Women's National Book Association

WNBA Announces Bookseller Award Nominees

The Women’s National Book Association is proud to announce the nominees for the 2010 WNBA Pannell Award. Established in 1981 to honor Lucile Micheels Pannell, a model book woman and children’s bookseller, the Pannell Award recognizes retail bookstores that excel at inspiring the interest of young people in books and reading. WNBA will present this year’s award to two bookstores—one general and one children’s specialty store—at BookExpoAmerica in New York.

Each recipient will receive a check for $1,000 and a framed piece of original art by a children’s book illustrator. In addition to the WNBA, the award is sponsored by Penguin Young Readers Group, a leading publisher of books for young people. This year’s nominees represent a wide range of stores from all over the country:

A jury of five book industry professionals will select the award winners based on the store’s demonstration of creativity, responsiveness to community needs, passion and a genuine understanding of making the connection between books and young people. Submissions can be electronic or hard copy sent by mail.

The Women's National Book Association ...

wants to know about bookstores in the United States that excel at inspiring interest in reading, as well as creatively bringing books and young people together. They will present the annual WNBA Pannell Award to two bookstores--one a general bookstore and one a children's speciality bookstore--at the 2010 BookExpo America. Each recipient will receive a check for $1,000 and a framed piece of original art by a noted children's book illustrator. Nominated stores have the option of making their submissions to the Pannell jury electronically or by sending hard copy materials by mail.

To nominate your favorite bookstore (even your own!) that works within the community to instill the love of reading in young people, please provide the following:

1) Name of store

2) Address and phone number of the store

3) Contact person at the store, including email address (most important!)

4) A brief reason (just a sentence or two) of why you believe the store is deserving of this award

5) Your name and affiliation to the nominated store.

Please send your nomination to mgjames@eastwestliteraryagency.com. Deadline for nominations is Jan. 15, 2010.

The Pannell Award was established in 1981 by WNBA, a century-old national organization of women and men who work to promote reading and to support the role of women in the book community.

Booklist chosen again as partner for National Reading Group Month


CHICAGO — October 1, 2009 — Booklist, the American Library Association’s review source, is proud to have been selected again as a partner for the Women’s National Book Association’s National Reading Group Month in October, its third year.

The popular Booklist blog Book Group Buzz, offering helpful and entertaining information to reading groups both in and outside libraries, has again been selected as the official partner blog for National Reading Group Month. Book Group Buzz includes informative, wise, witty, and salutary posts by expert contributors from around the country, plus links to a wide range of free book group-related guides, tips and other resources. “This online destination for reading groups is the ideal blog for National Reading Group Month,” said NRGM Chair, Jill Tardiff. “We are delighted to partner with ALA’s Booklist and to make Book Group Buzz a visible part of the program. We’re impressed by the scope of this one-stop resource for reading groups.”

As a new initiative for National Reading Group Month this year, nine “Great Group Reads” (eight novels and a memoir) have been selected on the basis of their appeal to reading groups, covering timely and provocative topics. Booklist is making reviews of the Great Group Reads available free to non-subscribers at Booklist Online. Booklist Online is also a vibrant resource for book groups throughout the year, with wide-ranging free content from e-newsletters to featured reviews of the day.
National Reading Group Month celebrates shared reading by promoting reading groups. “People are reading less and less for pleasure, yet month in and month out, thousands of groups nationwide gather to discuss the latest and to revisit older titles,” observed Tardiff.

To learn more about National Reading Group Month and scheduled events, visit www.NationalReadingGroupMonth.org. Events featuring reading-group favorite authors are planned nationwide in the Association’s 10 chapter cities, with partners from libraries and all areas of the book industry supporting the initiative.

Booklist’s free one-stop resource, Book Group Buzz, can be found at http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com

Booklist is the book review magazine of the American Library Association, considered an essential collection development and readers advisory tool by thousands of librarians for more than 100 years. Booklist Online includes more than 125,000 reviews as well as a free Web site offering the latest news and views on books and media.

The Women’s National Book Association, founded in 1917, is the oldest continuously running women’s literary organization in the USA. For the past 90 years, it has united women – and now men – from every corner of the book world: writers, editors, librarians, bookstore owners, and more. It provides a vehicle through which members can act on their professional and personal commitment to champion the book and to stimulate the increased tolerance, social awareness, and civic involvement associated with reading.

National Reading Group Month Announces the 2009 Great Group Reads

NEW YORK — September 24, 2009 —The National Reading Group Month Selection Committee has chosen nine books, eight novels and one memoir, as this year’s Great Group Reads. The books are:

Appassionata by Eva Hoffman (Other Press)
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist (Other Press)
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë by Syrie James (Avon A)
The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey (Harper Perennial)
Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal by Julie Metz (Voice)
While I’m Falling by Laura Moriarty (Hyperion)
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson (Picador)
Cost by Roxana Robinson (Picador)
Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie (Picador)

These titles were selected on the basis of their appeal to reading groups for whom they are bound to open up lively conversations about a host of timely and provocative topics, from the intimate dynamics of family and personal relationships to major cultural and world issues. The Committee also made a conscious decision to focus its attention on under-represented gems from small presses and lesser-known mid-list releases from larger houses. All are books with strong narratives peopled by fully realized characters; books which perhaps have flown under the radar of reviewers and reading groups overwhelmed by the sheer number of new releases each year.

