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Publishing Now Webinar

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by Tyler M. Carey, Chief Revenue Officer
I hope the Summer is going well for you and your team, all things considered. Things have been very busy at US employee-owned Westchester Publishing Services despite the headwinds caused by the pandemic within our industry.  We are editing and typesetting more projects for our clients this year than in any past year.
Related to the challenges in our industry, though, I wanted to make sure you received the outcomes from the “Publishing Now” webinar that we co-hosted with Publishers Weekly last month. We were fortunate enough to have stellar speakers from Princeton University Press, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Ingram, and the Book Industry Study Group on our panel, and the feedback to their insights about the supply chain and state of the industry was very favorable.
In case you missed the link to watch the webinar or read the post-webinar assets, you can access that info here.
One outcome for Westchester coming on the heels of the webinar is that many of our clients are engaging with us about different ways of working together. From an increased interest in using our Client Portal to having us handle different types of editorial or production tasks besides those we have handled for them before, we are finding our clients leaning on Westchester more and more for support in the current climate. 
Let me know if a quick call about any new ways we can help you would be helpful.  Be well.

by Tyler M. Carey, Chief Revenue Officer

BISG logoWestchester Publishing Services is proud to share that we recently became a member of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG). BISG works to provide solutions that will positively impact on two or more parts of the publishing supply chain, which in addition to publishers, includes packagers like Westchester, printers, distributors, and companies that collect, use, and analyze the data and metadata that are critical to the success of the entire supply chain.

Tyler M. Carey, Chief Revenue Officer for Westchester said, “Joining BISG is a long overdue commitment from Westchester Publishing Services to the publishing industry.  The work that Brian O’Leary and the BISG board and committees have done to advance the business of making books is critical to the stability and growth of the publishing industry.  Westchester has participated in discussions around workflow and industry trends in an unofficial capacity with BISG for some time, but with the pandemic’s impact on publishing, we see the importance of playing a more active role in one of the industry’s most critical organizations.  We encourage all publishers to explore the BISG.org website, the white papers on different aspects of our industry, the research produced by BISG’s member committees, and join the discussion.”

Brian O’Leary, Executive Director of BISG shared this regarding Westchester Publishing Services becoming a member, “We’re happy to welcome Westchester Publishing Services to BISG. Our members work collaboratively to solve problems that affect two or more parts of book publishing, improving revenues, and reducing friction between trading partners. At a time when we’re challenged to find new ways of working together, BISG provides an important way to identify and address industry issues through standards, best practices, and new approaches.”

The work of BISG is advanced through the work group committees staffed by volunteers from member organizations who strategize solutions that will benefit the larger publishing ecosphere, helping the industry to remain strong and grow more adept to handle the challenges of publishing and disseminating printed content in ever more myriad formats and distribution channels. To learn more about the work BISG does and to find out how your company can become a BISG member, please visit their website.

by Nicole Tomassi, Marketing & Conference Manager

The staff at Westchester’s locations around the world are continuing to work remotely for their health and safety as well as that of their families. During this time, they have also been providing additional guidance for our customers as phases at other points in the publication project lifecycle are being impacted as a result of world events.

Regardless of whether we complete our work in an office or our homes, what remains consistent is our unwavering commitment to provide our clients with excellent service on every project they send to us. Read on to learn how each of our business units worked in various ways to support the evolving needs of our clients and industry colleagues during Spring 2020:

English language learning webinar

As students around the world shifted to a home-based learning environment practically overnight, one group requiring extra support were English language learners. Students learning an additional language benefit from in-person instruction that helps them obtain important communication concepts. Westchester Education Services’ Walter Henderson, Jr., moderated a webinar with language teaching experts in April that focused on how to support the needs of these students, and shared quality online language-learning resources that students could use while continuing their studies remotely.

Conferences Transform into Virtual Events

Event organizers who had in-person conferences planned for the spring had to make quick decisions, shifting from physical meeting spaces for delivering keynotes and conference content to platforms like Zoom and Skype. Chief Revenue Officer, Tyler M. Carey, wrote a blog post detailing how conferences serving the academic and university press sectors, including ALPSP UP Redux and AUP adjusted their content and delivery methods to keep their members informed.

How Westchester Supports Publishers

Download Services Checklist

Over the last four months, you’ve likely had to adapt some of your publication processes as a result of your staff working from home. Westchester has experience with creating workflows for our clients based on their project requirements, and we’ve received many inquiries about handling tasks that are further upstream or downstream in the editorial and production process. Read this case study about how we designed a custom workflow for West Margin Press, and review our services checklist to see all the ways that Westchester can help you.

 

Westchester Education Services participate in two SIIA panels

The Software and Industry Information Association (SIIA) Education Technology Conference originally scheduled for two days in June, was another conference that revised its format to virtual sessions, which took place over the course of three weeks in May and early June. Westchester Education Services President and Chief Content Officer, Kevin J. Gray, was the moderator for the session, “Haven’t We Seen This Before? Lessons Learned”. The knowledgeable panel of education industry experts provided guidance to the audience about what is working with remote learning and where improvements are needed to support students and their families. Kevin was also a panelist for the session “Product Paths to Support Learning”, that explored how educational publishers and ed-tech providers are adjusting their products and services to meet learners where they are in remote learning environments. (SIIA login may be required to view sessions)

Use the Client Portal to streamline project management

Having an easy to use, secure project management platform that helps you see the status of every project and each asset associated with it can save you from the hassle of lots of emails, and phone calls to track important information down while you and your staff are working remotely. This video overview of the key features of our award-winning Client Portal shows how efficient project management can be. After you watch it, get in touch with us to learn how it can be customized to your requirements.

IPG Virtual Spring Conference

Like the US, the UK conference calendar was upended, most notably with the London Book Fair completely scrapped for 2020. The Independent Publishers Guild (IPG) Conference originally planned as a one day event at the beginning of May transitioned to a 2 day virtual conference hall at the beginning of June. Westchester Publishing Services UK was an exhibitor at this first of its kind event for the IPG. Prior to the conference, UK Managing Director, Tim Davies, shared a video to IPG members about how Westchester supports independent publishers in challenging times and potential longer-term impacts for the industry.

Westchester Education Services forms DEI Committee

The need for increased representation in the publishing industry is very topical due to current events, and something that Westchester has been incorporating into our recruitment efforts for staff and freelance resources for a longer time. In March, the Education Services team unveiled a DEI Mission Statement that includes action items for creating and nurturing a diverse talent base. In June, we announced the formation and membership of a DEI Committee, who are responsible for developing goals and guiding the strategies to ensure an inclusive and equitable working environment for everyone. Later this summer, we will be hosting a webinar about measurable steps that publishers and ed-tech providers can implement within their business. While we still have more ground to cover in our own organization to achieve full equity, we believe it is important to work together with our industry partners so we can all develop best practices that help everyone attain this goal.

An out of this world Nibbies

The British Book Awards, known by their nickname the Nibbies usually holds a formal gala event to recognize publishers and authors that have had a significant impact on the British publishing industry during the previous year. Westchester Education Services sponsored the Academic, Educational and Professional Publisher of the Year category which was awarded in late June, While we couldn’t be there in person to congratulate the winner, having an astronaut make the announcement is a pretty cosmic way to share the news. Watch the publisher shortlist and winner announcement in this video, courtesy of The Bookseller.

Stay connected with Westchester

Stay in the know about the different products and services Westchester offers, including topical webinars by following our LinkedIn pages for Westchester Publishing Services and Westchester Education Services. To make sure we’re delivering content that’s relevant, take this one-minute survey to let us know what topics you would like Westchester to provide presentations about.

Everyone at Westchester hopes that you, your family and your colleagues will continue to stay safe and in good health. Our entire team stands ready to help our customers, our partners and others within the industry with editorial, production, and project management tasks related to your publishing program. We invite you to give us a call, send an email, or visit our website to learn more.

Nicole Tomassi, Marketing & Conference Manager

Join Westchester Publishing Services and Publishers Weekly for a webinar on Wednesday, July 8, about the changing modes of work, book production, printing, and distribution. Publishing Now: Day to Day Challenges & Solutions, moderated by Jim Milliot, Editor in Chief of Publishers Weekly, will explore the impact on editorial, production, and manufacturing workflows and options, with the following panelists:

  • Cathy Felgar, Publishing Operations Director, Princeton University Press. Cathy has operations, editorial production, manufacturing, and systems implementation experience in various positions with Macmillan, Columbia University Press, HarperCollins, and Cambridge University Press.
  • Brian O’Leary, Executive Director, Book Industry Study Group. Helping to resolve problems that impact two or more parts of the publishing supply chain, BISG membership represents the entire publishing industry, from publishers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and libraries to printers, suppliers, service providers and more.
  • Marina Padakis Lowry, Senior Managing Editor, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media group. Marina has more than 20 years’ experience with culinary, lifestyle, reference, and young readers’ books, and has held positions at several publishers, including HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Oxford University Press UK, and Scholastic.
  • Kelly Gallagher, Vice President of Content Acquisition, Ingram Content Group. Kelly manages publisher relations for North America, which includes Lightning Source print on demand and CoreSource digital asset management and distribution. Prior to joining Ingram, he served as Vice President of Publishing Services at Bowker, and also served 10 years as a publisher and six years in association work.

Register now to attend this engaging review of our industry’s continuing adaptation to world events.

I also invite you to look over our handy checklist page. Even if you feel you know the full extent of Westchester’s capabilities, this list of editorial and production tasks that we help your peers with may give you new ideas about ways we can help you manage some of the bottlenecks you’re trying to deal with while many of us are working from home.

Get in touch to talk with us about how we can help streamline your pre-press processes.

Compiled by Nicole Tomassi, Marketing & Conference Manager

With the year almost halfway through, it seems likely that 2020 will leave a lasting imprint on our collective memory. We are in a defining moment that is compelling us to examine painful truths about ourselves, our communities, and the larger society that we are citizens of. Hopefully, we will all make a conscious effort to move forward with more compassion, empathy, and respect towards one another so that we can begin to heal the deep wounds that have been inflicted.

It is against this backdrop that my colleagues are sharing with you the books that they plan to read this summer. Whether the selections result from an interest in gaining a deeper understanding of current events, or to serve as a reprieve from the world around us, all of the titles provide a glimpse of the individual who has chosen them.

Below these selections, you will find more information about other titles that you may be interested in. To purchase any of the titles shown along with thousands of others while also supporting the efforts of local, independent bookstores, click on the cover image to open up the Indiebound website. I also invite you to drop us a note and tell us what book(s) you will be reading this summer.

The Great InfluenzaThe Great Influenza by John M Barry

Publisher: Penguin

Why I want to read this book: This book is about the Spanish flu from a hundred years ago. Would be interesting to know what happened then and how history could help us today. Given the advancements in science and medicine since 1918, it is a revelation that things are not that different even today and we are struggling with similar issues.

Human KnowledgeHuman Knowledge: Its Scope and Limits by Bertrand Russell

Publisher:  Routledge Classics

Why I want to read this book:  This has been on my reading list for a long time. In this book, Bertrand Russell questions the reliability of our assumptions on knowledge. This was quite a controversial piece of work when it was published (1948). It examines the relation between individual experience and the general body of scientific knowledge. The perplexities of philosophy are beautifully explored. A gem of a read, pretty relevant today.

MonaSelections chosen by: Mona Tiwary, Director of Publishing Services, WPS India

Olive, AgainOlive Kitteridge followed by Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

Publisher: Random House

Why I want to read this book: Olive Kitteridge is one of my favorite books, but it’s definitely been a few years since I read it, so I plan to revisit it before reading Strout’s follow-up book, which was published recently (a decade after the first book!). I cannot wait to sink back into Strout’s beautiful depictions of the interior workings of her characters. If the new book is anywhere near as good as the first one, I’ll be happy!

Selections chosen by: Ashley Moore, Copyeditor

 

The Address BookThe Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth and Power by Deidre Mask

Publisher: Profile Books

Why I want to read this book: This was recommended by a pal who works at Profile Books in London, where the staff there have raved about it. There are dozens of quirky, ‘How Pudding Lane got its name’-type novelty/gift titles out there. This book, however, is a far more thought-provoking and global approach to the influence and political and socio-economic importance of addresses. The author is an academic who attended Harvard and Oxford Universities, as well as the National University of Ireland.

