How is language possible

Many people believe that words translate into actions, that words are things, or become things like energy in the universe that creates ebbs and flows, positive or negative depending upon the meaning of the word.

Language itself is a miracle of humankind. I recently came across two charismatic characters online, Pastor Ken Loring and Tony Stone. They both tell us that words are seeds, and by using words in a correct manner and in a careful, meaningful way, you can sow seeds that sprout success.

Keep sowing the seed. Changes are that you have excellent seeds, and as the legendary business philosopher Jim Rohn said, by continuously sowing seeds it will ultimately fall on different types of ground. He reiterates the story from the Bible of the sower with excellent seed who persevered and eventually his seeds found their way to fertile ground.

It takes patience.

It takes tenacity.

It takes careful planning.

It takes inspired action.

It takes using words for maximum effect. Make your words positive, and watch your language. Don’t waste it because language is a gift. It is what sets us apart from all creation. Make your words excellent, and devise them as powerful agents for change. You may have heard the phrase, “freedom of expression.” I am here to tell you that expression itself is freedom. To be human is to have this power.

Helen Keller is a great example of the power of words. She couldn’t hear or speak, but she used the power of language to literally change the world. She became a public figure, a political activist who strove for social change. She became known as “the miracle worker.” Let this be an inspiration to you to use the power of language to your advantage. Speak and write the truth. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

The true meaning of leverage

Whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish in your life or in business is more easily realized through the power of leverage. In elementary school there have always been people who complained about having to learn certain mathematical concepts like algebra or high-level geometry, and they questioned why it’s worthwhile for them, and why would learning something so analytical and abstract would matter later in their lives. This is where leverage will come into play: -- it’s the acquired ability to learn a higher concept that trains the brain to think differently, and to cultivate the discipline to tackle a subject.

Leverage is all about using tools and methods to acquire something tangible. Knowledge that has been procured at a young age will most likely last throughout someone’s life. And so the thing you learned at a young age, to play the piano or to speak a foreign language, will allow you to gain greater insight into arts and culture that you would have not gotten without the specialized skill.

In business the art of leverage is everything. Employers leverage their employees. They allow for critical tasks to get done. If you are looking for a job or a place to live, leverage would come into play when you had two or three others help you in the search. More ground is covered. It was American industrialist J. Paul Getty who famously quipped he would much rather have 1% of 100 people’s efforts than 100% of his own. He innately understood leverage. That’s one of the ways he became the richest man in the world in his day and age.

Work smarter rather than harder, the saying goes. Leverage allows you to accomplish amazing things. You can be super industrious with leverage on your side. At my job at the university press we employ student interns to do several mundane tasks. This allows the primary stakeholders to accomplish more of their work, and provides students with work experience and solid understanding of how books are published. The university press takes it one step further by taking time out to explain to interns various nuances of book publishing. We answer their questions. We get to know them as people so we can more effectively work with them. Interns need to be supervised closely, and it is through a process of advanced learning and acquired knowledge that leverage comes into play and makes our department the most efficient. How do we publish so many more titles with only 4.5 staff members? It is good old-fashioned leverage, baby. Qualified students provide the oil for the book publishing machine.

The previous university press I worked at did not employ student interns while I was there and leverage did not exist. This made for a dysfunctional atmosphere in the office. The university administration was in flux as well, and while the new president of the university made lots of flowery speeches about student development and how every department needed to contribute to that, it simply did not happen. They did not practice what they preached. This had a direct effect on my job. I had a good relationship with the art director, and he was able to produce graphics for marketing that were part and parcel to my job. But when push came to a shove and he ran out of time, he made it clear that I was imposing on him. An intern with knowledge of graphics would have solved it. I am great when it comes to producing content for books, I can write and coordinate processes all day long. But I shouldn’t have to do graphic arts or fill out excel sheets for order forms or look up email addresses for primary contacts. An intern can perform these tasks and learn something into the bargain. This form of leverage would have allowed me to concentrate on the things I did best and not got bogged down in minutiae. That university press under performed as a result. Last thing I heard is the administration had that department on the chopping block. A real shame because the books they did were good ones.