Selection Committee coordinator Rosalind Reisner puts it this way: "Great Group Reads will help passionate readers find that great mid-list fiction and nonfiction that may be overlooked in the clamor over best-sellers." Ms. Reisner also was one of ten selectors, all of whom praise the process and the choices made. According to her colleague, Judith Strand, "This NRGM program taught me to read more objectively and gave me greater insight into how to judge a book based on its appeal for group discussion rather than how the story affected me personally. I am grateful to the publishers who trusted our judgment, and to the authors who continue to astound me with their ever higher standards of excellence." Another Committee member, Michele Leber adds, "Suggesting titles for book groups is a natural next step in WNBA's celebration of National Reading Group Month. As a lifelong lover of reading, a published reviewer for 35 years, and a member of a 15-year-old book group, I'm delighted to have a hand in selecting these titles." (A full list of Selection Committee members can be found at the National Reading Group Month Web site.

The National Reading Group Month chair Jill A. Tardiff thanks the Committee for its hard work and all the publishers who submitted titles and made reading copies available. Ms. Tardiff says, "We hope that these wonderful titles become reading-group staples and that booksellers and libraries across America feature them during month of October, which is, of course, National Reading Group Month." She continues, "To that end, we are providing an array of professionally designed display materials such as shelf-talkers and table-top posters on the National Reading Group Month Web site for anyone to download and use in promoting these titles. We encourage visiting the site for these and other features, as well as links to further resources."

See National Reading Group Month Marketing Toolkit at Get Involved.

National Reading Group Month is an initiative of the Women's National Book Association (WNBA). Founded in 1917, WNBA promotes literacy, a love of reading, and women's roles in the community of the book.

National Reading Group Month 2009 Official Sponsors: HarperCollins Publishers, Harper Perennial, Ingram Content Group and Susannah Greenberg PR.

National Reading Group Month Great Group Reads logo designed by Susan Vianna, Fishergate Inc., Chester, MD.

Further information is available at:
http://www.NationalReadingGroupMonth.org, http://www.wnba-books.org

Women's National Book Association, P.O. Box 237, FDR Station, New York, NY
10022-9998
(212) 208-4629
http://www.NationalReadingGroupMonth.org, http://www.wnba-books.org
Press release prepared on September 24, 2009,
by Jill A. Tardiff, National Reading Group Month Chair/Coordinator
tel (201) 656-7220.
Visit National Reading Group Month on Twitter http://twitter.com/WNBA_NRGM and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100063086491&ref=ts.

October is National Reading Group Month

Celebrating the joy of shared reading

NEW YORK – October 1, 2009 – To celebrate the joy of shared reading and encourage more people to get involved in reading groups, the Women's National Book Association (WNBA) has designated October as National Reading Group Month (NRGM). October 2009 will be the third annual celebration.

Festivities will include events with a host of favorite book club authors. These will take place across the nation in each of the Association's ten chapter cities: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and the newly formed Charlotte, North Carolina chapter.

WNBA in Nashville will host the National Reading Group Month Signature Event at the Nashville Public Library Downtown on Saturday, October 10 (breakfast, 9:15–11 a.m.; book-signing, 11–11:30 a.m.), sponsored by Ingram Book Co. The event will feature best-selling authors Marie Brenner (Apples and Oranges: My Brother and Me, Lost and Found, Picador), Holly Goddard Jones (Girl Trouble: Stories, HarperPerennial), 2006 WNBA Award recipient Perri Klass (The Mercy Rule, Mariner Books), Inman Majors (The Millionaires, W.W. Norton & Co.) and Kathryn Stockett (The Help, Putnam). Nashville Public Radio All Things Considered host Nina Cardona will emcee the program. This "breakfast with authors" is an official part of The Southern Festival of Books, and is again co-sponsored by the Nashville Public Library joined this year by Davis-Kidd Nashville.

A full listing of National Reading Group Month events to date is listed below. Updates will be posted to WNBA national and local Web sites, including NationalReadingGroupMonth.org, www.wnba-books.org, Facebook, and Twitter (WNBA_NRGM) in the upcoming weeks.

WNBA is a non-profit educational professional trade organization, promoting books and reading since 1917. The Association draws members from all segments of the book industry and has ten chapters nationwide.

Participants, partners, supporters and sponsors include publishers, librarians, booksellers, book trade organizations, authors and more, including Official 2009 sponsors: Dollar General Literacy Foundation, HarperCollins Publishers [Harper Perennial and Harper Paperbacks], Ingram Content Group, and Susannah Greenberg PR; partners include: the American Library Association/Booklist’s Book Group Buzz and Reading Group Choices, among others.

