St. Nicholas moves well beyond the usual red coat and sack of presents, thanks to Adam English’s The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of Myra (Nov.). Until supplies run out today, booksellers who have been good this year can pick up a stocking stuffed with care especially for BEA (lip balm, a pen, tissues, a small bandage, chocolate candies, and a breath mint) at the Baylor University Press booth (2834).
Historian English reveals the compelling tale of the real St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, in the fourth century. Nicholas was well-known for his generosity, as well as his influence on the history and development of the Christian church, including the Council of Nicaea. “The manuscript is a fine piece of scholarship,” says Nicole Smith Murphy, associate director and director of sales and marketing at Baylor UP. “English tapped into the most prestigious archives, and he writes with a lot of verve and imagination.”
English, religious historian at Campbell University in North Carolina, will be at the Baylor UP booth to hand out stockings for part of the morning, then will sign ARCs, 3–3:30 p.m., in the autographing area at Table 11.
Baylor UP will also have two authors participating in today’s African-American Salute, which takes place in the autographing area, both at Table 13: Marcia Dawkins will sign ARCs of Clearly Invisible: Racial Passing and the Color of Cultural Identity (Aug.), 1–1:30 p.m., and Lakesia Johnson will sign ARCs of Iconic: Decoding Images of the Revolutionary Black Woman (Aug.), 1:30–2 p.m.
Baylor University Press releases about 40 titles a year, almost all by scholars; 60% are meant for the scholarly guild, but 40% cross into general readership, according to Murphy. The press has attended BEA for the past three years and sporadically in previous years. “There are a lot of subtle, incremental gains that add up to make doing the show very much worthwhile,” says Murphy.
