New eBook Publisher for Women Writers

ShebooksThree veteran publishing executives have created Shebooks, an e-book publisher of quality short stories by women, for women that will launch in November. They commit to paying writer fees that reflect the author’s hard work, professionalism, experience, and talent.

Founders are Peggy Northrop, president, who is currently editor-in-chief of Sunset magazine and former editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest and More, Laura Fraser, editorial director, who is the New York Times bestselling author of An Italian Affair and more recently, All Over the Map, as well as a long-time magazine journalist and writing teacher, and Rachel Greenfield, chief operating officer, who has had a twenty year career in the top management of several leading publishing companies, including as EVP in charge of the Publishing Division of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

They intend to get women writers, and readers, on board with their effort, partially supported by a seed grant from the New Media Women’s Entrepreneurial Fund, to increase the number of great writers published. They claim, 80 percent of book buyers are women, and they want to combat the atmosphere in magazines, where male bylines still dominate the top-shelf books, and are already dominating the new electronic media.

The publishers are seeking 10,000-word stories in long-form journalism, short memoir, and short fiction. Polish up your prose, ladies, check out their website and send your submissions to write@shebooks.net

Nominate Your Exceptional Woman

What Exceptional Woman in Publishing has inspired you?

For our 16th consecutive year, EWIP will recognize one woman whose outstanding achievements have made a significant contribution to our industry. Who do you know who has created strong new products; who has broken new ground in publishing; who has led the transition from print to digital; who has mentored you or others?  Tell us about her and we will consider her for our 16th annual Exceptional Woman in Publishing Award, to be presented at our Sixth Annual Women’s Leadership Conference, to be held on March 5th in San Francisco.

Let us know about the Woman in Publishing who has made a difference in your career; and mark your calendar to join us when we present the award.

A Call for Conference Session Proposals

EWIP is pleased to announce the 6th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference. The popular publishing and media industry event in San Francisco attracts over 250 attendees and will take place on Thursday, March 6, 2014. The theme for the conference is “How to Move Forward: Women Leaders in Media”.

Women in publishing, media, and technology are invited to submit a proposal to present at the 2014 event. The motivation to open up the program is to encourage a greater variety of perspectives to EWIP’s 6th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference. EWIP’s president, Máire Walsh, said about the board’s decision, “By opening up the program, we hope to tap into the depth of experience and talent in the publishing community with a conference program that will illuminate the many ways women are moving forward. We ask presenters to submit their plans for our consideration by November 15th.”

Deadline extended: Submit by Friday November 22nd.

Session proposals should be in one of these formats:
Solo presenter
Two- to three-person Q&A session (interview format)
Three- or four-person panel discussion (including moderator)
How-to workshop

The session application process is simple.
1. Review the session guidelines and FAQ
2. Plan a compelling session (50-minutes) and get commitments from each presenter or participant
3. Submit an application using the online form Convene a Session by the November 15, 2013 deadline

The conference program committee will consider submissions received by the November 15, 2013 deadline. The committee will select the most promising sessions that meet the guidelines with an engaging topic and promise a lively conference experience. There will be a maximum of 10 sessions and some may run concurrently.

The contact for the best proposals will be notified on December 12, 2013. She will have an additional 30 days, till January 12, 2013 to finalize the session description and gather all commitments, including 40-word bios and head shots of all participants. Participants will be asked to sign a release for the photos and videos taken during the conference.

IMPORTANT DATES
Deadline extended: Submit by Friday November 22nd.

November 15, 2013 Application for conference session due (Apply Here)
December 12, 2013 Selected sessions announced
January 12, 2014 Complete session details to organizers due

Read more about EWIP’s 2014 Women’s Leadership Conference on Thursday, March 6, 2014.

Apple Should Rename their Genius Bar. For All Our Sakes.

I took two laptops into the Apple store the other day to get them looked at. One of them had been drenched in a liquid and I was hoping to be able to retrieve the information. The other one had a problem with the power cord port.

At the so-called Genius Bar, a young man detached himself from the bevy of young men and came over to help out. He discovered that it wasn’t possible to retrieve my information (“liquids and technology don’t mix”) and that I needed a new power cord.

I ended up going to another place, where they retrieved my information and fixed my port.

I think naming a bunch of young tech-savvy men geniuses and turning them loose on the middle-aged women who come in with tech problems is doing us all a disservice. It makes them think too highly of themselves, and too low of the people they are helping. My tech was cordial and polite. He just didn’t listen. He didn’t solve two problems I believe he was probably capable of solving.

Anyone have a new idea for a name for the Genius Bar? I suggest: “Smart People Who Will Take a Look at Your Problem and Do Their Very Best to Help You.”