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.