Mature Media Award for SECOND BLOOMING!

SECOND BLOOMING: Growing a Life That Matters After Fifty wins merit in national Mature Media Awards!

The largest awards program of its kind to recognize the nation’s best advertising, marketing and educational materials produced for older adults. The awards program is open to all those involved in the production of materials for adults age 50 and over. It is presented by the Mature Market Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for older adult programs.

Congrats to Betsy Smith and Kathleen Logan! Learn more at secondbloomingforwomen.com

What Would You Do All Day, Every Day, For Free?

I heard this on a video and smiled.

Well, I'm an indie publisher, so... I'm doing it!

My dream for as long as I can remember was to be a graphic designer. My first published job -- with my name on the colophon (see above) -- was a book design for my hometown in 1988, while I was still in college. I typeset the book on a Linotron and made mechanicals for the printer. I was so proud. (I still am -- I did a great job!) That's all I wanted to do, every day.

When I began working with entrepreneurs and authors I realized this thing I loved to do had an intrinsic value -- I could make the smallest entrepreneur look like the biggest corporation with a professional, compelling branding package (or "identity" as we called it a few decades ago!). For many years I ran a lucrative graphic design studio, and along the way met many incredible women entrepreneurs and writers. 

I remember the day I sat with my journal, imagining how I could "give" what I had to these women who needed it. I wasn't sure at that time the way this would evolve, but looking back now, I see clearly -- the creation of my independent press gave me the opportunity to pour every ounce of passion, and talent, into women and projects I believed in.

* * *

This past weekend I got to watch Bravo's "Work of Art" reality show and the assignment was a book cover design. (Loved it!) It sent me right back to crits at RISD. I loved art school. I was in heaven. I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, all day, every day. I worked hard, and my critiques were amazing. 

Hearing the contestant's excitement over designing a book cover that could be published by Penguin was full-circle-fulfilling. Those very thoughts -- imagining my design on the cover of a book that sold in real bookstores -- drove me to get where I am today, not only the book cover designer, but the publisher of over 100 titles currently being sold around the world!

* * *

It hasn't been easy, I've had to learn a great deal about the publishing industry, and about publicity, and distribution (which is changing daily). And, without an amazing consulting program I wouldn't be able to finance my passion. It's actually not free, but rather costs quite a bit -- the role of publisher is "do everything and pay for everything, all day, every day" but I love it.  

Fourth of July Weekend - Racing Sponsor!

While my world revolves around books, Wyatt & MacKenzie have a dad whose perfect world is adrenalin-filled, loud, hard-bouncing, steel-scraping racing arenas. Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing sponsors his rock-crawler called "The Timber Chicken" (one day our investment will pay off, he's an amazing driver, and media love him - he's darn cute if I do say so myself). The guy who makes everything happen here at Wyatt-MacKenzie behind the scenes - literally, I could not do what I do without him - gets a few weekends a year with his family's undivided attention and enthusiasm - maybe mine's a little too much, as you'll hear in this video. TEAM CHICKEN was the first to make it through the course - I got a little excited. You see his competitor roll by at the end of the video, never making it over the great big culvert in the beginning.

Here's a shot from this race's website, you can see me in the crowd shooting the video above =) In the photo Joey's "spotter" Grant is pulling winch line. They both did an awesome job.

Before you ask, yes, it took a few years... okay, a decade... for this graphic designer computer-geek from Boston to understand the affection these Deadwood boys have for four-wheelin'. After 17 years together, Joey has learned more about publishing than I have about racing, but we've both learned to love what makes each other happy. Wyatt-MacKenzie foresees a successful MotorSports Division! 

Joey Montoya ... driver, TIMBER CHICKEN (center, with the hat)