In this edition:

• ABPA enjoyed a great year thanks to you / Gwen Henson, Executive Director
• ABPA Holiday Party & Potluck for Publishers and Authors! December 4
• Glyph Award winner opportunities
• Hot Topics Conference a big success
• ABPA member books shine at AZLA
• Marketing Committee hosts second successful signing
• New Programs Committee Chair
• ABPA New Members
• PMA Affiliate Scholarship
• Three Northern Arizona Publishers Win 2007 National Outdoor Book Awards
• Special deal on book buying for the holidays
• Foreword Magazine seeks Travel and Children’s Titles
• Former ABPA member now with Ingram Publisher Services
• Member news–more award winners!
• Call for submissions for Saroyan Writing Prize
• Conferences for Writers and Publishers

ABPA enjoyed a great year thanks to you

By Gwen Henson, Executive Director

As the year draws to a close, I find that I finally have time to draw breath. It’s been quite a year for ABPA. After months of planning, on October 6, we put on the Arizona Book Awards Banquet at which publishers from across the country were awarded Glyph Awards for publishing excellence. Less than a month later, on November 3, we held the Hot Topics Publishing conference in conjunction with PMA, a resounding success. November 13-15 found us exhibiting at the Arizona Library Association conference. On November 28, the Co-op Marketing Committee held a special author signing event. On December 4, we’ll see you at the Holiday Party.

This whirlwind of activity would not have been possible without the hard work of our ABPA volunteers including committee chairs Jessica Tribble (Glyph Committee), Pam Waterman (Education Committee), Karen Gray (Trade Show Committee) and Tobias Lofstrand (Co-op Marketing Committee), plus many more. Thank you all for making this a very successful year for the association. It’s a pleasure to work with you!

ABPA Holiday Party & Potluck for Publishers and Authors!

Tuesday, December 4

Bring your special potluck dish to share with publishers and author friends!

Please note our meeting location!
Val Vista Lakes Clubhouse, (Thanks to Angie DiMaggio!)
1600 East Lakeside Drive, Gilbert, AZ 85234
Baseline and Val Vista. Go east on the 60, exit at Val Vista, turn right heading south on Val Vista. Pass Baseline, turn left on Lakeside Dr. Turn left into club house.
For the the exact location, visit http://www.mapquest.com

Program (includes dinner) 6:00 p.m.— 9:00 p.m.
Early Registration (by November 30): $10 members & non-members
Bring a potluck dish for six or more.
Advance payment is required for registration; no refunds after the early registration deadline.

Join us for this holiday event and rub shoulders with publishers and authors from across the Valley. Last time, our holiday potluck was a huge success. Be sure to attend this year, as our party is certain to feature just as many mouth-watering dishes and just as much festive fun.

In the spirit of the Holiday Season, please prepare and bring a potluck dish that will serve six or more. Tableware will be provided. All authors and writers are invited to participate in this festive tradition.

A pontoon boat will be available all evening so that you can sail across the lake to enjoy the sparkling holiday light displays. This is the perfect way to kick off your holiday celebration, so mark your calendar and be there!

Note: There is a dramatic shortage of food at Valley food banks. We will be collecting food for donation to a local food bank and would appreciate your generous contributions. Please help us make the holidays happier for those who need a little help. Thank you!

Join us for this fun celebration!

Please register at http://azbookpub.com/events/holiday-party/ or
RSVP to the ABPA hotline (602) 274-6264 or
email Gwen@azbookpub.com.

Glyph Award winner opportunities

Congratulations to the publishers who won Glyph Awards during the Arizona Book Awards presentation. For a complete list of winners, visit http://azbookpub.com/onews/2007-arizona-book-award-winners/.

Attractive gold oval-shaped Glyph Award stickers are available for your books at just .05 each, orderable in multiples of 100. Send your payment to Attn: Glyph Stickers at address below.