Those publishers, companies or individuals interested in becoming sponsors or partners of National Reading Group Month should contact Jill Tardiff, National Reading Group Month Chair at (201) 656-7220, jtardiff-wnbanational at att.net.

Further information is available at:
www.NationalReadingGroupMonth.org, www.wnba-books.org

EVENTS

For more information about individual events, contact the event coordinators listed.

NATIONAL READING GROUP MONTH SIGNATURE EVENT

NASHVILLE
www.wnbanashville.org

WNBA-Nashville with event co-sponsor Nashville Public Library Downtown and Davis-Kidd in conjunction with the Southern Festival of Books (Sat., Oct. 10; breakfast, 9:15–11 a.m.; book-signing, 11–11:30 a.m.): Nina Cardona (NPR-Nashville host/reporter), with Marie Brenner (Apples and Oranges: My Brother and Me, Lost and Found, Picador); Holly Goddard Jones (Girl Trouble: Stories, HarperPerennial); Perri Klass (The Mercy Rule, Mariner Books); Inman Majors (The Millionaires, W.W. Norton & Co.); Kathryn Stockett (The Help, Putnam). Contact: Lee Fairbend, lfairbend at comcast.net.

CHAPTER EVENTS

NEW YORK CITY
www.wnba-nyc.org

WNBA-NYC at the Mint Theater (Wed., Oct. 21; 6–9 p.m.): Rosalind Reisner (Read On…Life Stories and Jewish American Literature, Libraries Unlimited) and Miriam Tuliao (New York Public Library, Assistant Director, Central Collection Development), with Christina Baker Kline (Bird in Hand, Wm Morrow); Eva Hoffman (Appassionata, Other Press); C.M. Mayo (The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire, Unbridled Books); Julie Metz (Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal, Hyperion/Voice); Roxana Robinson (Cost, Picador). Contact: Lori O'Dea, LO'dea at amscopub.com.

BOSTON
www.wnbaboston.org

WNBA-Boston at Hotel 140 (Thurs., Oct. 22; 6–9 p.m.): Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp (The Book Club Cookbook and The Kids' Book Club Book, Tarcher), with Lisa Genova (Still Alice, Pocket Books); Katherine Howe (The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Hyperion); Margot Livesey (The House on Fortune Street, HarperPerennial). Contact: Erin Brown, ebrown at harvardbusiness.org, or Katherine Dibble, kdibble at att.net.

CHARLOTTE
charlotte.wnba-books.org

WNBA-Charlotte with program co-sponsor Park Road Books (month-long): "WNBA-Charlotte Picks of the Lists." Contact: Carin Siegfried, Carin.Siegfried at baker-taylor.com.

DALLAS
www.wnba-dallas.org

WNBA-Dallas with event co-sponsor Barnes & Noble Booksellers-Lincoln Park (Sat., Oct. 17, 7–9 p.m.): Dixie Cash (Curing the Blues with a New Pair of Shoes, HarperCollins, Avon A). Contact: Melinda Woolf, melinda.woolf at mac.com.

DETROIT
www.wnba-books.org/detroit

WNBA-Detroit with event co-sponsor Baldwin Public Library-Birmingham (Mon., Oct. 26; 7 p.m.): Laura Kasischke (In a Perfect World, HarperPerennial). Contact: Celia Morse, cmorse at berkley.lib.mi.us.

LOS ANGELES
www.wnba-books.org/la

WNBA-LA at the West Hollywood Book Fair with event co-sponsor Book Soup (Sun., Oct. 4; panel, 11–11:55 a.m., book-signing, noon–1 p.m.): Kelly Sullivan-Walden (I Had the Strangest Dream, Grand Central) and Paul Ryan (The Art of Comedy, Back Stage Books), with Diana Birchall (Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Sourcebooks); Dori Carter (We Are Rich, Other Press); Syrie James (The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen and The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë, HarperCollins/Avon); Estherleon Schwartz (Tears of Stone: And My Deal with God: My Life Story, Estherleon Schwartz). Contact: Kelly Sullivan-Walden, kellygq at mac.com.

SAN FRANCISCO
www.wnba-sfchapter.org

WNBA-SF with event co-sponsor Book Passage/Corte Madera (Thurs., Oct. 15; 6:30–8:30 p.m.): Tanya Egan Gibson (How to Buy a Love of Reading, Dutton); 2008 WNBA Award recipient Kathi Kamen Goldmark (And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You, Chronicle); Christopher Gortner (The Last Queen, Ballantine). Contact: Lynn Henriksen, lynn at telltalesouls.com.

