I am writing to invite you to share my busman's holiday in Italy this June, while I combine my passion for publishing and my love of Tuscany, as the co-leader of a workshop "Exploring the Business & the Art of Publishing". You may know me as the voice of Barnes & Noble in the independent press segment of the industry. What you may not know is that four years ago I visited Italy for the first time to participate in a photography workshop offered under the auspices of Il Chiostro. I became friends with the directors of the program, and as they listened to me talk about the business adventure publishing is today, they were intrigued enough to suggest that I put together a workshop on publishing to take place in Tuscany.

I agreed immediately as I felt that Il Chiostro's location would be perfect for this workshop. It will give us the opportunity to take advantage of the surroundings and the history of creativity and craftsmanship that is particularly Italian. I think we have put together a combination of the ancient and the modern (from the making of the first paper to the e-book), together with the practicalities of the business in this new century (printers, P&Ls, production, rights) and the creative side of the business that all too often seems too far away from what we must do every day to succeed in the industry.

The co-leader of "Exploring the Business & the Art of Publishing" is Bob Markel, now a literary agent and packager, who was, for many years, the editor in chief of Macmillan Publishing and before that Grosset & Dunlap. Bob shares my enthusiasm for the making of books. (We met on photo safari in Kenya, but that's a whole other story we'll share with you when we meet in Tuscany.)

Bob's knowledge of the history of the business, plus his vast experience in acquisition, marketing, and the direction of editorial departments complements my own experience as a bookseller, and sales and marketing person first at St Martin's Press, and then at Simon & Schuster. Our combined experience, along with those of your fellow participants will provide you with a rich sounding board, an opportunity to share challenges and successes.

The setting will also provide you with a chance to appreciate the texture of the history of the business, as we visit book makers and printers in Siena and Florence who still make books the old fashioned way. We hope you will take advantage of this offer to relax in the hills of Tuscany and enjoy the local Chianti and cuisine.

It has been my good fortune to earn the best post graduate degree one could ever obtain by working in the publishing business for the last 30 years, and the many workshops and seminars I have participated in have added to my knowledge of the way the world works. I hope you will decide to share with us your experience, enthusiasm, and desire to expand your understanding of the many ways to publish a book.

Sincerely,

Marcella A Smith
Co-leader "Exploring the Business & the Art of Publishing

PS. Please visit Il Chiostro online at www.ilchiostro.com, and then call 1-800-990-3506 to reserve your spot in Tuscany from June 17-24, 2000 at the workshop "Exploring the Business & the Art of Publishing." There are only 10 spots available so reserve yours now!

For more information, contact:

Marcella Smith
800-990-3506
ilchiostro@hotmail.com
http://www.ilchiostro.com/