FY2015 University of Alaska Press Annual Report

FY

2015 Annual Report

www.uapress.alaska.edu

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

Front cover images showcase Fall 2015 titles.

Space images throughout report taken from Coloring the Universe.

University of Alaska Press PO Box 756240 Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240 907.474.5831 www.uapress.alaska.edu

Message from the Manager

3

Books Published in FY2015

4

Message from the Senior Editor

6

Notable Reviews, Mentions, Awards

6

Marketing Highlights

8

Exhibits and Events

9

Financial Summary

10

Series Editors, Advisory Board, Staff

11

FROM THE

MANAGER I’m delighted to present to you the University of Alaska Press FY15 annual report. This was a year of many changes and fiscal uncertainty for us—and my first year as manager.

I want to thank the staff for their incredible commitment and hard work. Together we have weathered a great deal of transition while continuing to publish stellar books that garner national and international attention.

Over the past several years our net income has remained steady. Net sales were slightly down this year after two very strong sales years in FY13 and FY14. We published 19 books in FY15, many of which received prestigious reviews and critical acclaim. Our trade and academic books have been recognized in the media— from the Japan Times to The New York Review of Books. Ebook sales are still going strong with over 1,000 electronic copies sold last year. We continue to partner and collaborate with many different departments within the university and agencies across the state. And most importantly, our books keep getting adopted for courses, receive high praise and awards, are used in academic research, reach children K-12, and are enjoyed by general readers everywhere.

As many of you know, there were several staff changes over the past year. Joan Braddock, Press director for nearly six years, accepted a new interim dean position for the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Sue Mitchell, Press production editor for nearly 10 years, accepted a new position as public information manager for the Geophysical Institute Outreach Office. Krista West was hired as our new production editor and replacement for Sue. Our recent, beautifully designed books are a result of Krista’s production and design expertise.

With Joan’s departure, James Engelhardt took on an expanded role as senior editor, overseeing the editorial direction of the Press. Laura Walker and Dawn Montano continue to grow our program through their sales, marketing, and publicity efforts.

I hope you continue reading and enjoy the rest of the report, which gives a snapshot of our activities over the past year. We are very proud of the accomplishments highlighted here and hope you’ll feel inspired to read our books.

Amy Simpson 3

BOOKS

PUBLISHED IN FY2015 University of Alaska Press

Scholarly and Trade Academic Books Steaming to the North: The First

Summer Cruise of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear, Alaska and Siberia, 1886 KATHERINE C. DONAHUE AND DAVID C. SWITZER

Iñupiatun Uqaluit Taniktun Sivuninit/ Iñupiaq to English Dictionary

COMPILED BY EDNA AHGEAK MACLEAN

A Dangerous Idea: The Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Struggle for Indigenous Rights PETER METCALFE

Kal’unek From Karluk: Kodiak Alutiiq History and the Archaeology of the Karluk One Village Site EDITED BY AMY STEFFIAN, MARNIE LEIST, SVEN HAAKANSON JR., & PATRICK SALTONSTALL

Alaska Literary Series

Poetry, Fiction, and Literary Nonfiction Peggy Shumaker, Series Editor Cold Spell

DEB VANASSE

The Creatures at the Absolute Bottom of the Sea ROSEMARY MCGUIRE

I Follow in the Dust She Raises LINDA MARTIN

4

Overwinter JEREMY PATAKY

A Ladder of Cranes TOM SEXTON

Snowy Owl

Trade Imprint of the University of Alaska Press Kiska: The Japanese Occupation of an Alaska Island

BRENDAN COYLE WITH A FOREWORD BY JIM REARDEN

A King Salmon Journey

DEBBIE S. MILLER AND JOHN H. EILER ILLUSTRATED BY JON VAN ZYLE

Picture Man: The Legacy of Southeast Alaska Photographer Shoki Kayamori MARGARET THOMAS

Life and Times of a Big River: An Uncommon Natural History of Alaska’s Upper Yukon PETER J. MARCHAND

You Haven’t Asked About My Wedding or What I Wore: Poems of Courtship on the American Frontier

Attu Boy: A Young Alaskan’s WWII Memoir

JANA HARRIS

NICK GOLODOFF EDITED BY RACHEL MASON WITH A PREFACE BY BRENDA MALY

Pup and Pokey

Mary’s Wild Winter Feast

SETH KANTNER ILLUSTRATED BY BETH HILL

Permafrost Book Prize

Selected by UAF Permafrost Magazine Published by UA Press Plash and Levitation ADAM TAVEL

HANNAH LINDOFF ILLUSTRATED BY NOBU KOCH AND CLARISSA RIZAL

Rasmuson Library Historical Translation Series Marvin Falk, Series Editor

Exploring and Mapping Alaska: The Russian America Era, 1741—1867 ALEXEY POSTNIKOV AND MARVIN FALK TRANSLATED BY LYDIA BLACK

5

FROM THE

SENIOR EDITOR As I start my fifth year as acquisitions editor at the Press, I am pleased with the work we have accomplished. In the past year, we have published important scholarship, beautiful children’s books, popular titles that explore Alaska’s history, literary collections, and our first Permafrost Prize winner. Looking ahead, we have our first astronomy title—a gorgeous book detailing how images of space are made—and a compelling mix of books for a broad mix of readers.