Several members have asked about ordering duplicate awards so that their author or illustrator can have an award for his or her trophy shelf. Duplicate awards are $65, plus $8 for shipping. We will order these as a group and must receive your order by December 14. Please send your check payable to ABPA to:
Attn: Duplicate Glyph
ABPA
6340 S. Rural Rd. #118-152
Tempe, AZ 85283

Other winners that night were the beneficiaries of the Motheread/Fatheread Arizona Literacy Program. ABPA donated $615 of the proceeds from that night’s Silent Auction to this literacy program that places books in the homes of Arizona families, helping parents read to their children, increasing literacy skills and strengthening family bonds simultaneously. Thank you to our members who donated items for the Silent Auction and especially to the sensational members of the Glyph Committee, chaired by Jessica Tribble of Poisoned Pen Press.

Hot Topics Conference a big success

Our Hot Topics for Publishing Success Conference on November 2-3 at Scottsdale Chaparral Suites Resort was a resounding success. Hosted by PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and ABPA, the Arizona Book Publishing Association, the conference featured six sessions on successful publishing techniques.

Comments included:

• Valuable suggestions for tracking, planning and keeping track of the bottom line.
• Food was excellent! Good networking with people.
• Wonderful examples and ideas. Very encouraging since I have two niche books.
• Excellent workshop. I got lots of great ideas and got a needed boost mentally. I definitely feel rejuvenated.

Thanks to the committee, spearheaded by chair Pam Waterman of The Discovery Box, for all its time and effort in organizing such a well-received conference. Special thanks also go to Sir Speedy Scottsdale who generously donated the printing of the conference brochure and the color program.

ABPA member books shine at AZLA

ABPA created an eye-catching display at this year’s Arizona Library Association show November 13-15, 2007, at the Mesa Convention Center. Librarians from across the state stopped by the booth to chat with ABPA members and pick up information about our participating members’ books.

Thank you to Karen Gray of Acacia Publishing, committee chair, and all the ABPA members who worked in the booth. Special thanks also go to Sir Speedy Scottsdale who generously donated the printing of the catalog. In addition to its feature appearance at the show, the catalog will be mailed to librarians across the state.

Next year ABPA will again have a joint exhibit at the AzLA show, which will be December 8-10 at the Glendale Conference Center at 99th Avenue and Glendale. Plan now to participate with your new titles.

Marketing Committee hosts second successful signing

Featured author Merle McCann, Pumpkin Patch Publishing, was well received during her November 28 signing event at Barnes and Noble at Shea and 90th St. Merle discussed the writing of her edge-of-your-seat Longjohner’s Mystery Series for young adult readers. Her signing was well attended. Thanks to all the ABPA members who supported this Co-op Marketing Committee event. Watch your newsletter to learn about future events that feature ABPA members.

New Programs Committee Chair

ABPA is pleased to announce that Sam Henrie of Wheatmark is the new Programs Committee chair. Sam is looking for two volunteers who would like to participate on this committee and help schedule ABPA’s excellent monthly programs. The committee meets about three times per year. Please contact Sam at shenrie@wheatmark.com to express interest.

ABPA New Members

Authentic Voices Productions
Marion Orem
602-740-6816
http://www.togivevoice.com
mso133aa@hotmail.com

Treble Heart Books
Lee Emory
520-458-5602
fax: (520) 458-5618
http://www.trebleheartbooks.com
leeemory@earthlink.net

Vanguard Press
Steve Parker
480-695-3192
http://www.vanguardpress.us
freeborn54@gmail.com

Brooks Goldmann Publishing
Patricia Brooks and Earl Goldmann
480-250-5556
http://www.plbrooks.com
patricia@plbrooks.com

Color House Graphics
Penny Callmeyer and Phil Knight
800-454-1916
http://www.colorhousegraphics.com
cpennyc@comcast.net

Can-Do Graphics, LLC
Jeremy Tuber
480-391-0704
http://www.candographics.com
jeremy@candographics.com

Fedhealth
Bill Liebsch
520-290-0929
http://info@itsadisaster.net

In Demand Books
Kemi Chavez
303-241-1632
http://www.indemandbooks.com
kemi@indemandbooks.com

