Working Remotely — Guess Where!

So, we've been working some long hours the last four months. Our spring books are making a splash, and so are we (FIRST HINT). I am excited to announce -- for the next few weeks we will be working remotely, well, even more remotely than Deadwood.

Many years ago one of Imprints offered us the use of her second home, and this month we took her up on it! Stay tuned for the second company excursion of 2012. The trip will hold a bunch of firsts for Wyatt and MacKenzie. Joey lived there with his mom for a year when he was in his teens. I've been wanting and waiting to go back there for 22 years.

MORE HINTS: The last time I was there was also a work trip. Seems like a lifetime ago, well I guess it was half a lifetime! During that trip I...walked on hot coals, jumped off a telephone pole and caught a trapeze swing, stopped eating meat, and performed an obnoxious clap more times than I wish to count. But I listened. And I absorbed. And while I didn't really fit in with that crowd as I worked behind the scenes, I saw people believing in their potential, and I began to full-heartedly believe in mine.

Have a guess? Post on our facebook wall. We'll be writing, and working, from there soon...stay tuned.

Wyatt-MacKenzie SPRING 2012 Press Release

Rock-'n-Roll, Drugs, Divorce and Diversity — Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing Spring 2012 Releases

From intercultural acceptance to accepting parental estrangement, from helping teens stay off drugs to a peek inside the drug-fueled Hollywood music scene — Wyatt-MacKenzie's Spring roster's contradictions make good reading companions in paperback, iBook, Kindle and Nook.

May 1, 2012 -- (Deadwood, OR) Independent publisher Wyatt-MacKenzie is all sex, drugs, rock-’n-roll, and race relations this Spring with a richly diverse crop of books, awards, and eBooks for May 2012.

THE CHALK CIRCLE, Tara L. Masih's collection of intercultural prizewinning essays launches Friday, May 4, 7:00pm, at Books Inc. on Van Ness in San Francisco. Masih will lead a reading with essayists Li Miao Lovett, Toshi Washizu, Lyzette Wanzer, Samuel Autman, Tilia Klebenov Jacobs, and Gretchen Brown Wright. Tori Grant-Welhouse reviews in Her Circle magazine, “THE CHALK CIRCLE is intelligently and thoughtfully compiled, unified by a belief in writing to further our comprehension of what can (or should) define us, as individuals and as a global culture.” Read more of this comprehensive review: http://bit.ly/HMYpIj

New York Times bestselling author and political comedian Lewis Black called DEAR DAD, IT'S OVER "A must-read for any divorced parent or any child who has had to go through it.” Touring across the country in clubs and colleges, comedian and actor M Dickson opened last month for Kathleen Madigan who wrote about M’s book, “It made me think.” ForeWord Reviews states, “Her ability to articulate her feelings will be helpful for teens or young adults going through similar circumstances, but the book would also be a good choice for divorced parents of young children. As Dickson’s experiences prove, sometimes the emotions surrounding a divorce cloud the judgment of those involved, and the book could offer some reminders to parents and caretakers.” Read this review: http://bit.ly/IJOtKT

When acquisitions editor Lisa Pliscou saw Matt Bellace’s book, A BETTER HIGH, she knew it would fit perfectly on Wyatt-MacKenzie’s roster (the publishing company celebrates its 14th year in 2012 and Wyatt, MacKenzie, and Lisa’s son Max, have all become teenagers!). Bellace speaks to over a hundred thousand students a year on how to pursue natural highs and make healthy choices. A recurring comedian on truTV's "The World's Dumbest," his stand up can be heard on Sirius XM's Comedy Channels.

“THIS ROCK IN MY HEART is chick lit for rocker moms, not soccer moms!” reviews Sandy King Carpenter, a writer and film producer. Every girl who ever went to Hollywood with stars in her eyes will wish she were walking in Tommie Vaughn’s character’s shoes, or more precisely, her turquoise snakeskin cowboy boots, as she pursues her dream. Rock-’n-Roll journalist Lonn Friend describes, “deeply heartfelt, invites the audience into the sacred space of an artist, it gives you a laugh, a tear, a wise crack and a woody.” Vaughn’s indie band, Wall of Tom, is also releasing a new album alongside the book. Legendary singer/songwriter, author/publisher Henry Rollins says of the first single, “a well written, performed and meant song, free of cynicism. Rare in these times."

All new titles are available in paperback, iBook, Kindle and Nook. Also out now in ebook for Mother's Day is SPECIAL GIFTS: Women Writers on the Heartache, the Happiness and the Hope of Raising a Special Needs Child (2007) edited by Arlene Schusteff. The New York Times Sunday edition ran an excerpt five years ago by one of the talented contributors, Lisa Romeo (http://nyti.ms/IZmreL).