The magic of leverage comes into play once you set up the proper channels where everyone can benefit. The business behind Shop.com is the perfect example of the best use of leverage. Because everyone has the same setup and tools and there are 14 different markets that a Shop.com owner can sell into, it is the applied expertise of different team members makes all the difference for everybody. One team member might be an expert on technology and marketing web-based solutions for businesses, and another team member might be proficient in health and nutrition and developing weight loss programs for clients, it doesn’t matter what market the team member is expert in or wants to dabble in, the sales volume is shared 100% from the bottom up—no levels—and everyone benefits from the sales volume generated. Shop.com has a sophisticated tracking system, a state of the art computer program that systematically finds the sales volume within the organization and calculates that sales volume automatically every single week. The system kicks out a check to the owners when sales volume reaches a certain stage. The brilliant thing is that each business is capped at a certain echelon. An owner’s business development center flushes out at that point and starts to accrue again. Each owner develops two lines of distribution—two teams—and only earns significant income when people on their teams produce sales volume, or make money themselves. Shop.com allows owners to help each other by placing volume at the very bottom of an organization, and every active owner gets 100% credit and the ability to earn on multiple streams of volume. This form of leverage expands distribution and everybody wins, the company sells their products, the customer gets a superior product at the best possible price or cost per use, and the owner gets paid weekly for the sales volume generated. Bam boom!

The business of Shop.com was created with leverage in mind. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising. Recommendations from trusted friends is what moves people to buy a product. It doesn’t matter what that product is. When was the last time you recommended a good movie or a good restaurant? People listened to you and they went and checked it out. They spent their money on it. People hate to be sold but they love to buy. As a Shop.com owner, with so much leverage moving through your business you are empowered to solve people’s problems. You help solve a problem for people and then you will have a customer for life. And because of the power of leverage and the fact that you are receiving credit from everyone on your team, and the tracking system is working 24/7 in the background, you only need a small group of customers to service. You do not have to go out and recruit the world. You can concentrate on a select group of loyal preferred customers and give them outstanding service. Leverage takes care of the rest and you end up with an ongoing income that never stops. Set it up correctly one time, teach and mentor others on your team to be optimal customer managers, and the power of leverage will pay you for the rest of your life.

Diversity is the key here. A new person can bring creativity and practical skills to an organization and transform it. In government the effect of leverage is that each branch of government is doing its job and a system of checks and balances is in place. Alternative voices are heard and everything works in a synergistic way together to for freedom and democracy to thrive. When one party takes over all branches of the federal government, as is the case now with President Donald Trump and Congress, then diversity is squelched and an agenda is put forth that damages leverage. This was the case in the first two years of Barack Obama’s presidency. The Democratic Party controlled all branches of the federal government yet nothing got done. They lost their super majority in 2010. Now that the Republican Party is in power in 2017 the same thing is happening. The power of leverage is diminished and the diversity of voices becomes drowned out. And the fact that President Trump has zero experience as a politician in any office whatsoever, and with an authoritarian management style that is only conducive to the boardroom and not public service, any aspect of leverage becomes mute and the government itself begins to stagnate.  The government is so big and so unwieldy it needs the power of leverage to make it work best.

A case in point is the current State Department, where it was reported by AP and other news sources that the top brass at the institution abruptly resigned the other day. It’s not clear whether there was a house cleaning at State by Trump operatives, or if they left because of the transition. Remember, these were career diplomats who had been around for years and knew the inner workings of the department.  So for purposes of illustration, it doesn’t matter if those diplomats were pushed or they jumped, the fact remains that there is currently no Secretary of State, and the nominee Rex Tillerson of Exxon is in the same boat as Trump, he has no experience for the job. If he gets confirmed by the Senate, which appears likely, his lack of leverage at State with so many departures is going to mean a long and potentially dangerous learning curve. Learning on the job is well and good, but when you have no leverage it’s a prescription for disaster.

A good thing is that there will be an election in two years and it’s important for the opposing party in 2018 (the Democratic Party) to unseat the super majority and allow leverage and the diversity of voices to be restored. Meanwhile, we are in for a rough ride in the political sphere over the next two years.  We all have to be vigilant and work to create leverage in our lives and really pay attention to what is going on in our communities and the outside world.

I myself will talk to anyone who will listen to me about the issues of leverage and how people can create their own economies and act on what is important to them and their goals, dreams, and values. It’s always about the other person and how you can help them achieve what they want. As Jim Rohn once said, it’s not the blowing of the wind but it’s the setting of the sail. It’s how you set your sail that determines where you will go in life. And that takes vision and energy. If you can find the right people who understand the concept of leverage and how powerful and transformative it can be, then you can take control of your life and help change the world to be a better place.

Be Contagious with Positivity

It's an essential idea to develop a mindset that really big problems are really big opportunities. I got this from Roch Tranel of Tranel Financial in Libertyville, IL. Gifts, talents, and passions are the things that solve problems. I have found this to be exactly the case in my life. And when you expect great things to happen, guess what, they happen!

