In 1981, the Women’s National Book Association established the WNBA Pannell Award to recognize and publicly applaud the work of booksellers who stimulate, promote and encourage children’s and young people’s interest in books. Lucile Micheels Pannell, a founding member of one of the WNBA chapters, was born in the late 1800s. A model bookwoman, her career included teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, working as a librarian, then managing the Hobby Horse Bookshop in Chicago’s Carson Pirie Scott department store from 1943 to 1953. Although she had no children of her own, Lucile loved reading to children and introducing them to the world of books. Chicago schools would sponsor field trips to the Hobby Horse Bookshop because children and teachers loved visiting with Lucile to listen to stories and learn about the world of books. This Award is our way to honor Lucile’s special role in WNBA’s history.

2008 Kepler’s Books and Magazines of Menlo Park, CA was the winner!  Coach Teresa here witnessed their receiving the award. The folks at Kepler’s are local heroes.

2011 Pannell Award Winners

The 2011 winner in the General Bookstore category is Queen Anne Books in Seattle, WA. The Children’s Specialty Store category winner is Fairytales Bookstore in Nashville, TN.

A jury of five book industry professionals deliberated for four weeks, then selected the winners based on creativity, responsiveness to community needs and an understanding of young readers. Jurors expressed admiration for all the nominated stores. In particular, the reasons they gave for the selected bookstores included:

In addition to WNBA, the Pannell Award is underwritten by a generous gift from Penguin Young Readers Group. Each winning store will receive a check for $1,000 and a framed piece of original art by a children’s book illustrator.  This year’s art is contributed by Erin E. Stead, current Caldecott Medalist, from the upcoming book …and then it’s spring, by Julie Fogliano, which will be published next February by Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook/MacMillan; and Matthew Myers from the book Tyrannosaurus Dad by Liz Rosenberg, also published by Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook/MacMillan.  The presentation of the awards will be at opening of the Children’s Book and Author Breakfast at BEA on May 24th, 2011 in New York.

Jurors this year included Deborah Brodie, editor, book doctor and writing coach at DeborahBrodie.com; Susan Knopf, President, Scout Books and Media; Yolanda Scott, editorial director, Charlesbridge; Manuela Soares, lecturer and director of the Graduate Seminar, Pace University’s Publishing Program; and Gail Vinett, lead buyer, Ingram Content Group.

Read more about past winners: http://www.wnba-books.org/wnba-awards/wnba-pannell-award-for-bookstores

Cheers to independent booksellers!

I responded to my emails. I asked California Writers Club-SF Peninsula Branch Newsletter Editor Linda Okerlund to help broadcast the Sonoma County Book Festival on September 24, 2011.

Even though I had emailed a client my editorial memo to his new first 50 pages (his thriller with magnificent themes!), I wanted him to see my notes on his manuscript pages, so, I went to the post office and used priority mail. I enjoy going to the post office in person especially when it’s in an beautiful old building.

I returned a library book – Saving Your Library: A Guide to Getting, Using and Keeping the Power You Need, by Sally Gardner Reed.

In the mail was a promotional offer from Poets & Writers.  Check out their  Writing Contests, Grants & Awards. Look for this year’s opportunities.

While my laptop is uploading videos on my Amazon Author Central page, I’m writing this post and watching (studying actually) 2 episodes of  Columbo (Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo). I study films and I advise my clients to study films. Why?  Translating what you see and hear into words is a major feat. Try it. Use words to show show show.

Here’s the review I submitted to Amazon for Saving Your Library:

Our Beloved Public Libraries Can’t Speak for Themselves But We Can
I learned that no matter how busy a library appears to be (patrons reading, doing research, using computers, receiving help from librarians, borrowing books), we still need to be routinely asking about its “welfare.” Why? Whenever there is a budget crisis, underdog libraries are among the first to be targeted. Our public libraries can’t speak for themselves, and, librarians (city employees) cannot jeopardize their jobs; we the patrons can speak up, with our mighty voices! This book helped me understand what happened when our federal government “offered” cities and towns “local control” of public libraries (by pulling away funding). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_libraries says: “Public libraries exist in most places in the world and are often considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population.” Our beloved libraries… Chandra Garsson, thank you for showing me this book–Saving Your Library: A Guide to Getting, Using and Keeping the Power You Need by Sally Gardner Reed. Ask your librarians about the book. Here’s the website for the American Library Association http://www.ala.org

Got to check my emails again.

Sincerely,

author/writing career coach/library advocate

Teresa LeYung Ryan

Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan helps writers & authors build their platforms and fanbases and polish their manuscripts by identifying their themes and archetypes.  Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW Coach Teresa says: “Reach out not stress out when pursuing your dreams!”

Novelist Teresa LeYung-Ryan uses Love Made of Heart to inspire adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.

Coach Teresa’s videos http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung

Teresa LeYung-Ryan on facebook!