About
the PublisherAbout
the Publisher
Gary Michael Smith is an author, editor, publisher, and educator based in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has written more than 100 articles for 34 technical, trade, scientific, and consumer publications, as well as five books pioneering numerous topics. His former position as managing editor of an internationally acclaimed peer-reviewed scientific specialty research journal was the impetus for his first book The Peer-Reviewed Journal—A Comprehensive Guide through the Editorial Process, which is the first book to detail the nuances of editorial office setup and management for periodicals.
From Bean to Brew—A History of Coffee and Coffeehouses is based on his graduate thesis. This is one of the few texts that provide an in-depth analysis of coffeehouses, and elaborates on New Orleans’ distinction as home to the world’s largest bulk coffee handling facility. The Complete Guide to Driving Etiquette—Taking the Rules of the Road a Step Further is a response to the growing incidences of road rage, and may be the only book currently available that addresses polite, courteous, and safe driving in one text.
A documentation/publications specialist by trade, Mr. Smith applied his writing, editing, and publishing experience to develop the first book on independent publishing that details electronic prepress and digital production processes as well as point of purchase book manufacturing and print on demand for extremely small press run books. Consequently, he teaches a university course on this topic that he developed based on his book Publishing for Small Press Runs—How to Print and Market from 20 to 200 Copies of Your Book. Having moved from self-publisher to small press, Mr. Smith published Guided Meditation—Creative Visualization for Generating Energy and Managing Stress, a text on using creative visualization, which was written by a former colleague. His publishing company also is the distributor the book Angelina's Favorite Recipes—A Personal Collection of Sicilian Style Italian Recipes—a unique Italian cookbook self-published by the mother of a childhood friend.
Mr. Smith’s latest book is Operating Procedures for Association Chapters and Committees—Developing Usable Guidelines for Officers and Managers. Another groundbreaking nonfiction text, Operating Procedures is perhaps the only book of its kind to offer useful information and practical advice on developing and organizing a local chapter of an international professional organization. This one-of-a-kind text is divided into two parts and details roles and responsibilities of administrative council members who run the chapter and the managers who assist them by heading various chapter committees.
Two upcoming titles include On Demand Publishing—Strategies for Printing on Demand and Point of Purchase Book Manufacturing and Basic Writing Skills—From Concept to Composition. On Demand Publishing is perhaps the only book addressing, in detail, the dynamic field of print on demand. It presents numerous methods of printing books in short pressruns and examines the top developers of point of purchase book manufacturing machines.
Basic Writing Skills is another title used as a university course text and offers useful information on improving composition of anything from short articles and essays to full-length books.
Personal Information
Education
· Bachelor’s Degree; triple major in English, Journalism, and Business Administration
· Master of Fine Arts coursework; Communications with a concentration of Television Video and Film Production
Past and Present Affiliations
·
Senior
Member and former President, Society for Technical Communication (STC), New
Orleans/Gulf Coast chapter. In past years has served as Vice President, Staff
Photographer, Membership Manager, Employment Manager, and Program Director
·
Council
of Science Editors (CSE)
·
Society
for Scholarly Publishing (SSP)
·
American
Medical Writers Association (AMWA)
·
Association
of Authors and Publishers (AAP)
·
Institute
of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
·
New
Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC)
· Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (ISTC)
·
New
Orleans Association of Film and Tape Professionals (NOAFTP)
·
American
Film Institute (AFI)
·
Honda
Riders Club of America (HRCA)
Publications
See a partial list (approximately 30% of total) of articles by Mr. Smith.
Appointments
Professional
·
Book reviewer for the Society for Technical Communication’s (STC’s) journal Technical
Communication.
·
Book reviewer for the Council of Science Editors’ (CSEs’) journal Science
Editor.
·
Guest Editor for STC’s Technical Communication.
·
Guest Editor for CSE’s Science Editor.
·
Region 5 (seven states) Liaison for STC’s Scientific Communication Special
Interest Group.
·
Manuscript reviewer for the American Medical Writer’s Association journal AMWA
Journal.
·
International Technical Publications
Competition Judge for STC.
·
Program committee
member for the CSE annual conference.
·
Program committee
member for the CSE annual Short Course for Managing Editors.
·
Initiated
and implemented an employment clearinghouse at the CSE annual conference to
encourage interaction between employers and job seekers.
·
Member
of the Employee Activity Committee at Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation.
