June sort of snuck up on me here. This month’s posting is a little tardy, but it’s not too late to include some great news about area events and jobs.



Of course, the big event of the month is Printer’s Row and the corresponding Lit Fest, which takes place June 6–7 in a number of locations in the city. The book fair alone, one of the largest in the Midwest, is great on its own, even if you can’t make it to the many author events taking place during the week. Printer’s Row and Lit Fest is just the tip of the iceberg. Check out other events taking place this month in Chicago Publishing Events. If you have an event you'd like us to share, send the info to us at cpn @ bibliobibuli.com.



Although the market is still tight, there are some good jobs out there for editorial and creative types. We’ve even managed to post some design-related gigs this month in Chicago Publishing Gigs. Remember, posting a job at CPN is free (!). Information about Chicago-area publishing jobs can be sent to us at cpn @ bibliobibuli.com.



Finally, check out this month’s CPN Profile of one of my favorite writers, Tricia Crisafulli. Tricia has been a writer for a long time now, and she’s made a terrific go of it. She shares some insights about her Chicago-based career in the Profile.



Chicago Publishing Events

Be sure to check with the hosts or sponsors of events before showing up. Have fun!



June 6–7

Printer’s Row Book Fair

10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Dearborn between Polk and Congress

The Midwest’s largest outdoor literary festival features dozens of events, scores of exhibitors, and thousands of books. Related events take place at various venues around the city. Many events are free and do not require tickets, although some do and some already are sold out. For information, visit http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/events/printersrow/ and http://www.chipublib.org/events/details/id/27835/.



Saturday, June 6

CWIP Networking Breakfast

8:30 a.m.

Pancake Café

1292 Rickert Dr., Naperville

Open to all. Bring your business cards and ideas! RSVP to Rebecca Walker by e-mail: rebeccawalker@sbcglobal.net



Tuesday, June 9

IWOC Monthly Meeting

5 p.m.

22 South Michigan Avenue, Room 5008, Chicago

Networking and socializing begin at 5 p.m.; programs begin promptly at 6 p.m. Admission is free to all IWOC members and $15 for nonmembers. All IWOC programs and seminars are open to nonmembers. Reservations are not necessary for programs. A buy-your-own dinner follows every meeting.



Wednesday, June 10 & Thursday, June 11

Community Media Workshop: Making Media Connections Conference

Columbia College

1104 S. Wabash Ave., 8th Floor, Chicago

As part of the Chicago creative community, Chicago Creative Coalition (C3) supports the efforts of groups like the Community Media Workshop to advocate for and connect communications professionals. The 2009 CMW Making Media Connections Conference brings together community leaders, nonprofit communicators, journalists, publishers, media experts and the general public to discuss community stories and getting them told through traditional news and social media. Professionals and volunteers have been learning how to tell stories to advance their missions and strengthen their organizations at the Making Media Connections Conference for more than 15 years. For information, visit http://www.chicagocreative.org/view-event.php?id=32



Thursday, June 11

Mediabistro Chicago Cocktail Party

6–8 p.m.

O'Briens Riverwalk

45 E. Riverwalk South

We'll be hanging out at the bar and catching up on all things media (and some not). Keep an eye out for our hosts, Stuart Cleland and Marianna Swallow, who will be happy to introduce you around. RSVP required. For information and to register, visit http://www.mediabistro.com/events/view_event.asp?id=12552



Thursday, June 18

CWIP Spring Reception

6–9 p.m.

Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro

3905 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

Get ready for summer and celebrate another great year at CWIP’s annual Spring Reception. Members: $20; nonmembers $30. Register online at http://www.cwip.org/events.htm or call 773-508-0351, ext. 2.



Thursday, June 18

Writers on the Record with Victoria Lautman Presents Monica Ali

6 p.m.

Harold Washington Library Center, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium

400 S. State Street, Chicago

Monica Ali, born in Bangladesh and raised in London, became a sensation with her best-selling first novel, Brick Lane. Now, In the Kitchen explores the tense microcosm of an upscale hotel restaurant and its exuberantly multinational staff. When an employee turns up dead, the fragile balance is upended and for the executive chef, life will never be the same. For information, visit http://www.chipublib.org/events/details/id/27515/



Wednesday, June 24

Chicago Book Clinic University

Pearson Scott Foresman, Glenview

Publishing industry-related workshops and seminars will be held during the day. Fees apply for members and nonmembers alike. For information, visit http://chicagobookclinic.org/events-calendar/cbc-university/; call 630-833-4220; or e-mail klabounty@apexmanage.com



Chicago Publishing Gigs

Remember to check with the employer for additional details about the jobs listed below. Good luck!



