< Back Book Manufacturing Mastered Returns September 17th September 1, 2026 at 7:59:15 AM On September 17 th at Thomson Reuters in Times Square, New York City, an event will bring together publishers, manufacturers, printers, binders, and other industry folk that make a printed book. This event, Book Manufacturing Mastered , presents three separate panels: printers; publishers and retail; along with discussion panels to have serious conversation with other industry leaders. Marco Boer , I.T. Strategies kicks off the day long event, giving an overview of where the industry is today, and ends with a networking reception and vendor displays. The conference supports collaboration across all stages of publishing. Attendees will have the opportunity to exchange work and ideas, discuss the challenges they face, and help the industry work together as one. These ending sessions are small groups, opportunities to discuss with peers how to work together to succeed. The ending reception is an excellent professional network opportunity. “I am excited to bring the Book Manufacturing Mastered event back… publishers, printers and suppliers need to get together and discuss what's happening in the sector and how all three groups can work better together to ensure the continued success of the book industry.” said Matt Baehr , Executive Director of Book Manufacturers’ Institute. This all-day event starts at 9 am and runs until 6 pm. The agenda is full of great opportunities, with panels on multiple topics featuring multiple speakers and leaders. Maple Press will sponsor lunch, and Lulu, a global book printing company, will sponsor multiple breaks. Many other sponsors will also help the event run smoothly and will be open to connecting with attendees. Publishers at any stage are invited, but printers and suppliers must be Book Manufacturers’ Institute members; publisher registration is $199 and printer/supplier registration is $399. Registration and additional event information are available through the official Book Manufacturing Mastered website, https://bookmanufacturingmastered.com/ . This event also coincides with a celebration the day before, as the Book Industry Study Group celebrates its 50 th anniversary and hosts the BISG@50 : Book Publishing Next Forum & Anniversary Celebration. This event will celebrate the group's history and highlight the collaboration, standards, and shared solutions across publishing. Printed Word Reviews / Reported by Jackson Tomlin Share this article Copy link LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest

< Back The Ultimate Gift, Part Two: More Holiday Book Picks from Independent Press and NYC Big Book Award Winners November 27, 2025 at 7:03:48 AM Last month, I invited NYC Big Book Award-winning authors and leading voices from the independent press to share their recommendations for the best book to give this holiday season. This issue continues that tradition, offering a second round of diverse and captivating picks. In this next installment, a number of contributors recommend their own compelling titles, explaining why their work makes the perfect gift. Hope you’ll agree! John Clark, publisher of Old Stone Press, recommended: "THE LEGEND OF CHRIS MOOSE" by Allen Northcutt Young children everywhere are naturally industrious and playfully search for purpose in their daily lives. In this meaningful story, Ugly the moose finds his usefulness and becomes a happier, more beautiful being. Through the attractive cadences of "The Night before Christmas" and the spunky illustrations of forest life, "Chris Moose" is an appealing addition to your family's holiday library. Elizabeth Campbell Rightmyer, Ed. D, Early Childhood Literacy Specialist Head of Lower School, Louisville Collegiate School https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9781938462016 My favorite holiday children’s book has to be "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss. It’s a timeless classic that all generations can enjoy! Paige Pedroli, author of “ Welcome to the NIC Zoo” https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9798218307080 “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore Every holiday season until he passed, my dad's belly shook like a bowl full of jelly as he read “The Night Before Christmas” to our family, forever cementing it as our family's quintessential Christmas "must read." Liz Fahey, author of NOLO https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2024df/9798990449619 My favorite is Megan Patterson’s “Mary Magdalene Revealed.” Hay House NY 2019 An eye opener for everyone at holiday time. Sieglinde Othmer, author of “Joyous Longevity” https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-favorites/9781737602804 My childhood favorite, the Caldecott Medal Honor Book, “Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present,” sweetly and simply brings me back to the true meaning of the holidays, how a gift is not how much money you spend on it, or how it has to be the latest material fad, but rather a true gift is one that is thoughtfully selected from the heart. Angela Greenman, Author of “The Child Riddler”, 2025 NYC Big Book Winner, Action Adventure https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781642473650 A book that always brings a smile to my face at Hanukkah is “The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming,” by Lemony Snicket. I love it because it blends humor with heart, reminding us that even the simplest traditions carry deep meaning and joy. David Singer, Author of From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall https://nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9798822935211 Amid the challenges of living with a father’s schizophrenic, a family discovers resilience, compassion and the healing power of a mother’s love. A mother who turned a life of struggle into a legacy of hope. Olga’s story continues to touch hearts in ways the author never could have imagined. The book reminds me that stories do more than preserve the past - they plant seeds for the future. Even in life’s darkest moments faith and compassion can kindle a light that never fades. Three women confront the stigma of mental health and with their stories break the silence and offer hope. A feel good read in these harried times. Kathleen Geuder Martin, author of “Life in the Shadows: A Story of Resilience: Second Edition: Celebrating Olga's Legacy” https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-favorites/9781949053173 A favorite is “Blue Christmas” by Mary Kay Andrews. She’s one of my favorite authors and always makes me laugh out loud with her character’s antics. C. D'Angelo, author of “The Gift” https://nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781737262442 “Bellosio,” an intricate fantasy novel about a fight for power and scientific enlightenment, is now an audio book narrated by Ray Montecalvo whose talented voice brings out the depth of characters even the author didn't fully appreciate. John Shekleton, author of “Bellosio” https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-favorites/9798991455800 Our favorite book for the holidays would have to be “Trusted Friends and Lovers” from Burkey & Breakfield In “Trusted Friends and Lovers,” Breakfield and Burkey invite you on a heart-pounding journey through the wild, untamed terrain of trust, the most fragile and powerful currency in any relationship. What transforms a stranger into a confidant, a lover into a lifeline? The answer lies in the raw, unfiltered moments of connection, betrayal, and redemption that define us. Burkey & Breakfield, Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite https://www.independentpressaward.com/2025winners/9781946858771 My favorite Holiday Book is "The Adventures of Sherrie and Chubbie... Self-Control" for several reasons... One, it is part of the Sherrie and Chubbie Legacy. Secondly, it is a story that I wrote to express the joy of my real-life brother's birth. Though it is fiction, it has real-life connections. In addition, we all need self-control, and this book allows children the chance to see it in action while building unconditional love, self-awareness, and developing good character... all wrapped up in a Christmas Bow. Though it was not recognized as one of my award-winning works, it is quite popular with kids and it holds a special place as a heart-warming lesson for the ages! Dr. Sherrie Poitier-Liscombe, author of the "Sherrie and Chubbie" series https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-favorites/9798303312456 “Exploring Wine Regions” has it all for traveling to beautiful wine regions with insider information about the wineries, restaurants, accommodations, and interesting activities. Michael C. Higgins, PhD Author, PhotoJournalist & Publisher Exploring Wine Regions https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9780996966061 “A Choice to Yield” “She was warned who to love—until one man made her question everything.” From Pages to Screen, it's a book turned into a feature film. Written with enough drama to hold you captive. Lonz Cook, author of “ Diminishing Veil” https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-favorites/9781943904174 “ The Christmas Chronicles ” by Jeff Guinn - these warm-hearted, modern day Christmas stories are just what my soul needs amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. The Autobiography of Santa Claus is my favorite. Michele Kwasniewski, author of The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart Series https://www.independentpressaward.com/2025favorites/9781950544349 “Bring down the House” by Charlotte Runcie …a startling account of theater critics… “Being Duchess Goldblatt” by anonymous! …very clever story about self-definition… Lee Woodman, author of the “SCAPES” series https://www.independentpressaward.com/2025winners/9781962082204 “Trini Christmas is the Best” by Teneil Brown — I love how it captures the unique warmth, food, music, and cultural traditions of a Trinidadian Christmas, reminding me of home and the joy of community. “The Christmas Catch: A Sweet Holiday Novella” by Toni Shilloh — It’s a tender, faith-filled romance that wraps you up like a cozy blanket and reminds you that love, like the season, brings light and hope. Scarlet Ibis James,author of “ Scarlet Birthright: What They Left Behind” https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9798991590976 An Authors' FAVORITE (hey, we know something about favorites!) Charles Dickens's timeless novella, “A Christmas Carol,” was a popular favorite amongst the award-winning authors. It stands as an indisputable holiday classic, cherished by readers and writers alike for its potent themes of generosity, redemption, and seasonal magic. Here, several of our authors share their heartfelt reasons why Ebenezer Scrooge's transformative journey holds a special and enduring place in their hearts. “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens I’m a huge fan of Dickens and modern authors owe him so much. This is just the perfect seasonal story, but it’s also the perfect story about the possibility of redemption, and the wonders of simple goodness. Plus, it’s just so atmospheric, with enough spookiness to make you run the gamut of emotions. Stephanie Bretherton, author of “The Fire In Their Eyes” https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781068718571 “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, because it highlights the power of gratitude and generosity (my two core values) and demonstrates how they can transform someone’s life. Lida Citroën, author of “The New Rules of Influence: How to Authentically Build Trust, Drive Change, and Make an Impact" https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-winners/9781523006663 My favorite book for the holiday season, one I've been reading almost every year since I was a teenager, is Charles Dickens's “A Christmas Carol:” it never fails to charm and amaze me, and send me back to the happiest moments of my childhood, no matter how often I read it. Dickens's prose is more vivid than any movie, richer than any music, wiser than my wisest aunt, and funnier than my craziest uncle. Christopher Bernard, author of “Otherwise: The Judgment Of Biestia: A Tale for Children and Their Adults” https://www.independentpressaward.com/2025winners/9781587906718 “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. I chose that because it has a powerful message how people should change for the better. Rey Banda https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-favorites/9780989809030 It's not even close. My all-time favorite holiday book is, “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens. Norman Jetmundsen https://www.independentpressaward.com/2025winners/9798218420192 Reported by Printed Word Reviews Share this article Copy link LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest

Book review of Hoggy, Foggy, and Their Terrifying Life With a Spider by Sara Madden . ISBN: 9781946505453 < Back Hoggy, Foggy, and Their Terrifying Life With a Spider Sara Madden fear, loneliness, loss, grief, empathy Sara Madden Books Share this review: Copy link Facebook LinkedIn X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest A timid ghost, a courageous ninja, and a spider run from each other in comedic chaos until they finally stop to talk, overcoming their mutual fears to find friendship and comfort in one another. Hoggy, Foggy, and Their Terrifying Life With a Spider is a story that explores fear, loneliness, and grief. The story follows a ghost, a ninja, and a spider as they face their fears and form unlikely bonds along the way. Sara Madden creates an approachable introduction to real-life topics for children with adorable and relatable characters while maintaining a lighthearted tone throughout. The peculiar dynamic of the three characters stems from their fears: Hoggy, the ghost, is scared of the spider; the spider is scared of ninjas like Foggy; and Foggy is scared of being lonely. Once they encounter each other and clear the air, they start to connect beyond their fears and learn what they all like and love to do. Madden demonstrates the shift from fear to grief, exploring a wide range of complex emotions when loss strikes Hoggy. He struggles to grasp how to move forward until he befriends another friendly spider. This new friend represents the opportunity and the life after loss. Hoggy revels in the friendship, telling her about his past ninja and spider friends, who they were, and the things they liked. The story is accompanied by digital renderings of the events being told on the page. These illustrations are immersive, filled with dimension and detail while still keeping an animated style suited for children. The drawings utilize color strategically to correlate with the mood of the scene, adding another layer to the depiction of grief. Hoggy, Foggy, and Their Terrifying Life With a Spider is a great portrayal of loss and the emotions that accompany it for children. It has layers of empathy and explores how everyone’s lived experience is different. Madden highlights how, despite losing someone, their memory can always live on through their stories and the things they shared with you too. Previous Next

< Back New Political Thriller "Are You a Patriot?" Reimagines the American Hero July 5, 2026 at 7:03:39 AM With the United States celebrating its semiquincentennial (250th anniversary), a provocative new novel is stepping into the cultural spotlight to challenge the very definition of American patriotism. Are You a Patriot? , a high-stakes political thriller co-authored by award-winning entrepreneur Donald Thompson and acclaimed cultural historian Bob Batchelor is scheduled for release on September 15, 2026. The novel marks the debut of the Xander Hale series. Along with the announcement, the publishers have officially unveiled the book's cover, designed by eminent artist Brad Norr. At the center of the novel is Xander Hale, a self-made Black corporate titan who built an empire uncovering the truths that powerful institutions preferred to keep buried. Living in an America that has historically marginalized him, Xander's world is upended when the nation crosses a dangerous, irreversible line. Suddenly, the man who spent his life navigating a biased system is drafted to defend it. The stakes could not be higher: if Xander refuses to help, the country burns; if he agrees, it will cost him the person he loves most. The core question driving the narrative is as timely as it is heavy: Would you risk everything to save a country that never loved you back? "Xander Hale is the hero I kept looking for, but never found: a Black corporate titan asked to defend a system built to break him. This is more than a plot device. Millions of Americans are living it." — Donald Thompson, Co-Author Are You a Patriot? is being positioned as a rare breed of thriller: one that marries the propulsive, adrenaline-fueled pacing of authors like Lee Child, Mark Greaney, and David Baldacci with the profound moral weight and social commentary of Walter Mosley and S.A. Cosby. The novel represents a unique collaboration between two distinct, highly accomplished voices: Donald Thompson: An EY Entrepreneur of the Year honoree, multi-exit CEO, investor, and author of the acclaimed leadership memoir Underestimated: A CEO’s Unlikely Path to Success , an Independent Press Award (IPA) Distinguished Favorite. Thompson infuses the character of Xander Hale with authentic corporate-titan DNA. And, Bob Batchelor: A cultural historian, Coastal Carolina University professor, and author of more than 35 books (including Stan Lee: A Life and The Bourbon King , an Independent Press Award (IPA) winner). Batchelor lends the story its deep historical framework and dramatic gravitas. "Our novel revolves around a central question that we all face: would you risk all you have to save the nation?" Batchelor noted, adding that fans of political thrillers will find a "fellow-traveler" in Xander Hale as he heads on an action-packed collision course with history. The release is a landmark moment for Market First Publishing (MFP), serving as the flagship launch for the company’s new fiction imprint. Josh Schwartz, CEO of Market First Publishing, expressed high expectations for the title's release: "Donald and Bob have delivered a provocative novel: a political thriller that matches high-octane pacing with genuine cultural substance. This is the benchmark for the kind of fiction MFP will publish." Though the book won't hit shelves until September, a passionate community is already rallying behind it. The Are You a Patriot? Facebook Group has already amassed more than 21,000 members, signaling massive grassroots anticipation for the thriller. Reported by Printed Word Reviews Share this article Copy link LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest

Book review of ALIEN TRUCKER by Jeremy Haladyna . ISBN: 978-1977279859 < Back ALIEN TRUCKER Jeremy Haladyna Visionary Fiction and Paranormal Mystery/Thriller Outskirts Press Share this review: Copy link Facebook LinkedIn X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest A hybrid Pleiadian truck driver named Trucker embarks on a perilous mission to find a mysterious pink earth compound essential for saving his stranded crew, navigating the complexities of human society while grappling with his identity and the weight of his quest. Jeremy Haladyna’s Alien Trucker is a metaphysical road trip that proves the loneliest stretches of the American Southwest are an ideal stage for an interstellar identity crisis. By blending the “diesel-and-dust” realism of long-haul trucking with the sleek, cold desperation of extraterrestrial politics, Haladyna crafts a narrative that feels like Convoy meets The X-Files. At the heart of the story is H, a hybrid agent sent to Earth by the Pleiadians. These aren’t the benevolent “space brothers” of New Age lore; they are a desperate, stranded race facing a catastrophic power failure on their Orbital Carrier. Disguised as a human trucker in a classic red Peterbilt, H (now “Trucker”) must navigate more than just the Nevada desert. He is tasked with securing Uranium yellowcake and a mysterious “pink matter,” which is a compound essential for his masters’ survival. Haladyna excels at ground-level world-building, making the clattering mechanics of a semi-truck feel just as alien and complex as the Space Force officers’ uneasy alliances. The novel takes a bit to find its rhythm, and comes in the mid-story developments. As Trucker traverses the Four Corners, the book shifts from a covert mission to a spiritual odyssey. The supporting cast provides the human (and superhuman) heartbeat of the journey: Chuy: The young guide who grounds the story in the harsh reality of the terrain; Rachelle: A character who acts as a mirror for Trucker, forcing the hybrid to confront the messy, inconvenient nature of human emotion; and lastly, Kahayla: A woman deeply connected to the Zuni Pueblo, who guides Trucker toward Wenima (the “Dance Hall of the Dead”). It is through Kahayla that the book explores its most fascinating theme: the intersection of ancient Indigenous spirituality and modern “alien” intervention. The search for the pink earth compound becomes less about chemistry and more about the sanctity of the land. The climax is a claustrophobic, tense confrontation in a hidden cave that leaves the reader breathless. Haladyna doesn't opt for a clean, heroic ending. Instead, the resolution is a sobering look at the high cost of survival. Between the loss of life and the cold betrayal of his Pleiadian commanders—who ultimately abandon him to his fate—Trucker’s victory is bittersweet at best. The novel concludes with Trucker as a fugitive, a man (or something like one) without a world, blending into the very human society he was sent to exploit. Alien Trucker is visionary fiction. It manages to be an adventure while posing deep questions about the interconnectedness of worlds. Whether you are a fan of “Hard Sci-fi” covert military thrillers, or metaphysical mysteries, this book offers a ride that is as thought-provoking as it is cinematic. Previous Next

< Back Boycott Dispute Triggers Resignation of PEN America President Over Article Detailing Hostility Against Jewish Authors July 17, 2026 at 8:19:26 AM The literary world is facing renewed turmoil following the abrupt resignation of novelist Dinaw Mengestu as president of PEN America . Mengestu stepped down in protest over an article published by his own organization that detailed growing discrimination and "cultural isolation" faced by Jewish and Israeli authors. The internal rift erupted after PEN America released a report titled " A Silent Moratorium ." The piece highlighted targeted harassment campaigns against Jewish writers, including coordinated online " review bombing " and instances where authors were pressured to scrub Jewish cultural references from their manuscripts. While the report took no political stance on the ongoing Middle East conflict, it reiterated PEN's institutional opposition to cultural boycotts. Mengestu, who took office just seven months ago promising to heal the fractured free-expression group, publicly broke with the organization over its stance. In a Instagram post, Mengestu defended cultural boycotts against Israeli institutions, calling them a legitimate "form of dialogue" rather than censorship. He accused PEN America of failing to defend free expression equitably and harming pro-Palestinian voices by opposing the boycott movement. The resignation has been celebrated by activist groups like Writers Against the War in Gaza, who declared that the "normalization of Zionism will never again be tolerated by the literary community." The departure marks a severe blow to PEN America’s leadership, which has struggled to navigate intense internal division since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. The organization was previously forced to cancel its 2024 literary awards following widespread author boycotts, leading to the resignation of its long-standing CEO, Suzanne Nossel , later that year. Reported by Printed Word Reviews Share this article Copy link LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest

< Back For Racial Healing: #6 ‘Four, Long, One-To-One Lunches With The Father of Black Liberation Theology' August 16, 2026 at 5:30:00 AM The end of #6, Part 1 of “For Racial Healing” described the interchanges that caused the fourth and final lunch and discussion between Dr. James H. Cone and me during the summer of 2013 to conclude unsatisfactorily. Over time, I came to believe that Cone was speaking not just to me, but to a broader audience; however, at lunch, I simply couldn’t and didn’t recognize that process, which I have decided was my shortcoming. Relatedly, this attempt at a one-to-one relationship to address racial healing had crumbled before me as a result of my own defensiveness and lack of understanding, flexibility, and perspective. It would take several months before I tried again to reach racial healing with Sheila Walker, consistent with the context and protocol I have suggested in this series of “For Racial Healing”. Cone’s words seemed to be framed with anger and often targeted at me personally, and afterwards, the moment