May 2 2020

ISOLATED PAGES #23

Well, the entry phase of the 2020 NM-AZ Book Awards is now officially completed; over; done! COVID has made us rethink all kinds of things lately. Given us a new sense of what is important and what we spend way too much time or energy on. Personally, I think that might be a good thing.

A quick —very preliminary— review of what categories were entered and what were not is somewhat surprising. Surprising as each of these were well represented in the past. There were very few, if any, entries this year in: Activity books, History anthologies, Archaeology, Bilingual books, Biographies, Business books, nonfiction ebooks, graphic novels, New Age, Philosophy, Political, Reference, or Young Reader books. That may sound like a huge list of under-represented genre, but remember there are almost 60 categories in the NM-AZ Book Awards. But we did receive numerous entries in almost all the other categories. In the end, we received a slightly smaller number of overall entries. But certainly not bad considering the way the world have been up-ended since January/February. I am still getting between 8-10 boxes every day and probably will until the middle of next week (they all must have been postmarked by April 30 [except for a handful that checked with me first due to extenuating circumstances]).

As many of you know, my partner and wife Barbe loved this phase of the book awards. She loved seeing all the exciting packages of new books rolling in; showing off the great creations of authors and publishers all across the southwest. She loved it partly because it was like Christmas (in April or May or June) everyday. As you may also know we lost Barbe almost exactly a year ago to pancreatic cancer. I do miss that joy she exhibited everyday at mail time. Few of you know, but I have added a new office worker in the last week to help sort and unload the boxes that are arriving. I use the term office worker very loosely as she has no opposable thumbs, four long slender legs and purrs all day long. I rescued her from a dumpster where she had been living for an unknown period of time. Fortunately it apparently did not damage her permanently as she is very loving and a source of many a laugh in the past five days. Waffles is now my new life partner. She is lying on my desk right next to this keyboard as I try to compose this message. A paw frequently stretches out and inserts an extra character or two in practically every sentence. I have tried to go back and fix those "typos" but forgive me if any slip through the final proofing.

PS: Sorry I let several days lapse since the last issue of ISOLATED PAGES, but COVID seems to rewrite the plan for every day for all of us. It has even written in new terms in the everyday vernacular—there is now BC and AC (before- and after-COVID).

I hope many of you are using these days — crazy as they are — to write your next epic. We all need you to write your story, whatever it may be. Today, we are in the 2nd day of whatever this is. Yesterday, the Governor here in NM loosened up a little on the restrictions we have been living under. I hope we will begin to see some of our favorite bookstores able to sell books again, even if out on the curb. It will put a challenge on all of us to help people discover our books, but at least we might have a chance to show off our works. As an author myself, I have been working almost daily on my next opus. It has given me purpose for a large part of my day, every day. I am working on a coffee table type book that will be filled with hundreds of photos; I've actually been reviewing nearly 200,000 photos from the archives on this one. So a little quiet time has been good for me. Hope you have been able to make the most of whatever situation you have been living with as well; without killing too many family members, loved ones, pets, or plants.

I cannot speak for other publishers, but these last 3 months have been pretty awful for us and all of our selling outlets. Personally, I worry that when we reach the AC period, that some, if not many, of our booksellers will be gone or severely compromised. I don't normally talk about these things in public. But if we don't all rally behind our trusted local sellers we may find ourselves with few if any places to turn to to make our books available. Add to that huge issues arising in the production and distribution chains for our books. Hopefully most of you ("US"), have seen the light and the dark cloud over the horizon. We will probably lose many distributors; many booksellers; and many patrons. We will probably also lose many of our book producers. Publishers are on the edge at this point. My own company has sold four books since March 1 — 4 books! I just received a check from Amazon for the books they sold of mine in January and the check was a whooping $256! I am afraid that many publishers will cease operations by around June 30. And I'm in that circle as well if things don't turn around very soon.

I don't mean to be the purveyor of doom and gloom, but I ask everyone to rally and to support our local authors, our local publishers, and our local booksellers. We all need to have each others back!

I hope you answer the call!

