From the Publisher’s Desk: Virtual Presentations and Books you can Hold in your Hands

How many months of social distancing does it take for this publisher to get onboard with online events? Six. Or six and half, depending on what you consider day one. Shortly after my last note, I got to do an interview with Ande Bozarth of Kansas AARP. It was a whole lot of fun. Left me wanting to do more, and boy oh boy did I get the chance.

As a member of the team that helped bring the annual Kansas Authors Club convention online, I got in some Zoom training and practice and became—more or less—a convert! We are so fortunate to live in times when we have the technology for great substitutes to in-person gatherings.

In fact, our publicist, Linzi Garcia, organized a fantastic virtual book launch, our first, for Arlice Davenport and his new book of poetry, Setting theWaves on Fire. And then three Meadowlark authors and I got right to work on a presentation for the Kansas Library Association, which was also moved online this year. 

We also launched/are in the process of launching our second YA book, A Time for Tears, by Jerilynn Jones Henrikson. It’s a title that is proving popular with all ages. 

Kansas Library Association - Tracy Million Simmons, Julie Stielstra, Jerilynn Henrikson, and Michael D. Graves Presentation

 And finally, we released Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg’s much anticipated book of poetry this month, How Time Moves: New and Selected Poems. Talk about a release party! With the Lawrence Public Library and Raven Bookstore, Caryn had more than 100 attendees at her launch event! (Links to book launches have been added to our “In the News” page. Check them out now if you didn’t get to attend the first time.”

 So what’s on the agenda?

 We have a poetry book by Brian Daldorph, Birdy finalist in 2020, working its way toward the finish line. Watch for news on that book launch soon. We will also have the 2020 Birdy winner, J.C. Mehta, on the shelf in the coming months. Likely soon followed by the announcement of the 2021 Birdy Poetry Prize winner (deadline for submission: December 1, 2020)

 With author James Kenyon, we are wrapping up another book capturing the history and stories of closed high schools, this one featuring the state of Iowa. Follow our website updates by email for news on these releases and more (top right column of this page for signup).

 And while I’ve got you here, check out the specials we are adding to our onlinebookstore. (Keep checking back – we are adding more each week.) Double the impact when you give the gift of a book. You’ve made a reader happy, and you’ve hugged an author, too.

 

Much love and good reading.

Tracy Million Simmons

Meadowlark Press