​As we were all trying to adjust to the new regulations of social distancing, NMBA is taking steps to ensure that members can stay connected. We are continuing our monthly luncheon meetings virtually! After a couple of “test meetings” where we shared tips and tricks and helped members get familiar with Zoom, we were ready for the real deal. April 17, 2020, marked NMBA’s first virtual luncheon meeting! The meeting was filled with familiar faces, meeting regulars, and many new faces as well. The online format gave out-of-state (and out-of-Santa Fe) members the opportunity to finally participate and meet their fellow members, something that isn’t possible for them during our regular physical meetings. 

President Jared Gann opened up the meeting by giving a brief introduction and then invited Richard Polese and Shirley Melis to share some cherished memories of their friend, and longtime NMBA member, Maxine Davenport. As everyone enjoyed their lunches at home, we went around the (virtual) room and had members introduce themselves and share what they have been working on. At the peak of the meeting, there were over 25 members participating and enjoying each other’s company. If you are interested in participating in the next virtual meeting, click here.

​By Richard Polese 
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Maxine Neely Davenport passed from us on February 14 following a traffic incident. She was a bright and engaging woman of 91 years.

Maxine served as director of our NMBA Homegrown Authors Table at Santa Fe Farmers Market starting in 2013. She was wonderfully devoted in that post for seven very full years, and was still going strong for us at the time of her death.  

She practiced family law in Colorado Springs and was an avid outdoors woman. Maxine had climbed twenty-six 14,000-foot mountains before coming to Santa Fe to write and publish. On her arrival she began writing and publishing novels, including Saturday Matinee, Rebel on Horseback, Love Is a Legal Affair, and Murder Times Two.

Maxine received the NMBA Book-in-Hand Award for her work bringing people to buy and read books from New Mexico. She is survived by three children: Marian, Mark, and Mitch, plus seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and her daughter-in-law Cristal in Santa Fe.

One NMBA member urged our author’s table now carry her name: The Maxine Davenport Homegrown Authors Table. She so richly deserves the honor!

Scroll down to “Manage signing events.”
Select “Add event.”
Fill out your information and follow the instructions to schedule the signing.

Events will be updated on the website but will not be included in the Arizona Daily Star newspaper insert with exhibitor information.

The link enabling you to schedule an author signing event in your exhibitor booth will be open from noon on January 15, 2020, and will close at noon on January 31. Please schedule your author signings during this time frame.

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We have reserved a corner booth at one of the largest book shows in the country, The Tucson Festival of Books. Authors can expect both individual sales and bulk sales to bookstores, libraries, etc. The show will be on the University of Arizona campus, Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15. 

If you want to sell your books at the show, you need to provide us with 5 books for each title you plan to show. Prices are $60.00 for the first title and $20.00 for each additional title up to a total of 5 different books. We need 100 sales sheets for binding into our promotional handout catalogue that will be distributed at the festival. Sales sheets should be a standard 8.5 x 11 inches and include the name of the book, author name, cover image of book, and any information that can help sell the book. For an example of a sales sheet, contact a board member or inquire by email at admin@nmbook.org. You must be a member of NMBA for us to sell your book at the festival.

Be sure to have all books, payment, and sale sheets turned in by March 1, 2020. They can be brought to the February luncheon meeting or mailed to the following address:
Jared Gann
2336 Cedros Circle
Santa Fe, NM 87505

Set up for the show will be on Friday morning, March 13. Everyone is welcome to attend the festival, but it is not mandatory. Board members will be there to market and display your books. If you are planning to attend, please make arrangements as soon as possible as spaces in Tucson are filling up quickly.
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Art Tucker, owner and founder of Artotems Co., a local marketing and publicity firm, along with teammate Kristen Romero, gave an in-depth presentation last Wednesday evening at Tiny’s Restaurant. The two pulled back the curtain at their workshop titled—“Your Book Is Published, Now What?”—a how-to guide for authors who have recently published a book but aren’t sure what to do next. The workshop covered important elements such as what goes on a professional author website, different types of reviews and how to get them, social media presence, and much more. Attendees were able to ask many questions on each topic and get some insight into how they can get their published or upcoming books out into the world. 

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