Communications Coordinator

American Association of Endodontists

Chicago

The American Association of Endodontists is currently seeking a Communications Coordinator with a strong writing background and project coordination skills to perform the following duties, among other things: write and copyedit news articles for print newsletter and journal; develop and coordinate production of product catalogs and product order forms; and coordinate production of Membership Directory and other membership marketing materials. For information, visit http://careers.associationforum.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=3129180



Copy Editor

Sears Holdings Corporation

Hoffman Estates, IL

The ideal candidate knows the ins and outs of writing and formatting language for online display and SEO—whether it’s text in a Web interface, an e-mail campaign, or a call to action on a landing page. For information, visit http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=690859&fromSearch=0&sik=1243980509445



Director, Public Relations

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)

Chicago

The ACGME is currently seeking a Director, Public Relations to be responsible for managing the ACGME’s overall public relations program. The Director, Public Relations serves as the primary liaison between the ACGME and the media and assists in developing and implementing strategies and programs to reach key audiences with targeted messages and information. This position will interact with the ACGME Board, member organizations, and government bodies to clarify the mission and effectiveness of the ACGME. For information, visit http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=693088&fromSearch=1&sik=1243980509445



Editorial Assistant

ALA Editions (American Library Association)

Chicago

Under minimal supervision provide primary administrative assistance for the Editorial Director, Marketing Manager, and three editors. Maintain project management database, tracking project data, generating reports, designing new reports. You will communicate with authors, facilitate project-based communication between editorial, production, and marketing groups. In addition, responsible for processing payments, organizing and maintaining project files (physical and electronic), some editing, writing, and manuscript evaluation. For information, visit https://cs.ala.org/jobs/viewjobs.cfm#444



Editorial Assistant

American Naturalist, University of Chicago

Chicago

The Editorial Assistant assists the Editor and Managing Editor of the journal with all aspects of publication; serves as a liaison between editors and authors worldwide. Assists with coordinating the manuscript peer review process and helps maintain publication schedule. Coordinates the operation of the journal editorial office and helps supervise temporary workers. This job is posted on CareerBuilder: http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?IPath=QHKCV&ff=21&APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=J8D1PC63HM0WXPMC9KW



Editorial Interns

Sourcebooks

Naperville, IL

Sourcebooks, Inc., is looking for editorial interns (unpaid positions) in their copyediting and proofreading departments. For information, visit http://www.sourcebooks.com/about-us/careers.html



Graphic Designer

Learning Point Associates

Naperville, IL

The Graphic Designer will work with the Publication Services team and program staff throughout the organization to create high-quality, professional, visually compelling documents that are distributed to a research and policy audience. We produce a range of policy briefs, research synthesis and client reports which range from 8 to 40 pages in length. The position’s primary office location is in Naperville, Illinois. For information, visit http://jobs-learningpoint.icims.com/jobs/1306/job



Production Editor

Publishing Technology (American Library Association)

Chicago

This unique position involves designing, proofreading, and typesetting books, catalogs, journals, and newsletters for ALA Publishing. Additional responsibilities include creating graphics, brochures, bookmarks, posters, and other collateral materials as well as designing and maintaining Web sites. Further duties may include production and editorial work for the divisions, offices, and round tables of ALA. The Production Editor will help ensure all publications and projects meet ALA’s high editorial, design, and production standards. For information, visit https://cs.ala.org/jobs/viewjobs.cfm#443



Project Editors

McGraw-Hill/Contemporary

Chicago

The McGraw-Hill Learning Group, a division of McGraw-Hill Education, has an opening for an Sr. Editor for the Contemporary product line in Chicago, IL to work on a contractual basis. Responsibilities include maintaining overall accountability for one or more specific programs including content, schedules, budget and project plans and providing innovative content input for manuscript preparation and review manuscript for editorial quality in preparation for production. For information, visit http://mcgraw-hill.com/cgi-mcgraw/careers/recruitsoft.pl?url=uscan&lang=_en



Publication Services Manager

Learning Point Associates

Naperville, IL

We are looking for a highly qualified person to manage the Publication Services unit, including internal and external editing, layout, and print production. This position is within the Business Development Office and reports to the Communications Director. For information, visit http://jobs-learningpoint.icims.com/jobs/1310/job



Senior Development Editor

American Medical Association

Chicago

In this position, you will manage the editorial development of selected new and existing AMA Business Products books and products (print and electronic), maximizing product content, quality, packaging, and marketability while meeting deadline and budget goals. For information, visit http://www.bookjobs.com/viewjob.php?prmJobID=1309133



Sponsoring Editor—Math

McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Burr Ridge, IL

The sponsoring editor will, among other things: work with senior editorial management to develop short term and long term strategic and revenue goals for the publishing program; maintain and strengthen working relationships with authors through frequent contact; and work with internal digital development group and outside vendors to create and deliver complimentary digital products and strategies. For information, visit http://mcgraw-hill.com/cgi-mcgraw/careers/recruitsoft.pl?url=uscan&lang=_en



CPN Profile

Tricia Crisafulli, freelance writer extraordinaire, has a successful freelance business as a writer for a variety of clients, including corporations and publishers. As a reporter, writer, ghostwriter, and author in her own right, Tricia has worked on dozens of books. Her most recently published title is The House of Dimon (Wiley, 2009), which has made it on to the extended New York Times bestseller list.



How long have you been in publishing?

