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Garcia Street Books is excited to be celebrating the winners of this year’s prestigious Pasatiempo Writing Contest which has published outstanding literary works from a variety of genres. This year, there were categories in Fiction, Nonfiction/Essay/Memoir, and Poetry. New this year, the Pasatiempo team assembled a blue chip panel of judges to select top entries in each category, as well as a Grand Prize winner and a slate of Pasa Youth Writer Prize recipients. The contest was announced in November and winning entries were published in Pasatiempo on December 22. Come hear the Grand Prize winners and the youth categories winners read to your from their work! Sunday, January 28, 4pmRSVP is required, please click above.
For more information, call the store at (505) 986-0151
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The New Mexico Library Association (NMLA) is holding its annual conference in Albuquerque on October 25-27, 2023, at the Marriott Pyramid North. NMBA will be displaying and selling our authors’ books in their exhibitor area.
This conference marks the 100th anniversary of NMLA, and is likely to be a well-attended event. Important: This opportunity is for NMBA members only. If you aren’t certain of your membership status, check the Member Directory at https://www.nmbookassociation.org/member-directory.html To participate, do the following:
Photos by Bill Frej & Pat Galagan.
The successful "Meet the Authors" monthly event at Garcia Street Books in Santa Fe continued on July 1, 2023.
Rebecca Skeele, Donna Pedace, and Sandi Wright (L to R) displayed their books to readers and buyers on the portal of the bookstore. Thanks to Garcia Street Books for offering NMBA authors this opportunity! Note, the bookstore has offered to continue the tables through October. We're full up for August 5, but I'll soon be sending out a call for the two following months. If you're interested, watch for the email. The New Mexico Book Association has been invited to display and sell member books at the annual government-sponsored 2023 Feria del Libro de la Frontera in Juarez, Mexico. NMBA Co-President Miguel De La Cruz, who lives in Las Cruces, will be handling our booth at the fair, which attracts thousands of English- and Spanish-speaking and reading people from Mexico and U.S. states bordering Mexico. Here’s How You Can Participate
Because the cost of a booth in Juarez is less than the cost at the Tucson Festival of Books, we’re able to charge less to register. Fees (payable by check or PayPal): $15 for first book title; $5 for each additional (maximum of three) Submit three (3) copies for each title: If we already have your book(s) in our book show stock, we’ll use those. If we don’t, please mail copies to Paula Lozar (address below)). If you’re not sure, email Paula: lozarpaula@cs.com. Books and/or check must be received by Paula by May 12th. IMPORTANT! Participation is limited to registered NMBA members. If you’re not yet a member and would like to participate in the Juarez Book Fair, you can register to be a member here or if you would like to renew your membership, you can do so by clicking here. NMBA showcased 45 of our members’ books at the New Mexico Writers Dinner at La Fonda in Santa Fe,
April 6, 2023. Thanks to James McGrath Morris, Executive Director of New Mexico Writers, for helping to make this happen, and thanks to the committee (Shirley Melis, Anna Sochocky, Jordan Jones, and Paula Lozar) who collected the books and assembled the supporting materials. This was not a sales event, but we handed out lists of the books on display (including purchase information), and also distributed brochures for the Southwest Book Design and Production Awards. The display will make another appearance on May 18 at the opening reception for the Santa Fe International Literary Festival. This will take place at the Santa Fe Convention Center, and authors and publishers whose books are on display will be invited to the reception – watch for an email with specifics. After the May event, New Mexico Writers will donate the books to local libraries. Thanks to everyone who participated, and we hope to see you on May 18! NMBA’s trip to the Tucson Festival of Books, March 4-5, 2023, was a success: We sold more books for more of our authors this year than last year. As before, authors who volunteered in the booth tended to sell more books, probably because