Gina Bennett ~ National Security Mom

~ A LITTLE BACKGROUND ~

Eight years ago a fax came through that I will never forget. I wasn't sure what I was looking at; the “CLASSIFIED” stamp didn't tip me off. It hit me as I read the writer's pitch that followed—the pages were part of her 1993 Briefing to the President, the first warning about a man named Osama bin Laden.

The pitch was for a non-fiction book—written by this mom of five—about how her work at the CIA as a national security analyst overlapped her work as a parent, and how the lessons we teach our kids could be good for the country.

I was mesmerized. I couldn't believe the project hadn't been scooped up by a major publisher.

Wyatt-MacKenzie released National Security Mom nine months later, in November 2008. What I didn't know then was that having an author who is active CIA makes it a bit difficult to do publicity—everything Ms. Bennett says or writes must be pre-approved.

When Harpo Studios called me in September of 2008, luckily the CIA approved and helped us take the photo of the Bennett family on the iconic CIA seal—which unbelievably had to be done on September 11th to meet the deadline. I was thrilled when the CIA blogged about Gina's October 2008 "appearance" on Oprah, even crediting her publisher for the pitch.

Since then, because of the book, I've found myself playing gatekeeper to everyone wanting to interview Gina—from the BBC to HBO's Vice—who must go through the CIA Public Affairs Office (and, Gina has been a very, very busy woman at work). 

With terrorism in the air, maybe the world is finally ready to listen to Gina Bennett's wise words.

~ LAST WEEK ~

MAKERS (PBS/AOL) posted their absolutely incredible video series about Gina last week http://www.makers.com/gina-bennett. I smiled when I saw the photo we shot for Oprah come through my email on "Makers Monday."

 

I have to confess, my eyes were welling up watching these videos—I've listened to Gina tell all of these stories. Now the world can hear them.

HBO showed the MAKERS "Women in War" documentary in 2013 which included clips of Gina, and began with her voice-over. Now all of Gina's interview is posted on the MAKERS site, a must-watch series of videos!

 

When SHOWTIME announced they would be including Gina in "The Spymasters" premiering 11/28/15 I was grinning from ear to ear. The documentary, meant to focus on the 12 living CIA directors, included Gina—not in the title, not in the promos, not on the website—but in a way that the Wall Street Journal noticed, calling her "the lone woman in the show and its most forthcoming witness."

After watching "Spymasters" Salon was convinced that Gina was "the obvious model for Jessica Chastain’s Zero Dark Thirty character." (Something else that made me grin.) The LA Times was thoughtful in assessing, "There's Gina Bennett, a senior counterterrorism analyst in the unit assigned to Osama Bin Laden—and a mother of five—who contends that our willingness to 'become something that we're not' is a greater threat than terrorism itself."

There's talk of plans for a CBS version to air next year. Newsweek was quoted, "The show’s two hours move quickly. Too bad it isn’t a miniseries." I couldn't agree more.

I expected a few quotes from Gina in "Spymasters," instead she graced the documentary multiple times, and was, in my humble opinion, the most authentic and brilliant voice on it. From the first image of Gina my jaw dropped open, and I think it stayed open for just about the entire show. 

Here's to hoping other viewers will be awe-struck as well, and will want to know more about Gina, and her view that national security starts at home—they can find it in National Security Mom. 

Some stills from the show...

 

~

 

New Acquisition ~ Witness to Spirit

Just 8 short weeks ago, on August 25, I received an email from Kristin Campbell: “Hi Nancy, I got your name from Sandi Selvi when we were talking today. My father has written an amazing book and I would love to speak with you about it.” 

The next day I got on the phone with Kristin and the writer who penned the introduction, Todd Wilkinson, who I learned had just written a book with Ted Turner. (Wow!)