While the economic downturn will be a challenge, we will continue to develop projects that further our understanding of Alaska and the Far North. “The universe is made of stories,” Muriel Rukeyser said, and we look for those compelling narratives—scholarly or not—that tell us the story of our place so we understand our world better.

I am sitting in my office hearing the sounds and experiencing the smells of summer, and I know the light and season will change quickly. It is one of the joys of the editorial office to experience that change as it is linked to writers and their work. As soon as a new season of books arrives, a new one is already beginning. With that renewal in mind, we look to the coming years with hopeful anticipation. Alaska is always surprising!

James Engelhardt

NOTABLE REVIEWS,

MENTIONS, AND AWARDS “In Kiska: The Japanese Occupation of an Alaska Island, maritime historian Brendan Coyle recounts his 51-day stay on the island in which he documented the remaining ghosts of this far-flung battlefield.” —The Japan Times “It’s a rare pleasure to come upon a book so well crafted, so unified in theme, so honest and true to a poet’s heart. Sailing by Ravens is a remarkable voyage. Book passage as soon as you can.” —The Raven Chronicles “This magnificent reference is the fruit of decades of painstaking research by MacLean, who worked extensively with Native speakers of every local dialect.” —Choice magazine on the Iñupiaq to English Dictionary “A heartfelt evocation of the importance of place and family.” —Kirkus on Mary’s Wild Winter Feast “A spectacular look at the farthest reaches of our beautiful spaces.” —The Photo Review on Northern Exposures 6

PRI’s the World Kiska: The Japanese Occupation of an Alaska Island

Foreword Reviews The Creatures at the Absolute Bottom of the Sea

The New York Review of Books Steaming to the North: The First Summer Cruise of

Indian Country Today Media Network A Dangerous Idea: The Alaska Native Brotherhood and the

the U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear, Alaska and Siberia, 1886

The New York Times Book Review A King Salmon Journey

The New York Times Mary’s Wild Winter Feast

Struggle for Indigenous Rights

Slate Kiska: The Japanese Occupation of an Alaska Island Glacier Hub Picture Man: The Legacy of Southeast Alaska Photographer Shoki Kayamori

Alaska Magazine Gaining Daylight

Homer News I Follow in the Dust She Raises

The Quoddy Times A Ladder of Cranes

Cleaver Magazine Plash & Levitation

Alaska Dispatch News A King Salmon Journey

Deep in Alaska Ollie’s First Year Pup and Pokey The Creatures at the Absolute Bottom of the Sea Steaming to the North: The First Summer Cruise of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear, Alaska and Siberia, 1886

Anchorage Press A Dangerous Idea: The Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Struggle for Indigenous Rights

I Follow in the Dust She Raises

The Juneau Empire A Dangerous Idea: The Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Struggle for Indigenous Rights A Ladder of Cranes

Naval Historical Foundation Harnessed to the Pole: Sledge Dogs in Service to American Explorers of the Arctic, 1853-1909

KTUU Cover 2 Cover Overwinter

School Library Journal A King Salmon Journey The Horn Book A King Salmon Journey High Country News

AAUP Book, Jacket, and Journal Show Award For Design I Am Alaskan Eric Hoeffer Award Montaigne Medal Finalist Cold Spell

I Am Alaskan

Eric Hoeffer Award Da Vinci Eye Finalist The American Gardener There’s a Moose in My Garden: Designing Gardens for Alaska

Sailing by Ravens

and the Far North

7

SOCIAL

MEDIA

The UAP Facebook page is nearing the 700-fan mark with over 125 posts this year.

In FY15, our Twitter feed reached over 260 followers with over 65 tweets.

Thirty-five pins were pinned to our Pinterest page—adding a visual component to our social media strategy.

Our e-Marketing strategy focuses on integrating our social media efforts to promote new releases, sales promotions, and events.

PRESS + PARTNERSHIPS

= COLLABORATION ON BOOKS UA Press continues to collaborate with partners and agencies across the state and within the UA System. There are numerous recent and forthcoming collaborative projects in the works.

UAF Rasmuson Library | Rasmuson Library Historical Translation Series

Exploring and Mapping Alaska: The Russian America Era,

Rasmuson Foundation Rasmuson Foundation Arts Program Retrospective

UAF Department of English | Permafrost Book Prize

Plash & Levitation

Anchorage Museum

Dena’inaq’ Huch’ulyeshi: The Dena’ina Way of Living

UAF Alaska Native Language Center

Iñupiatun Uqaluit Taniktun Sivuninit/Iñupiaq to English Dictionary

Alutiiq Museum

Kal’unek From Karluk: Kodiak Alutiiq History and the

Time of Warring

Archaeology of the Karluk One Village Site

University of Alaska Anchorage

Coloring the Universe: An Insider’s Look at Making Spectacular Images of Space

1741—1867

Alaska Literary Series Partners

Cold Spell The Creatures at the Absolute Bottom of the Sea I Follow in the Dust She Raises Overwinter A Ladder of Cranes

UA Foundation Alaska Politics and Public Policy

e PARTNERS Amazon, kindle AcademicPub B&N, nook University Readers NetLibrary 8

ebrary ebl EBSCO ProQuest Google Editions

Bowker Thompson Rueter Chegg Apple, iBookstore

EXHIBITS AND

EVENTS

The University of Chicago Press exhibited our fall 2014 and spring 2015 books at 13 notable conferences around the country.