readers like the personal touch. (Also, although we ask participants to submit five copies apiece of each title, volunteers are free to bring extra copies with them to the show, so some volunteers sold more than five copies of their titles.) We had clear, mild weather, although it had actually snowed in Tucson a few days before! The festival included nearly 200 booths spread out along the grassy mall in the center of the University of Arizona campus. Besides booksellers, there were literary nonprofits (such as writers’ organizations), businesses that offer editing and promotional services, small specialty publishers (fantasy, science fiction, and Westerns seemed to be popular), and academic publishers. There was an extensive children’s book area, plus science displays and demonstrations, a National Parks gift shop, and representatives from nonprofit historical and archeological associations, museums, and educational programs. NMBA was unique as a professional authors’ and publishers’ association with state-wide membership. The festival also features a wide variety of speakers, panel discussions, and readings – this year the speakers included Linda Ronstadt (a local hero!) and Bernie Sanders. So the festival is very well attended: I haven’t seen this year’s totals, but estimated attendance averages around 135,000 visitors. It's impossible to predict which books will sell, and this year’s best-sellers at the NMBA booth ranged
from children’s books to memoir and fiction. We had inquiries for Young Adult books, Native American topics, and travel books, but we didn’t have any of those this year – so if you write in those categories, consider participating next year. We gave out business cards directing interested readers to our online catalog; even if your book didn’t sell at the show, it had lots of exposure and, possibly, follow-up orders. (Let us know about those; we’d like to hear about the effectiveness of our catalog.) This year the “Indie Authors” area had a different format: Authors were asked to apply in advance for a time slot in the reading area and go through a selection process. If you are considering participating in this aspect of the festival in the future, instructions will be on their website, tucsonfestivalofbooks.org. (This section of their website may not be functional yet. We’ll let everyone know when the dates for next year’s festival are announced, and you’ll need to check back after that.) Thanks to this year’s volunteers: Dominique Mazeaud, Shirley Melis, Connie Nelson, and Sandi Wright. Frank Hirsch helped with booth set-up and take-down. Jordan Jones was indispensable in assembling our online catalog, setting up our online Square store, and trouble-shooting our card reader from a distance, and Anna Sochocky collected books from show participants and transported them to my house. Special thanks to Jared Gann, who carpooled with me to Tucson through blizzards and epic traffic jams (no exaggeration), and unloaded and reloaded many cartons of books and booth supplies as well as helping in the booth. We’re grateful to all of you for your help in making this year’s festival a success for NMBA, and we hope to see you again next year in Tucson. -- Paula Lozar by Connie Nelson Over forty NMBA members and guests attended the Winter Fiesta in-person event at Las Campanas on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Shirley Melis and Miguel de la Cruz, 2023 NMBA Co-Presidents, coordinated the program which centered on presenting the annual Richard Harris Award to Leslie Marmon Silko for her book Ceremony. The NMBA will, as part of the award, purchase copies of the book to donate to New Mexico libraries that don't have Ceremony in their collections. Ms. Silko was unable to attend due to her health. Long-time NMBA member, Barbara Ruther was eulogized by Paula Lozar. Participants were asked to join one of the four NMBA standing committees and/or one task force which include:
The task force will review the tax-exempt status of NMBA during 2023. The standing committees are ongoing. Shirley encouraged the participants to get involved. Next, the guests were encouraged to promote their books with one minute “elevator speeches”. Many authors also sold books. A sign-up sheet for information on the Tucson Festival of Books was circulated. Registration information will be added to the NMBA website next week. NMBA will have a booth at the event which will be held March 4-5 in Tucson.