Nancy McKay
602-955-2046
lady.nancy@cox.net

The RGU Group
Cynthia Wrasman and Marc Blair
480-736-9862
http://www.thergugroup.com
cwrasman@thergugroup.com

Delta Printing Solutions
Gary Hutson and Brooke Maguire
714-289-7771
http://www.deltaprintingsolutions.com
gary.hutson@deltaprintingsolutions.com

Page Perfect Productions
Michelle Segal
480-203-2767
http://www.pageperfectproductions.com
msegal@pageperfectproductions.com

PMA Affiliate Scholarship

PMA, the Independent Publishers Assn., awards a PMA University scholarship to one member of each PMA Affiliate group, such as ABPA. The scholarship should be awarded to a publisher who needs assistance in growing his/her publishing company. The scholarship includes free registration to attend the Publishing University in Los Angeles, plus a $500 stipend to help pay for travel expenses.

The criteria for applicants is as follows:

• Must be a member of an Affiliate group as well as PMA.
• Must be a publisher, preferably in the early stages of developing his/her company.
• Must not have received the scholarship in the past.

Application process:

• Fill out an application and turn it in to your President (Sam Henrie) or Executive Director (Gwen Henson).
• ABPA reviews the applications and makes a recommendation to PMA, which chooses the winner.

Applications can be found on the PMA website http://www.pma-online.org. Your application must be received by ABPA by January 4, 2008.

Three Northern Arizona Publishers Win 2007 National Outdoor Book Awards

The winners of the National Outdoor Book Awards annual program represent some of the finest outdoor writing and artwork published today. The NOBA Foundation, Idaho State University and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education sponsor the awards program. Awards are given in ten individual categories. Local winners are:

• Outdoor Adventure Guidebook Category. Winner. Guide to the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. By Tom Martin and Duwain Whitis. Vishnu Temple Press, Flagstaff, AZ.
• Nature and Environment Category. Winner. Condors in Canyon Country: The Return of the California Condor to the Grand Canyon Region. By Sophie A. H. Osborn. Grand Canyon Association, Grand Canyon, AZ.
• History-Biography Category. Winner. The Very Hard Way: Bert Loper and the Colorado River. By Brad Dimock. Fretwater Press, Flagstaff, AZ.

For details on the books and a complete list of winners, visit http://www.noba-web.org/bookrel.htm

Special deal on book buying for the holidays

You know that books make the best gifts, and just in time for the holiday shopping season Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe is giving Readers Club Members double stamps through December 15. That means that for every $10 in purchases, you’ll receive two stamps instead of one. A full card is worth $10 off a future purchase.

Foreword Magazine seeks Travel and Children’s Titles

ForeWord Magazine will feature Travel books and Children’s in the March/April 2008 issue of ForeWord. The magazine is looking for the best travel books and children’s books from the independent press community. If you have a title published in the last 6 months or coming 6 months that you think is a great asset to the genre, send it to: FORESIGHT TRAVEL or Foresight Children’s at
ForeWord Magazine
129 1/2 E. Front St.
Traverse City, MI 49684
The deadline for submissions is December 7. Please send the book or galleys/manuscript and related materials by then to be considered.

Former ABPA member now with Ingram Publisher Services

Steven Sayre, former ABPA board member, writes: Hello all: I’ve recently landed back in the U.S., after over a year of travel in South America and Africa, and I’m now working with Ingram Publisher Services in Berkeley CA. IPS is a relatively new division of Ingram (the giant wholesaler), only 3 years old. We provide sales and marketing services to small to medium-sized publishers, in addition to the traditional pick-pack-ship operations. We represent all types of publishers in various markets: children’s, mystery, romance, self-help, business, new age, art/design, technology, gardening, and medical, to name a few.

IPS is different from Ingram wholesale, offering a full range of sales and marketing services to our client publishers. If you want the services of a nationwide sales force in all channels, IPS is a good option. If anyone at ABPA is interested in nationwide distribution to all the major retail chains, in addition to independents, special and mass markets, let me know. I’m happy to discuss our services.