·
Two-term President for the New Orleans/Gulf Coast chapter of STC.
·
Publicity Chairperson for the New Orleans City Park Popp Fountain Restoration
and Botanical Gardens Project.
· Director of Production for Patron Saint Productions
· Columnist for the Editorial Experts, Inc. publication The Editorial Eye.
Literary/Theatrical
·
Founded
and served as Editor-in-Chief of the New Orleans literary journal The
Veranda.
·
Founded
and served as Editor-in-Chief of the CDSI
New Orleans News newsletter
·
Serve on
the steering committee and the Board of Directors for the New Orleans
Contemporary Arts Center annual theatrical event.
·
Served on
the editorial board for the literary journal Inkdancer Review.
Interviews
· Amazon.com, 2000
· “CACI Writer Combines Vocation and Career in New Orleans,” CACI Times (65KB) corporate publication, Summer 2000
· “The Words and Verses that A-Muse,” Driftwood (19KB) newspaper (excerpt), September 2000
· “Voices of New Orleans” radio talk show; WTIX a.m.; New Orleans, LA; May 2001
·
“Ed
Clancy’s Book Corner” radio talk show; WWL a.m.;
New Orleans, LA; May 2001
· “Meeting Makeovers,” How (15KB) trade magazine (excerpt), December 2001
· “Extra Work: Starring Gary Michael Smith,” Intercom (297KB) trade journal, February 2002
· Eyewitness Morning News interview (6.4MB); CBS affiliate WWL-TV; New Orleans, LA; February 21, 2002
Presentations/Signings/Displays
· Panel discussion member, “The Marathon of Chapter Presidency.” 42nd Annual Society for Technical Communication International Conference; Washington, DC; May 1995
· Presenter, “Publishing on the Internet.” A presentation to the medical staff of Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation; New Orleans, LA; April 1996
· Presenter, “Processes and Procedures.” Short Course for Managing Editors; 41st Annual Council of Science Editors International Conference; Salt Lake City, UT; May 1998
· Presenter, “What Works with Instructions, Forms, and Checklists?” 41st Annual Council of Science Editors International Conference; Salt Lake City, UT; May 1998
· Presenter/Book Signing, “Driving Safety.” Monthly meeting of the Horseless Carriage Club automotive group; New Orleans, LA; September 1999
· Presenter/Book Signing, “Using Digital Technology to Publish Books.” Octavia Books; New Orleans, LA; June 9, 2001
· Presenter, “Self-Publishing Quickly and Affordably.” Society for Technical Communication Region 5 Conference; Houston, TX; October 2001. For this particular session, see page 4 of the program (2.14MB). You can also view the abstract (97KB) from this conference presentation.
· Presenter, “Print on Demand—Strategies for Short Press Runs of Seminar Materials to Full-Length Books.” Society for Technical Communication Region 5 Conference; Oklahoma City, OK; October 2002. For this particular session, see the conference program. You can also view the abstract (12KB) from this conference presentation as well as the schedule of sessions (66KB), or purchase (see BP-8) the print on demand presentation.
· Displayer, New Orleans Book Fair; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., October 26, 2002
· Displayer, Louisiana Book Festival; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 2, 2002
Professional Background
Technical Writing
More than 14 years of experience as a documentation specialist with companies such as Martin Marietta, Boeing, Computer Data Systems, Inc./Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., and CACI. Drafted a proclamation (579KB) signed by the Governor for the State of Louisiana declaring “Technical Communication Week” for Louisiana.
Résumé Writing
More than 20 years of résumé writing experience working freelance as well as managing a CareerPro Professional Résumé Writing franchise.
Scientific Journal Management
Former managing editor of the American Heart Association’s international scientific specialty peer-reviewed research journal Hypertension.
Academic
Conceptualized, developed, and teach three courses at the University of New Orleans to include Self-Publishing Quickly and Affordably, Basic Writing Skills, and Résumé Writing—Developing an Effective Professional History.
Television Video and Film Production
As part of Master of Fine Arts requirements, has worked for numerous television stations in positions ranging from floor director to camera operator. Also, has written and produced for public television and has worked in corporate/industrial video for Boeing.
State-wide Proclamations
Drafted and acquired three proclamations signed by the Governor of Louisiana under the following declarations:
Technical Communication Week (579KB)
Polite Driving Week (870KB)
Independent Publisher Month (676KB)
Contact
You can contact Mr. Smith directly at Chatgris Press.
