Yesterday’s Gazette article referred to a possible publishing interest that couldn’t yet be disclosed. I’m pleased today to be able to officially spill the beans.
Bellissima Publishing is a small company out of San Diego . It is run by Penny (Dyan) Weigand, who is also an author and recovering attorney. She and her husband (John Weigand) are doing a series of books called “The comeback kids” about returning species in California, (elephant seal, brown pelican, otter) and they were mulling the idea of doing one on beavers. They saw the story two weeks ago and contacted us immediately.
Penny is offering to dedicate the book to the Martinez beavers, and to donate all profits from book sales to Worth A Dam. She will donate some copies entirely and allow us to purchase others at cost. She and her husband will be up at the end of the month to photograph our beavers, and the book should be available this summer. She has asked me to write a preface, and has also agreed to reprint one of our Earth Day art contests winner’s picture in the back. Worth A Dam is currently attempting to contact parents for permission to include children’s artwork in publication. If your child participated, please contact us!
Penny will do a press release before the launch of the book, and would like to arrange to be available for a local book signing. She will pursue sales of this book through Amazon, parks, zoos and other wildlife sites. Worth A Dam is also willing to work on purchasing copies at cost for sale in local shops.
Her fortuitous offer is merely one more example of the broad public interest in our beavers, and the willingness of average people to be touched and inspired by wildlife.
