larger.
Samples from weaving class
Samples from the Blacksmith class
One of my classmates from the Food Preparation class
Scenes made by felting colored wool. Lovely pieces to hang in a family room or child's bedroom.
Products from the Pole Lathe class
Pole lathes set out at Rudolf Steiner College
Our new book was launched at a teachers’ conference at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA. The bookstore generously provided a place for Pam to show Make Way for Reading and greet friends and colleagues. Before the conference, Karen and Pam enjoyed a celebratory brunch in Palo Alto.
It was a glorious spring 3 days in Fair Oaks with the heady scent of daffodils, narcissus, and tulips in bloom along with flowering quince and acacia trees. How welcome for this New Englander to experience an early spring. The rest of the three-week trip was spent attending a 2nd teacher’s conference, taking postcards and books to schools, visiting family and former neighbors, enjoying an art exhibit, and attending a publishing conference. And one day at the beach.
Book signing in Fair Oaks, California
Co-authors, Karen Latimer and Pam Fenner
Spring at Rudolf Steiner College
Limantour, Pt Reyes Nat'l Seashore
Publishing University sponsored by Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and held in San Francisco.
I was fortunate to be one of ten persons selected to receive a scholarship from Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) to attend “Publishing University” or “Pub-U” from IBPA March 9 and 10 in San Francisco. I represented Independent Publishers of New England (IPNE).
It was a day and a half of non-stop seminars on book publishing—digital and print—design, production, marketing, social networking, etc.
With a new book in hand, I chatted with book designers, marketing experts, and networked with other publishers.
Keynote presentation at Pub-U
Scholarship recipients to Pub-U, Pam on right
Pam will be in northern California from February 20 – March 12 celebrating the launching of Make Way for Reading with co-editor, Karen Latimer and attending two teachers’ conferences in northern California.
Contact us for details of place and time—let us know if you’d like us to visit. Here’s a view of the back cover. It even has a QR Code (Quick Response Code). It is located near the bottom between our logo and the ISBN bar code. If the reader has a smart phone app that “reads” these codes, then the phone will link to our website.
She will also attend one of her favorite publishing conferences, “Publishing University” sponsored by Independent Book Publishers Association—this year held in San Francisco.
For a closer look, click on the images.
Publishing University in San Francisco
Dragon toy
I recently wrote that I had received newly-published translated editions of “Beyond the Rainbow Bridge” from a publisher in Beijing and in Taiwan. Over the weekend, they both have independently sent me New Year’s greetings. Each wrote that in the Chinese calendar, 2012 is the “Year of the Dragon” and is a most felicitous sign and would bring good omens. What a welcome surprise to receive these greetings.
In Western countries, dragons are portrayed as ferocious and evil. During Michaelmas, which is celebrated September 29th, stories of St. George and the dragon are often told. Before meeting the dragon, George appeals to St. Michael for courage to either slay or perhaps tame the dragon, depending on the storyteller.
In contrast, the dragon in China is considered a benevolent creature—a sign of good luck. One can check many internet sources to learn more about the Chinese New Year and the symbols for the 12-year sequence. Many cities in the U. S. hold a parade as part of the New Year celebration. When we lived near Boston and San Francisco, my husband and I took our children to the city to see the parade. Each event was colorful, usually quite noisy with drums and firecrackers, and great fun. We’d end our journey at a favorite restaurant.
I was married in one “Dragon” year and published “Rainbow Bridge” during another. And now with our celebrating 21 years in publishing this year, then the Year of the Dragon is indeed fortuitous. Here’s the dragon I keep in my office—obviously a tame one.
This year after enjoying a meal at a local Chinese restaurant, I brought home a placemat showing a dragon and all the zodiac symbols. Click on the picture and it will expand so you can read the text.
OUR NEW BOOK—a unique, age-appropriate K-8 Reading List!
MAKE WAY FOR READING: Great Books for Kindergarten Through Grade 8.
Most adults who love reading want to pass on that love of reading to children. In this new book, nearly 1,000 books for children ages 6 to 14 are selected and annotated for appropriate ages, interests, and social and emotional development.
Foreword by Eugene Schwartz, author of Millennial Child.
For parents, schools, libraries, bookstores, and caregivers—for anyone who wants to share a love of books with children.
See the Table of Contents below for the complete list of sections.
For details and to order, click here.