Friday, March 09, 2007

 

Susan's Book Talk: Small Press Month

My dear friend Janelle, who will be more involved here as we do more major book contests, has proclaimed March to be Small Press Month.

Keep an eye on The Eclectic Closet to be exposed to some pretty cool stuff in the upcoming weeks.

And, as always, share any gems you come across!

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# posted by Susan Helene Gottfried @ 4:45 PM
Comments:
weeellll,

other than my Debut-a-Debut novel (Firmin by Sam Savage--also Coffee House Press)


I just read a strange little book with one of the most beautiful recent hardcovers I've seen, Firebelly by J. C. Michaels. It was nominated for multiple awards for the cover and quality of its crafting, as well as the story itself. It's about existentialism, and frogs.

http://www.firebellythebook.com/Firebelly/Firebelly.htm

by Philograph/Cascade, Inc.
# posted by Blogger Camille Alexa : March 09, 2007 8:16 PM
 
Strange how? Good, like Clockwork Orange, or bad, like... "Run screaming!"

I'd imagine the former, since you left the link for it.

Btw, have you gotten a copy of Jacob Green yet?
# posted by Blogger Susan Helene Gottfried : March 09, 2007 8:21 PM
 
I suspect all publishers in New Zealand are "small press" by world standards. It would be hard for an even smaller press to make any money - four million people is a rather small market place - though New Zealanders do buy quite a few books, by world standards.
Michele sent me.
# posted by Blogger Catherine : March 09, 2007 8:27 PM
 
Four million might be big compared to what Janelle will be showing us; I'm not sure. And in this day and age, surely the NZ publishers can come up with a way to import their stuff here, and for our small publishers to get stuff to you guys...

Man, what a cool world we live in where this is possible.
# posted by Blogger Susan Helene Gottfried : March 09, 2007 9:59 PM
 
Hi, here via Michele's.
# posted by Blogger Foster Dogs : March 09, 2007 10:46 PM
 
Thanks Susan! For anyone interested, here is the link to the official Small Press Month site.

I just posted my first review for an unusual little book from Coffee House Press.
# posted by Blogger Janelle Martin : March 09, 2007 11:13 PM
 
Great blog. Look forward to coming back and learning more.

Here from Michele's

Kate aka www.notquitemartha.com
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : March 10, 2007 10:58 AM
 
obviously, I had already read Janelle's post, which is why I said "also Coffee House Press". Sorry.

ALSO, I meant strange, GOOD; as in rare, unusual, interesting. I forget we live in a universe where strange is an insult. I should have learned my lesson by now...

And I looked up "small press".
According to Wikipedia,

Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the USA, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts. Small presses are also defined as those that publish an average of less than 10 titles per year, though there are a few who manage to do more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_press


UNRELATED--Susan, I need your personal author/character contribution to my weekend StoryGame. You have such a well-developed relationship with your fictional peeps.
# posted by Blogger Camille Alexa : March 10, 2007 5:15 PM
 
When I checked out your link, Birdie, I realized that you meant WAY off the beaten path strange. That little book sounds cool; want to post a review of it here?

I'll come over and see what you're up to now...
# posted by Blogger Susan Helene Gottfried : March 10, 2007 5:22 PM
 
I will have to pop back and follow those links when I have more time! I used to read quite a bit but don't have the time these days. The last fiction book I read was Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis. Quite a frank read.

Michele sent me to say hi/
# posted by Blogger Bobkat : March 10, 2007 5:34 PM
 
I have Scar Tissue here; can't wait to read it (but I thought it was nonfiction?).

Hope you WILL come back and poke around; this is a fun place, if I do say so myself!
# posted by Blogger Susan Helene Gottfried : March 10, 2007 5:37 PM
 
Hmm that is quite nice and interesting. I am interested since I am writing this kind of fantasy novel and I hope I can find a publisher when I am done with it.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : March 10, 2007 6:13 PM
 
Susan--

Sorry, I've written a Firebelly piece for Green Man Review, and I've agreed not to review GMR materials for other publications (and yes, blogs count). I'd be happy to do another sometime if I can, though. Just lemme know what you'd like to see and when.
# posted by Blogger Camille Alexa : March 10, 2007 6:47 PM
 
Dunno. Just figured that since we were talking about it, it was the obvious next step.

Can we post a link to GMR?
# posted by Blogger Susan Helene Gottfried : March 10, 2007 7:32 PM
 
Susan--

I'm sure they'd appreciate that. There's a new issue up today:

http://www.greenmanreview.com/whats_new.html


--but I think Firebelly's in next issue. This week, I've got Sandra Schwab's Castle of the Wolf and Juliet Marillier's Wolfskin and Foxmask. I've also got links on today's post.

Thanks, as always, for your tireless efforts on behalf of small press and authors everywhere (and thanks also to Rashenbo, Karen, Janelle, and everybody else around here).

--Camille
# posted by Blogger Camille Alexa : March 12, 2007 6:18 PM
 
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