The University of Alabama Press shares the sad news that our former senior acquisitions editor and marketing manager Beth (Elizabeth) Motherwell died this week after a short illness. An Arkansas native, Beth earned a biology degree at Lambuth College and continued her studies at Auburn University. After founding Motherwell and Company, she got her start in scholarly publishing at the University of Arkansas Press. Beth joined the University of Alabama Press as marketing manager in 2000. She served in that position until 2008 when she moved to acquisitions. She spent the next ten years applying her passion for the natural world to acquiring and developing books about the environment, wildlife, and the history of science.

With her biology background and adventures throughout the state, Beth was a font of knowledge and full of irrepressible enthusiasm for the biodiversity of Alabama. Her special talent was knowing what topics needed book coverage and knowing which experts should write them. Beth gave artisanal care to her books and leaves behind a string of key works about aspects of Alabama and Southern nature and ecology, many in our much-lauded Gosse Nature Guides series, such as on the butterflies, trees, and mammals of Alabama. Beth also initiated our series NEXUS: New Histories of Science, Technology, the Environment, Agriculture, and Medicine.

In retirement, Beth continued to indulge in her love of birding and travel. However, she was happiest on her back porch, watching the birds come to the feeders, and planting native trees and flowers in her yard. She especially reveled in telling stories of her youth and family in Arkansas.

Beth leaves a profound legacy to us and the region.

Some Highlights from Beth’s Acquisitions

Butterflies of Alabama is a full-color, richly illustrated guide to the 84 known species of “true” butterflies (Papilionoidea) found within the state’s borders. 

Exploring Wild Alabama is an exceptionally detailed guide to the most beautiful natural destinations in the state. 

Footprints in Stone is the definitive guide to the Steven C. Minkin (Union Chapel) Paleozoic Footprint Site in northwest Alabama, the discovery of whose vast quantity of 310-million-year-old fossil tetrapod footprints and other traces is one of the most significant developments in modern paleontology.

Headwaters is a breathtaking portrait of Alabama rivers.

Maria Martin’s World is the first book-length treatment of one of John James Audubon’s background painters.

Southern Wonder explores Alabama’s amazing biological diversity, the reasons for the large number of species in the state, and the importance of their preservation.

Visions of the Black Belt offers a rich cultural overview of the emblematic core of Alabama known for its prairie soils, plantation manors, civil rights history, gothic churches, traditional foodways, and resilient and gracious people.