TEXT AND ACADEMIC AUTHORS
Text and Academic Authoring News
January 5, 2007
Edited by Kim Pawlak
kmpawlak@centurytel.net

Here is the latest news from TAA:

2007 conference proposal deadline approaching

The deadline for Conference Proposals is January 12, 2007. Please click here for a detailed description of session topics ideas and then fill out a Presenter Proposal Form before the deadline. View more about the conference in the TAA Conference section.

Why are textbooks so expensive?

Association for Psychological Science Immediate Past President Henry L. Roediger says the root cause of the high cost of textbooks is the sale of used books. Read his APS column, "Why Are Textbooks So Expensive?", originally published in the Association's newsletter, The Academic Observer, January 2005: Click here

TAA council to meet this month

The TAA Council will have its first annual meeting Monday, January 15, 2007 at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida.

'Can Plot Improve Pedagogy?'

Some textbook authors are introducing plot into their textbooks. Read "Can Plot Improve Pedagog? Novel Textbooks Give It A Try" (May 11, 2001) on the Chronicle of Higher Education website: Click here

'Textbook Writing 101'

Read textbook author M. Garrett Bauman's humorous and informative article on why you should consider writing a textbook on the Chronicle of Higher Education website: Click here

Comp copy e-pamphlet

TAA is preparing an e-pamphlet that explains to faculty why they shouldn't sell complimentary copies to book buyers. The e-pamphlet will be distributed to college and university faculty development offices, which will be asked to share it with their faculty. It will also be available as a PDF download from the TAA website.

Gift memberships

TAA Member Jay Withgott gave gift memberships to Scott Freeman, April Lynch and Lisa Weasel. Thanks Jay! Welcome Scott, April and Lisa!

TAAF receives three $1,000 donations

Text and Academic Authors Foundation (TAAF) Board Members Michael Sullivan, a mathematics author, and Kären Matison Hess, a criminal justice textbook author, and TAA Executive Director Richard Hull have all recently made $1,000 donations to the Foundation.

"The very generous gifts of these members are most appreciated," said TAAF Board Chair Michael Lennie, who also recently made a $750 donation to the Foundation. "Not only do Karen and Michael devote many volunteer hours as Board members, but by their gifts they demonstrate a real commitment to the worthy goals of TAAF to make text and academic authorship an even more honorable and diverse profession.  We hope their selfless example will provide encouragement to others, both members of TAA, and all those interested in quality instructional materials and scholarship, to build the corpus of the TAA Foundation."

Sullivan said: "TAA, and its Foundation TAAF, provide important information and education for creators of intellectual property. It is vital that this work continue and for that a solid financial base is required."

As a charter member of TAA, Hess said, she has always felt supported and encouraged by it: "I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the foundation: to support the creation and the creators of quality educational and academic materials. I have been amply rewarded financially through my writing and would like to support the efforts of others in this small way."

Said Hull: "The TAA Foundation, beginning to gain a head of steam, deserves the chance to show its leadership in redefining the role of the textbook in American education. Textbooks have become political pawns of special interest groups. I believe TAAF has the potential to help lead textbook authoring and selection back into the realm of accurate presentation and interpretation of facts, as determined by dedicated historians and scientists of the human condition. It is a pleasure to be able to support its efforts."

As a result of their gifts, Sullivan, Hess and Hull have become charter members of the TAAF Founder's Society, which recognizes annual gifts to the Foundation of $1,000 to $4,999. Lennie becomes a charter member of the TAAF President's Society. As members of these Societies, they will receive an invitation to a special event held the evening before the 2007 TAA Conference, special insider e-mail news alerts reporting TAA and TAAF news and information before the rest of the membership, an inscribed fountain pen, and free admission to the TAA Conference.

Click here for more information about the Text and Academic Authors Foundation.

Ginsberg gives first Academic Authoring Workshop at NMSU

Robert Ginsberg presented his first TAA-sponsored Academic Authoring Workshop at New Mexico State University on Dec. 8, 2006. Tara Gray, presenter of the "Publish & Flourish: Become A Prolific Scholar Worskhop," who attended Ginsberg's workshop at NMSU, had this to say about his presentation: "Bob Ginsberg's workshop is full of practical, thoughtful advice from a prolific scholar and a journal editor of many years. He gives a lively, entertaining presentation. I recommend to you this highly interactive, informative workshop." Learn more about Ginsberg's workshop: Click here

Click here for more feedback on Ginsberg's workshop.

Correction to featured sponsor ad

The phone number on Lennie Literary & Authors' Attorney's Featured Sponsor ad on the TAA home page has been changed to (858) 456-0138.

Author's Resource Center

Have an authoring question? Get an answer from the authoring experts at TAA: TEXT@tampabay.rr.com

Search the TAA website

TAA recently added a Google-powered internal search engine to its website. Put in your search terms (e.g. textbooks, journals, grant writing, etc.) and relevant pages on the TAA website that contain those terms will be shown on Google. Go to the TAA members only section to begin your search.

Renew your membership online!

TAA has just launched a new online member form that will allow members to renew online using a secure server. The form can also be used by new members. Check it out in the TAA Member Center here.