WNBA-SF with event co-sponsor BookShop West Portal (Thurs., Oct. 29; 7 p.m.): Joan Gelfand (A Dreamer's Guide to Cities and Streams, San Francisco Bay Press), with Allison Hoover Bartlett (The Man Who Loved Books Too Much, Riverhead); Meg Waite Clayton (The Wednesday Sisters, Ballantine); Charlie Haas (The Enthusiast, HarperPerennial); Mary Mackey (The Widow's War, Berkley). Contact: Joan Gelfand, joan at joangelfand.com.

SEATTLE
www.wnba-books.org/seattle

WNBA-Seattle with event co-sponsor Third Place Books (Wed., Oct. 21; 6:30–9 p.m.): Nancy Pearl (Book Lust, More Book Lust and Book Crush, Sasquatch Books), with Jamie Ford (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Ballantine); Diane Hammond (Hannah’s Dream, Harper Paperbacks); Jim Lynch (Border Songs, Knopf); Stephanie Kallos (Sing Them Home, Atlantic Monthly Press); Garth Stein (The Art of Racing in the Rain, Harper Paperbacks). Contact: Cheryl McKeon, cmckeon at thirdplacebooks.com.

WASHINGTON, D.C.
www.wnba-books.org/wash

WNBA-D.C. with event co-sponsor Politics & Prose Bookstore/Coffeehouse (Tues., Oct. 27; 6:30–9 p.m.): "Washington Reads/P&P Reads," NC Weil (WNBA-D.C. chapter president), with Carla Cohen (Politics & Prose, co-owner); Edward P. Jones (<The Known World, Harper Paperbacks). Contact: NC Weil, ncweil at patriot.net.

LIBRARY & OTHER EVENTS

NEW JERSEY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
www.njla.org

NRGM partner NJLA/NRGM Task Force and New Jersey State Library presents "Readers, Writers & Reading Groups: A Day of Reading Group Workshops," at the College of New Jersey–Ewing (Sat., Oct. 3; 9:15 a.m.–3:15 p.m.): Keynote speaker, Margo Hammond (Between the Covers: The Book Babes’ Guide to a Woman’s Reading Pleasure, Da Capo Press); Masha Hamilton (31 Hours, Unbridled Books and The Camel Bookmobile, HarperPerennial); others (TBA). Contact: April Judge, bookdirector at yahoo.com.

Women's National Book Association, P.O. Box 237, FDR Station, New York, NY 10022-9998; (212) 208-4629
www.wnba-books.org,

Press release prepared on August 13, 2009,
by Susannah Greenberg, Publicity for the Women's National Book Association and President, Susannah Greenberg Public Relations
tel/fax (212) 208-4629, http://bookbuzz.com
www.linkedin.com/in/susannahgreenberg
www.twitter.com/suegreenbergpr
www.Facebook.com/Bookbuzz

WNBA Announces Winners of the 2009 Pannell Award

The Women's National Book Association is proud to announce the winners of the 2009 WNBA Pannell Award given annually since 1983 to two bookstores that excel in contributing to their communities in ways that bring books and young people together. The winner in the General Bookstore category is Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati with Honorable Mention going to That Bookstore in Blytheville. The Children's Specialty store category winner is Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop in LaVerne, CA.

The jury of five book industry professionals deliberated for four weeks, then selected the winners based on creativity, responsiveness to community needs and an understanding of young readers. Jurors complimented the winners, as well as all of the entries, for the innovative ways these independent stores are reaching young readers in spite of shrinking budgets and resources. Illustrating what can be done without a lot of funds, Joseph-Beth's citywide reading project, Small Fries: A Kids' Cookbook with sales benefiting a children's hospital, and Reading Reindeer gift tree were among the highlights. Mrs. Nelson's Young Authors contest and use of outside venues (libraries, churches, etc.) to reach more children were noted as being exceptional at a time when many such programs are being eliminated.

That Bookstore in Blytheville was applauded for its Head Start classroom reading program, as well as its wide reach of programs into the community connecting with all ages at multiple venues.

In addition to WNBA, the Pannell Award is underwritten by a generous gift from Penguin Young Readers Group. Each winning store will receive a check for $1,000 and framed original art donated this year by Barry Moser and Anna Dewdney. Presentation of the awards will be at the Children's Book and Author Breakfast on May 29th at Javits Special Events Hall in New York City.

WNBA Announces Bookseller Award Nominees

The Women's National Book Association is proud to announce the nominees for the 2009 WNBA Pannell Award. Established in 1981 to honor Lucile Micheels Pannell, a model bookwoman and children's bookseller, the Pannell Award recognizes retail bookstores that excel at inspiring the interest of young people in books and reading. WNBA will present this year's award to two bookstores—one general and one children's specialty store—at BookExpoAmerica in New York.

Each recipient will receive a check for $1,000 and a framed piece of original art by a children's book illustrator. In addition to the Women's National Book Association, the award is supported by Penguin Young Readers Group, a leading publisher of books for young people.

This year's nominees represent a wide range of stores from all over the country:

A jury of five book industry professions will select the award winners based on the store's demonstration of creativity, responsiveness to community needs, passion and a genuine understanding of making the connection between books and young people. For the first time in the history of the award, nominated stores have the choice of making submissions electronically or with a physical submission sent by mail.