It depends on how you want to do the math! My first journalism job was as a “cub reporter” (as I was called in those days) at my hometown daily newspaper at the age of 17. From there I worked for small and mid-sized daily newspapers; went off to New York, where I worked as a business reporter for trade journals; and then moved to Chicago where my journalism career included five years as a reporter with Reuters. Eleven years ago I became a “writer for hire,” a ghostwriter, and a published author living in the Chicago area. So the short answer is I’ve been in publishing, in one form or another, all my life.



What was your first writing job? Was it what you hoped it would be?

Going back to the very beginning, I remember when I worked at that small town daily newspaper writing feature stories. I was hooked! I loved telling stories about other people (which, if I think about what I’m doing now, isn’t so far off the mark). Being a writer is the best education. Writers have the opportunities to immerse themselves in the world, or at least one small part of it, in a unique and fulfilling way.



You’ve written for news outlets, corporations, and book publishers, among other media, and you are a book author in your own right. How do these types of clients and assignments differ from one another?

There are more similarities than differences. One is the focus on the essential story. Whether it’s a wire service piece for Reuters or a book, there has to be a “hook” that involves the reader and makes it worth his/her time. Otherwise, it’s just words. Integrity of the information, research, accuracy … these are fundamental rules regardless of the venue.



There are some interesting differences, though. For example, with books there is usually a point of view. The author (whether it’s me or a client of mine for whom I am acting as the ghost writer) has a perspective or opinion and tries to persuade the reader. As a journalist, no opinions were allowed (although if you come right down to it, everything is a little subjective since the writer chooses what to focus on, the quotes, and even the words used). But in books, it’s more deliberate and pronounced.



I love book writing. With two books of my own published thus far, and something like 17 client books out there, I find it very easy to think in terms of 300 pages. But I will always be grateful to my journalism training, particularly at Reuters, which has helped me in terms of accuracy, consistency and speed.



As a published author, most recently of The House of Dimon, how would you characterize the publishing process?

The book publishing process is a combination of solo-journey and collaboration. As the author, it’s all on you. Do the research, the writing, the first few rounds of editing. Make your deadline, do the rewrites, and carry the ball forward. However, there is a lot of collaboration involved. When there is an editor involved, giving feedback chapter-by-chapter, it’s fantastic. (Sadly, this doesn’t always happen given the cutbacks in publishing). For writers, it can be hard to have someone else involved in the manuscript, but it’s very valuable feedback. It is so easy to be too close to a book and not see the proverbial big picture. At all times, the author is very much the engine of the train and has to be fully engaged in every part of the process—not just the writing and editing, of course, but marketing and promotion as well. Viewed as a team endeavor, though, it’s very satisfying.



As an author, how do you think BOOK publishing has changed in the past five years? 10 years?

The biggest change in publishing over the past 10 years—which as intensified over the past 5 years—is how competitive it is. It is just plain harder to get a book published these days. Book sales have fallen off, especially with the economy. Publishers are less willing to take a gamble on an unknown or lesser-known writer than someone who has a track record. In both nonfiction and fiction, the author has to demonstrate that he/she has a platform—meaning some way to market the book such as through a web site, conferences, speaking engagements, articles, or another means. In addition to the integrity of the written work, major consideration is given to how much marketing muscle the author can put behind a project.



Another development over the past 5-10 years has been the evolution of self-publishing, from a vanity endeavor to a bona fide alternative. Publishers will look increasingly at a self-published work that showed some good sales—once again, because the author had a platform to put behind it. What will be interesting to see is how book publishing evolves or merges with content publishing. I believe that there will always be a need for great content and engaging stories. What may change is how we read and access them.


As the creator of Faith, Hope, and Fiction (http://www.faithhopeandfiction.com), what trends are you seeing from writers?

I started www.FaithHopeandFiction.com as an e-literary magazine three years ago. It was a lark—and turned into a labor of love. I publish 11 free issues a year and I encourage submissions from writers. What I find is that most writers are comfortable with a form I call the “inspirational essay.” They write about something that happened or a recollection because of the lesson, message, or meaning that it contains. A few people will send me short stories, but writers who can do this well are fewer. However, I’m always up for a good story and I give lots of feedback. That’s been a real joy for me, too; to learn as I teach.


What do you think is unique about Chicago-area publishing?

I don’t think I can answer this one because my writing is all over the place! I have worked with publishers in New York and in California. Even as a Chicago-area journalist I was with Reuters, which was national and international. So from my perspective, Chicago-area publishing is part of a greater whole—or at least as I view it.



What advice would you give to someone looking to start out or advance in publishing?

Find a place to publish and write. Don’t worry about money or circulation or anything else. Get a toe in the door and go from there. Once you are published some place, you can use that to showcase what you’ve done at the next place and then the next place. I also like to remind people that WRITERS are people who WRITE. The word “publish” is not in there. Publishing is what happens after good writing occurs. In many ways it’s the business transaction part. So focus on the writing and accept feedback, even (and especially) the comments that make you cringe. It’s all a gift.



Making the leap from local to regional to national just takes a hook and a unique story to tell. Editors get bombarded with ideas and pitches, but if you can get someone’s attention, make sure the story is engaging and you are the best one to tell it.