March 21, 2020

NM Book Co-op HELP CENTER #8

The New Mexico Book Co-op is here for authors, publishers and booksellers to share ideas, and some humor; if you have any ideas that you might share on how to keep our beloved books on the minds of readers and stores, send them to LPDPress@q.com and if appropriate they'll be shared with our wider 1,500+ member book family.

NEW WORDS/PHRASES FOR MERRIAM"S
Geezer Shopping: special stores hours just for seniors
Social distancing: used to mean long distance relationships; now means forced introvertism

SIGNS OF HOPE
Story #1: Both at high-risk, wife was scheduled for elective surgery, but the surgeon called to tell her she should stay home. Husband then asked about the risk of going out shopping. The answer was get your nieces and nephews to do the shopping and leave the bags on the porch. A few hours later, their dog barked furiously out the window. Husband went to the door and saw a car pulling out of the driveway. On the porch were two bags of groceries. Then he got a text from the surgeon: "The food fairy just made a delivery." Kindness prevails.

Story #2: (from a local author) Shameless self-promoting idea. Wouldn't this be a good time to read books? I mean, if it's a choice between staring into the inscrutable face of the future or reading a book written by an author you know or follow or at least have friendly feelings for, which would it be? End of shameless self-promoting idea. Hope you read my books and enjoy.

Story #3: Black Lawrence Press in New York State is offering twelve months of Sapling, an excellent resource for writers, free of charge to the academic community. Signing up is easy. Just email editors@blacklawrencepress.com with the following information: 1) Name; 2) Academic Institution; 3) Position (undergraduate student, MFA/PhD candidate, professor, etc.). Not a student or teacher? Now through the end of the March, Sapling subscriptions are 70% off.

Local ABQ Restaurants Open During COVID-19
Handy guide to what's open:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-ZOcp7eTyc9ztxJkf3IhgONb0J_ta5KtiVdZ3OGpevI/htmlview?usp=sharing&fbclid=IwAR08hxtYuEtkMeNa0HyI_noMYNqkZWxj7ZSUNEkFvlwX5fJHCj9iqVOmyLA&sle=true

We need this for bookstores too. Anyone want to work on this?

HOSPITALS NEED OUR HELP
Request for assistance - CHRISTUS St. Vincent needs our help! (3/20/20)
CHRISTUS St. Vincent Medical Center in Santa Fe is in urgent need of medical and cleaning supplies. If you or your business have any of the following materials in stock that aren't in use, we encourage you to consider donating to the hospital as they tackle the COVID-19 crisis and work to keep New Mexico families safe and healthy.
CHRISTUS St. Vincent is in need of the following unused items:
Gloves
Masks (all types)
Bunny suits
Liquid Cleaning supplies (disinfectants like Clorox, pine sol etc.)
Any and all restaurants, bars, hotels, and other businesses who may be able to provide those essential items are encouraged to help out.
If you are able to help out, please call 505-913-4891 to let them know how you can help.

CHECK OUT AN AUDIOBOOK
Keeping your spirits up and mind engaged may take some doing during our prolonged coronavirus sequestration. So, here's an option: get an audiobook or five or ten--for free.

There are two legit websites where you can go find a book you want to hear, get a "promotional code" for it, and then go to Audible.com and redeem the code. You get the audiobook, no charge. The websites don't require you to join. And, narrators and writers get the royalties they'd get as if someone paid for the audiobook. And yes, this latter group includes me, for full disclosure. But there are a ton of books at these sites, so take a look and enjoy.
The sites: https://www.freeaudiobookcodes.com/ or https://audiobooksunleashed.com/

Macmillan Abandons Library E-book Embargo
In a surprise announcement on March 17, Macmillan said it has abandoned its controversial embargo on new release e-books in libraries, effective this week. "There are times in life when differences should be put aside," reads a brief memo from Macmillan CEO John Sargent addressed to librarians, authors, illustrators, and agents.

Amazon Deprioritizes Book Sales Amid Coronavirus Crisis
As it works to meet the surge in demand for "household staples, medical supplies, and other high demand products," Amazon has sent a letter to other suppliers, including publishers, telling them their goods will receive a low priority until at least April 5.

