Bookcraft

Bookcraft is a major publisher of books and products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

History

In 1940, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant asked the church's "Improvement Era" magazine to compile his sermons into a book called "Gospel Standards". Compiler G. Homer Durham published it in 1941 as "An Improvment Era Publication", rather than through Deseret Book, the church's official book publisher. During production, Grant suggested that the magazine's staff should start a new LDS publishing company, separate from Deseret Book. In 1942, the "Era"'s business manager, John Kenneth Orton, started Bookcraft as a private publishing house in Salt Lake City, Utah.cite news|author=Pusey, Roger|title=Bookcraft Celebrates its 50th|work=Deseret News|date=September 13, 1992]

When Durham presented a later manuscript to the "Era", church leadership restricted book publishing to Deseret Book. John A. Widtsoe and Richard L. Evans, staff members of the "Era" and early supporters of Bookcraft, referred Durham to Orton's new publishing house. "The Gospel Kingdom", Durham's compilation of John Taylor's teachings, was Bookcraft's first major venture in 1943. [cite journal|author=Durham, G. Homer|authorlink=G. Homer Durham|title=Joseph Fielding Smith - The Kindly, Helpful Scholar|journal=|pages=12–15|date=Spring 1972|volume=7|issue=1|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,4904|accessdate=2008-08-21]

Bookcraft remained an Orton family business. When John K. Orton retired to Arizona in 1946, Marvin Wallin became the company's general manager. When Orton died in 1959, ownership passed to his wife. When she died in 1980, the Ortons' son Russell took over with his sister-in-law, Diane Orton.

Growth

With growth, Bookcraft relocated to new facilities in 1947. In 1969, it moved again to a West Valley City location between Mountain States Bindery and Publisher's Press, the businesses that actually printed and produced Bookcraft's publications. Bookcraft expanded again into new facilities in 1977.

Though independent, Bookcraft established itself as a quasi-official publisher of conservative, faith-promoting works [cite journal|author=Roberts, Allen D.|title=Selling the LDS Sacred: A Visit to the LDS Booksellers Convention|journal=Sunstone|pages=38–39|date=October 1989|volume=13|issue=5|url=https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/073-40-41.pdf|accessdate=2008-09-16] , and was very careful to follow church leadershipcite web|author=McConkie, Joseph Fielding|authorlink=Joseph Fielding McConkie|title=The Bruce R. McConkie Story: The Mormon Doctrine Saga|date=2004|work=Meridian Magazine|url=http://www.meridianmagazine.com/books/040511mcconkie.html|accessdate=2008-08-25] . Bookcraft eventually became large enough to compete with Deseret Book's lower publishing costscite journal|title=If It Is Written by a Living General Authority, It Will Sell: A Report on Mormon Publishing|journal=|date=Spring 1977|pages=122–125|volume=10|issue=3|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,699|accessdate=2008-08-25] , and become the second largest LDS publisher. [In 1989, Bookcraft had twenty percent of the LDS publishing market, compared to Deseret Book's fifty percent.] cite journal|author=Kofford, Greg|title=LDS Booksellers Meet, Plot, and Plan to Expand|journal=Sunstone|date=October 1989|pages=50|volume=13|issue=5|format=PDF|url=https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/073-46-53.pdf|accessdate=2008-08-25]

In 1968, Bookcraft hired George Bickerstaff as a full time publishing editor. Before then, it lacked in-house editing, which Bruce R. McConkie's son blames for the criticisms of the 1958 first edition of "Mormon Doctrine".

Bookcraft also innovated and tried new approaches to LDS publishing. In the 1960s, the company experimented with developing LDS young-adult fiction. [cite journal|author=Hinckley, Helen|title=An Experiement in Mormon Publishing|journal=|date=Winter 1967|pages=126–129|volume=2|issue=4|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,2832|accessdate=2008-09-03] In the early 1970s [cite journal|author=Bradford, Mary L.|title=New Acts of Poetry|journal=|date=Summer 1972|pages=60–62|volume=7|issue=2|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,5225|accessdate=2008-09-03] , it began the Parliament Press imprint for authors who pay to have their books printed. In 1992, Bookcraft began work with The Beehive Shuppan to translate some titles into Japanese. [cite journal|author=Numano, Jiro|title=Mormonism in Modern Japan|journal=|date=Spring 1996|pages=234|volume=29|issue=1|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,12331|accessdate=2008-09-03] In 1995, Bookcraft produced "The Book of Mormon Studybase", a digital library CD-ROM of books about "The Book of Mormon", and contributed to Infobases' "LDS Collectors Library" CD-ROM. [cite journal|author=Ashton, Alan C.|authorlink=Alan Ashton (executive)|title=Book of Mormon Reference Library|journal=FARMS Review|date=1996|volume=8|issue=2|url=http://farms.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=8&num=2&id=233|accessdate=2008-09-03]

Because Deseret Book was the largest LDS publisher and bookseller, independents like Bookcraft also distributed to national retailers like B. Dalton, Media Play, and Barnes & Noble. [cite book|author=Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel|authorlink=Richard Neitzel Holzapfel|chapter=Publishers and Bookstores|editor=Arnold K. Garr, Donald Q. Cannon, Richard O. Cowan|title=Encyclopedia of Latter-Day Saint History|pages=967|publisher=Deseret Book|year=2000|location=Salt Lake City, Utah] For a time, Bookcraft even planned to create its own chain of retail bookstores.

