BAIPA member Aleta George’s book, Ina Coolbrith: The Bittersweet Song of California’s First Poet Laureate, has received a bronze medal in the biography category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. The IPPY Awards program is open to independent, university, and self-published titles. They had nearly 5,000 entries for this year, which was the their 20th annual Independent Publisher Book Awards contest.
Ina Coolbrith is about a pioneer poet, Oakland’s first public librarian, and the most popular literary ambassador in the early American West. Coolbrith was crowned America’s first state laureate 101 years ago. Her first love was poetry, but she earned a living as Oakland’s first public librarian where she mentored Jack London and fought gender discrimination in the workplace. Throughout her life, Coolbrith met with a series of challenges that tested her devotion to her art. In the end, she put her full faith in poetry and her story reveals the saving grace of creativity in a woman’s life.
Here’s a link to an interview she did on C-SPAN: InaCoolbrithBookDiscussion
For more information on Aleta George or the book, visit aletageorge.com.
CONGRATS ALETA!
Author
One of my favorite things about BAIPA is its culture of generosity, the willingness — even eagerness — to share what we have each learned in the process of bringing stories to life. We provide educational programs, networking, marketing opportunities, encouragement, and information on industry vendors and services. And lots of one-on-one advice and mentoring.
We welcome all who have an interest in making connections within the world of independent publishing and learning more about how to publish and sell their work successfully. Together we are raising the standard of independent publishing and helping our members thrive.
Do join us!
—Becky Parker Geist, BAIPA Board of Directors, President
Quick Resources
Current BAIPA members do not need to register for our monthly meetings. The night before the meetings, they will receive the Zoom info. For workshop registration, currently, members get in free for all workshops and will receive the Zoom info the night before the meetings, as well as in the confirmation email.