You are contagious with positivity when you apply the principles of prosperity to your attitude and your outlook on life. You have to have a winning attitude to develop this. Other people will follow you. You will become a leader. A thought leader. Leading with your actions and then determining your future through a relentlessly positive approach. YOU are awesome simply because you are you!

I started working at University of Nevada Press as sales and marketing manager in the summer of 2016. This entailed moving from Chicago metro area to Reno. This is a big change to say the least. I was able to bring my 24-year-old daughter, Isabel, with me. She has enrolled in college and has discovered Psychology. It turns out that the area of Psychology comes really easily to her, and for the first time in her collegiate career she received an A+ as a grade for a class. Wow. I've never been a big grades person - having gone to Hampshire College in Amherst, MA where they don't use grades - but I have to say that I am really proud of her,

The job at the university press is great for me because first of all, I have always loved a project. It gives me a strong sense of identity and it also means I can help deserving authors promote and market their books. And I've always been passionate about books. If you have read any of my blog entries here, or seen my live streaming videos on Periscope, or if you follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Snap Chat, you will see that books are important to me. My publishing house was Wicker Park Press, Ltd, and while I was not able to parlay that company into an ongoing success, it was always about publishing books that I was passionate about. And these were high-quality books.

It's about remaining positive and using your talents to help other people. Becoming contagious with positivity means transforming your life so you can perform useful things in the world. I know for a fact I can help people realize their dreams. And remaining positive in the face of incredible challenges is the first step. It means taking the first step and putting yourself out there. People in the world need what you have to offer, so developing self-confidence, poise, and straight-forward thinking and taking action is what will turn you in to a success.

Reasons why the Unfranchise Business is the way to go!

Build an asset/create wealth!

Why the Unfranchise Business? Product – a "mall without walls" and product brokerage

Location – Internet 24/7 leverage Work 8 – 15 hours a week Invest $1,000 – $1,500 Reward – $2,100 - $3,600 per week ongoing income!

Philosophy – turning your spending into investment, everyone spends daily – anyway money – therefore, Unfranchise business – Shop.com is for everyone!

Retail sales – using technology such as Shop Buddy, mobile technology, bar code scan, Facebook Shop Box, total price comparison (get the lowest price, best value), and universal shopping cart 

Unique to Market America – web portal to search and shop, powered by people, and a powerful compensation plan – MPCP - Management Performance Compensation Plan.

For more information about the compensation plan, visit www.marketamerica.com/3ibooks 

Minnesota Historical Society Press to step outside box and publish Curiousity's Cats: Writers on Research

Research is an intensely personal thing, and it is done for many different reasons. Writers in this anthology (April 2014) strike out beyond the boundaries of the Internet and conduct hands-on inquiries into subjects that fascinate them. It takes them outside their comfort zones and into a realm whereby they can make  important discoveries and observations not only about the subject they are pursuing, but about themselves. They learn how to learn in a sense.

13 essayists contribute powerful accounts of such things as chasing documents, cracking mysteries, interviewing for long-lost subjects, and visiting unusual and sometimes exotic locations. Inspired by Richard Altick's classic book, The Scholar Adventurers (Ohio State, 1987), the writers in this book offer very different kinds of writing; historians, journalists, and novelists come together and present what conducting research means to them, what it means to their particular project, and how the process of research and exploration fulfills a basic human need.

"Each morning I would strike out for this temple of learning in the crisp autumn air ... with a sense of purpose and the conviction that this was where I belonged."
- Marilyn Stasio, from "My Research Project"

The book is a refreshing mix of academics, amateur historians, novelists, journalists, and even a scriptwriter. Each writer offers a special take on the process of investigation and discovery, and shows how the process of conducting their research has enriched their lives. Curiosity's Cats is fills an important gap in writing about writing, and eloquently shows the special motivation for writers to get out in the field and find out everything they can about a subject that captivates their imaginations.

Joseph Malham Reads from his book JOHN FORD: POET IN THE DESERT

Fourth novel by Joseph G. Peterson helps establish him as the bard of contemporary Chicago literature

Peterson’s debut novel, Beautiful Piece (2009), is a raw tale of urban lost souls. Reviewers were struck by what one reviewer called “its taut, lean prose; its noir-like plot; and most of all, its rich, darkly detailed characters.” Set in Chicago during a brutal heat wave, the book hit home with a bulls-eye reminiscent of the 10 mm pistol that the book is named after …

He followed up with Inside the Whale: A Novel in Verse (2011), a fictional account of Jim, a young Irish drunkard and his disastrous exploits, all the while possessing a preternatural ability to write and recite amazing and spontaneous poetry. Publishers Weekly commented, “In addition to Peterson's narrative, plenty of Jim's actual poems appear throughout, facilitating an effortless shifting between third and first person accounts of the drunken bard's exploits.” 

