Title: Reptiles and Amphibians of the Mojave Desert: A Field Guide, 2nd Edition
For: Southern Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Retail
Services: Project Management, copyediting
Team: Southern Nevada Conservancy interpretation department, Formax Printing, Digital Lizard, Dr. Joshua Parker, Snell Press
This publication was a top seller for our retail locations as well as a variety of museums and gift shops across the Southwest. Unfortunately, the original publisher did not intend to reprint it. Because the ownership transferred back to the author after the original contract expired, Southern Nevada Conservancy was able to publish a second edition.
Challenges with this book included finding a new printer located within the US that was not heavily impacted by supply chain issues. Originally, the book was printed overseas, so the cost was also considerably lower. Additionally, I could not find a printer willing to saddle stitch a book of this length like the author originally wanted, but Formax offered a flexible glue that would allow the field guide to withstand repeated use.
Another challenge was that the Nevada Naturalist program through UNLV wanted to use the publication for their spring session. Though the book was complete, they would not land for several more months. I was able to work with a local printer, Digital Lizard, to print a small, modified run and sell to the Nevada Naturalist program at cost. In this situation, it was more important for us to provide the need to the community than to make a profit.
The field guide will be available for purchase July 2022.