had proved baffling. Before that episode, I had been encouraged by the nature and quality of our discussions. After all, there was much we shared: two men from south Arkansas, for example, who made New York City our home for most of our adult lives. We both also committed ourselves to racial matters with my participation only partially as significant as his life’s work, highly celebrated in many parts of the theological and racial liberation worlds. Cone’s contributions had been one continuous testimony for Black liberation, supported by polymathic knowledge of the Judeo-Christian scriptures, as observed through the lens of this expert who believed that much of the Christian message had been seized by European and American white values and attitudes that facilitated racism and Black subjugation. Here was a man, true to his word, as demonstrated not by his writings alone, but also by his time and dedication to students regarding a number of subjects we examined over the summer of 2013. I believe our goodwill about the issue of race passed a test soon after we met for the first time. Still, he may have had questions about how I scored. One could suspect that Dr. Cone may have asked himself a question or two: how deep did the commitment by this Johnson fellow run to the racial struggle? Or is Johnson just interested in getting more information for another article? Maybe, these or other possible concerns crossed Dr. Cone’s mind. I would later characterize the luncheon conversations with Dr. Cone as advances we took together into our own version of authentic passion. Notwithstanding the unanswered questions he may have posed to himself about my motivations, I think he trusted me. His favorable views about my long article I provided to him on the Elaine Race Massacre, published by a national literary journal, and my biography which he additionally and verbally extracted were probably reassuring to Dr. Cone to stymie any lingering concerns about my credibility. After a long time ruminating over that rapid dissolution of our fourth and final luncheon, I concluded that he showed more faith in the depth and durability of our exploration into authentic passion, one-to-one, than I had demonstrated. Although Cone bluntly pursued, at our final lunch, his views about whites, as frequently applicable through me, which I incorrectly took to be individual recriminations, I had, in my own way, betrayed the goodwill that had previously developed between us. One person, who had read the History News Network article I wrote about the lunches, which I described earlier in Part 1 of #6 of this “For Racial Healing” series, emailed a message to me with special attention to my response toward Cone’s criticisms: “How unfortunate that your final conversation was cut short at such a critical moment. If only there could have been another opportunity to re-engage in that difficult conversation, to go even deeper than you both had (especially Dr. Cone who seemed to have come to that final lunch ready to be more real than ever with you). I’m sorry that you didn’t have the opportunity to learn directly from him, what he had gained from your conversations.” It now seems quite obvious that he expected I would recognize the new attitude that had neither surfaced before nor, even casually, been interspersed into our conversations, and yet I failed to see it for what it was. I have to conclude that he trusted me more than I trusted him. This current piece has been written, in part, as a warning to whites who enter into racial healing relationships committed to authentic passion for discovering fundamental connections between Blacks and whites to understand, empathize, heal, love, and co-inhere. By a warning, I mean that whites should be wary of accepting or overestimating their own abilities to trust the relationship as much as their Black partners will. There is something in whites that can cause us to become immediately defensive when the Black partner begins to speak with an honesty, if not anger, about her or his feelings or ideas regarding the perceived indifference, travesty, insensibilities, and arrogance that whites have carried with impunity and self-indulgence. Dr. Cone had been open and honest for a purpose at our fourth lunch, and I unfortunately took offense. I retreated into a defensive world that could protect me from the unhidden and unabashed that are, without question, part of the authentic passion exercise. My reaction to Dr. Cone was the automatic shield of white behavior where we are too often limited in our capacity to trust as fully as we think we can. Indeed, I withdrew from the faith and trust Cone placed in me. I felt a surge of an inherent, age-old arrogance of power, when challenged, which did not take the seemingly combative and often direct language well as an opportunity for discovery but took it as an attack on my state of mind. He said that whites, more generally, and I needed to read more Malcolm X to understand the attitude of the Black person. (I had read Malcolm X). He also said that whites and I needed to fathom the lives of American Blacks to grasp the anger and hate felt by most Blacks toward whites in this country. He said that if whites and I heard honest voices from the Black community talk about their real feelings toward the lack of empathy by whites, we whites would never let those Black voices appear on a stage or on television again. I abhor the thought that my disagreement with Dr. Cone’s propositions had anything to do with an historical Black-white dissonance, but can I deny it? My response had become virtually an animal instinct I couldn’t resist until I learned to recognize it as possibly being my attempt to retain my whiteness, which evades the other, the new and unfamiliar that could change us in order for Cone and me together ultimately to see beyond the moment to understand, empathize, heal, love, and co-inhere. A germane question then becomes: what had Dr. Cone expected my answer to be to his accusations (personal and more general)? Looking back on the moment, considering that our verbal exchange was meant to be an attempt to reach and continue a relationship, supported by authentic passion, what had he anticipated my answers to be as a result of his words? If he thought I would react as I did, as though his words were solely an