Paul

BOOK NEWS

Gutting Through
While print unit sales rose by 10.1% last week, highlighting a surprising resilience in the market despite the pandemic, Lagardère Publishing's first-quarter results paint a harrowing picture for publishing revenue as Covid-19 rages on. In an effort of collective action, a host of left-wing independent publishers worldwide have formed a coalition of mutual support to get through the tough times. And in Canada, publishers decry a "broken" copyright system after a devastating legal blow. Meanwhile, Politico reports that the Trump administration has listed some of Amazon's foreign websites as "notorious" counterfeit markets to much outcry from the e-tailer. The American Booksellers Association has thanked contributors for collectively raising nearly $1 million for the #SaveIndieBookstores campaign. Joy Harjo has been named U.S. poet laureate for a second term, the New York Times writes. And Nordic noir pioneer Maj Sjöwall has died at 84. In New York, the state's attorney general's office has deemed Amazon's safety standards at its warehouses inadequate. The Covid-19 pandemic isn't just changing where readers buy books—it's changing what they buy, too. The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has declared literacy a Constitutional right—a bright spot in a dark time. The impact of Covid-19 on authors was made clear this week by Artist Relief, which will distribute the first of five rounds of $5,000 emergency funds to 200 authors and artists after receiving 55,000 applications; a survey run by the same organization found that artists who responded to it reported an average loss of about $27,103 in income. In Bologna, the new virtual fair has released its schedule and opened registration. And Quarto posted a profit in 2019 for the first time in a few years, but may not repeat that success in 2020. At Endeavor, layoffs, pay cuts, and furloughs will affect a third of its work force by May, including at William Morris Endeavor, according to Variety. Reuters reports that Pearson saw a 5% drop in revenue in its first quarter but won't furlough staff. And in Congress, Democrats are heating up their inquiries into Amazon. What Will Become of the Libraries?
Public libraries are one of the country's great institutions—but this crisis has thrown their role in society into question, writes Sari Feldman. In South Carolina, Fiction Addiction has opened its doors in a new location following permission from the state government for businesses to reopen. And the communications manager of We Need Diverse Books makes a case for continuing to allow publishing employees to work from home once the Covid-19 crisis passes. At Amazon warehouses, 300 are refusing to work to protect their health, the New York Post reports. And Electric Literature spotlights a new generation of Holocaust memoirs.

SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS

We have been getting a lot of feedback and many comments on our HELP CENTER, including from Pat Hodapp, David Froebel, Corinne Schieman, Don Bullis, Ann Dallman, Margie McCurry, Ed Ripp

Margie McCurry said: "applause,,,, applause... for providing us with LOTS of GOOD info.... thanks"

Pat Hodapp said: "We miss your missives. — For Barbe: I now disagree with TS Eliot. May is the cruelest month, not April. April has given no kindness and one comes to accept that. May is cruel in its glimpses things
turning better with slight green sprouts and fruit tree buds bursting into bloom and hope. But frost is still near, lurking in the shadows."

Ann Dallman said: "Excellent article on supply chain publishing/distribution. I plan to keep this for reference. Thank you for such informative and helpful information."

David Froebel said: "Like yourself I have been catching up also with unfinished/scattered projects. You posted, “Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands??”
Well Paul years ago I had a lover who was really into taking care of her body with organic food etc and believed that it is NOT good to take a shower everyday for the sake of one’s body. Only once it bothered me and I don’t want to talk about it"

Anonymous (To Protect the Guilty) "……speaking of bells, don't forget that Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Griegos plays Amazing Grace every morning at 8:00 a.m. I'm pretty sure it can be heard from both of our houses and anyone within a certain radius in the North Valley.
That said, I haven't noticed if they're still playing it, but I've also been getting out of bed a little later these days.
And I like the line about if I have a glass of wine in each hand, I won't touch my face. Will have to adapt that to beer or vodka at my house!
Keep calm and wash your hands. Twice!"

FROM VIRUS TIMES VII (by Pat Hodapp)

Sunflower reminder in the Pandemic
It was an overcast, dreary day. Spent the morning in the hospital ward having all kind of “grams” to check me out. Then it was like a burst of sunlight, nothing untoward was detected. I was free of their body-invading machines, free to head out to wherever!
I pulled into the parking space next to the coffee shop and flower shop. Sharing my news with BJ and Guenther, I felt so relieved. Seeing a milk can filled with sunflowers in full bloom, I purchased 5 on a whim. As I exited the shop, I realized I did not know what I was going to do with these huge, glowing, symbols of hope and life.
Stopping for coffee, I balanced the armload of sunflowers against my shoulder. I did not realize their stems were so rough and prickly. As I waited for my coffee I saw a young man diligently writing in a diary, with unlined, good paper stock and a well-known brand of fountain pen. He would thoughtfully gaze across the street at old Victorian houses then look down to write a carefully selected word. How staid and thoughtful in his writing.
After paying for my coffee, I carefully put it down on a table near the young man. Balancing the flowers so as not to spill the coffee, I carefully pulled one of the 4 foot long sunflower stalks from my bunch and held it out as a present for him. He looked up with a look of surprise of “what do I do now with this woman sticking a sunflower stalk in my face?” but he took it. I just said have a wonderful day and walked off laughing. I think he muttered, “thank you?” I laughed all the way to my car, it was just so hilarious to see his facial response.
Maybe I made it into his journal as a good distraction, but I feel the heading of his next paragraph would be, ”What do you do when a crazy lady sticks a four foot stalk of sunflower in your face?”
Either response was fine with me, I was alive and he needed to be reminded of life.

KUDOS

FLASH FICTION AWARD

Jim Tritten’s “My Permanent Record” won a 1st place, and his “Meetup in the Bermuda Triangle” won a 4th place in the Title Wave Books Revised and Plot Duckies Flash Fiction Contest.

