About Us
Mission Statement
Our goal is to provide our readers with books that we believe in, and that will provide years of enjoyable reading and discussion. They are written by talented authors who have a unique, ethical, and qualified perspective on their subject. Books from our company will help explain our culture, will educate, and will inspire readers to consider alternative views of the world.
Distribution
Our books are internationally distributed by Small Press United, a division of Independent. Publisher’s Group out of Chicago. This means that our books are available through your local bookstores, or for the trade, from IPG Books directly. Call them at 800-888-4741 to place your order.
Where Books are Sold
You can find our books at Amazon.com, your local bookstore, or order them directly from us, and libraries can get them from Follett.
Our History
Our company is located in the small midwestern town of Duluth, MN, and has a history of publishing books important to our customers. Starting with the Impatient Pamela series and Impatient Pamela Calls 9-1-1 – now translated into four languages – our book line grew to classics, such as a special edition of Honk: The Moose, and 1935 Newberry Honors book, to a line of fiction and non-fiction for adults. Our Disc Golf book has become a classic in the disc golf world.
Our Authors
Bernie DuBois
Author Bernie DuBois been in education — both teaching and administration — at the college level for most of her career, and now teaches accounting at Bemidji State University.
Her latest book is Gift from the Garden. Much like Anne Morrow Lindberg’s Gift from the Sea, DuBois applies a gentle approach to the changes and phases that happen in a woman’s life, and she compares these stages to plants in a garden. In this graceful, poignant book, DuBois shares her musings on belonging and community; healing and nurturing, and handling life in today’s frenzied society. Drawing inspiration from her garden, her anecdotes are filled with humor and compassion for women’s dilemmas. As Bernie says in her introduction,
“where there is green there is hope, and . . . failure (or better put, a lack of success) is only temporary because each spring there is indeed a new beginning. Move a plant here, trim a tree there, and we have a different view of the world. We can become like our gardens – renewing and redefining ourselves, every year starting a fresh cycle of our lives.”
She describes her inspiration for Game Over, her first work of fiction:
A family member suffered from compulsive gambling, and her struggle inspired me to write about a woman who had a similar fate. But in doing the research for the book, I realized how there are many layers to the American love of gambling, and that tribes have become dependent on the revenue streams from their casinos. Of course, in the name of research, I came to love many parts of gambling, and I can truly relate to the complexities of the addiction.
We think you’ll find her novel compelling. Here she is reading a page of Game Over:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY3OtatUypU
Here is Bernie DuBois talking about publishing trends:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJiSWDKuQZA
Here is Bernie DuBois discussing editing and changes that publishers must face:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji2OYVQh9Oo
Here is Bernie DuBois reading her Color, Color, Where Are You Color? children’s book that she wrote under her name Mary Koski:
Alan ‘Lindy’ Linda
Experience, educations, accomplishments and failures, all of those had to come together simultaneously to have placed Lindy in a position to become a weekly columnist for Ottertail County’s largest newspaper, the Fergus Falls Daily Journal over 20 years ago. Since then, other local newspapers have picked up his column, The Prairie Spy. Lindy is an extraordinary story-teller, filling his stories with tales of his characters, his years in the hardware store business, his teaching of Heating, Venting, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) at the local community college, his raising of three daughters, and life in general.
An early band that he joined — The Legends — is in the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He continues to write music and performs his songs in many local venues. He also operates an organic apple orchard on his property.
Here he is doing a reading about his granddaughter at the Grass Roots Nursery in Ottertail, Minnesota:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImI5vAo1lLo
Here is Lindy doing a reading about drug use and his time in Vietnam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmObgyW0HHo
Here is Lindy describing a bit about his background:
Here is Lindy talking about attorney issues and writing his columns:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfouqQvpzZw
Here is Lindy talking about his inspirations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydmepya4110
Lindy is discussing his evolving style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TivvyoZ2nYg
Here is Lindy reading his pig story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmObgyW0HHo
Lindy discusses getting into mischief in Vietnam:
Michael Steven Gregory
Award-winning screenwriter and director Michael Steven Gregory turns his love of writing to the sport he loves – disc golf. Gregory periodically teaches screenwriting at the University of California, San Diego and is director of the Indie Filmmaker’s Boot camp for the American Academy of Arts. He has been an avid disc golfer for the past several years. He lives in San Diego, California.
Children's Book Authors
Dr. Mary Koski
Author Mary Koski, Ed., has turned her enthusiasm and energy to children’s writing after being a college educator for 15 years, creating several children’s picture books.
Having raised two children, Koski says, “There is a great need for books that teach while they entertain. Parents and children yearn for fun and facts in the same story, yet it takes a special book to do both. That’s what I always hope to accomplish.” Her Impatient Pamela ® books and her latest book, Color, Color, Where Are You, Color? do just that. Her latest lyrical rhymes teach children to slow down and look at nature to discover all the colors that nature has to offer.