intentional, personal attack, then I’m disappointed that his view of me would have been so questionable. Of course, what I should have done was simply hear from him completely without interruption. His comments – now, I believe – were devised to be historical in nature. Surely, he was not attempting to occlude me with hostility. After all, he participated in arrangements from one lunch to the next; I do not believe he wished for me to leave on account of his words, not after the other, long sessions and lunches that brought him from the upper westside of Manhattan. In so many ways, I can conclude that I may have been merely a conduit for his thoughts and enunciated message at that time. Perhaps, a silent reaction would have been inconsequential to Dr. Cone, consistent with a goodwill attempt at abiding by authentic passion and allyship. Why else would silence then have been my best choice? For it would have left our options open, available as the two of us wished to pursue at will. Defensively, I shut down access to continue our search. In turn, he had reason to think we had arrived at the terminus of possibilities for further discovery. I revealed how far I could go before I would cease pursuit in allyship. Where could we go from there? Notwithstanding his courteous and thoughtful manners concerning my need to attend to my wife at the hospital, he also realized that I had, unwittingly or by lack of empathy or by my own sheer stupidity, stopped the quest. Otherwise, I believe I would have heard from him later. Knowing the obvious, I did not attempt to contact Dr. Cone again. So, why additionally have I spent these words on my failure to move the authentic passion exercise by Dr. Cone and me deeper and more thoroughly into a relationship? For one reason, I believe that for every Black-white, one-to-one dialogue with the goal being an affirmation of authentic passion, demonstrated by an enhanced bond we may call love and full allyship, the challenge of a termination to the quest, similar to the one I described with Dr. Cone, may occur, and I am certainly recommending a different tack than the one I took. Second, even if one fails experientially with one partner in the pursuit of an allyship, it does not mean that future relationships, Black-white, one-to-one, cannot be available. I learned much from my time and attempts with Dr. Cone, and soon thereafter – only months later – I met Sheila Walker, and we immediately began work that ultimately guided us to a remarkable Black-white allyship through authentic passion. I simply did much better with Sheila for reasons that are not quite clear. For example, she could criticize me as Dr. Cone had done – in her instance, for my inability to forgive Lonnie fully. Yet, I did not retreat into a defensive chamber and shroud. Sheila and I pursued our various, answered and unanswered questions that could impact our Black-white attempts (and often, successful attempts) to break through to full allyship. Unfortunately, I never had the chance again to accomplish the same degree of breakthrough with James H. Cone that Sheila and I attained. Next Time: Sheila Lorraine Walker: Lesson in “Authentic Passion” by J. Chester Johnson Share this article Copy link LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest

Book review of Canvas of Courage: The Art of Healing, Hope, and Gratitude for Young Mothers Facing Cancer by Nerissa Balland . ISBN: 9798218924515 < Back Canvas of Courage: The Art of Healing, Hope, and Gratitude for Young Mothers Facing Cancer Nerissa Balland cancer, survivorship, motherhood, faith, art therapy, gratitude Canvas of Courage Press Share this review: Copy link Facebook LinkedIn X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest An empowering, art-infused therapeutic guide and anthology that rejects conventional battle metaphors to help mothers navigate the emotional realities, unspoken burdens, and self-discovery of a cancer diagnosis. "Canvas of Courage" is an intimate anthology exploring the experiences of young mothers navigating the overwhelming overlap of a cancer diagnosis and motherhood. Blending personal memoir, guest testimonials, and art-centered healing frameworks, Nerissa Balland approaches illness as emotional processing, self-discovery, and acceptance. The woman in the waiting room, the mother in the chemo chair, and the individual who has been trying hard to give language to something they can't name, find a companion in "Canvas of Courage." Sadie, a young mother of two girls, six and three, wants the lump beneath her arm to be nothing. Her body senses something; however, her mind looks away. The reader knows that the latter is happening because she hasn't yet heard the nine words that will change everything: "Don’t make enemies with what’s inside you. Befriend it.” Once she hears them, she will not only acquire a language for what's happening inside of her, but also a posture that her life will spend the next chapter learning to hold. Living with cancer where "stop" is reframed as a "gift" and a worthy interruption ultimately makes room for the answer to perhaps the most ignored question of all: “whose life am I actually living?” The answer's intention is not to lift but to reveal the weight, the invisible kind that includes the mental load of running a household, as well as years of showing up smiling while running on empty. Balland's book doesn't pretend that cancer takes nothing or softens what it does. It simply refuses to let the taking be the whole story. Balland delivers a powerful testament to living authentically alongside uncertainty. “Canvas of Courage” boldly names what everyone fears to admit, including the 21st century's uncomfortable mechanics of care that have become performance. Not speaking of loved ones or caregivers, but those people who can turn your worst year into their personal brand. They collect sympathy and make the diagnosis about themselves. That's rarely named in print, and when it is, it is often dismissed as pettiness. Balland names it anyway, and that is precisely what makes her book a bold must-have. The book employs an identical template for each chapter for easy reading. One framing consciousness—Balland's—holds together the many voices without them competing. Her language is built to be understood by every woman. She avoids the language of battle, instead, choosing the language of becoming, holding, receiving, and carrying forward, because she understands that words shape how the reader thinks about their own experience. “Canvas of Courage” requires sitting with its stories, questions, and uncomfortable truths, for maximum understanding, not of cancer, but of yourself. Previous Next