Best regards,
Steve Sayre, Client Services
Ingram Publisher Services
http://www.ingrampublisherservices.com
w: 510-665-3133

Member news

Legacy Book Award Winner

Kristina Grant, Great Potential Press, writes, “We were notified that one of our books, Intelligent Life in the Classroom: Smart Kids and their Teachers, has just won its second award. It has been named a TAGT Legacy Book Award-Winner (the national Texas Association for Gifted and Talented Legacy Book Awards honor outstanding books that are capable of having a long-term, positive impact on the lives of gifted children).”

Poisoned Pen honored at Bouchercon

Poisoned Pen Press traveled en masse this fall to Anchorage, Alaska, for Bouchercon, a national mystery and detective fiction fan conference, named in honor of writer, reviewer, and editor Anthony Boucher. James Sallis, author of Drive (published by Poisoned Pen Press), was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Outlander novelist Diana Gabaldon was the special guest of honor. Editor-in-chief, Barbara Peters, owner of Poisoned Pen Books, was the fan guest of honor.

Poisoned Pen nets Colorado Book Award

Ann Parker’s Iron Ties, published by Poisoned Pen Press, was the 2007 winner for Popular Fiction in the Colorado Book Awards, which celebrate the accomplishments of Colorado’s literary community by recognizing outstanding authors.

The fire guy heating up Changing Hands

On Saturday, December 1, 1-3pm Jim Paxon, who captured the world spotlight as the face and voice of the Rodeo-Chediski fire that ravaged Arizona’s northern forests, will be at Changing Hands Bookstore signing the paperback edition of his book, The Monster Reared His Ugly Head, the most complete and readable account of the blaze, written from Paxon’s perspective as the U.S. Forest Service’s Lead Information Officer on the operation.

Lisa Liddy featured designer

Many of you know that designer Lisa Liddy of The Printed Page is also an accomplished jewelry designer. We want to congratulate Lisa on being the featured artist in Lavish magazine (October 2007 issue).

Director of Publications position open

Grand Canyon Association is accepting applications for a Director of Publications. For a complete position description, please visit http://www.grandcanyon.org. Click on “About Us” “Employment.”

Call for submissions for Saroyan Writing Prize

Nominations are now being accepted for the third William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. This award, given by Stanford University Libraries in partnership with the William Saroyan Foundation, recognizes newly published works of fiction and non-fiction with a $12,500 award for the winner in each category. The prize is designed to encourage new or emerging writers and honor the Saroyan literary legacy of originality, vitality and stylistic innovation. For entry forms and more information on the prize, including rules, visit: http://library.stanford.edu/saroyan/ Entries must be received by January 31, 2008.

Conferences for Writers and Publishers

Desert Rose Chapter, Romance Writers Assn., 2008 Desert Dreams Conference, April 4-6, 2008, Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort, Chandler, AZ, Keynote Speaker: Sherrilyn Kenyon, http://www.desertroserwa.org/conference.htm

Society of Southwest Authors, September 27-28, 2008, Wrangling with Writing, http://www.ssa-az.org/conference.htm

Advertise in the ABPA Newsletter and Website

Advertising rates have been published for placing ads in both Southwest Signature and on the ABPA website. Associate members, this is a powerful way to reach publishers with advertising about your services for publishers and writers. Publishers, please invite your vendors to visit www.azbookpub.com and click on Advertising Opportunities. They’ll appreciate hearing about this opportunity.

About Southwest Signature

Southwest Signature is the monthly e-newsletter of the Arizona Book Publishing Association, a non-profit professional association. Entire contents copyright 2007 Arizona Book Publishing Association unless otherwise noted. Permission is granted to forward this e-newsletter but only in its entirety. For information, email info@azbookpub.com or call (602) 274-6264.

We welcome submissions and reserve editing rights. Email your Southwest Signature submissions to gwen@azbookpub.com.

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