Amy Tan to Be Featured Speaker at Women's National Book Association's 2008 Award Ceremony honoring Kathi Kamen Goldmark

Best-selling author Amy Tan will be a featured speaker at the Women's National Book Association's 2008 WNBA Award ceremony honoring Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Nov. 8 at San Francisco's Century Club. The biennial WNBA Award recognizes an American woman who has made extraordinary contributions to promoting literacy, freedom of expression, a love of reading, or women's careers in the world of books.

Goldmark is being honored for founding the Rock Bottom Remainders, a band of literary superstars who belt out "Wild Thing" and other rock staples to raise money for book-related causes. The Remainders have raised more than $1.5 million, and Tan and Goldmark have shared a mic as "Remainderettes" since the band's founding. Tan is better known as the author of such much-loved novels as The Joy Luck Club and The Bonesetter's Daughter. Other band members include Stephen King, Dave Barry, and Matt Goering.

Goldmark's efforts on behalf of literacy also extend to CDs she produces through her company, "Don't Quit Your Day Job" (www.dqydj.com). For the 1998 release Stranger than Fiction!, she cajoled 40 writers into singing their favorite songs for a good cause – the PEN Writers Special Fund.

In her professional life, Goldmark is a writer and radio show producer. She is author of the novel And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You (2002, Chronicle Books) and co-author of Mid-Life Confidential (1994, Viking) and The Great Rock & Roll Joke Book (1997, St. Martin's). Goldmark has contributed essays to several other books and is proud to have a speaking role as herself in Olivia Goldsmith's novel The Bestseller. She also co-writes a regular advice column, "The Author Enablers," for aspiring authors in BookPage, a nationally distributed book review publication. Goldmark serves as the author liaison for the San Francisco Library Laureate's dinner and is also one of the organizers of San Jose's annual Book Group Expo. (www.redroom.com/authors/kathi-kamen-goldmark)

Goldmark lives in the Bay area where she performs regularly with her "real" band, Train Wreck, and also produces a weekly radio show called "West Coast Live," a two-hour show on Saturday mornings broadcast in front of a live audience.

The Women's National Book Association, founded in 1917, is a national organization of women and men who work with and value books. An all-volunteer organization with nine chapters nationwide, WNBA promotes reading and the role of women in the book community.

The 2008 WNBA Award presentation honoring Goldmark for her meritorious work in the world of books will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at The Century Club of California, 1355 Franklin Street, San Francisco. The event is complimentary to WNBA members; $20 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required. Please respond by Nov. 1 to hospitality at WNBA-SFchapter.org. Online registration is also available at www.wnba-sfchapter.org. Guest fees may also be mailed to: WNBA-SF Chapter, 4061 E. Castro Valley Blvd #193, Castro Valley, CA 94552.



October is National Reading Group Month

Events and Activities Update

NEW YORK — September 18, 2008 — The Women's National Book Association (WNBA) launches its second National Reading Group Month in October 2008 to promote reading groups and to celebrate the joy of shared reading.

WNBA national president Joan Gelfand says, 'Reading groups are to the literary world what slow food is to our fast food nation. They encourage people to slow down and think deeply about themes, characters, plot. They encourage discourse in a culture where most communication is by text message.'

The organization is collaborating with readers, publishers, trade organizations, bookstores and libraries in annual National Reading Group Month events.

Events featuring reading group favorite authors are planned nationwide in the Association's chapters, including Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and the newly formed Seattle chapter.

National Reading Group Month Signature Event Sponsored by WNBA-Seattle Chapter

The highly anticipated National Reading Group Month signature event to be held in Seattle at University Book Store on October 20 spotlights best-selling authors Nancy Pearl (Book Lust, More Book Lust and Book Crush, Sasquatch Books) and Nancy Horan (Loving Frank, Ballantine), along with Stesha Brandon (University Book Store), Mary Ann Gwinn (The Seattle Times, Book Editor), Cheryl McKeon (Third Place Books), and Rebecca Willow (Parkplace Books).

Other Seattle area National Reading Group Month related events include 'Readings Around the Sound' — a month-long line-up of author appearances held at local libraries and independent bookstores: Seattle Public Library on Oct. 2 (co-sponsor: Elliott Bay Book Co.); Edmonds Library, Oct. 3 (co-sponsor: Edmonds BookShop); University Book Store and University Temple Chapel, Oct. 4; Queen Anne Books, Oct. 5; Santoro's Books, Oct. 11; Third Place Books, Oct. 16; Inn at Port Ludlow, Oct. 17 (co-sponsor: Liberty Bay Books); Elliott Bay Book Co., Oct. 21; Eagle Harbor Books, Oct. 23; Ballard Library, Oct. 25; King County Libraries, Oct. 28; University Book Store, Oct. 28; Parkplace Books, Oct. 30.