Book review of Tech-Enabled Hospitality: Strategies to Elevate Guest Experience and Operational Efficiency by Jessica Gillingham . ISBN: 978-1398620285 < Back Tech-Enabled Hospitality: Strategies to Elevate Guest Experience and Operational Efficiency Jessica Gillingham hospitality, technology, guest experience, automation, personalization, SaaS Kogan Page Share this review: Copy link Facebook LinkedIn X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest As rising costs, labor shortages, and changing guest expectations push hospitality to reinvent itself, operators must embrace tech-enabled systems that streamline operations, personalize service, and preserve the human touch. In an era where the word “automation” often conjures images of sterile kiosks and cold interactions, Jessica Gillingham’s “Tech-Enabled Hospitality:” arrives as a vital, grounding counter-narrative. It is a practical, rigorous roadmap for reclaiming the “human” in hospitality by fixing the broken systems behind it. Gillingham’s central thesis of Tech-Enabled Hospitality is refreshing. With labor shortages and rising costs squeezing margins, the book posits that technology is no longer a luxury for the elite chains; it is a survival mechanism for everyone from independent boutiques to global short-term rental operators. One of the book’s most compelling sections explores how the shift to Cloud and SaaS (Software as a Service) has leveled the playing field. Gillingham explains how independent operators can now access the same high-level pricing intelligence and guest-profiling tools that were once the exclusive domain of Hilton or Marriott. Through cases like The Annex and Cocoonr, she breaks down the “Property Management System (PMS) Wars,” weighing the pros and cons of all-in-one platforms versus flexible marketplace models. The book shines when it moves from theory to the “boots on the ground” reality of modern operations. Using HUSWELL as a primary example, the author proves that the biggest hurdle to modernization isn't budget, it’s leadership and change management. In the case of Dynamic Revenue Management, the transition from static seasonal rates to real-time, AI-driven forecasting is illustrated through Resident Hotels. Gillingham emphasizes that while AI handles the data spikes, human judgment remains the final arbiter of brand integrity. Lastly, her exploration of IoT and Sustainability (featuring Minut and Host & Stay) shows how sensors and automation can reduce a property's carbon footprint and noise complaints simultaneously, improving the bottom line while respecting the local community. Unlike many business books that fall into “tech-utopianism,” Gillingham remains healthily skeptical. She warns against “digital kidnapping” (vendor lock-in) and insists that digital convenience, exemplified by brands like Bob W and Mint House, only works if there is a “deliberate human touch” and a clear fallback support system when the tech fails. “Tech-Enabled Hospitality” is an essential read for Hotel Owners & Rental Managers: To understand the ROI of their tech stack. For Investors to identify which brands are building “adaptable cultures” vs. those clinging to legacy systems. Finally, for Tech Leaders, to understand the nuances of the “guest journey” beyond just the code. In conclusion, Gillingham successfully argues that the winners of this decade won't be those with the flashiest gadgets, but those who use integrated systems to give their staff the time to be truly hospitable. It is a grounded, insightful, and ultimately optimistic look at an industry in the midst of its most significant evolution yet. Previous Next

Boo k CAMP by Printed Word Reviews IN THIS ISSUE: Diana LaGuardia, American magazine design director. Recipient numerous awards, Art Directors Club New York, American Institute Graphic Arts, Society Newspaper Design. Member Society Publication Designers (board directors 1985-1986, vice president 1986-1987, pres.1987—; recipient numerous awards). New York Times Magazine, New York City, 1977-1983, department art director, 1983-1986, art director, 1986-1988. Design director Traveler Magazine Conde Nast Publications Inc., since 1988. Kevin Kamen, Founder & CEO of New York-based Kamen & Co Group Services, LLC, a multi-media valua tion, accounting, and brokerage firm has been selected to assist the wealth reporters at FORBES as they determine the financial value of the Richest Americans within the multi-media sphere. Thank you! Thank you for subscribing to BookCAMP magazine. Allow for up to 8 weeks to get your new copy. In a short time, you will learn better ways to publish, distribute and market your book. In addition, you will have full access to our databases Find out more in the newest edition of BookCAMP! Join us at the conference, details here: www.ipaBookCamp.com Title: BookCAMP by Printed Word Reviews ISSN: 2994-4406 * Frequency: Five times annually, Quarterly plus extra issue Issue Dates: February; May; MFA annual; August; November; BookCAMP 2024 event Past Issues November 2025 - January 2026 Annual 2025 issue, Fall Book Shows August 2025 - October 2025 May 2025 - July 2025 February 2025 - April 2025 November 2024 - January 2025 Annual 2024 issue, Fall Book Shows August 2024 - October 2024 May 2024 - July 2024 February 2024 - April 2024 November 2023 - January 2024 Annual 2023 issue, Fall Book Shows Find out the secret to self-publishing success; what to consider when choosing a printer, book designer, and PWR’s Best Practices on Content – what should be included in a professionally published book. Find out what a full-service national distribution company really does. Included is a directory of Publishing Services & Products. Join us this year at the BookCAMP event, http://ipabookcamp.com/