Reed Postpones BookExpo, BookCon Until July
Reedpop has decided to reschedule the BookExpo, BookCon and Unbound events originally scheduled for May are now postponed to July 22-26 at the Javits Center.

SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS

We have been getting a lot of feedback and many comments on our HELP CENTER, including from Ann Zeigler, Ramona Gault, Jane Ruby, Corinne Schieman, Jim Tritten, Ruthe Francis, and RJ Mirabal

Jane Ruby said: "Recently my nursing home-stricken elderly mother-in-law asked for audio tapes—not from authors or professional readers, but from my family’s readings. She is limited to the operation of a CD player (old 90’s boombox). We generated audio files (ma.4 and mp3 formats) containing a poem, short story, tumblr post, and a podcast of made by me and my daughters and then burned them onto a CD. Quality very good although none of us has that professional voice. Didn’t matter; my mother-in-law appreciated it!"

Thanks to all of you!

NOW IS GOOD TIME TO WRITE OR RE-WRITE

ARTICLE BY JIM TRITTEN

I love swigging insect repellent more than I love eating kale

Jim Tritten
Many of you have seen my postings on Facebook concerning my utter aversion for kale. One of my followers, let’s call him John, enjoys my weekly postings and recently challenged me to express how far my loathing of that plant would take me. In other words, would I set my distaste for kale into context; what else would I rather do than eat kale. Here is my response.
Dear John, it is much faster to swig insect repellent and get an immediate high than to endure the endless chewing of waxy green kale. Kale, a relative of the cabbage family, is infused with silica to make it both compression-resistant and unattractive to herbivores. Sort of like chewing those wax Coke bottles we got as kids.
So, why subject myself to the cumbersome effort of eating kale when there is a much faster and easier way to obtain the same effect. I, for one, would rather get an immediate rush of sensory reactions throughout the ten thousand taste buds in my mouth. Those taste buds allow our brains to instantly interpret not only the tasting stimuli, but also smell, tactile and thermal sensations.
Remember trying to eat your first kale salad? What did you do with the wad of green substance that ended up in your cheeks because you couldn’t swallow it? And, while you were unsuccessfully trying to crush kale with your molars, saliva stopped being secreted by your salivary glands. Your saliva gave it a good try and waited until the onslaught of kale passed or erupted from your mouth. Dry kale is not nearly as tasty as proponents of superfoods would have you believe, is it? Much better to take in liquid insect repellent. No risk of blocked salivary glands.
No delay in satisfaction necessary when you just take the top off a bottle of Ben's Insect Repellent Spray, put it to your lips, take in a deep pull, swish the 30% Deet liquid around your mouth, pause letting it pool on your tongue. You’ll need to fight off the urge to pucker your lips at first. Next, inhale through your mouth and nose like you were tasting an expensive Bordeaux … fully savor the bouquet. Then hold your breath, close the vocal folds over your larynx, and gargle making sure you reach deep enough to get to the upper esophagus. Finally, slowly let the tingling liquid dribble down your throat on its way to your stomach and intestines. Ah yes, that wonderful feeling of putrefaction as the savory liquid merges with this morning’s Rice Krispies and buttermilk. Ahhhhh, yes. Much better than crewing kale.
So, John, I confess that I love swigging insect repellent more than I love eating kale. Shows I have a well-developed palate and need for immediate oral satisfaction. Might I suggest male cat urine the next time someone offers you some Greek retsina?

ON-GOING LIST OF SUPPORT IDEAS: As a reminder of previous notes, here are things we all can do to support each other:
* Sign up for bookstore and local business email lists/blasts about current news
* Use curbside pickup and online ordering
* Buy gift certificates from local businesses for later redemption
* Don't forget emergency food programs — www.nmfoodbanks.org
* Talk with local business owners to explore other ideas -- by phone or email
* Cover•Reads — sign up to have your book promoted to stores and libraries all across the Southwest http://nmbookcoop.com/CoverReads/CoverReads/CoverReadsPromo.html

WAYS TO HELP DURING THIS CRISIS

Many of us are asking how we can help. While many in-person volunteer opportunities are suspended due to social distancing, there are still ways to make a difference.
* Donate Time and Money
* Check on family, friends and neighbors
* Share accurate information

Best advice: