Wyatt-MacKenzie Imprints ~ Past Year in Review!

In the spring I like to recap on the incredible imprint books we've had the privilege to assist authors in launching. The Wyatt-MacKenzie Imprint Program is thriving after over nine years of helping talented writers who choose to release their own books professionally, creatively, confidently, and proudly under our umbrella.

Our Big Award-Winner

This is the little book that could! THE IMPROBABLE WONDERS OF MOOJIE LITTLEMAN by gifted writer Robin Gregory has won more awards than I can count, including TWO Best Book Cover Design, which thrills me to no end.

Travel Guides!

These are the first travel guides I've had the utter joy of designing. I feel like I've toured Italy through EMILIA-ROMANGA and TUSCANY. If you ever need assistance planning your itinerary, check out Matt and Zeneba at Little Roads Europe.

 Powerful Women with Non-Fiction

Everyone knows my favorite thing in the world to do is help smart, powerful women fulfill their publishing dreams. These women inspire me in their unfaltering efforts to not only achieve their goals, but to also lift others up so they can achieve theirs as well.

I've worked with many different professionals, and it was an honor to serve The Honorable Judge Penny. She helps young women all over Atlanta, and now with her book REAL TALK her words reach an international audience.

 

When a university press didn't accept Professor Judy Scales-Trent's manuscript about her paternal grandfather, A BLACK MAN'S JOURNEY FROM SHARECROPPER TO COLLEGE PRESIDENT, I helped her. The same university press was astounded when she handed them her beautiful tome, complete with 1400 footnotes and an index to rival any out there. Among many ground-breaking accomplishments, her grandfather was one of the founders of the United Negro College Fund.

 

Anna Elena Berlin is one of those energies who shines so brightly you're not sure if she's of this earth. We sat next to each other at lunch during the Willamette Writer's Conference in Portland last year and sparks flew. She helps people locally in Mexico and all around the world with her personal coaching and her book GET WHAT YOU NEED. She's illuminating.

Erin Taylor is improving the lives of children—her book CONNECTION & KINDNESS is the tool she uses to coach parents. I've been so impressed with everything I watch Erin achieve. Find her at It Takes A Village Parent Coaching. (I know, what a great name!)

 

And a few gentlemen with great non-fiction...

Yes, every now and then we let a boy into our club. These two are exceptional men helping others with life-changing health books.

Dr. Alan Dattner is a world-renowned holistic dermatologist. RADIANT SKIN is his award-winning book that will help millions.

Nick Mirrione has a fascinating weight loss story—WHO IS THIS GUY? is co-written with his bariatric surgeon. Watching the journey of this patient and doctor will help so many.

 And... World War 3. 

Okay, this book scared the shit out of me—THE CRUCIBLE OF GLOBAL WAR is brewing. Christopher Petitt is brilliant, and his book shows how history repeats itself.

New Books from Existing Imprints!

And, the beauty of establishing your own imprint is being able to add books to your money-making, platform-building, reach-expanding machine, like these existing imprints have done.

Tom Ingrassia brought an absolutely wild second book to us. REFLECTIONS OF A LOVE SUPREME is filled with fan photos of The Supremes and Tom's keen commentary about Motown. A winner of numerous indie book awards! Catch Tom on WCUW 91.3 FM in Worcester, Mass, some of my old stomping grounds.

Funny lady Lela Davidson released her third book, FAKING BALANCE, under her imprint and it has since been adopted as required reading for a Family Work-Stress Course at a university! Lela is "one of the most creative minds in the country" at One Country Media.

Kathleen Logan released her second book under her Second Blooming imprint. WOMEN'S WISDOM, PASS IT ON is a beautiful award-winning little gift book. I had fun with the design of this one in full-color. Judges at the Benjamin Franklin Awards wrote: “Beautiful layout and use of color on interior. Book feels great and when a reader has it in their hand, will be very appealing. Font choices, and unique interior design is a winner.”

 

You've gottta love when sisters publish sisters, as happened with I SAID CAMEL, YOU GAVE ME CANCER—a very funny, yes funny, recovery story by Dawn Murphy, published under her sister Nanci William (author of FISHTAILS: MEN WHO BITE. DATES THAT SUCK, AND OTHER CAUTIONARY TALES). 

 

And COVERT ACTS is the fifth, no sixth, no seventh, no eighth book from Geoff Tigg! Once you teach them how to fish...

 

And another novelist who is gathering books from previous publishers and putting everything under her own imprint is Lin Wilder. Here are two of her latest, with more on the way.

Whether it's a novel that a writer wants to keep 100% of her rights on, or a self-help entrepreneur who needs to package her platform into a marketing tool and educational portal—the Wyatt-MacKenzie Imprint Program is a smart, completely transparent, viable, comprehensive and, in many of my imprints' opinions, the most enjoyable path to publishing your own books.

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.

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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.