Help Us Name Our Twitter Account

Dear members and friends of the NCBPMA community,

It’s time. The dawn of a new era. Lately we have asked ourselves, how can we consider NCBPMA a legitimate organization representing leading-edge PR and marketing professionals (and others) if we don’t take the obvious next step…launching and cultivating our Twitter presence?

To assist in this effort – and because of your great charm, creativity and influence – you have been selected to help us choose our official new Twitter name! Don’t worry, it’ll be fun. The only catch? The simplest account name, “@NCBPMA”, is not available.

But we’ve made it super easy for you, by listing in a short survey several names we already kinda like. We value your responses and feedback, and heck, who doesn’t love filling out a multiple choice questionnaire? Seriously. Only 8 questions! And when you’re done, you can say, “I helped launch NCBPMA into the Twittersphere!”

Here’s where the fun begins. Ready? Get to clicking!:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GSQDK62

Yes, you may pass this survey link to your equally inspired and impressive colleagues. But remember, we’re tallying up the responses and sealing the envelope on JANUARY 31 at 5pm.

We’ll announce the winning Twitter name in The Monday Muse on February 1.

Thanks so much for your help!

NCBPMA
http://www.NCBPMA.org

Fan us on Facebook.

On Twitter. Name to be revealed in the Monday Muse 2/1/10! (thanks to YOU)

Happy Tuesday

What an exciting time it is to be in the publishing industry! As publicists and marketing professionals, we are coming up with innovative ways of publicizing and marketing books. And authors, who are more than often faced with no or a very small marketing budget, also are exploring interesting ways of promoting their work.

I’m really impressed with how author Stephen Elliot promoted his new book. He wrote an essay in The New York Times describing his do-it-yourself book tour in which he did readings in people’s homes.

I look forward to more stories like this as the publishing industry evolves.

Are you registered yet for the January event? We are accepting walk-ins so don’t miss this opportunity to learn effective ways of pitching and planning events at some of the Bay Area’s premier venues for authors.

Have you renewed your NCBPMA membership? I just sent in my membership in time to take advantage of the $25 discount if you get it in by January 31st. You might have received a letter in the mail about the many benefits of membership.

Haiti

Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti at this time. The effects of this crisis reverberate across the world and have created a much-needed interest in Haiti.

Writers Edwidge Danticat and Simon Winchester are both doing their part to get the word out about Haiti.

Danticat has created a book list for those interested in the history of Haiti.

Author and founder of the Haiti chapter of PEN, Georges Anglade and his wife were lost in the quake.

Author Madison Smartt Bell contributed a literary sampler of works about Haiti for The New York Times.

Opportunities abound to send support to Haiti. Please email us if you have news of how the SF Bay Area book and publishing community is helping and we will post it on The Monthly Muse.

New Year, New Job?—Career Opportunity

New Village Press Seeks Fun-loving Book Publicist

New Village Press, a public-benefit, non-fiction trade book publisher based in Oakland, is ready to hire a high-spirited marketing maven and book publicist. Required: ability to envision brilliant book promotion strategies and efficiently manage the complexities of producing major launch events, while writing pre-sales tip sheets for the subsequent season, booking radio and readings, and finessing sales of longtail backlist.

New Village loves to play—block party book launches, dance party book launches, prison poet postcard campaigns! If your style is lively, eclectic and progressive and you can be as passionate sending traditional news releases as experimenting online you are the perfect candidate. With several significant books coming out in the current spring season, the Press is engaged in diverse campaigns in the US and Canada.

Freelancers as well as those seeking a salaried position please apply. Come beat the drum for this publisher of inspired, educational, community-building books about social justice, urban ecology and the arts.

http://www.newvillagepress.net

Please respond with resume, references, and writing samples/URLs to:
Lynne Elizabeth
Director
New Village Press
PO Box 3049
Oakland, CA 94609 USA
510-420-1361

Register Now for NCBPMA’s First Program of 2010!