Infobases acquisition

In 1997, Russell Orton sold Bookcraft to Infobasescite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=Happily Joined|work=Deseret News|date=April 5, 1998] , makers of the popular "LDS Collectors Library" digital library since the early 1990s [cite web|title=Infobase Media Corporation Plans to Expand Following $1.15 Million Angel Investment|date=October 6, 2004|work=LDSLibrary.com|publisher=Deseret Digital Media, LLC|url=http://www.ldslibrary.com/press/view.aspx?id=8|accessdate=2008-09-16] . Infobases president and CEO, Brad Pelo, assumed these same roles in the new Bookcraft, Inc., and WordPerfect founder Alan C. Ashton became chairman.

With Bookcraft's licenses, the company released the "Infobases PocketLibrary" for PalmPilot in 1997, an electronic 25-book collection. To counter Deseret Book's "GospeLink" CD-ROM and website, Bookcraft released an expanded "Infobases Collectors Library" in 1998 on CD-ROM and on the new LDSWorld.com.cite news|author=Fidel, Steve|title=2 LDS book publishers expand on Web|work=Deseret News|date=October 2, 1998] Bookcraft then created online stores for its network of resellers, to counter Deseret Book's web sales.

By 1999, Bookcraft was adding about 100 products annually to its catalog, including general authority titles, an important market shared only with Deseret Book. Bookcraft also had strong sales with titles by BYU professors, titles on church history and doctrine, and the best-selling "The Work and the Glory" series by Gerald N. Lund, which sold millions of copies. [cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=2 LDS publishers may join forces: Deseret Book parent announces plans to acquire Bookcraft|work=Deseret News|date=February 9, 1999] [cite journal | author=Cracroft, Richard H. | title=Telling the Restoration: Gerald N. Lund's The Work and the Glory saga | journal=Journal of Mormon History | date=Spring 2003 | volume=29 | issue=1 | pages=233-253 | url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/jmh,12381 | accessdate=2008-09-16]

Deseret Book merger

In early 1999, Bookcraft was acquired by Deseret Management Corporation (DMC), the parent company of the LDS Church's for-profit businesses. This allowed the church to expand in the larger "values-oriented" publishing market, and reduce translation costs of titles for international sale. The merger also brought more writings by general authorities under a church-owned company, and allowed for collaboration on future electronic and print products with other DMC entities (such as Deseret Book, Deseret News and Bonneville International Corporation) and church entities (such as Brigham Young University, the Church Educational System). [cite news|title=Deseret Management seeking to acquire Bookcraft|work=Church News|publisher=Deseret News|date=February 13, 1999]

Bookcraft was to continue on as an imprint focusing on inspirational, self-help, youth and fiction. Deseret Book would focus on doctrinal, historical and biographical works. Shadow Mountain was the imprint for "values-oriented" books in the national market, and Eagle Gate Press was for specialty items such as library editions, art books and non-book products such as bookmarks and jewelry.cite news|title=Deseret Book has made other large acquisitions|work=Deseret Morning News|date=December 29, 2006]

DMC then formed World Media Inc. to oversee Bookcraft's electronic projects, and decide fate of Infobase products and GospeLink. [cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=Deseret Book adds brand, reorganizes|work=Deseret News|date=June 12, 1999] A new "Infobases Library" was released in 1999, before merging into "GospeLink" [cite journal|title=Infobase Library, CD-ROM|author=Bennett, Richard E.|coauthors=John P. Livingstone|journal=Journal of Mormon History|date=Spring 2000|volume=26|issue=1|pages=205-209|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/jmh,13464|accessdate=2008-09-16] , to become "GospeLink 2001". [cite news|author=Lloyd, R. Scott|title=LDS library largest ever assembled as a database|work=Church News|publisher=Deseret News|date=January 8, 2005] The expanded collection was also at LDSWorld.com, along with new General Conference audio streaming, and was hosted by Millennial Star (MStar.net), the church's new ISP. [cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=A Net link for LDS members: New company aims to form 'digital community'|work=Deseret News|date=October 3, 1999]

The merger created a massive LDS publisher, but most independent players in the market didn't worry it would hurt their business. [cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=One for the books: Most of the players in the world of LDS literature give a thumbs-up to the merger of Deseret Book and Bookcraft|work=Deseret News|date=October 3, 1999] Over next few years, Deseret Book would also acquire Excel Entertainment Group (an LDS film and music company), Seagull Book & Tape (the next largest LDS bookstore chain), and Covenant Communications (the next largest LDS publisher). [cite news|author=Nii, Jenifer K.|title=Deseret Book buys 2 top competitors|work=Deseret Morning News|date=December 29, 2006|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650218716,00.html|accessdate=2008-09-16]

Notable work

Books

Before becoming an imprint of Deseret Book, Bookcraft made many notable contributions to LDS literature, including:
*"Evidences and Reconciliations" (1943)
*"No, Ma'am, That's Not History" (1946)
*"Lehi in the Desert and the World of the Jaredites" (1952)
*"Doctrines of Salvation" (1954-56, 3 volumes)
*"Mormon Doctrine" (1958)
*"Doctrinal New Testament Commentary" (1965-73, 3 volumes)
*"Messages of the First Presidency" (1965-75, 6 volumes)
*"The Miracle of Forgiveness" (1969)
*"The Holy Temple" (1980)
*"The Work and the Glory" series (1990s)
*Compilations of teachings of LDS Church Presidents, including "The Gospel Kingdom: Selections from the Writings and Discourses of John Taylor", "Discourses of Wilford Woodruff", "Teachings of Lorenzo Snow", "Teachings of George Albert Smith", "Teachings of Harold B. Lee", "Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball", "Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson", and "Teachings of Howard W. Hunter".

Bookcraft also published some works for BYU Press [cite journal|author=Sessions, Gene A.|title=Brief Notices|journal=|date=Winter 1978|volume=11|issue=4|pages=126-128|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,454|accessdate=2008-09-16] , the BYU Religious Studies Center [cite journal|author=Ostler, Blake T.|authorlink=Blake Ostler|title=Responsible Apologetics|journal=|date=Winter 1983|volume=16|issue=4|pages=140-143|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,21529|accessdate=2008-09-16] , and the LDS Church.

Authors

During its years as an independent company, Bookcraft published books by many notable LDS figures, including:

*Church Presidents and Apostles: Ezra Taft Benson, Hugh B. Brown, J. Reuben Clark, Henry B. Eyring, Gordon B. Hinckley, Howard W. Hunter, Spencer W. Kimball, Harold B. Lee, Neal A. Maxwell, Bruce R. McConkie, David O. McKay, Dallin H. Oaks, Boyd K. Packer, Mark E. Petersen, LeGrand Richards, Joseph Fielding Smith, John A. Widtsoe

*Fiction & literature: Gordon T. Allred, Susan Evans McCloud, Carol Lynn Pearson, Jack Weyland, Blaine M. Yorgason, Brenton G. Yorgason

*Scholars & historians: Hyrum L. Andrus, Leonard J. Arrington, Milton V. Backman, Lowell Bennion, Susan Easton Black, Eugene England, Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Milton R. Hunter, Arthur Henry King, Daniel H. Ludlow, N. B. Lundwall, Truman G. Madsen, Robert J. Matthews, Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet, Hugh W. Nibley, Preston Nibley, Stephen E. Robinson, W. Cleon Skousen, Sidney B. Sperry, John W. Welch

*Popular authors: Duane S. Crowther, Paul H. Dunn, George D. Durrant, Richard M. Eyre, Vaughn J. Featherstone, Bruce C. Hafen, Bryant S. Hinckley, Oscar W. McConkie, Chieko Okazaki, Marvin Payne, S. Michael Wilcox

*National figures: Shawn Bradley, Orson Scott Card, Stephen R. Covey, Henry Eyring, Dale Murphy

Films

Some Bookcraft books have been adapted into movies.

*"The Christmas Wish" (1998) — CBS made Richard M. Siddoway's novel into a made for TV holiday special. Originally a Bookcraft title, the latest edition was published by Crown Publishers. [cite news|author=Gabriel, Ana|title=CBS movie based on Christmas story by stake president|work=LDS Church News|publisher=Deseret News|date=November 21, 1998]

*"In the Eye of the Storm" (2001) — Mitch Davis bought the rights to John H. Groberg's missionary memoir and created "The Other Side of Heaven", which was distributed by Disney. [cite news|author=Lloyd, R. Scott|title=Missionary odyssey in Tonga hits silver screen|work=LDS Church News|publisher=Deseret News|date=October 20, 2001]

*"The Work and the Glory" (2004-2006) — Gerald N. Lund's very successful historical fiction series about early Mormons was adapted into three movies: "The Work and the Glory" (2004), ' (2005), and ' (2006), distributed by Excel Entertainment.

Trivia

*After graduating from BYU without a husband to support her, Sheri L. Dew spent four years at Bookcraft as a low level editor, which initiated her interest in LDS publishing. She then edited the LDS magazine "This People", and in 1988, began a series of editorial and managerial roles at Deseret Book, becoming its CEO in 2002. [cite news|author=Robinson, Doug|title=Living the unexpected life: 'Unmarried' leader is almost a celebrity among LDS|work=Deseret Morning News|date=March 10, 2002]

*Cory Maxwell, Bookcraft's editorial manager (and Deseret Book's director of publishing after the merger), is the son of LDS Church apostle Neal A. Maxwell.

ee also

*LDS fiction

Notes