Author appearances: Sherman Alexie; Amy Bloom; Ivan Doig; Richard Farr;
Neil Gaiman; John Green; Debbie Macomber; Theo Pauline Nestor; Sara Nickerson; David Oliver Relin; Marilynne Robinson; Jon Scieska; Garth Stein; Miriam Toews.

Events:
Boston
WNBA-Boston at Hotel 140 (Sat., Oct. 25; 2–5 p.m.) with event co-sponsor Village Books/Roslindale: a readers' round-robin with Joan Anderson (The Second Journey, Hyperion/Voice); Ann Harleman (The Year She Disappeared, Univ. of Texas Press); Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp (The Book Club Cook Book and The Kids' Book Club Book, Tarcher); Jennifer Haigh (The Condition, HarperCollins); Judith Nies (The Girl I Left Behind, HarperCollins); Deborah Noyes (Angel and Apostle, Unbridled Books); and Gina Ogden (The Return of Desire, Trumpeter-Shambhala Publications). Contact: Laurie Beckelman, lbeckelman at aol.com, or Katherine Dibble, kdibble at att.net

Detroit
WNBA-Detroit at the Huntington Woods Public Library (Thurs., Oct. 2; 7 p.m.): Thomas C. Foster (How to Read Novels Like a Professor, Harper Paperbacks). Contact: Cynthia Dooley, Cdooley at co.wayne.mi.us, or Celia Morse, cmorse at Berkley.lib.mi.us

Los Angeles
WNBA-Los Angeles at Book Soup (Sat., Oct. 25; 2–4 p.m.): David Fuller (Sweetsmoke, Hyperion); Yxta Maya Murray (The Red Lion Series: The King's Gold, Harper Paperbacks); Lisa See (Peony in Love, Random House Trade Paperbacks). Contact: Kelly Sullivan-Walden, kellygq at mac.com, or Ruth Light, ruthabc at ca.rr.com

Nashville
WNBA-Nashville with event co-sponsor Nashville Downtown Public Library in conjunction with the Southern Festival of Books (Sat., Oct. 11; 9 a.m.): Elizabeth Strout (Olive Kitteridge, Random House Trade Paperbacks). Contact: Lee Fairbend, lfairbend at comcast.net

New York City
WNBA-New York City at the New York Center for Independent Publishing (Mon., Oct. 27; 6–8:30 p.m.): Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp (The Book Club Cook Book and The Kids' Book Club Book, Tarcher) joinAnisha Lakhani (Schooled, Hyperion); Alice Mattison (Nothing is Quite Forgotten in Brooklyn, Harper Perennial); Dalia Sofer (The Septembers of Shiraz, Harper Perennial); Elizabeth Strout (Olive Kitteridge, Random House Trade Paperbacks); Anya Ulinich (Petropolis, Viking).Contact: Valerie Tomaselli, VTomaselli at mtmpublishing.com, or nrgm  at wnba-nyc.org

San Francisco
WNBA-San Francisco with event co-sponsor Book Passage/Corte Madera (Thurs., Oct. 16; 6:30 p.m.): Philippa Gregory, (The Other Queen, Touchstone-Fireside Books). Contact: Mary Knippel, copywriter at coastside.net, or Linda Lee, info at netglobalbooks.com

Seattle

WNBA-Seattle at the University Book Store (Mon., Oct. 20; 7 p.m.): Nancy Pearl (Book Lust, More Book Lust and Book Crush, Sasquatch Books) leads a panel discussion with guest speakers Stesha Brandon (University Book Store); Mary Ann Gwinn (The Seattle Times); Nancy Horan (Loving Frank, Ballantine); Cheryl McKeon (Third Place Books); Rebecca Willow (Parkplace Books). Contact: Henriette Anne Klauser, henriette at henrietteklauser.com, or Anna Johnson, anna at picturebookoriginals.com

Washington, D,C.
WNBA-Washington, D.C. at the Charles Sumner School Museum & Archives (Tues., Oct. 21; 7–9 p.m.): Shireen Dodson (The Mother-Daughter Book Club, Tenth Annviersary Edition, Harper Paperbacks); Mark La Framboise (Poetry & Prose Bookstore); Lorine Kritzer Pergament (book club founder/facilitator); Emily Sachs (Graduate thesis: 'Beyond Oprah: An In-depth Look at American Book Clubs'). Contact: NC Weil, ncweil at patriot.net

 

Library & Other Events

New Jersey

NRGM partner New Jersey Library Association and State Libraries of New Jersey at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library (Thurs., Oct. 30; 9 a.m.–1 p.m.): 'The ABCs of Reading Groups' with Jack Getze (Big Money, Hilliard & Harris Publishers); Chris Grabenstein (Hell Hole: A John Ceepak Mystery, St. Martin's/ Minotaur); Alison Larkin (The English American, Simon & Schuster); Maryann McFadden, (The Richest Season, Hyperion). Contact: April Judge, bookdirector at yahoo.com