< Back Lost in AI Translation: Why the Human Touch Still Matters October 12, 2026 at 7:14:56 AM With literary output surging and the pool of efficient and reliable professional translators shrinking, can AI bridge the gap quickly enough? While machine translation lacks human cultural nuance and local context, is ‘good enough’ becoming the new standard? While AI significantly reduces translation costs and labor, concerns are growing over its long-term risks. Disincentivizing professional human translators could backfire, ultimately compromising quality and reducing overall translation output. This problem is especially prevalent in Europe, where Eesti Raamat Editor-in-Chief Piret Lemetti told Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR), the Estonian Public Broadcasting, "If you cannot publish the book at the same time it appears in English, then you have already missed the train." Readers need to feel a connection between their native translation and the alternative language. Translators want to ensure all countries are able to get the same amount of materials in real time but face pressure of meeting the demanding workload. They say that most of the classic translations have been maintained, but now translators are saying they can't keep up with newer literature translations, as according to an update by Zippia , 4 million books were published in one year, with 2.3 million of them being self-published titles, and this number is only growing. And so are translation rights fees and author fees, which force many more publishers to turn to AI to help shoulder some of the weight and volume of the book industry. It was announced last year that Taylor & Francis would be using AI to help them translate more academic articles for a quicker turnaround time and had their program go through a year-long training. Mark Robinson , Taylor & Francis corporate media relations manager, said to Publishers Weekly, "We are interested in publishing translations of high-quality books across a broad range of advanced learning topics and formats, including academic monographs, textbooks and resources for practitioners." This comes after the public scrutiny the publisher faced in 2024 for signing a deal with Microsoft AI for 10 million to sell access to its authors' research. As well, it was reported just last month that Amazon was using AI to translate literary classics and then destroying them. The move underscored translators' fears that AI is being treated as a replacement for the craft rather than a tool for it, and that the books being lost in the process are the classics they've spent decades preserving. Yet, the confidence to rely on technology to understand cultural connections and contexts while translating for hundreds of other books and languages isn't quite strong, especially for those trying to build up public trust again. The works of new foreign authors also have a small audience of approximately making them unprioritized amongst translators and pushed to the wayside as other new mainstream books come out that are catching popularity quickly. Varrak Editor-in-Chief Krista Kaer recalls that Nordic literature is becoming increasingly popular and needs to be published, and at the same time so is Korean literature, but there aren’t enough translators to go around, and so a tough decision has to be made. Lemetti echoes that, telling ERR that the pressure on translators amounts to a "devaluation of the translator's work. Essentially, the translator is reduced to a glorified editor. I do not understand what the point of this is," and "If readers cannot associate authors with someone or something, they are not very inclined to buy the book," she said. These new technological changes overall underscore the translators’ fears that AI is being treated as a replacement for the craft rather than a tool for it, and that the books being lost in the process are the classics they've spent decades preserving. Printed Word Reviews / Reported by Mali Ayala Share this article Copy link LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest

< Back Anne Carson Named 2026 Nobel Laureate in Literature October 17, 2026 at 6:54:19 AM The Nobel Prize announced on October 8th that this year's recipient for Literature is Canadian poet, translator, and author Anne Carson. Each year, six principal categories award those who have "conferred the greatest benefit to humankind," per the Nobel Prize. This year, ten laureates were awarded by the committee for their work in one of the principal categories: Chemistry, Physics, Peace, Medicine, Economic Sciences, and Literature. Carson has over nine titles published to her name, including Beware the Man Whose Handwriting Sways Like a Reed in the Wind, Wrong Norma, H of H Playbook, The Trojan Women, Norma Jeane Baker of Troy, Bakkhai, The Albertine Workout, Nox, and Glass, Irony, and God. She also has a credit for her translation of Antigonick and her contribution to it . She belongs to the same publishing company, New Directions , as the 2025 Literature Prize winner László Krasznahorkai, a Hungarian-born author and editor. The Nobel Prize states similar praise for Carson , saying she earned the award through her "bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature." The Nobel Prize is a world-renowned tradition that dates back to the passing of Alfred Nobel , a Swedish chemist who infamously invented dynamite. In his will, however, he gave up most of his wealth to establish the prizes and make sure they happened annually, so the world had a different way of remembering him. Carson won't only be remembered as a Nobel Prize winner, but also as a Guggenheim Fellow , a MacArthur Fellow , a Member of the Order of Canada , and a beloved professor of Ancient Greek and Classics. She has taught at the University of Calgary, University of Michigan, Princeton University, McGill University, and New York University. When asked in a recent interview with the Nobel Prize what the prize means to her, Carson says she has yet to really think about it, stating she's "just thinking of ways to give the money away." Her one piece of advice to aspiring writers has always been the same: she says to avoid boredom and to always "start in the middle." She, along with her fellow laureates, will be honored in the annual ceremony on December 10th, where they will each receive their medals and honorary diplomas from H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Printed Word Reviews / Reported by Mali Ayala Share this article Copy link LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Pinterest