Small Presses, Big Spirit
In celebration of National Small Press Month, we put aside the big guns and get up close and personal with the indies. But don’t let the name “small press” fool you—they can be exactly the same size as a big publishing house—it’s not about the size, it’s about the spirit. And if there’s one fact we’ve learned from creating this issue, small presses are brimming with it.
If you’re interested in learning what the differences are between small presses and big houses, we covered it last year in our Small Presses Create Buzz issue. So, to save you from repetition, those who are interested, follow the link, and then come back here and join us.
This issue highlights several groundbreaking presses that tap into niche markets. Their specialties allow them to forge new paths for untold stories. They provide homes for homeless work, literary stages for unique voices, and special attention to burgeoning authors. I believe it’s safe to say that they play the most important role in the publishing industry by introducing new work.
So, let’s hear it for the indies! This is their month. And as a writer, it’s your month too. By learning about how small presses think, what their editors are looking for, and educating yourself about the publishing process, you are one step closer to your goals. And have we got a great issue for you!
A big, warm, thank you goes out to our freelancers and staff members:
To Marla Cordle, and her wonderful interview with her publisher, Leigh Collett, of Resplendence Publishing. Marla has been a long-time reader of WOW!’s, a previous flash fiction winner, and an author interviewee for her latest book, Silencing Sarah. Although Marla is a seasoned fiction writer, she admitted that she’d never considered doing any freelance writing before. So, when I asked her if she’d interview someone from RP, she said she’d be willing to give it a shot. Talk about pulling off a fantastic interview! On her first try, no less. She totally captured the WOW! spirit and brought out the best in her interviewee; and we’re very proud of her. You’re going to love this interview.
And to Suzanne Kamata, a second-time freelancer for WOW! She interviewed Wendy Nelson Tokunaga in July’s issue, and now she’s done it again in an inspirational interview with Lucia Moreno, Editor of Topka Press, a children’s book publisher located in Spain. Suzanne is always such a pleasure to work with, and this interview is truly unique.
Another thank you goes out to a WOW! regular, Beth Morrissey, for her informative piece on How To Write for Skimmers. This article is very timely, and a good reminder to tighten our work.
C. Hope Clark has a fantastic article this month that I urge you all to read: Recognizing When Small Press is Best. As an author, deciding which publisher to go with is important, and Hope is here to help you field that decision. She even includes a fun quiz!
To Del Sandeen for her feature interview with W. W. Norton Editor, and author, Jill Bialosky. I admit, we gave this interview to Del at the last minute, and she pulled it off. Now we get to find out what one of the bigger small presses is looking for in submissions. Great job Del!
And to Margo Dill, who’s now become an expert at the 20 Questions Column. This month, she interviews author Jennifer Cody Epstein about her publishing journey to success! Take a bow Margo!
To my fabulous interviewee, Brooke Warner of Seal Press—thanks Brooke for taking us up on the interview last minute! You’re a trooper, and I’m proud to say, a new dear friend of WOW!’s. Ladies, this interview rocks! Be sure to check it out.
Announcements:
We now have feed. RSS feed, that is. You’ll notice there is now a little orange RSS button at the top of our address bar. Now you can subscribe to our website by clicking on that icon and read the latest blurbs in your favorite reader.
As you know, our Winter ’08 contest is now closed and in the judging stage—we wish all of you who entered the best of luck as we turn the entries over to our guest judge for the season. And as the seasons change, our Spring ’08 Contest has sprung! Due to popular demand, we’ve added an editorial feedback option. So, if you’ve ever wanted to know what your scores were, what the editors thought etc., this season you can take advantage of that option. Please check out the Contest Page for more details.