BY POPULAR DEMAND! ADVANCED PANTOUM CLASS WITH DONALD LEVERING

Jules Poetry Playhouse is offering a special class. To get more info and sign up go to https://www.julesnyquist.com/catalog/item/1420675/10432582.htm

ROSWELL DAILY RECORD FEATURES AUTHOR

Christina Stock at the Roswell Daily Record did a wonderful write-up Maida Tilcehn's novels.

PRESS WOMEN AWARDS

Preliminary Announcements from National Federation of Press Women indicates that NM has several honorees in the 2020 Annual Communications Contest. More will follow as we get word, but kudos to Patricia Smith Wood.

RESOURCES

TIPS FOR ALL OF US (from Kris Neri)
Lots of writers think they should be getting more writing accomplished during this lockdown, especially those who have more time. But many report that they’re finding it hard to concentrate on writing. Perhaps there’s simply too much reality in our lives now.

To help us all write more and better, we’re offering writing tips from some Southwestern authors. Writers helping writers. This is the first of at least two mailings. If you have some tips of your own to share, send them to us. We hope these tips spark an idea or two and extra excitement for your own writing project:

Motivational:
Waiting for inspiration is a form of procrastination. Get your butt in a seat and write. Something. Anything. Write. — Kate Rauner, author of Glory on Mars

Critique Groups:
Sharing your writing with a trusted group is a sure way to help your work develop. Writing partners help to uncover blind spots you may have, give fresh ideas when you are faced with difficult sections, bolster morale, find typos you might never see, and inspire with their own process and work. Partners also can be essential to the overall development of your story. — Alethea Eason: New novel coming soon: Whispers of the Old Ones

Writers reading:
Pablo Neruda described his early love of reading thus: “comí todo como un avestruz” – “I gobbled up everything like an ostrich.”
Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, you need to be a prolific reader first. Reading is how we learn to write well: to pace a narrative, use the best words in the best order, sustain an idea, express ourselves with clarity, avoid false notes. There is no shortcut and no substitute. — JJ Amaworo Wilson, WNMU writer in residence

Poetry:
Read a lot, prose and poetry. Keep a small notebook to jot down words/phrases that resonate with you for future reference. — Beryl Raven Artist/Writer

Characterization:
Rich, textured characters, like real people, rarely give themselves unconditional approval. For insight into the limits of your character’s self-acceptance, let your character finish this line: “I’m good enough as long as I’m…”— Kris Neri, author of Hopscotch Life

Memoir Writing:

Make a list of all your accomplishments, not just career accomplishments but also family-related events, achieving personal goals, and overcoming difficulties.

Flush out details of each accomplishment. How old were you? Where were you living? Was anyone else involved? What influenced you? What did you learn? Did it lead to something else? What would you do differently?

Describe values attached to each accomplishment. Where did these values come from? What else has demonstrated this same value? Is it still important to you?— Julia Fricke Robinson, author of All I Know

Motivational:
Just write a first sentence or two or three. Doesn’t have to make sense or match your idea. Somehow writing those first words releases any potential block.— Mary Alice Murphy, Author of God's Umbrella: Southwest New Mexico Survivors of World War II

Memoir Writing:
Therapy is private and its goals of understanding and integration are not meant to be projected into the imagined public space of literature. They remain particular to the individual. Memoir is sharing a lesson or experience so others can learn from it. Read over what you have written and take out any slight hint of revenge, whining or request for sympathy from the reader.— Julia Fricke Robinson, author of All I Know

Motivational:
Have someone you can talk to or call that will remind you that it is OK to walk by the dishes waiting to be washed and the dirty laundry. Sit down and write first. Then worry about the rest.— EJ Randolph, author of The Ambassador Calls Twice

Motivational/Establishing Ritual:
Call upon your muse. Really. A little ritual before you write can be the needed action to get you in your chair and working!— Alethea Eason: New novel coming soon: Whispers of the Old Ones

Motivational:
Write every single day. Don't wait for the muse to inspire you. Discipline yourself to sit down and pump something out. Anything. Keep the flow going. — Lynne Zotalis, author of Saying Goodbye to Chuck

A MOMENT OF REFLECTION (by Pat Hodapp)

Being a librarian and avid reader, I have worried about how my favorite characters are doing during the pandemic. How are Armand Gamache and Reine doing in Three Pines with Clara and Myrna? Is the Bistro doing takeout? (Louise Penny) How is Commissario Brunetti and Paola coping with the two teenagers being under lockdown? Is Paola teaching online? And more importantly, can she find the ingredients for her fabulous recipes? (Donna Leon) How are Chee and Bernie managing on the Navajo Reservation and keeping her Mama safe and with food and water in the self-isolation that has been ordered? Is Darlene staying home with Mama? (Anne Hillerman) I think of these characters as friends as they let us into share their lives. May they and their authors stay well.

KEEP SAFE & HEALTHY—Wash Your Hand and Don't Hoard TP
Paul Rhetts

NM Book Co-op's main mission is to foster community and support for authors and publishers and books.