The NMBA monthly meeting will be held via ZOOM on February 10 at 11:30 a.m. You can RSVP to the meeting by clicking here. The next workshop, Self-Publishing Journey, is scheduled for February 21, you can register to the workshop by clicking here. Photos, courtesy of NMBA member Pat Galagan by Paula Lozar The New Mexico Book Association held their annual meeting and Summer Gala on August 23 at the Clubhouse at Las Campanas. We were fortunate to have a beautiful clear evening to better appreciate the lovely surroundings. (Thanks to Shirley Melis for arranging the venue!) After gathering for “heavy hors d’oeuvres,” drinks, and conversation, the attendees heard a brief presentation from President Jordan Jones about NMBA’s history and mission, as well as our plans for upcoming workshops and book selling opportunities. The Book in Hand Honors were presented to three recipients: Carly Newfeld for her podcast “The Last Word: A Place for Writers” on KSFR 101.1 FM; and Sandi Wright and Jared Gann for managing the Southwest Book Design and Production Awards (SWBDA) for three years after Jim Mafchir’s retirement. Paula Lozar read a brief memorial to Jim Mafchir, who passed away in November 2021. Jim was a founding member of NMBA from its earliest beginnings in 1994, served as President for multiple terms, and established and ran the SWBDA awards program for seven years. Jordan then presented this year’s SWBDA awards: WINNER, Trade Book, non-illustrated: Stargazer: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel by Anne Hillerman (HarperCollins Publishers; Jarrod Taylor, designer; Sarah Stein, editor). FINALIST, Trade Books Non-Illustrated: Little Hours: A Novel by Lil Copan WINNER, Trade Book, illustrated: The Nature of Lake Tahoe: A Photographic History, 1860–1960, by Peter Goin (University of New Mexico Press; Felicia Cedillos, designer; Elise McHugh, editor). FINALIST, Trade Books Illustrated: Mud, Space and Spirit: Handmade Adobes by Alan MacRae and Virginia Gray WINNERS, Art and Photography: Maya Ruins Revisited: In the Footsteps of Teobert Maler, by William Frej (Peyton Wright Gallery Press; William Frej, photographer; David Skolkin, designer; Elizabeth C. Hadas, editor). Fire Ghosts by Philip Metcalf and Patricia Galagan (George F. Thompson publishing; Philip Metcalf and Patricia Galagan, photographers; David Skolkin, designer; Joanna Hurley, editor). FINALISTS, Art and Photography: Seasons of Ceremony: Rites and Rituals in Guatemala and Mexico by William Frej Fragments of Spirit: 60 Years: A Photographer's Recollections of Taos Pueblo, the Region and its Arts by Sara Frances (Photo Mirage Books) WINNER, Guides: Hiking Trails in the Valles Caldera National Preserve, by Coco Rae (University of New Mexico Press; Felicia Cedillos, designer; Stephen Hull, editor). The Mexican Chile Pepper Cookbook: The Soul of Mexican Home Cooking, by Dave DeWitt and José C. Marmolejo (University of New Mexico Press; Mindy Basinger Hill, designer; Stephen Hull, editor). WINNER, Poetry: Walking Uphill at Noon: Poems by Jon Kelly Yenser (University of New Mexico Press; Mindy Basinger Hill, designer; Elsie McHugh, editor) WINNERS, Children: Albuquerque Gerdy by Sandi Wright (Art Academy de los Niños; Jared Gann, designer; Paula Lozar, editor). Playful Prairie Dogs by Neecy Twinem (Roman & Littlefield/Muddy Boots; Neecy Twinem, designer). WINNER, Body, Mind, Spirit: Whispers in Sound: A Profound Healing Journey through Sacred Vibrations and Meditations by Laura Penn Gallerstein (Sedona Sacred Sounds Press; Diane Rigoli, cover design; Janise Witt, cover photography; Arlene Matthews and Jeff Braucher, editors). WINNER, LGBTQ: Ashes to Ink: A Memoir by Lisa Lucca (JuJu House Publishing; Lisa Lucca, cover design; John Edgar Harris, interior design; Magdalena Bartkowska, copy editor). FINALIST, Memoir: What Cannot Be Undone: True Stories of a Life in Medicine by Walter M. Robinson (University of New Mexico Press; Mindy Basinger Hill, designer; Elise McHugh, editor). See all winners here. During the time that Jim Mafchir ran the program, one of the awards we presented was always “Jim’s Choice.” We have continued this tradition by renaming the top award each year as the “Jim Mafchir Best in Show Award.” The Jim Mafchir Best-in-Show award went to two titles:
The election of board members was conducted by paper ballots distributed to all the members in
attendance. All current board members were re-elected. The board met after the party to vote on officers for the coming year. Jordan Jones announced that work pressures prevent him from serving another term as President, but he is willing to stay on the board and run the SWBDA awards program; we are grateful to him for his leadership and support for the past two years of unprecedented difficulty. Vice President Miguel de la Cruz will serve as co-President for the coming term. Jordan will remain as co-President through the end of 2022, after which Shirley Melis will replace him as Miguel’s co-President. Anna Sochocky will serve as Vice President, in charge of programs and outreach. Secretary Connie Nelson and Treasurer Paula Lozar will remain in their current positions. Our gala was featured on The New Mexican, you can read it here. |
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