PRESS RELEASE: Overlook Press Publisher to Be Honored

By Press Release - Nov 26 , 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Christopher de la Torre (212.764.7021)

OVERLOOK PRESS PUBLISHER TO BE HONORED
AT CENTER FOR INDIE PUBLISHING BENEFIT

17th Annual Poor Richard Award Ceremony to be held at
The Center for Independent Publishing December 13, 2007

NEW YORK, NY – Peter Mayer, publisher of Overlook Press, will be this year’s recipient of the New York Center for Independent Publishing’s (“NYCIP”) Poor Richard Award for outstanding contributions to independent book publishing. The award will be presented to Mr. Mayer by special guest presenter Ed Victor, the internationally renowned literary agent at, the NYCIP’s winter benefit.

The benefit will be held Thursday, December 13, 2007 at the Center’s literary landmark building at 44 West 44th Street in Manhattan. The reception, which begins at 5:30 P.M. with cocktails and music by Judy Garland’s former accompanist, will be followed by an award ceremony at 6:30 P.M. Sara Nelson, Editor-in-Chief of the venerable publishing trade magazine, Publishers Weekly will co-host the benefit.

Formed in 1971 by Peter Mayer, Overlook Press is a home for distinguished books that had been “overlooked” by larger houses. At the time of Overlook’s founding, Mayer headed Avon a large, New York-based commercial publisher. He later went on to head Penguin. In 1997, after 19 years with the company, Mr. Meyer began his dream job, at age 61, as a full-time independent publisher. Milestone books by Overlook range from Industrial Design by Raymond Loewy and Milton Glaser’s Graphic Design, to the medieval martial arts treatise turned perennial business bestseller, A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Mushashi.

“We feel privileged to be honoring an independent publisher of Peter’s stature,” said Karin Taylor, the NYCIP’s Executive Director. “The Poor Richard Award is a way of recognizing the importance of independent publishers to our society. Peter’s decision to leave the corporate publishing world and enter the field of independent publishing full-time is an inspiration to our publisher members. Most important, in this era of thinning mid-lists, Overlook is a first amendment refuge for meritorious books that might otherwise go unpublished.”

Past recipients of the Poor Richard Award include Peter Workman (Workman) Morgan Entrekin (Grove/Atlantic), George Plimpton (The Paris Review), Florence Howe (Feminist Press), Andre Schiffrin (The New Press) and NYCIP board member, Barney Rosset (Grove Press).

Benefit tickets start at $75 and are available by calling the NYCIP (212.764.7021) or be emailing Christopher de la Torre (Christopher@nycip.org). All proceeds will benefit the Center for Independent Publishing, a non-profit cultural and educational organization serving the independent publishing community. Tickets are fully tax deductible.

Entertainment will be provided by cabaret performer and indie press author, John Mayer (no relation), whose material has been performed by Eartha Kitt, Julie Wilson and Judy Garland.

About the NYCIP. The NYCIP (www.nycip.org), founded in 1984 as the Small Press Center, has been at the forefront of the independent press movement for over two decades. The mission of the NYCIP is to provide access to education and expertise in the field of independent publishing, by encouraging excellence and free expression in book publishing through workshops, lectures, book fairs, exhibits and an extensive reference collection. The Center is an education program of the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, itself founded in 1785 to provide cultural, educational and social services members and their families.

For sponsorship, tickets or more information about the December 13 Fundraising Benefit at the Center for Independent Publishing, please call 212.764.7021.