*****

ABOUT THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL BOOK ASSOCIATION: The Women's National Book Association, is a 501 ( c ) 3 national professional and literacy-outreach organization comprised of women and men who work with and value books — promoting the value of books and reading since 1917. It honors outstanding contributions in the community of the book through its prestigious awards and grant programs. (www.wnba-books.org)

WNBA National Reading Group Month 2007 founding sponsors: HarperCollins Publishers; Penguin Group Inc.,; The Random House Publishing Group

WNBA National Reading Group Month 2008 sponsors: Harper Perennial;
Random House Publishing Group/Reader's Circle; Susannah Greenberg Public Relations

WNBA National Reading Group Month 2008 participating publishers: HarperCollins Publishers; Hilliard & Harris Publishers; Hyperion Books; The Random House Publishing Group/Random House; Sasquatch Books; Sourcebooks; St. Martin's/Minotaur; Touchstone-Fireside Books/Simon & Schuster; Viking/Penguin Group; Trumpeter/Shambhala Publications; Unbridled Books; Univ. of Texas Press

WNBA National Reading Group Month 2008 bookstore partners (co-sponsors): Book Passage (Corte Madera, CA) and Village Books (Roslindale, MA)

Readings Around the Sound participating bookstores/libraries/others:
Elliott Bay Book Co. (Seattle, WA); Edmonds BookShop (Edmonds, WA); Seattle Public Library (Seattle, WA); Edmonds Library (Edmonds, WA); Queen Anne Books (Seattle, WA); Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, WA); Santoro's Books (Seattle, WA); Liberty Bay Books (Poulsbo, WA); Eagle Harbor Books (Bainbridge Island, WA); Ballard Library (Seattle, WA); The Secret Garden Bookshop (Seattle, WA); King County Libraries; University Book Store (Seattle, WA); Parkplace Books (Kirkland, WA)

WNBA National Reading Group Month 2008 participating bookstores /libraries /others (venues): University Book Store (Seattle, WA); Book Soup (Los Angeles, CA); Huntington Woods Public Library (Huntington Woods, MI); New York Center for Independent Publishing (New York, NY); Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library (Parsippany, NJ)

WNBA National Reading Group Month 2008 library partners (co-sponsors): New Jersey Library Association and State Libraries of New Jersey and Nashville Public Library (Downtown Branch)

Accolades and endorsements:
The American Booksellers Association and IndieBound applaud the efforts of the WNBA in the National Reading Group Month initiative, and the American Library Association's Booklist Online is proud to partner through its Book Group Buzz blog.

The Association of American Publishers — book publishing's national trade industry organization representing the book publishers nationwide — supports WNBA's National Reading Group Month.

NATIONAL READING GROUP MONTH — Celebrating the joy of shared reading

 

Join Us!

www.wnba-books.org
www.NationalReadingGroupMonth.org

MEDIA Contact: Susannah Greenberg, WNBA Communications Chair and President of Susannah Greenberg Public Relations; (212) 208-4629; publicity at bookbuzz.com.
or
Jill Tardiff, WNBA National Reading Group Month Committee Chair; (201) 656-7220; jtardiff-wnbanational at att.net.

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 237, FDR Station, New York, NY 10150-0231

Susannah Greenberg
Susannah Greenberg Public Relations
Phone/fax: (212) 208-4629
http://bookbuzz.com



Women's National Book Association Names Rock Bottom Remainder Founder 2008 WNBA Award Recipient

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Nancy Kelly, Award Chair
WNBA/Boston Chapter
781-837-4002
nancywkelly742 at yahoo.com

July 28, 2008

Kathi Kamen Goldmark to receive award in ceremony planned for November 8, 2008.

The Women's National Book Association (WNBA) has named author, musician and Rock Bottom Remainders founder Kathi Kamen Goldmark recipient of its 2008 WNBA Award. A reception in her honor will take place on Saturday, November 8th at 4:30PM in San Francisco.

Dedicated to promoting literacy, a love of reading and women's careers in the world of books, the Women's National Book Association presents the WNBA Award every other year to honor a living American woman who derives part or all of her income from books and the allied arts and who has done meritorious work in the world of books beyond the responsibilities of her profession.

Past WNBA Award recipients include Eleanor Roosevelt, Patricia Schroeder, Nancy Pearl and, in 2006, Dr. Perri Klass, the pediatrician-author, who was recognized for her role as medical director of Reach Out and Read, a internationally recognized literacy program for children.

WNBA is honoring Kathi Kamen Goldmark for founding the Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock-‘n-roll band of literary superstars that raises money for literacy and writing-related causes. Since its first concert in 1992, the band has brought in more than $1.5M to support numerous writing, literacy and freedom of expression efforts. Stephen King, Dave Barry and Amy Tan are among its members. In 2007, the band formed The Remainders Foundation – a charitable service fund associated with the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Kathi's efforts on behalf of literacy also extend to CDs she produces through her company, "Don't Quit Your Day Job" (www.dqydj.com). For the 1998 release, Stranger than Fiction!, she cajoled 40 writers into singing their favorite songs for a good cause – the PEN Writers Special Fund.

