Dick Greenberg
This was indeed a night to remember! From the opening Gregorian chant to the foot-stomping, hand-clapping rendition of "YMCA" ("YMCK") to the creative lyrics of "Somewhere Over the Budget," to the spirited "Start Spreading the Ink" to "Remainder Hotel," "Yesterday," and "Age of the Aqueous," to Chet Grycz's warm acceptance speech for a most deserved award, right through to the presentations themselves, this was Bay Area publishing at its best, celebrating its best.
The Bookbuilders Book Show is a time when we take the pulse of our industry, when we forge links across companies, renew old acquaintances, make new ones, and show the recently initiated that they have made the right career choice. In short, it is a time to put our best foot forward. And we did.
The evening started out innocently enough. However, the indicators that this wasn't going to be our typical fare were apparent at every turn. The newly devised categories lifted the veil from the judging process, enabling the judges to judge books according to type and purpose. Instructional and educational books no longer had to compete head on with coffee table trade versions of Eliot's Four Quartets. Having two categories for trade and scholarly publishing-one image-driven and one text-driven, similarly helped to level the playing field. The comments on the entry forms were not only instructive but insightful. The judges did an absolutely magnificent job of sticking to their criteria and evaluating each book within the context of its unique purpose and market (hence, artistic) demands.
It also was the first time, to my recollection, that Bookbuilders West extended its arms across the country to embrace our colleagues on the east coast. Nice touch. We are, after all, part of an even larger global community. Our books often wind up in Central Park stalls, off-the-beaten-path shops in the Cotswolds, and classrooms in Prague. It is time, I think, that the Bay Area assume its rightful position as a world-class publishing center.
The presentations were crisp and quick, thanks to the various presenters and young Justin Derman, whose visuals helped to keep things on track and lookin' good. No one, I suspect, felt slighted (least of all, Nola Burger).
Having been in the publishing business for more than thirty-two years, I need to be reminded occasionally why I hooked up and never fell out of love with publishing. Our industry is packed with talent, youthful exuberance, and boundless creativity-and they were all on display at this year's Book Show.
Gloria, Carole, and Stephen, along with several dozen others who contributed their time, energy, and talent, are to be congratulated for making the evening so memorable.