Wanted: Elevator Man (2012), Peterson’s third novel, was cited in an essay from a new edited volume called The Great Recession in Fiction, Film, and Television edited by Kirk Boyle and Dan Mrozowski (Lexington Books, 2013).  Welsh scholar Daniel Mattingly’s article in the collection is cleverly entitled Crash Fiction (as in the stock market). Mattingly pairs Peterson’s book with a novel by Jess Walter called The Financial Lives of Poets (2009) for his insightful analysis and overarching theory about how bust culture has become established in modern-day America. Peterson’s novel becomes a prime example to this scholar of how contemporary fiction deals with diminished expectations of the financial meltdown, and how the middle class has been relegated to a garbage heap with no concrete means to get by. Youthful uncertainty becomes exacerbated by nationwide fiscal stagnation, as in the main character Eliot Barnes, Jr, who takes a menial job as an elevator repairman in a Chicago skyscraper. This is another iconic theme of economic collapse and limited choices. Peterson cleverly turns diminished expectations on its head with a twist as the Barnes character comes to see inherent worth in his job as an elevator man, someone who makes things work behind the scenes, and ultimate redemption. 

Here is what we are told about the book of essays edited by Boyle and Mrozowski: -- “The collected essays treat our busted culture as a seismograph that registers the traumas of collapse, and locate their pop artifacts along a spectrum of ideological fantasies, social erasures, and profound fears inspired by the Great Recession. What they discover from these unlikely indicators of the recession is a mix of regressive, progressive, and bemused texts in need of critical translation.” 

And Peterson’s fiction clearly qualifies as one of those bemused texts. His newest book, forthcoming in April 2014, called Gideon’s Confession features a main character living on handouts from a rich uncle who believes in him. All his uncle asks for is for Master Gideon to come up with a plan for how he will enter the job market and make something of himself. Gideon keeps putting his uncle off, living in deep secret fear that the checks will one day stop coming. But Gideon obstinately refuses to commit. Rachel DeWoskin, author of Foreign Babes in Beijing, Repeat After Me, and Big Girl Small had this to say about Gideon Confession: -- “Joe Peterson’s Gideon is a rollicking antihero who moves through these pages as he does through his rich uncle’s checks: quickly and lyrically. Gideon shops, drinks, and gobbles the money away, observing the world from its periphery until the checks stop arriving, the engine of his romance revs dangerously, and he is forced to make an active choice about how to live and love. Peterson's stylish, clean prose is a pleasure, and watching Gideon come of age, albeit a bit late? Absolutely delightful.”

Beyond economic catastrophe and stagnation that looms in the shadows of Peterson’s fiction, writer Stuart Dybek, author of The Coast of Chicago deftly picks up on the theme of misspent youth in his advance praise for the new book: -- “The world that Gideon inhabits in Joe Peterson’s Gideon’s Confession is never less than recognizably real.  That attractive realism might at first seem to make a fantastical book like Steppenwolf, an odd comparison, but like Hesse, Peterson traces the journey through that potentially lethal combination of the self-doubt and towering self-absorption of youth, and as in Steppenwolf the escape is into love. Frankly, of the two, it is Peterson’s ending I prefer.”

An incredible eye for detail and taut, lean prose are what readers have come to expect from a Peterson effort, and in his new book they will not be disappointed. Peterson delivers an emotionally powerful parable that will appeal not only to twentysomethings unwilling or unable to commit and fit in, but also to adult readers who appreciate modern literary fiction and carefully crafted characters.

Announcing publication of ALL AMERICAN HORROR OF THE 21ST CENTURY - Wicker Park Press

New horror story collection has focus on American themes and features top-notch contributors
-- To order: http://www.wickerpark-3ibooks.com/allamericanhorrorofthe21stcentury.html --

Mort Castle, editor of the new book All American Horror of the 21st Century: The First Decade, 2000 -2010, has seen the short story horror genre evolve over a crucial span of ten years. He writes in the introduction to the book, “In the first decade of this century, new American voices in horror were heard and the older guard undertook horrifying (literary) experiments (many of them successful) to grow the horror genre. There were horrors in convenience stores and condominiums, monsters bred of steroid use and crack cocaine, and of course, there was 9/11, when horror invaded the security of the mundane and changed everything and every American.”

