NEWS RELEASE
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JUNE 10, 2005
CONTACT: Deborah Robson, Nomad Press, robson@frii.com, 970/226-3690,
P.O. Box 484, Fort Collins, CO 80522

Book by Van Vleck Alum Receives Major Industry Awards

Fort Collins, CO—Knitting in the Old Way: Designs and Techniques from Ethnic Sweaters, by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, who grew up in Matagorda County and is a graduate of Van Vleck High School, and Deborah Robson, published by Nomad Press of Fort Collins, Colorado, has received two major industry awards: Finalist in the 2005 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs), How-To (Craft/Hobby) category, and Finalist in the 2004 ForeWord Book of the Year Award, Crafts and Hobbies category. Both awards were announced at gala celebrations at BookExpo America in New York the first week of June 2005.

The 2005 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs) attracted 2,175 entries from over 1,500 independent publishers from around the world, including all 50 U.S. States, 9 Canadian provinces, and 18 additional foreign countries.

There were six semi-finalists in the IPPY How-To category, all but one of which were from larger, more established firms than Nomad Press. That Knitting in the Old Way is Nomad Press’s first nationally distributed title makes the Finalist award even more significant.

The IPPY Awards were conceived in 1996 to bring increased recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent, university, and self-published titles produced each year, and to reward courage, innovation, and creativity in the world of publishing. One winner and two finalists are awarded in each category. The final judging is done by a bookseller and a librarian who choose based on what their customers and patrons would like to find—but previously haven’t—on the shelf.

The 2004 Foreword Book of the Year Award winners were selected from a record number of over 1500 entries in 51 categories. Knitting in the Old Way was one of the top ten books in its category.

All Book of the Year entries were published in 2004 by independent publishing houses ranging in size from university and specialty presses that publish hundreds of titles a year to micro, print-on-demand, and ebook publishers who may publish only one title in a lifetime. Nomad Press was the smallest and newest press to win an award in the Crafts and Hobbies category, again matching or surpassing much larger companies.

Book of the Year Awards recognize the excellence of spirit, original voice, and vision in independent publishing. Foreword Magazine, which began the Book of the Year Award competition in 1999, is a trade journal devoted exclusively to reviewing books from independent houses. Of the more than 195,000 books released in 2004, over 170,000 were published by independent houses.

“Knitting in the old way” means knitting by thinking, instead of by following line-by-line patterns. Knitting in the Old Way presents a way of knitting rather than a finite set of patterns. It empowers today’s knitters to produce both everyday and heirloom-quality sweaters without relying on rote instructions. It teaches knitters to read the fabric on their needles instead of the fine print. The book unfolds a process that connects readers to centuries of textile wisdom and helps them invent and create designs of their own. Knitting in the Old Way: Designs and Techniques from Ethnic Sweaters provides a practical way to knit garments that fit and function and opens up opportunities for creativity and artistic challenge.

Nomad Press in Colorado is an independent publisher established in 1998. Founder Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, who now lives in Cedaredge, Colorado and had published with several established presses, wanted to ensure that her books could be produced in a way that aligned with her vision.

In 2003, Nomad’s books began to be distributed to bookstores and Deborah Robson assumed full responsibility for the press. Nomad Press specializes in books on traditional and ethnic textile crafts, especially knitting. Because Nomad Press is dedicated to producing books with the highest editorial and production standards possible, it releases only a small number of titles each year. Current titles include Knitting in the Old Way; Simple Socks, Plain and Fancy; and, anticipated for 2006, Spinning in the Old Way, Arctic Lace, and Knitting Cowichan Sweaters. Nomad Press books are available through specialty yarn and fiber shops and major bookstores, including Tattered Cover, Boulder Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com. For more information, call 970/226-3590 or visit www.nomad-press.com.

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