Native American and Indigenous Studies Association National Association of Native American Studies Society for Military History American Historical Association Association of Writers and Writing Programs Printers Row Book Fair Association for Asian Studies Ecological Society of America Society for Conservation Biology Association for Slavic, East European, Eurasian Studies American Anthropological Association Organization of American Historians Archaeological Institute of America

UA Press staff also attended several conferences and events throughout Alaska and the Lower 48.

Association of Writers and Writing Programs Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference Museums Alaska/Alaska Historical Society Conference Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Annual Tradeshow UAF Discover Alaska Lecture Series Tanana Valley State Fair Fairbanks Holiday Market Place Annual Holiday Open House

9

SALES AND

FINANCIAL SUMMARY Net Income FY2009–2015 Gross units Returns Net units

FY09 Total 34,122 (5,189) 29,165

445,351 Returns ($) (74,083) Net sales ($) 371,268 % returns 16.6 Net avg. discount 44.3 Gross ($)

FY10-Total 28,234 (3,999) 24,235

FY11-Total 31,466 (2,362) 29,104

FY12-Total 28,585 (3,030) 25,525

FY13-Total 33,266 (4,161) 29,105

FY14-Total 32,060 (3,433) 28,627

FY15-Total 32,320 (4,328) 27,992

387,699 (54,775) 332,924 14.1 44.0

426,116 (34,293) 391,823 8.0 44.9

379,607 (40,310) 339,297 10.6 43.2

457,860 (58,704) 399,155 12.5 43.9

435,317 (52,328) 382,988 10.7 48.2

392,584 (61,240) 331,343 15.60 45.8

NET SALES $ Fiscal Year Net Sales $ FY09 371,268 FY10 332,924 450,000 FY11 391,823 FY12 339,297 FY13 399,155391,823 400,000 FY14 382,988 371,268 FY15 331,343 350,000

NET UNITS

399,155

382,988

339,297

332,924

Fiscal Year Net Units FY09 29,165 FY10 24,235 FY11 29,104 35,000 FY12 25,525 FY13 29,105 29,165 FY14 28,627 29,104 30,000 FY15 27,992

Net Sales $

331,343

300,000

29,105

28,627

27,992

25,525

24,235

25,000

Net Units

20,000

250,000

Net Sales $ 200,000

Net Units

15,000

150,000

10,000 100,000

5,000

50,000

0

10

FY09

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY15

0

FY09

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY15

SERIES EDITORS, ADVISORY BOARD,

AND OUR STAFF UA Press Series Editors Peggy Shumaker, Alaska Literary Series Terrence Cole, Classic Reprint Series William Schneider, Oral Biography Series

Marvin Falk, Rasmuson Library Historical Translation Series

Advisory Board

Staff

Emily Wall, CHAIR Juneau

Amy Simpson Manager

Jeane Breinig Anchorage

James Engelhardt Senior Editor

Eric Heyne Fairbanks

Krista West Production Editor

Nancy Lord Homer

Laura Walker Sales and Marketing Coordinator

Karen Perdue Fairbanks

Dawn Montano Publicity Coordinator

Frank Soos Fairbanks John Straley Sitka Maria Williams Anchorage Kevin Winker Fairbanks

Amy Simpson, Laura Walker, Dawn Montano, Krista West, James Engelhardt

11

MISSION STATEMENT The University of Alaska Press is the premier publisher of scholarly and other high quality works on the history, cultures, peoples, and natural environments of Alaska, the circumpolar North, and Pacific Rim. The Press also publishes exceptional titles of broader interest. Through its publications, UA Press serves the scholarly community, K-12 educators, and the general public.

HISTORY Launched in 1967, the University of Alaska Press is a nonprofit scholarly publisher and distributor of books about Alaska and the circumpolar regions.

Although physically located at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, the Press represents the entire University of Alaska System–—its three main universities (UAA, UAF, and UAS) as well as their satellite campuses—and by extension the entire state of Alaska.

UA Press publications cover an expanding range of subject areas, including politics and history, Native languages and cultures, science and natural history, biography and memoir, poetry, fiction and anthologies, and original translations.

The Press publishes books in print and electronically for both the scholarly community and the general public. UA Press also serves as a distributor for many entities within the University of Alaska System and various independent publishers. UA Press books reach a global audience through sales and distribution provided by the University of Chicago Press.

The Press has an independent advisory board of scholars and writers with a diverse range of expertise. The board is responsible for final review and selection of titles published by the Press. UA Press is a member of the American Association of University Presses.