The book compiles the best short horror fiction published by magazines, anthologies, and web sites spanning the years 2000 – 2010. This prodigious collection is truly one-of-a-kind. It includes stories from National Book Award nominee Dan Chaon, rising-horror-star Jeff Jacobson, Bram Stoker Award-winner John Everson, World Fantasy Award winner Andy Duncan, and New York Times-bestselling author Tom Monteleone, among other worthies. These stories deal with “uniquely American” themes and subjects, and are written in an equally unique “American style.”

To quote Castle once again, “American horror: not just about setting, it’s about sensibility.” And the story itself is what really matters here. You have the best of the best in these pages, and authors included may have written elsewhere around other not-so-American themes, but in this case we are taking the story for what it is: All American Horror. The distinctiveness of themes and unparalleled imagination will make this anthology irresistible to readers. Nothing compares to the breadth of talent and creativity to be found here, hand-picked by a real expert in the genre and designed with the end user in mind to raise hairs and chill blood.  

MORT CASTLE is an award-winning author and writing teacher at Columbia College in Chicago. He is the author of seven novels, four fiction collections, and over 500 shorter works. Castle also edited On Writing Horror, the essential reference work for authors in the dark genre.

Advance Book Information

All American Horror of the 21st Century: The First Decade, 2000 – 2010
Edited by Mort Castle
ISBN 978-1-936679-08-9
Paperback
370 pages
Trim size: 7 ½ x 9 ¼
Price: $19.95
Publication date: October 30, 2013

To order: http://www.wickerpark-3ibooks.com/allamericanhorrorofthe21stcentury.html

 

 

NAIPR Farewell Address

In my 10 years as President of NAIPR I've seen the book industry change dramatically. I realized that NAIPR needed to change right along with it, and adapt to new realities if it was going to remain a vibrant organization that served the essential interests of its members.

As a pass the baton to Eileen Bertelli as new President I feel very confident that NAIPR is in good hands. Other leaders have stepped forward in forging an inspiring partnership with Above The Treeline of Ann Arbor, MI. Midwest Director John Mesjak served diligently on the committee, bringing his expertise in technology and a wide knowledge of bookseller needs to the table. Robert Rooney stepped into a very difficult situation as a newly minted Executive Director, and he was instrumental in steering negotiations forward. Sean Concannon, formerly of the Parson Weems Group and ex-treasurer of the organization, served as Interim Executive Director and was a complete inspiration to me with his positive attitude, work ethic, and amazing abilities to get multiple tasks done in a timely and efficient way.

I consider these fine individuals to be my friends and colleagues and I'm very proud to have served NAIPR with them. I need to make a shout out to Paul Williams and his wife Livia Tenser. Paul was Executive Director of the organization until his untimely passing in 2010. To quote my obituary of Paul, "Paul was proactive in reforming and streamlining that organization so that it ran seamlessly. Independent reps across the country owe Paul a debt of gratitude as he shored up the finances of NAIPR and spearheaded an innovative electronic ordering system that saved countless hours for reps and booksellers alike. His legacy will live on as this system, Frontlist Plus Universal, will continue to serve the book selling community, saving time and money and being brilliant in its simplicity and execution." Now with the upgrades and integration with Above The Treeline, the Paul Williams legacy will live on. Love ya and miss ya, my man.

Livia Tenser was brilliant with the transition in the face of tragic circumstances, and NAIPR owes her big time. Livia realized how important NAIPR was to Paul, and she also understood that she was protecting a legacy of 30 years. I want to make clear that NAIPR never would have survived to continue to be the vibrant organziation it is today without Livia's help. Thank you, my dear friend.

And so I am moving on the publishing side of table after 30-plus years as a commission rep, and a charter member of NAIPR. My company, Wicker Park Press, is an associate member of NAIPR and has reps in each territory across the country. It is celebrating 10 years in business with the publication of a cookbook, Food with Attitude: Cooking the Cuban-Rican Way by Chef Papi Perez, and the anothogy All American Horror of the 21st Century: The First Decade 2000 - 2010 edited by Mort Castle.

In conclusion let me remind independent reps across the country that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. Booksellers and publishers need our services, our expertise, and our passion for books. I believe in all of you, and will tell you to keep growing your businesses. NAIPR has your back! You can always call on anyone of our leaders for help in any situation. We have a great industry and now we are forging bravely ahead with new leadership, new ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose!

Carry on!

Eric L Miller
President Emeritus, NAIPR

Novel-in-verse INSIDE THE WHALE recalls literary epics of the past

Man against insurmountable odds has been a classic tale for much of history. "Inside the Whale" is a novel in verse. Author Joseph G. Peterson has crafted an epic poem, tapping into the memories of the legends of times gone past, but being true to the modern era. Looking into the self-destructive nature of humanity and how our lives tear us all apart, "Inside the Whale" is a strong pick for lovers of poetry and fiction, seeking a modern story with a strong influence of the epics of the past.
-- Midwest Book Review, the Poetry Shelf, June 2012

As Bloomsday approaches (June 16th), a worldwide celebration of James Joyce's Ulysses, a novel that was first serialized from 1918 - 1920 in the radical arts magazine The Little Review, it's good to look at contemporary works such as Joseph G Peterson's Inside the Whale which pays poetic homage to Joyce and other great literary masters.

Joyce created his own lexicon with Ulysses, and filled the book with puns and obscure gags, quips, and witticisms that made the book unlike anything that had been published before. Set in Dublin, Ireland during a single day (June 16th), it chronicled the odyssey of its main character Leopold Bloom as he proceeded through his day, and Joyce brilliantly draws mind-blowing parallels to Odysseus, the main character of Homer's epic poem The Odyssey.

Peterson created his own epic with his main character, Irish-American Jim O'Connor, described by poet Gregory Lawless as "a whorl of grief, reckless charm, and surly poetic ambition." Peterson is the author of two traditional novels (Beautiful Piece & Wanted Elevator Man) but this book was his cat. Same way Robert Graves, acclaimed author of I Claudius and a slew of other books, including The Greek Myths, considered poetry to be his true calling. And so Peterson broke a few rules of fiction here by recounting his plot in stanzas that, according to poet Lawless, "watch the antiheroic O'Connor churn through misadventures, ocular bursts of poetry and failed loves ..."

One more significant thing. The Little Review, the arts magazine that first serialized Joyce's Ulysses, was born in Chicago in 1914 by editor Margaret Anderson. Peterson's novel-in-verse is set in Chicago, and according to poet Lawless "Inside the Whale's most moving passages are about Chicago, captured in Peterson's beautiful coda to this boisterous yarn." Recalling the biblical story of Jonah and the whale, the Old-English epic Beowulf, and even Herman Melville's Moby Dick, Perterson's book imagines a bardic drone chanting the mnemonics of rhythm and rhyme to entertain, lyre in hand, a group of ruffians gathered around a keg of beer and the red-hot coals of a dying fire.

Read more about Peterson's Inside the Whale here http://www.wickerpark-3ibooks.com/insidethewhale.html

Boston Celtics Rally over Philadelphia 76ers in East Semi Finals

The Celtics persevered over a very tough and well-coached 76ers team. It would seem that the Celtics brought their experience and legacy to bear on a 7-game series that provided an important test of their team will. It appeared that the 76ers had the same kind of no-nonsense lunch-bucket mentality as the Celtics did, and when you saw the two teams battling it out in their games together they seemed evenly matched: -- Kevin Garnett and Elton Brand, two shrewd  veterans;  Rajon Rondo and Lou Williams, two outstanding guards. Because of this particular win it appears that Boston will be the beneficiary of this practical and tough attitude, and it could serve them well as they progress to the East Finals match against the Miami Heat.

The four teams that made it this year each seem to have their own unique personalities, and they are definitely the best teams in the NBA this year for very different reasons. The teams are the Celtics, the Heat, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Celtics have a reputation for being old, or aging to put it more politely.  They won it all in 2008 with their four horseman of the Apocalypse: Garnett, Rondo, Paul Pierce, the captain, and Ray Allen, all still there. It’s my opinion this team cannot be under-estimated, and their Coach Doc Rivers is a brilliant tactician. I know this is a cliché, but playoffs are so different from regular season play, and when you have sheer physical ability only and lack the mental fortitude of older teams, it’s usually the older team that figures out how to win, either through wily veteran moves or a tenacity born of experience. They have simply been there before and are not self-conscious and simply come to ready to play, and win.

And so the Celtics are the workingman’s team, tough and full of guile. Much like the 76ers were this time out, except Philadelphia seems more like the 2004 Champion Detroit Pistons with no real high-profile star. The team does it together in this case, and I think the Celtics are so very potent because they embody both these qualities: -- they have high-profile, superstar players AND they play cohesively as a team. That’s a winning combination.

The Heat reminded me a little bit of the New York Knicks because they go out and buy talent, very glitzy and everything, but it doesn’t serve them in winning championships. Man, the early 1970s was the last time the Knicks won it all, with Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson coming off the bench. The only title the Heat won was in 2005: -- that was with Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O'Neal and Gary Payton. Shaq and Payton are no longer there and they were important pieces of the championship puzzle. Of course, the Heat went and added LeBron “I’m Taking My Basketball Skills to South Florida” James. But between James and Wade, to say nothing of Chris Bosh who is day-to-day, there doesn’t seem to be enough ball to go around. Not to take away anything from the Heat, they are a formidable team with some excellent pieces, but my feeling is that Coach Erik Spoelstra is a suit filling in for Pat Riley, former championship coach and now team president. It almost seems like James is the Heat’s player-coach for the team. Spoelstra doesn’t seem to have much leverage with James. Yet James had an amazing season like a modern Prometheus bringing the fire every night. Man, how does he do it? Still the championship is eluding James because he needs the right pieces in place to make it happen. The Heat will do well with pyrotechnics, with lots of flash (to coin the phrase Shaq used about Wade), but watch them implode against the Celtics. At least that’s my prediction. As Mike Royko once said, I could be wrong but I doubt it.

The San Antonio Spurs have gone undefeated in this post season. Their coach, Gregg Popovich, is some kind of genius. He’s been in there since 1996, and the Spurs have won it all three times on his watch, in 1998 in an abbreviated season, in 2002, and in 2006. The triptych of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili is the key to their success: -- and like the Celtics they bring tenacity, experience, and teamwork to the hardwoods. I can’t think of a bad thing to say about them as a team. Duncan, two-time Finals MVP, apprenticed with Hall of Fame center David “The Admiral” Robertson, whom he won his first two titles with. Parker went onto to win Final MVP in 2006 with the Spurs after Robertson retired.

So based on what I’m saying above it would seem that it would be a Celtics-Spurs finals match-up for this year. Not so fast. What makes things interesting and keeps us watching as students and fans of the professional game is the Oklahoma City Thunder. This team is awesome. They recently knocked off Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games in the West Semi Finals. They have an intriguing mix of veteran players, Derek Fisher, Nick Collison, and Kendrick Perkins, while their younger players are incredibly athletic and bring a lot to their game. The combination of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant is just astounding, and this seems to be the future of the game because they are still so young. I also love the play of Thabo Sefolosha, a Swiss guard who debuted with the Bulls.

The Thunder is the NBA’s Cinderella team this time out, the wildcard. Their coach, Scott Brooks, led an incredible 20 + game winning turnaround this season. Brooks was a three-point specialist with the Houston Rockets in 2004 when they won the title. He has very little playoff experience as a head coach, but the makeup of the team and a bevy of great players are what could carry them to the finish line this season. Nobody knows.

Let’s keep watching. The Celtics-76ers was a great series in its own right.

Giovanni Ethan Castronovo Miller

I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who expressed condolences over the passing of my grandson at a mere 10 weeks old. The amazing thing about Giovanni is that he was so healthy, so vivacious, and so full of life that his sudden death was and continues to be a shock to our family. He was born on Washington's birthday, February 22, 2012 at 6 pounds, 8 ounces in Chicago. He passed away on May 2 of this same year.

Little Giovanni is a love child, and he taught his mother Isabel the joy and responsibility of parenthood. He taught my wife and I about being grandparents. My parents about being great grandparents. My younger daughter Talia about being an aunt. So many people whom Giovanni came in contact with loved and admired this special baby.

My friend Janet Green, a clairvoyant, told me his spirit is fine. He felt no pain. Simply by being himself he has taught me about love and what is most important in life. Even as he sleeps with angels in heaven his spirit continues to teach me about love and life, and how love is the most important thing in the world. I love you, dear reader, and all my friends and family who reached out to us at this time of grief and sorrow. But we will not give in to despair! I want to express profound gratitude for having the experience of getting to know and nurture dear Giovanni. It reaffirms my belief in life and makes me so very happy!

Giovanni was laid to rest on May 8 at Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, IL. He is in the children's section at the back end in a beautiful spot. We will create a marker for his grave. Rabbi Victor Merelman said the last rites and was a calming influence on those who attended. I just found out that my great grandparents are buried in this cemetery, Morris and Bethie Ruttenburg, along with a few other Ruttenburgs, who would be great great aunts and uncles to Giovanni on my mother's side. This tells me Giovanni is in the right place. It is accessible and we will never forget how his special spirit changed our lives for the better.

