Book Publishers Northwest

Legal Issues Rescheduled For February

Unfortunately ice and snow canceled Book Publishers Northwest’s January 19 meeting. But our January and February speakers kindly agreed to new dates. We will cover legal issues in February and author branding later in the year.  And keep our fingers crossed that we have no more blizzards!

At the February 16 meeting, attorney Gary Marshall will overview of copyright and contract law for writers and publishers, including an update on E-publishing legal issues. Until then, you can check his website (listed below) for resources for publishers.

The February 16 meeting takes place at Good Shepherd Center, Room 202, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North,  Seattle, WA.  All are welcome!

Speaker Bio

Gary Marshall enjoys working with creative people including artists, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and people who create new technology. He brings over twenty-six years of experience in business and technology law and litigation, including computer law, Internet law, and art and entertainment law together in one practice.

He is a frequent lecturer on different aspects of intellectual property law at Continuing Legal Education Seminars (CLEs) and writers conferences, and before arts organizations and computer groups. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Intellectual Property Section of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) from 2005 to 2011, and served on the Board of Directors of the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference from 1989 to 1999 and on the Board of Directors of Washington Lawyers for the Arts from 1990 to 1998 (President from 1993 to 1997). He did undergraduate and graduate work at MIT, and obtained his JD and MBA from Stanford University.

For further information and free downloadable handouts on topics of interest to writers and publishers see www.marshallcomputer.com.

May 19: Better (and cheaper) communications with social media

As a publisher of fiction or nonfiction, you’ve got a story to tell! But how do you let people know about your books? And, just as important, how can you tell that your efforts are paying off? What email, tweet, Facebook post, blog article, press release, or other piece brings the most eyeballs to your website — and which ones translate into better sales for you?

Join Rosemary Jones, web editor of Book Publishers Northwest, for a discussion of free (or very cheap) ways to create and track effective online communication.

Then Robbin Block, author of Social Persuasion: Making Sense of Social Media for Small Business, will give you even more ways to improve your communications and create a marketing  mix that works best for your business.

This meeting begins at 4 pm, May 19, at Good Shepherd Center, room 202, 4649 Sunnyside N., Seattle, WA.

More on our speakers:
Rosemary Jones has been the editor of Book Publisher Northwest’s newsletter for more than a decade, taking BPNW News from paper to epublication (for considerable cost savings), creating and maintaining the organization’s last two websites, and starting BPNW Facebook and Twitter pages.  The author of two Forgotten Realms novels published by Wizards of the Coast, a regular contributor to Seattle publisher Timid Pirate’s Cobalt City series, an online reviewer of theater and dance in Seattle, and a public relations professional specializing in effective corporate communication through social media, Rosemary enjoys making connections around the world with writers, publishers, and other book people.

Part geek, part creative, Robbin Block is a popular speaker on social media’s uses for small business marketing. She’s given hundreds of engaging, motivating and often humorous presentations that deliver a dash of economic theory with a healthy dose of New York skepticism. Robbin has taught at the university level and has consulted and worked for companies of all sizes including major corporations. She has in-depth knowledge of the Web and its strategic application to business.Robbin also volunteers at KBCS 91.3FM on the One World Report public affairs program as a writer, copy editor and voice talent.

Upcoming meetings: May though November

Book Publishers Northwest upcoming meetings include:

May – Online Communications via Email, Social Media and More w/Constant Contact
June – Apps For Publishers
September – Creating E-books
October – Audio Books

All meetings take place the third Thursday of the month at the Good Shepherd Center in Seattle. Meeting topics are subject to change without notice — but we try to post any changes as quickly as possible here or on our Facebook Fan page.

April meeting: Author Publicity with Book It Northwest

Create publicity and send a press releases out about it.
How to keep a press list and different types of press.
Tips on how to pitch and promote you or your authors.

Come hear Gail DiRe and Diane Duthweiler present a discussion on author marketing at the April 21 meeting of Book Publishers Northwest.  This meeting begins at 4 p.m. at Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside N., Room 202, Seattle, WA.

Gail DiRe, owner of Xetera Media Services since 1989, liaisons for national publishing houses and PR firms, working with local, national and international authors, politicians and celebrities. Xetera Media Services provides public relations, media connections, logistics, event and scheduling management and personal assistance for authors and publishers.

Diane Duthweiler began her career as a television anchor and reporter in Idaho, Then for 15 years she wrote and produced at two Seattle television stations. She works for Xetera Media Services and does freelance field producing for all the major television news networks.

Together Gail and Diane formed Book It Northwest and specialize in PR and helping authors and artists bring their work to the attention of Western Washington audiences and media.