JOIN US FOR A LIVELY ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ABOUT AUTHOR EVENTS

Thursday January 28, 2010, 12:30 to 2:30
Salon Meeting Room at Hotel Rex
562 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA (between Powell and Mason)

Every author, book publicist, and event venue has at least one story to tell of an event where few, if any, people showed up. It’s no secret that creating successful author events has gotten harder. Join us to discuss some of the old and new ways publishers are partnering with bookstores, libraries, and other venues to create and promote successful author events. We will discuss how to pitch and plan events at some of the Bay Area’s premier venues for authors. We’ll also cover how to best market and publicize locally, whether to sell direct or to bring in a retailer, and tips and strategies on how to pack the house even in a tough economy.

Our speakers:

Melissa Mytinger, Producer, Berkeley Arts & Letters

Melissa Mytingers is the producer of Berkeley Arts & Letters, a year-old project bringing writers and readers together for discussion in large venues, and also books and manages events for San Francisco independent bookstore The Booksmith. For many years, she was the marketing and events director for Cody’s Books.

Jason Jeffries, Sales Manager, Borders

Jason Jeffries is sales manager at Borders, Union Square. He holds a Master’s Degree in Literature from North Carolina State University, and has worked in the book industry for the last five years. Since joining Borders in 2004 he has arranged events with nationally known and local authors.

Margie Scott Tucker, Co-Owner, Books Inc.

Margie Scott Tucker is a co-owner of Books Inc. and handles marketing, advertising, and adult author events. Margie has over 30 years of experience in retail and has been with Books Inc. since 1997.

Carine Risley, Branch Manager, Atherton and Brisbane Libraries of the San Mateo County Library

Carine Risley is the branch manager of the Atherton and Brisbane Libraries of the San Mateo County Library. Her professional passions include intellectual freedom and community engagement. She has worked on library programs with Nolo, Norton, the San Mateo County Bar Association, credit unions, the International Latino Film Festival,  the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, the San Jose museum, and teen rock bands.

Blaise Zerega, President and CEO, FORA.tv

Blaise Zerega is CEO of FORA.tv, the web’s leading destination, and distributor of smart videos about the people, issues, and ideas changing the world. Fora.tv regularly covers author events in the Bay Area and elsewhere. In 2009, the site won acclaim from TIME as a Best 50 Web Site and from the U.K.’s Telegraph as a Top Education Site. Zerega has worked with Condé Nast Portfolio, WIRED, Red Herring magazine, Forbes ASAP and has been on such programs as Today, The View, NPR, and CNN.

Rosie Levy Merlin, Program Outreach Librarian, San Francisco Public Library

Rosie Levy Merlin is the program outreach librarian at San Francisco Public Library. Before becoming a librarian, she was a book publicist at formerly local Conari Books and Avalon Publishing Group. At SFPL, she manages and serves on the selection committee for the One City One Book: San Francisco Reads program, develops programs for major library projects like Green Stacks, an environmental library initiative, and works with SFPL’s 27 branches to bring in author events, craft workshops and other cultural programs and event series. She also chairs the SFPL’s Reader’s Advisory Committee and Service Innovations Task Force, and has served on the executive committee for Litquake: San Francisco’s Literary Festival for more than 4 years.

Moderator:

Lillian Fleer, Events and Outreach Director, Heyday Books

Lillian Fleer is the education and outreach director at Heyday Books, a nonprofit publisher specializing in books that foster an understanding of California history, literature, art, environment, social issues, and culture. She schedules over 250 events every year for Heyday authors all over California and works closely with hundreds of libraries, bookstores, museums, and any place with an enthusiastic audience. 

Please RSVP BEFORE Monday January 25, 2010 to ncbpma@ncbpma.org with your lunch choice:

1. Grilled salmon salad niscoise with hard-boiled eggs, oven roasted tomatoes, and blue lake green beans.
2. Vegetarian Option: Roasted vegetable timbale with yellow pepper coulis

All meals include dessert (apple tart tatin), bread and butter, and soda, coffee, and assorted teas.

NCBPMA Members: $30.00

Non-members: $45.00

Payable at the event by cash or check made out to NCBPMA. We cannot accept credit cards, sorry. RSVP cancellations must be received at least 3 business days prior to the event or you will be billed. Thank you for your understanding.

Hotel Rex is located at 562 Sutter Street between Powell and Mason. The nearest BART station is POWELL. For driving directions, visit: http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/rex/contact