With love and gratitude and a look towards a bright future,

Eric Lincoln Miller
River Forest, IL

President's Message for National Association of Independent Publisher's Representatives

As I pass the baton to the next person after an unprecedented 10 years as President of NAIPR let me say thank you to the board of directors, executive directors past and present, and to the membership who have been so wonderful to work with over the years. I am moving across the aisle, so to speak, and concentrating my efforts in another area of the book world, Wicker Park Press Ltd, which I started at roughly the same time I became President of our august organization. I’m lucky that I get to keep on working with a set of wonderful independent sales groups across the country and the world. These relationships built over the years are lasting, and I will continue to do everything in my power to assist the cause of NAIPR.

I was a charter member of NAIPR in 1989. We find ourselves on the threshold of a new era as NAIPR faces the brave new world of technology with a newly-minted agreement with Ann Arbor, MI-based ABOVE THE TREELINE. This marriage was born of fire as NAIPR and TREELINE had what was originally perceived of as competing services in the world of electronic catalogs and ordering systems. As President I never saw it this way, and I always viewed NAIPR as being a candy-counter concession stand in a kind of grand movie theater that TREELINE created with it EDELWEISS ordering system. Well, “bless my homeland forever” as the song goes, we were able to come to an agreement with this fine company. Our goals and reasons-for-being are remarkably the same. NAIPR is an organization created for the benefit of its members, who inherently help publishers, their clients, and bookstore owners, their customers, in succeeding to sell more books.

TREELINE never posited a negative view of sales reps, and they came into the business to help book store owners succeed in their businesses, and by extension sales reps were an integral part of the process. By way of example, in the EDELWEISS system sales reps of any stripe (independent and house) could annotate online entries for new books. Reps could sit with book store buyers while they were making their choices and use the system to actually get a bigger order. And because the order was created within EDELWEISS it would be 100% accurate and ready to send in to publishers right away. This was a winning situation for the book store owner, the rep, and the publisher.

NAIPR’s system FRONTLIST PLUS UNIVERSAL was created and updated as an e-catalog order form. Its beauty lies in its utter simplicity. It did one thing, ordering books. And NAIPR relied on its membership and the tireless efforts of Laurie Graham, formerly of WORDSTOCK, and Bob Rooney (Sean Concannon, the late Paul C Williams, and Mark Follstad) to assemble an up-to-date, seasonal list of books, in catalog order no less, that would allow for a time savings for everybody.

And now with the integration of EDELWEISS and FRONTLIST PLUS UNIVERSAL booksellers have a greater array of choices, and NAIPR can continue its mission to provide services to the book industry.
And what are benefits that NAIPR brings to the big table? The answer is varied and multi-layered, and I’ve talked endlessly about this before, so I will leave you with a story well-told by member Jock Hayward of HAND ASSOCIATES in the Western US territory. He wrote me about Dick Kolbert of Oakland, CA, a consummate professional who is retiring at the end of this season. Here are Jock’s words:

I have followed Dick into accounts in the past. He called on Colorado stores, before we redistributed accounts a dozen years ago. To this day, many of the buyers, upon my arrival, demand that I tell them about Dick. A couple even ask me what books he's read, and one wants to know that movies he's seen!

Two years ago, Dick told me that he planned to visit Denver with his wife, Nancy. Without thinking, I mentioned to buyers that Dick would be passing through Denver. It's possible that some buyers had heart palpitations when they heard about the visit, but all demanded to visit with Dick while he was in Denver. I reported back to Dick. Dick was surprised. In some cases he was baffled. He didn't remember a close affinity with certain buyers who were determined to see him.

Then things took an ugly turn. The itinerary, when it was finalized, only allowed for part of an afternoon in Denver. At best, there might be time for a brief visit with one or two conveniently situated buyers, before driving South to stay with long-time friends. When word got out that the visit to Denver would only be a few hours, between the airport and a drive to another part of the state, there was consternation. Buyers who learned that they would not see Dick, even though he would be in Denver briefly, were frustrated and disappointed. Fortunately, everybody survived and most were quick to forgive him after the trip.

My background with Hand prepared me for this. When I joined Hand in 1979. I replaced Roger Sydnor. Roger stopped at the Grand Canyon on the way back from New Mexico to Los Angeles. He got up early one morning to take pictures. His camera was found, but his body was hundreds of feet below. When I called on his accounts the first season, there was a lot of hand-holding to do with buyers I was meeting for the first time. Several women buyers became teary-eyed, when I arrived for the appointment. I quickly learned that it wasn't because of Hastings House catalogs, or even the U of Washington Press catalog.

Next season, I will have to recount, to a dozen more new buyers, what Dick is doing. The downside is that I will have to commiserate with them on the first call. The upside is that I will instantly be a confidant with important information about a revered friend …

Eric Miller
President, NAIPR