Todd spun an enchanting tale about a Montana cowboy who loved breakin’ wild horses and playin’ fiddle. And how a love of music led Robert Staffanson, author of Witness to Spirit: My Life with Cowboys, Mozart & Indians, to create the highly-successful Billings Symphony against all odds, and then to conduct the prestigious Springfield Symphony in Massachusetts. Then, homesick, Robert Staffanson returned home to Montana to co-found The American Indian Institute. (Wow. Wow. Wow.) And, there were photos. Lots of gorgeous photos.

The arc of Robert Staffanson’s life evolves through this trio of distinct movements, and at each step of the way, he bears witness to spirit.

I was smiling through the entire phone call (of course, I do have a soft spot for cowboys). After a few follow-up contract calls, Wyatt-MacKenzie quickly signed Kris and her father, who is 93 and deaf, with the inconceivable goal of getting books to him for Christmas. After 3 weeks in editing, and 3 weeks in layout, we just got the hot galleys in our hands! I am beyond excited.

Here’s a peek inside the pages of Witness to Spirit... taking pre-orders now on Amazon, set to start shipping December 1.

 

Advance Review Copies!!

 

Can’t even tell you how much fun I had designing this.

I wanted to try and capture the same spirit held in Mr. Staffanson’s words... and in the photos he’s held on to for all those years.

 

A peek inside the pages in “First Movement ~ Cowboys” 

This section features antique sepia-tone photos secured with old-fashioned picture corners.

 

A peek inside the pages in “Second Movement ~ Music”

This section features dramatic, stark black & white photos with romantic accents.

 

A peek inside the pages in “Third Movement ~ Indians”

This section features vibrant, stunning color photos. 

 

 

 

We’re anxiously awaiting the foreword, being written by Oren Lyons—Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation and a Chief of the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy—who co-founded twocircles.org with Mr. Staffanson. 

For me, this entire book project has been imbued with spirit from the onset. 

Awesome insight #1: Kris was speaking with our author, Sandi Selvi, about her book A Stem Cell Transplant MS Recovery Story, after having the life-changing procedure Sandi wrote about!

Awesome insight #2: And here’s the BEST full-circle moment, ever. I moved to Oregon in 1992 and at that time I was helping a partner build his media publishing company, WisdomKeepers Publishing, named after a gorgeous book which came out in 1990 featuring Native American Elders, including Oren Lyons. 

 ~ • ~

Before & Afters ~ Book Covers

Some of our Imprints come to Wyatt-MacKenzie for a revamped second edition of their book, under their own brand. Others have great cover ideas for their new books, but haven’t found anyone able to execute their vision. We springboard off of what the Imprint brings to the table, and add our touch — imbuing the Imprint’s branding, and organizing the information into the most legible, enticing, and memorable way, sure to leave a professional impression.

Here are six examples of recent Before & Afters...

#1 Alissa had a creative first edition cover including a cool personalized mask graphic, which she really wanted to keep. Building from there, I made the mask the central image, simplified and focused the title, and professionally positioned Alissa as a speaker and advocate.

Before

After

 

#2 Sometimes a new photo shoot is exactly what a cover needs, and maybe a little typographic pixie dust.

 

#3 I really love when an author creates a fabulous cover concept themselves, and I just help them polish it. Laurel had this great “Wizard of Oz” feel to her cover and really wanted to keep the hand-drawn font — my updates were subtle, but added a whole new level of branding for her.

Before

After 

 

#4 Erin’s title revolves around a key, and she had a great cover image created for her first edition; but, like many of the other examples, the execution of the typography needed a little work.

Before

 

After 

 

 

#5 Lin released the first edition of her book and then came to us for the second edition and the sequel, now safely under her own Imprint.

Before

After 

 

Sequel

 

 

#6 Matt and Zen had assembled a great eBook, and were ready for a print version. I helped them create a new icon for the series, and designed the first two covers. This is a fun full-color book — the interior is just as incredible as the covers Look Inside at Amazon.

Before

 

 

 After and Book #2

I hope these examples inspire other authors to look at their covers (and just as importantly, their back covers) with new eyes and new ideas. 

Contact me if I can help you with your new cover. nancy@wyattmackenzie.com