Dan Poynter

Dan Poynter
Born September 17, 1938
Died November 3, 2015
Residence Santa Barbara, California
Nationality American
Education Bachelor of Arts in Social Science
Alma mater California State University, Chico
Occupation Author, motivational speaker, publisher
Website parapublishing.com

Dan Poynter (1938–2015) was an American author, consultant, publisher, professional speaker and parachute designer.

Since 1969, he wrote more than 130 books, many reports, and more than 800 magazine articles, most of them on book publishing.[1][2] The writing and publishing of The Self-Publishing Manual in 1979 propelled him to notoriety in the publishing industry. Each year he addressed scores of groups on the subject of publishing.

He was the founder of Para Publishing and was featured in many major media outlets,[3] including Entrepreneur, U.S. News and World Report, Christian Science Monitor, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post,[4] Writer's Digest[5] and The New York Times.[6]

Career

He began his career managing a parachute company in Oakland, California. From there, he moved east where he became a parachute design specialist. An active skydiver, he began writing about parachute design and use. His column in Parachutist Magazine led him to writing books on parachutes[7] and skydiving.[8] Dan became active in the politics of the sport when elected to the board of the Parachute Club of America, later the U.S. Parachute Association.[9]

In 1973, he became interested in the new sport of hang gliding. Unable to find a book on the new sport, he researched, drew from his experience as a pilot and skydiver, and wrote the first book on the subject. He was elected to the board of the U.S. Hang Gliding Association, later the U.S. Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (USHPA). Later, he served as president of the Commission Internationale du Vol Libre (hang gliding) of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in Paris.[10]

In 1979, drawing on what he learned in book writing and publishing, he wrote The Self-Publishing Manual. Continuing to write and publish, he produced a circular book on Frisbee play, the first book on word processors, pioneered fax-on-demand, began selling information products from his website in 1996, wrote many more books on writing, publishing, and book promoting and began speaking on the subjects worldwide.

He continues to edit and publish newsletters on book writing/publishing and professional speaking.[11] He edits and publishes blogs on book writing/publishing and air travel. Poynter earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from California State University, Chico and also attended San Francisco Law School.

Poynter is Editor of the Publishing Poynters newsletter on the book industry since 1986 and the Global Speakers Federation NewsBrief for international professional speakers since 2006.[12]

Poynter is an expert skydiver[13] who has been active in the industry since 1962. He has written more books on parachutes and skydiving than any other author. He has served in elective office in various aviation associations including the United States Parachute Association (chairman of the board), The Parachute Industry Association (President), the U.S. Hang Gliding Association (director), and the Commission Internationale du Vol Libre (hang gliding) of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (president).

He invented the Stylemaster parachute, the Fastbak parachute, revolving cones, Tri-vent modification for reserve canopies, and patented[14] the Pop Top parachute.

He was appointed trustee and elected secretary of the American Museum of Sport Parachuting and Air Safety, later the National Skydiving Museum[15] along with being appointed Curator and placed in charge of the inventory of the National Skydiving Museum. Poynter established the eMuseum for the National Skydiving Museum in 2014.

He was diagnosed with Chromosome 19 Trisomy in 2012 and a stem cell transplant was performed in mid-2013. Fully recovered in 2014, he wrote a book on his experiences, Transplant Handbook for Patients: Replacing Stem Cells in Your Bone Marrow.

He died on November 3, 2015 of acute myeloid leukemia and renal failure. [16]

Awards

Poynter received numerous awards over his lifetime, including a Certificate of Recognition by the County of Santa Barbara, a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition by Congresswoman Lois Capps, and was inducted into the National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame.[17]

Other awards included the Benjamin Franklin Person of the Year Award for Lifetime Achievement (Publishers Marketing Association, 1992), Irwin Award (Book Publishers of Southern California, 1995), Lifetime Achievement Award in Publishing (Express Yourself Authors’ Conference, 2007),[18] Certified Speaking Professional (National Speakers Association, 2004),[19] President’s Award for Service (Global Speakers Federation, 2007),[20] International Ambassador Award (Global Speakers Federation, 2008), and awarded Honorary Lifetime Membership (German Speakers Association, 2011)[21] Poynter was appointed to Global Speakers Summit Organizing Committee and was named a Global Certified Speaking Professional (Global Speakers Federation, 2013).

He also received the Bronze Otto Lilienthal Medal (U.S. Hang Gliding Association)[22] and the Lifetime Achievement Award from both the U.S. Parachute Association (1980) and Parachute Industry Association (2005).[23]

Books

References

  1. ↑ "Dan Poynter" Amazon. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Dan Poynter" Amazon Kindle. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "Dan Poynter" Non-Fiction Writer's Conference. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "How to Publish Your Own Book" 26 September 2004 The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "2002 Writer's Digest Article Index" Writer's Digest. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  6. ↑ White, Martha. "The Steep Price of Visiting" 6 June 2011 New York Times. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  7. ↑ FlyAboveAll.com Article referencing Poynter's Parachute Manual. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "Skydiving history" US Parachute Association. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  9. ↑ "About Dan Poynter" South Australian Sport Parachute Club. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  10. ↑ "Dan Poynter" Slideshare. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "Book Printing Just Got Cheaper" FrugalMarketing.com. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  12. ↑ "Channel: News & Newsletters" GSF. Retrieved 2014-5-5.
  13. ↑ "National Skydiving Museum Board of Trustees" US Skydiving Museum. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  14. ↑ "US Patent, Poynter, Parachute pack" US Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Trustees" NSM. Retrieved 2014-5-5.
  16. ↑ http://www.dropzone.com/news/People/Legendary_Author_Dan_Poynter_Passes_Away_1160.html
  17. ↑ "Please Congratulate the Hall of Fame Class of 2012" National Skydiving Museum. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "Book Marketing Matters" BookMarketingWorks.com. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  19. ↑ "Dan Poynter" National Speakers Association. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  20. ↑ "Dan Poynter" Global Speakers. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  21. ↑ "Global Speakers Newsletter" Global Speakers. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  22. ↑ "Award Recipients" US Hang Gliding and Parachute Association. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  23. ↑ "Parachute and Skydiving Awards" Parachute Industry Association. Retrieved 3 November 2011.


External links

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