Book Award Season has begun! Suzanne Kamata's short story collection THE BEAUTIFUL ONE HAS COME (2011) won a 2012 Nautilus Award for books which “promote spiritual growth, conscious living & positive social change.” The Holocaust memoir by Marika Roth, ALL THE PRETTY SHOES (2011), is a ForeWord Magazine Book-of-the-Year finalist. THE CHALK CIRCLE is a winner of the 19th Annual Skipping Stones Honor Awards for “promoting an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation and encourage a deeper understanding of the world’s diversity.”

Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, Inc. in Deadwood, Oregon has been providing an unparalleled author experience since 1998. Highlights of Wyatt-MacKenzie’s recent media include: a national TV appearance by author Laurie A. Couture on Anderson Cooper’s daytime talk show discussing her book INSTEAD OF MEDICATING (2008); and Publisher Nancy Cleary is profiled in Oregon Business Magazine (June 2012 Issue) among Oregon’s multi-million dollar mom-centric businesses, with two books appearing on the cover, MOM 3.0 (2008) and POWER MOMS (2011).

The Highs of March

Say my name. Say my name.

As soon as we saw the first commercial air -- we knew Laurie's appearance on national TV was going to be big. On March 8 Anderson Cooper began his daytime talkshow with, "Today's show impacts everyone who has a kid..." He then quoted statistics of children taking meds and THEN said, "Today we have Laurie A.  Couture author of Instead of Medicating and Punishing..." I didn't hear what came next because I was squealing. He said the name of our book and author at the very top of the show...OMG. The next 60 minutes was an adrenalin-rush, to say the least, as Laurie went toe-to-toe with a Mayo Clinic expert and a mom who held different beliefs than hers on ADHD. She did amazing! I was so proud of how brave and eloquent Laurie was. Thousands of comments and social media posts shot round the world and Laurie fulfilled one of her missions of publishing this book back in 2008 — she affected international dialogue with her expertise and experience. 

Endorsement Elation

I am a huge fan of comedians, especially the really smart ones. When two sensational stand-ups -- one my ultimate favorite brilliant comedic hero -- endorsed one of our own this month, I danced around the office until I was breathless. 

Am I being Punk'd?

So it seems we've been a hot item on PublishersMarketplace -- I gasped when I took this screen capture on the home page...

The proposals that have been crossing my desk are unbelievable. And I admit, I feel like the ugly girl who the popular boy asked to the prom and then stood her up the night of the dance when he realized she wasn't as popular as he thought...these are major celebrities who deserve major publishing deals. I know it's wrong to talk about an agent pitch, but...I know I won't hear back from this one: Hollywood insider's 3-book fiction series about a beautiful gal swept off her feet by a big-name star, becomes an entertainment host and one of the most famous girlfriends, and then the break-up with a promised "big reveal" the rest of the world doesn't even know. WOW. As soon as I see the real deal she gets I'll share it, but until then I have to keep it a secret. Shhhh.

Shipping Next Month from Wyatt-MacKenzie

Our Spring Releases start shipping in April! A BETTER HIGH by Matt Bellace will be introduced at the Prevention Council's 30th Annual Leadership Conference at Skidmore College; DEAR DAD, IT'S OVER will be celebrated at M's hometown library; THIS ROCK IN MY HEART will have a musical, Hollywood extravaganza release party; and THE CHALK CIRCLE will have a multiple-author signing at Books Inc. in San Francisco, and has already been chosen for a featured review in the summer issue of Foreword Reviews Magazine. New out digitally is A SUBURBAN MOM, the very funny collection of essays from journalist Meredith O'Brien we published in 2007, now available on Kindle, Nook and iBook.

New Spring Imprints

Sandi Bell is an advocate for horses, she has a beautifully illustrated guide on horse care, BEFORE THE 'CROP' COMES OUT.

Dr. Pamela Jeanne focuses on rediscovering a new way to heal in HEALING MATTERS: CELEBRATING WOMEN'S INNATE HEALING NATURE.

Deborah Beasley has an important book to help parents adopt, SUCCESSFUL FOSTER CARE ADOPTIONS.

Kelly Estes is our youngest Imprint yet and she is an inspiration. At 17 she penned a novel honoring her Uncle who served in WW2 -- she will release THE COST OF COURAGE two days after she graduates from college.

This husband, wife, and grandmother team has created a powerful guidebook for parents with visually impaired children, LITTLE BEAR SEES.

Honored to be Nominated...

Finally, we were honored to learn today that THE BEAUTIFUL ONE HAS COME is on the long-list for the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. And earlier this month we had 4 finalist nominations from Reader Views Literary Awards. These are the first announcements of the upcoming book award season...which is sure to be eventful!