Tim DSelected by: Tim Davies, Managing Director, Westchester Publishing Services UK

 

All the DevilsAll the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny

Publisher: Minotaur Books (Macmillan)

Why I want to read this book: Her Inspector Gamache series is always a great read. Good mystery plot-lines and memorable characters. I’ve become a Louise Penny junkie, and get absolutely giddy when I see a new one coming. This one should release by the end of summer.

Tina MingolelloSelected by: Tina Mingolello, Customer Service Representative

 

Measure for MeasureMeasure for Measure by William Shakespeare

Publisher: Pearson, Bevington editor

Why I want to read this book: I read one of Shakespeare’s plays each summer as I have since high school. This play focuses on morality and justice.

 

The Old Curiosity ShopThe Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

Publisher: Wordsworth Classics Edition, Hardcover

Why I want to read this book: Read along with G.K. Chesterton’s “biography,” one sees the changing of the times so beautifully encapsulated in his novels.

Eighth Day of CreationThe Eighth Day of Creation: Makers of the Revolution in Biology by Horace Freeland Judson

Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

Why I want to read this book: This is one of the better books on science but definitely the best book on molecular biology as told by the scientists involved in the 20th century understanding of DNA, RNA, and Protein structures and functions.

Tim YetzinaSelections chosen by: Tim Yetzina, Senior Supervising Editor, STEM, Westchester Education Services

 

City we becameThe City We Became by N. K. Jemisin

Publisher: Orbit

Why I want to read this book: One of my most favorite things in a book is when the setting becomes its own character, and that’s the case for The City We Became, which takes place in New York City. I’ve enjoyed previous books by this author and this book is the first in a planned series, so I’m looking forward to reading it!

 

Kim GSelected by: Kimberly Giambattisto, Senior Production Editor

 

CrawdadsWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Why I want to read this book: A lyrical mystery! Set in the marshes of the North Carolina coast, the book uses beautiful language to explore the marsh and nature while it tells the story of a reclusive Marsh Girl, Kya Clark, who is abandoned by her family, the school system, and the whole town. Read it before the movie comes out.

Selected by: Anne Riccio, Senior Supervising Editor, Literacy & Humanities, Westchester Education Services

Marching PowderMarching Powder by Rusty Young

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Why I want to read this book:  It is based on the true story of  Thomas McFadden, who was apprehended in 1996 in Bolivia with five kilos of cocaine in his suitcase and imprisoned in San Pedro prison. This book is a memoir of unusual prison conditions and drug traffickers who ran tours inside Bolivia’s famous San Pedro Prison.

Selected by: Rishi Arora, Project Manager, WPS India

Whistling VivaldiWhistling Vivaldi: And Other Clues to How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do by Claude M. Steele

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company

Why I want to read this book: In every aspect of my work, with Westchester and beyond, I find myself up against stereotypes in myself and others. I am interested in understanding how human beings see one another and how we can work with our human wiring to broaden our horizons.

StampedStamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Publisher: Nation Books

Why I want to read this book: History is one subject (math is the other) I passed through schooling without mastering, which has left great holes in my understanding of the world. Racism is pervasive in our culture in the U.S. and in many cultures globally, and one step in understanding how to dismantle it is understanding how our culture and society has been built around racist ideas. I bought this book some time ago, and started it, then put it down. This summer, I intend to finish it.

On the BoundariesOn the Boundaries of Theological Tolerance in Islam by Dr. Sherman A. Jackson (translated from Faysal al-Tafriqa Bayna al-Islam wa al-Zandaqa by Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Why I want to read this book: Al-Ghazali was an 11th century philosopher, who is one of the most influential Muslim philosophers of all time. I started reading this text for a class on pastoral care,  and was astounded at the depth of wisdom present in it. Although written centuries ago, it contains principles and processes that are still relevant today in our modern context. As a Muslim who grew up in a conservative Muslim family in the West, I found in my brief interaction with this classical text, liberation of thought that I haven’t seen anywhere else in modern Muslim culture.

