New Acquisitions

Wyatt-MacKenzie is ecstatic to announce the acquisition (and grant of rights!) for the charming picture book Matilda, The Algonquin Cat written by Boston columnist Leslie Martini, and being illustrated by Massimo Mongiardo (Young Jane Austen), for a Fall 2016 release. Author and illustrator are pictured above, meeting at the iconic hotel.

~ The Algonquin Cat Backstory ~ 

In 1902 the elegant Algonquin Hotel opened its doors in New York City and became the daily meeting place for talented young writers, editors, actors, and publicists. In 1932 a stray cat wandered into the lobby, and into history. The renowned actor John Barrymore named him "Hamlet" and since then the Algonquin has always had a resident cat. All the male cats are called Hamlet, and the females—for reasons unknown—are called Matilda.

This picture book is funny, and informative, and for everyone, ages 4 through 104, who love cats and the literary backstory. Check out Matilda's Facebook—she's more famous than many of our authors! Here's a peek at a sketch...

~ Our First 2017 Acquisition ~

And in a serendipitous turn, The Algonquin Hotel lobby will display the artwork of Al Hirschfeld, which will also grace the pages of Wyatt-MacKenzie's 2017 acquisition...

Wyatt-MacKenzie just signed Create! A Captivating Collection of How the World’s Most Creative People Live—soul-searching interviews assembled by Goodwill Cultural Ambassador, actor and best-selling author Ronald Rand. Mr. Rand saw a copy of our 2016 release Witness to Spirit and knew his beautiful book would find a creative home with Wyatt-MacKenzie.

Create! explores the creative process of the world’s most acclaimed actors, actresses, artists, choreographers, composers, lyricists, dancers, directors, educators, musicians, playwrights, poets, singers and writers of generations. We're securing rights to include breathtaking artwork, including Al Hirschfeld and many others!

A Masters in Publishing

It's hard to believe that in November of 2018 Wyatt-MacKenzie will celebrate our 20th anniversary, and now I've added a new goal for that two-year destination — I’m going to Graduate School!

George Washington University has a Master of Professional Studies in Publishing program aimed at professionals who are currently working in the industry. Why do I want to do this, after already having close to two decades of publishing experience?! I asked myself the same question when writing the "Statement of Purpose." I thought I'd share it with you, here, and when classes start in the fall I'll write about my journey.

Statement of Purpose

Watching the factions in publishing—major publishing houses, university presses, indies, self-publishing companies and self-publishers—converge, intersect, and explode over the last 18 years has been fascinating. I’ve been an outlier of the publishing industry since I fell into the fire as a professional graphic designer helping women writers to package their books. Early on I was burned by major distribution, trying to fulfill industry expectations. I was criticized by the industry insiders for my two-pronged (traditional plus consulting) business model only to watch those monoliths follow my dual path a decade and a half later. In the beginning I was chastised by agencies for not meeting their archaic requirements only to, in recent years, be pitched incessantly by the same agents now scrambling to figure out how I do things and if they can replicate it.

I am incredibly curious about what I can learn in GWU's publishing program, and to see what I have to contribute to the quickly-changing conversation about publishing today. I believe I might have a unique perspective on author care, an element I see as the most important, and often overlooked, in any publishing discussion. My warped entrepreneurial sensibility has always put the author first.

I started by publishing the works of the “pillars of the community” to which I belonged—mom entrepreneurs. Bringing the power of publishing to this under-served and much-deserving segment magnetized my brand. I donated time, energy, and creativity to the leaders, helping them publish, present, promote, and build their businesses. Meanwhile, I bounced off professional writing groups that were unsure how to judge “just a mom” or "just a graphic designer" who thinks she can run a publishing company. 

Publishing is hard. It is heart-wrenching, time-consuming, under-appreciated and expensive, yet still the love of my life.

I have been the fortunate observer, hundreds and hundreds of times over, of a writer fulfilling her dream; it’s awesome. I love the thrill: of saying “Yes!” to a proposal and hearing sheer joy in her voice; of an author getting a blurb from her idol she thought was impossible; of sitting in my living room in Deadwood, squealing as I watch my authors do their thing on HBO, PBS, CNN, HLN, Fox, MSN, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and yes, Oprah; of sharing the news with an author that she’s won a book award and seeing her eyes well up with tears over the shiny gold sticker on her cover.

As a single mom I’ve had a long-drawn goal of getting my master’s degree when my kids go to college, and suddenly that time is here. I’m seeking to advance my indie press, and I’ve always secretly aspired to teach at the college level. Finding the program at GWU was exhilarating, especially knowing I can participate from Oregon. In my graduate study I want to challenge what I know, and see what more I can discover about this insane, I mean exciting, industry.

# # #

Then, in January 2016, a headline spurred my decision even further: "Publisher Penguin Random House says job applicants will no longer be required to have a university degree" It infuriated me, and embolden me, and my goal is to challenge a curriculum which potentially embraces archaic ways and leans toward careers within major publishing houses as the end-goal, and use my perspective to perhaps assist in strengthening (and teaching!?) an independent publishing track in higher education.

Upcoming Novels

~ Upcoming Romance Novels ~

We have two novels on tap that will be great for book clubs...

This summer we have a self-fulfilling romance novel from Caroline Zani, a grade school teacher and psychic medium. Piper, Once & Again magically mirrors the author's own life—she wrote her dreams into fiction only to find them come to fruition years later. A man from her past reappeared, she signed a publishing contract for her 2008 novel, and her ARCs will become wedding favors in February as she marries the love of her life, having connected with him, again.

Piper, Once & Again came to us through a literary agent to the stars—she represents some of my metaphysical heroes, who we're now pitching for blurbs. So full-circle fulfilling!

 

And coming later in the Fall is a sweet romance Triple Love Score by Brandi Granett, a very talented writer with a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and an MFA in Fiction from Sarah Lawrence College. When she is not writing, or teaching college classes, she is honing her archery skills, which I'm sure will come in hand for publicity.

In a wonderful way, Triple Love Score reminds me of two of my current favorite TV shows, "A Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce" and "Younger"—the lead character, poetry professor Miranda Shane, throws out conventions in her writing career and becomes an internet sensation when she starts playing with Scrabble + poetry + social media. She lands deals every writer would kill for, has an affair with a graduate student, and faces a life she didn't expect, and decisions she never thought she was strong enough to make.

*2/4/16 UPDATE* After a concerted team effort, we were thrilled to land permissions from Hasbro to use photographs of Scrabble® poems throughout the book!