NMBA Winter Fiesta 2024

The New Mexico Book Association’s Winter Fiesta took place on January 21, 2024, at the Clubhouse at Las Campanas. The event attracted nearly 50 enthusiastic members and guests, including a reporter for the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Pasatiempo magazine.

Members with recently published titles brought their books for display at the Fiesta. There were twelve new titles, a testimony to our members’ active writing and publishing efforts.

NMBA Co-President Shirley Melis presided, assisted by Vice-President Anna Sochocky; Co-President Miguel de la Cruz was unfortunately unable to attend because of illness. Shirley briefly reviewed NMBA’s history and mission, and announced that we will be commemorating our 30th anniversary at our Summer Gala. Anna announced our upcoming events, including our virtual Networking Meetings, workshops, book shows and festivals, and the upcoming Southwest Book Design and Production Awards competition.

Paula Lozar gave commemorations of two recently deceased NMBA members, Scott Gerber and Richard Blide. Scott’s father Marty Gerber, a former NMBA board member, and his wife Susan were our guests. Paula was then surprised to receive a Certificate of Appreciation from NMBA for her long and diligent service to the organization. She was pleased and touched, and hopes to continue supporting NMBA’s mission for a long time in the future.

Marty and Susan Gerber Photo by Pat Galagan

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Shirley Melis and Paula Lozar Photo by Sally Thomson

Luci Tapahonso Photo by Sally Thomson

The Richard Harris Award is presented annually to commemorate our late president, an author, publisher, and supporter of quality in publishing. The award honors a book that exemplifies Richard’s high standards for content and production, as well as having impact in New Mexico. This year’s honoree was Sáanii Dahataał, The Women are Singing, a 1993 volume of poetry and stories by Navajo writer and professor Luci Tapahonso. Luci was also our keynote speaker: She read from her work and shared her warm reminiscences of her home and family in Shiprock, NM. She said she was honored to receive the award, and we were honored by her presence.

Our thanks to the Board for organizing the event, to photographers Pat Galagan and Sally Thomson, to the staff of Las Campanas for their professional service, and to all our members for their support.