Hello everyone.

I’m very pleased to join A Motley Vision, and I hope that what I bring to this blog is of interest.

Those who have read my profile and William’s kind introduction know something of who I am and what I do. Briefly, I publish books and I’ve been involved in book publishing in New York City for the past 20 years. While that experience definitely informs my views, I hope that I don’t come across as a know-it-all on book publishing. I know some things, I study book publishing and read trade publications like Publishers Weekly. But I don’t think I qualify as an expert, just as someone who is opinionated and informed about publishing.

What I don’t say in the profile is that I’ve been looking at LDS book publishing for at least the past 10 years, ever since the Church announced a temple for Westchester county, New York and I started planning for an LDS bookstore (still mostly unrealized) for New York City. I’ve developed opinions about LDS book publishing also, but I’m not sure I qualify as an expert there, either, although again I do think I’m well informed here also.

During the past 1o years I’ve learned a lot about the LDS publishing world. I’ve seen some disappointing things happen, like Deseret Book’s 1999 purchase of Bookcraft (I voiced my opinion at the time on Mormon News, but the post is no longer available). And I’ve seen a substantial increase in the number of small LDS publishers.

I’ve also learned a lot (probably even a lot more than I’ve learned from watching the LDS publishing world) from participating on the Association for Mormon Letters‘ email list, which has taught me much about the richness and possibilities of Mormon literature. If you have even a minimal interest in Mormon letters, I recommend that list, and the Association’s magazine, Irreantum.

The 20 years I’ve spent in book publishing have all been here in New York City. Needless to say, that fact has also had an influence on me. I’m now a New Yorker, with all that means. And I believe it means a lot.

Part of what it means is participating in new ventures. Here in New York City we have our own LDS arts organization, the Mormon Artists Group, a loose association of Church members in the arts who share their work with each other and who periodically create joint projects, like the fabulous work Mormoniana.

We also have a local history committee, led by famed LDS historian Richard Bushman, which has produced both a periodical, the New York LDS Historian, and a history of the Church in New York City called City Saints.

Well, that should give you a rough idea of who I am and what I’m involved in. But despite all the above, don’t expect me to confine what I write about to book publishing. I’m much too opinionated for that. I will talk about new books, and other new products for LDS Church members. And I will talk about what publishers and retailers are doing and whether or not its the best thing. But I’m just as likely to explore other aspects of the sometimes quirky world of Mormon culture.

Tweet

Categories: Announcements | | Comments Feed: RSS 2.0 Comment | Trackback