In her professional life, Kathi is a writer and radio show producer. She is author of the novel And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You (2002, Chronicle Books) and co-author of Mid-Life Confidential (1994, Viking) and The Great Rock & Roll Joke Book (1997, St. Martin's). Kathi has contributed essays to several other books and is proud to have a speaking role as herself in Olivia Goldsmith's novel The Bestseller. She also co-writes a regular advice column, "The Author Enablers," for aspiring authors in BookPage, a nationally distributed book review publication. Kathi serves as the author liaison for the San Francisco Library Laureate's dinner and is also one of the of the organizers of San Jose's annual Book Group Expo. (author site: www.redroom.com/authors/kathi-kamen-goldmark)

Kathi lives in the Bay area where she performs regularly with her "real" band, Train Wreck, and also produces a weekly radio show called "West Coast Live," a two-hour show on Saturday mornings broadcast in front of a live audience.

The Women's National Book Association, founded in 1917, is a national organization of women and men who work with and value books. An all-volunteer organization with nine chapters nationwide, WNBA promotes reading and the role of women in the book community. In 2007 it launched National Reading Group Month (October) to encourage and celebrate the joys of shared reading. To learn more about WNBA or the WNBA Award please visit www.wnba-books.org.



National Reading Group Month

WNBA successfully launched National Reading Group Month in October 2007 with author programs in each of its chapters.

Part of WNBA's mission is "to promote reading and the value of books," so WNBA is delighted with the success in response to the first-ever National Reading Group Month. "Reading groups inspire, transform and educate. They foster community and instill an appreciation for the written word," reflected Laurie Beckelman, immediate past president of the WNBA.

Programs held to launch the National Reading Group Month for example included a read-a-thon, author interviews and book signings (NYC), a program on tips for successful book groups (Boston), an author speaking about books related to family farms because October is also Farm Market and Farm Family Month (Detroit), an author program in conjunction with a bookstore (Los Angeles), a panel of local artists (Nashville), and a conversation with an author (San Francisco).

The news release announcing the launch of the WNBA program generated 148 newspaper articles in 18 different states with a readership of over five million people.

The mission of national Reading Group Month is four-fold:

Planning for the 2008 WNBA National Reading Group Month is well underway. Coming soon is a WNBA National Reading Group web site and with it the announcement of chapter plans for this October. Further information is available from:

Jill Tardiff, National Reading Group Month Committee Chairperson
jat-bambooriver at worldnet.att.net or

Valerie Tomaselli at Vtomaselli at mtmpublishing.com



WNBA Announces Winners of 2008 Pannell Award

For immediate release

Contact:

Mary Grey James
WNBA Pannell Chair
615-213-5362, Mary.james at ingrambook.com

The Women's National Book Association is proud to announce the winners of this year's Lucile Micheels Pannell Award given annually since 1983 to two bookstores that excel in contributing to their communities in ways that bring books and young people together. The winner in the General Bookstore category is Kepler's Books and Magazines in Menlo Park, CA; the winner in the Children's Specialty Store category is The Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, VT. Honorable Mention is awarded to Vero Beach Book Center in Vero Beach, Fl.

A jury of five book industry professionals deliberated for four weeks, then selected the winners based on creativity, responsiveness to community needs and an understanding of young readers. Jurors noted that the staff at Kepler's has done "an amazing job resurrecting a store that was on the verge of closing just three years ago." With initiatives like their African Library Project, they are raising awareness of books for young people, not just in their community, but in parts of the world where children do not have books of their own. The Flying Pig Bookstore "is more than a bookstore" in that the owners—Elizabeth Bluemle and Josie Leavitt—"have created a place that gives back to everyone who wants to be part of the book community;" as well as sharing their knowledge and experience with other booksellers at national and regional organizations, such as the New England Children's Booksellers Assn. and NEBA/NEIBA. The jury admired the creative programming at Vero Beach Book Center, like the Coral Reef which was designed in a way that customers young and old could learn while being entertained.

In addition to WNBA, the Pannell Award is underwritten by a generous gift from Penguin Young Readers Group. Each winner will receive a check for $1000 and a framed piece of original art by a children's book illustrator. This year's art was contributed by Janet Stevens, an award-winning illustrator of many books including her latest, Help Me, Mr. Mutt!; and Chris Van Dusen, illustrator of the bestselling Mercy Watson Series by Kate Dicamillo, including this summer's Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig. The presentation of the awards will be at the "Celebration of Bookselling" at BEA on May 29th in Los Angeles.

The Women's National Book Association, founded in 1917, is a national organization of women and men who work with and value books. WNBA, an all-volunteer organization, exists to promote reading and to support the role of women in the book community. To learn more about WNBA or the Pannell Award, visit www.wnba-books.org.


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