She has been a guest author at the English Festival in Ohara, Japan, and she travels around the country to read her books and do safety presentations. Dr. Koski has been featured on numerous television, including C-SPAN’s Book TV show, and on over 400 talk radio shows, presenting her award-winning books.
Her awards include the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval, l998, for Impatient Pamela Calls 9-1-1 and again in 2002 for Impatient Pamela Wants A Bigger Family; Children’s Choices 2000 and Writer’s Digest Honorable Mention for Impatient Pamela Asks Why Are My Feet So Huge?; and Writers Notes selection for Color, Color, Where Are You, Color? in 2005.
She belongs to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and has given presentations for children at the Arrowhead Reading Association, the Duluth Library Lecture Series, and many other groups; she has also presented for writers at the Southern California Writer’s Conference and the Southwestern Author’s Association.
Koski has changed her name since writing for children, and is now known as Mary DuBois. She writes her fiction work using the pen name, Bernie DuBois.
Sarah Overland
Sarah Overland received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Minnesota with a minor in German, and she did graduate work at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Bergen, in International Business. She has been a consultant for McKinsey & Company, an international consulting firm.
Living in Norway and having a summer home in the U.S she is widely traveled, and often takes her three multi-lingual children on international flights. She recognizes the value of being able to reassure children about staying safe in the world, and being careful not to get sick on vacations.
Overland says, “It’s important not to frighten children, yet at the same time, we need to give them good skills for staying healthy and strong. Washing their hands is one such skill. I’m pleased to be a small part in helping children learn those important skills. And Pamela does so with such fun!”
Our Illustrators
Aaron Conway
A graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato, Aaron Conway received his bachelor’s of fine arts in ceramics and graphic design. He and his wife live in Missoula, Montana and have two young children.
Conway is a web designer/developer and graphic designer for a company specializing in tours to Central and South America and Antarctica. He designs and lays out web pages, develops backend scripts and site structure. He creates all print material for the company, including its catalog and brochures.
“My goal in illustrating is to capture the story and the heart of the character, but it is also important to remember that children’s illustrations are a form of artwork,” Conway states. “While the images are whimsical and are designed for a juvenile audience, they should be appealing to all readers and all who appreciate the aesthetics of design.”
Janeen Mason
Janeen Mason says she became an artist because of her exposure to picture books as a very little girl. Now that she is big she paints picture books of her own. Her artwork can also be found on posters, puzzles, notecards and apparel. She creates paintings for nature stores, oceanographic institutions and an occasional movie star.
Ms. Mason lives near the ocean that she loves with her husband, Kevin. Any given weekend you can find them out in the Gulf Stream on their sturdy little sailboat. She has three grown children, Jenna, Kevin II, and Miss Kate. Next, she is hoping to teach the grand babies to snorkel – in the Bahamas!
Janeen Mason has other picture books in print, including The Pirate Pink series. She is a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. For more information about Ms. Mason please visit www.JaneenMason.com
Dan Brown
Dan Brown’s love of illustration and children helped inspire the creation of the Impatient Pamela characters, including Meow-Man. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Brown earned his bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He started his studio in 1994 and his clientele has included Ford, Dairy Queen, Coca Cola, Green Mill, and the Special Olympics.
Our Education Programs
Impatient Pamela Calls 9-1-1
Looking for books for your public education programs? Featured on C-SPAN’s Book TV show and also winner of the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval, Impatient Pamela Calls 9-1-1 makes a great presentation when your staff reads this story to children ages 4-8. They learn their 9-1-1 skills to make the call when a person is in need of help, because Pamela saves the day by making the call when her friend is choking. Then the accompanying workbook, ‘Impatient Pamela Says: Learn How to Call 9-1-1’ reinforces the lessons of when to make the call, and who will come to your house when you need help. We also have a reproducible cell phone page, as well as cell phone handout pages.
Using our quantity discount pricing, you can afford to hand out workbooks or cell phone pages at your community events, or plan school programming for your community. Email us at mary@trellispublishing.com to discuss your program needs.
Impatient Pamela Learns About Germs
Looking for books to help you with your public education program? Winner of the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, Impatient Pamela Learns About Germs makes a perfect compliment to your community education program. With a foreword by Dr. Daniell C. Landis, Deputy Director of the Center for Leadership in Public Health Practice at the University of South Florida, the book serves as a fun and educational tool for parents, teachers, and caregivers, reassuring children about their own ability to fight off germs and stay healthy. The book also features end pages with simple diagrams of hand-washing.
Book summary: Children discover how healthy habits help keep them safe from disease in this entertaining story featuring our popular character, Impatient Pamela. Impatient Pamela’s new adventure finds her afraid of germs until she discovers how simple things like washing her hands can help keep her safe and healthy. With her new understanding, she is free to travel the world and visit her pen pal. Pamela’s cat, Meow-Man, a well-loved character in Impatient Pamela stories, appears on every page. Email us at mary@trellispublishing.com to discuss your program needs.