The Book Look
‘The Passion of Mary Magdalen’
Monkfish Book Publishing Co., an independent press in Rhinebeck, N.Y., has high hopes for “The Passion of Mary Magdalen,” the central book in the trilogy “The Maeve Chronicles.”
With a first printing of 5,000, the company has already had orders for 2,500 copies from wholesalers and distributors. “It is a great book with a lot of different angles to pursue,” says Paul Cohen publisher and co-founder of Monkfish. “One of the more interesting is the marketing of the character Maeve (aka Mary Magdalen) as a feisty Celt and an endearing character.”
“The Passion” is a historical fantasy focusing on her interfaith relationship with Jesus (she true to her Celtic and pagan heritage, and he dedicated to the one true God of Israel). Author Elizabeth Cunningham radically re-imagines Magdalen’s life and her influence within and outside the Church.
Cunningham spent 15 years researching and writing the trilogy, which includes “Daughter of the Shining Isles” (2000) and “Bright Dark Madonna” scheduled for release in 2008, including frequent visits to Rome, Israel and the British Isles.
“The Passion of Mary Magdalen” is Monkfish’s 20th book since publishing its first book in September 2003.
Fast fact: The author is descended from nine generations of Episcopal priests.
Author: Elizabeth Cunningham
Release date: April 1, 2006
Price: $29.95
‘The Dutch Naval Air Force Against Japan:
The Defense of the Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942’
In 1940, the Netherlands was the world’s third largest empire, trailing Great Britain and France. This tiny nation of 7 million ruled more than 100-million Indonesians half a world away. Protecting this territory, which at the time was one of the largest suppliers of the world’s oil, against invasion by Imperial Japan was most important. The story of Japan’s invasion after Pearl Harbor is being told in this new historical account published by McFarland & Company,.
To market the title, McFarland leans on direct mail advertising. The publisher mailed catalogs featuring the title to every academic, public and high school library in the United States, and to libraries in other English-speaking countries, such as Australia and the United Kingdom, through distributors, says Beth Cox, sales and marketing representative with McFarland. “One of the most effective things we do is submit copies for possible review to various library-oriented journals,” Cox says. “We also send a good supply of review copies on our own and encourage authors to supplement this list with their own ideas and leads. We seek out non-library sales as well. We explore textbook adoption possibilities, direct sales to individual readers, and Internet bookstores and specialty retail sales.”
Cox says the book is in its second printing and that print runs are scheduled to keep stock levels in line with customer demand. The book is available through Barnes & Noble’s Web site and Amazon.com, and special order through book stores.
Fast fact: McFarland publishes 275 reference and academic titles a year.
Author: Tom Womack
Release date: February 2006
Price: $35