NiloferSelections chosen by: Nilofer Ali, Resources Manager, Westchester Education Services

 

Night CircusThe Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Publisher: Doubleday

Why I want to read this book: Oftentimes I pick up a book to get away from reality for a bit. In recent years, because of the everyday routine of work, motherhood, and the many events we had planned every weekend, I’ve had little time to read for enjoyment. Then, in March of this year, there was more time to do some of the activities I love. I could finally begin to tackle the stacks of books that are laying on my bookshelves waiting to be devoured. But where to start? What better way to escape the reality of a global pandemic than to delve into a dark fantasy book with a bonus love story? I have an image of Cirque du Soleil mixed with The Umbrella Academy, both of which I love, and I’m looking forward to discovering what kind of magic this novel has in store for me.

MelodySelected by: Melody Negron, Senior Production Editor

There ThereThere, There by Tommy Orange

Publisher: Knopf

Why I want to read this book: Tommy Orange is a Native American author (he’s a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations of Oklahoma). The book is set in Oakland, California and in it, Orange explores the lives of a large cast of characters, each grappling with what it means to be Native American in an urban setting. It highlights the many challenges presented with being a non-white in a predominantly white society. Though I’m not far into it yet, the prose is elegant, haunting, and electric and I’m looking forward to delving deeper.

KevinSelected by: Kevin J. Gray, President & Chief Content Officer, Westchester Education Services

 

Dowry MurderDowry Murder: The Imperial Origins of a Cultural Crime by Veena Talwar Oldenburg

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Why I want to read this book: I want to read this book to understand the reason of dowry and how it came into existence. The Hindu custom of dowry has long been blamed for the murder of wives and female infants in India. In this highly provocative book, Veena Oldenburg argues that these killings are neither about dowry nor reflective of an Indian culture or caste system that encourages violence against women. Rather, such killings can be traced directly to the influences of the British colonial era.

Bitter FruitBitter Fruit: The Very Best of Saadat Hasan Manto, Edited and Translated by Khalid Hasan

Publisher: Penguin India

Why I want to read this book:  I first read Saadat Hasan Manto as a teenager. I was too young to understand the intricacies of his stories but I enjoyed what I read and craved for more. I love Manto because he was honest. He was a bluntly true writer and he created his own peculiar tell-all style. He didn’t write only the good qualities of his characters. Bitter Fruit is for all those who love reading the accounts of reality and want to experience the pain of partition. This book is a sheer treat to those who love reading.

NiteshSelections chosen by: Nitesh Sharma, Senior Project Manager, WPS India

 

WhittlingWhittling the Old Sea Captain, Revised Edition by Mike Shipley

Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing

Why I want to read this book: When my wife and I bought our house years ago, it was very much a fixer-upper.  A deck to repair, appliances in need of updating, windows to seal and paint, rooms to insulate and sheetrock, and so on. At the time, my late father was elderly and battling multiple myeloma. He’d visit, sit in a chair, puff a cigar, and whittle figurines for his grandkids and nephews while I reenacted the last verse of “Cats in the Cradle”, and was too busy to whittle along with him while I tackled household projects, but chatted with him the whole while. He had grown up in a maritime community and figurines of old ship captains were a favorite of his. That and more Santa Claus figurines than our trunk of Christmas decorations can hold. During the pandemic, being stuck at home, I turned to cleaning and organizing to fill some of the time. I nearly Marie Kondo’d a box of books I had read to Goodwill, until finding that underneath some old paperbacks were a ton of woodcarving books from Fox Chapel and Schiffer Publishing that my father had left me when he passed. So, I plan to try to recapture some of that lost time, sit in a chair, and whittle away. While my time on the ocean as a boy is a more distant memory than it was for him, I may even try my hand at an old sea captain figurine. Maybe one with a beard and cigar like my old man…

TMCSelected by: Tyler M. Carey, Chief Revenue Officer

 

Our friends at Mint Editions host a virtual book club, and their June selection is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. You can follow them on Instagram for more information about joining the book club and downloading a copy of the ebook.

Looking for more reading ideas? One of these lists is sure to have a title that interests you:

5 Summer Books and Other Things To Do At Home – Bill Gates

Publishers Weekly Editors’ Picks for Summer Reads

20 Best Summer Books to Have On Your 2020 Reading List – Travel & Leisure

New York Times Book Review – 10 New Books We Recommend – may require login

25 Best Summer Books to Read 2020 – Good Housekeeping