Here is a post for all the well-behaved book lovers out there. You know who you are. Those who need more books to fill up your shelves. Those who demonstrate remarkable self-control and never buy more books than they can read in one sitting. π
If that description does not resemble you, dear reader, you may want to skip this post altogether. For what would a Book Week be like without the temptation to buy more books? It wouldn’t really be Book Week now, would it?
We all appreciate the works of the large publishing houses. They have brought us untold number of magical tales over the years in which we have found delight. But they are not the only ones producing enchanting fiction. Small press publishers, and some imprints of larger houses, are taking risks to produce real treasures for book lovers.
Whether they are publishing wholly original fiction or they are producing collectible editions of great stories, these publishing houses are ones you need to be familiar with.
“When you sell a man a book, you don’t sell him 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue – you sell him a whole new life.”Β
~Christopher Morley
Here are a few places to get a life:
From the site:
“Image Cascade publishes well loved books from the 1930s to 1960s – heart warming stories of family, love, & timeless values! The Image Cascade Bookstore is filled with books that are fun and uplifting to read! Excellent stories for ages 10 to 110!”
I have my dear wife to thank for introducing me to this publisher. Many of the books reproduced by Image Cascade are ones that she read as a child and thus she was thrilled to rediscover them.
Image Cascade reproduces juvenile girls fiction from a time when values, for better or for worse, were quite different than they are now. Series like Beany Malone and the Penny and Tippy Parish return readers to a very nostalgic and idealistic time. If you like a bit of old-timey young adult fiction this is the place to go. Whenever possible they reproduce original cover art for books that were long out of print.
I not only applaud them for giving new life to these series, but am thrilled that they have been an annual source of great gift ideas for my wife! π
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Subterranean Press is a genre fiction collector’s paradise. They publish limited edition and small press runs of books that are both a dream come true and a nightmare…to the pocketbook at least!
Specializing in fantasy, horror, and science fiction titles, Subterranean Press has something for everyone, I guarantee that. The SP logo is one that inhabits many a space on my bookshelves.
One of the most wonderful things about this publisher is that they seem determined to bring back the old school idea of interior book illustrations. So many of the SP titles have interior illustrations by some of the best book illustrators working today. They produce higher end collectible books as well as very affordable, and still collectible, limited editions from some of the authors who are well known in the Once Upon a Time Challenge: Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, Cherie Priest, Ray Bradbury, James P. Blaylock, Charles de Lint…and the list goes on and on.
Robert E. Howard’s Kull: Exile of Atlantis and Jim Butcher’s Backup (with illustrations by Justin Sweet and Mike Mignola, respectively) are just two of the pre-orders coming my way later in the year.
Subterranean Press also produces a print magazine that eventually makes its way online that showcases short stories by many of today’s top writers.
I highly recommend that you visit their site and sign up for their email newsletter. You can find the sign up box on the front page. Their books are high quality, beautiful volumes. Give in to temptation and go visit.
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Small Beer Press was founded in 2000 by Gavin J. Grant and Kelly Link. They publish various books, chapbooks and zines. My first exposure to Small Beer Press was when Endicott Studio pointed me to this (unfortunately now) sold out chapbook of The Rose in 12 Petals and Other Stories by Theodora Goss, illustrated by Charles Vess:
Small Beer Press has several other inexpensive chapbooks available, many of which look and sound very intriguing.
Over the years Small Beer has produced some critically acclaimed books, one of the most well known being Kelly Link’s Magic for Beginners.
In addition to selling books they offer several Free downloads.
Small Beer Press is also responsible for producing a zine with one of the greatest names ever:
“Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet”. The output of the zine resulted in a book being published recently containing their ‘best of’ including a one page crash course on how to start a zine of your own.
Need any more reasons to visit Small Beer Press?
“Our books are always printed on recycled paper (at least 50% PCR).”
There you go!
The catalog image is taken from the book Endless Things by John Crowley. Fantastic, isn’t it? And it ties in nicely with some of the links from yesterday’s Book Week post.
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Danielle was the blogger who turned me on to Persephone Books.
From their site:
Persephone Books reprints forgotten classics by twentieth-century (mostly women) writers. Each one in our collection…is intelligent, thought-provoking and beautifully written, and most are ideal presents or a good choice for reading groups.
Like Image Cascade, Persephone Books is a publisher that I hold in high esteem simply because of their commitment to bring forgotten and out of print books back into the limelight.
(Winifred Watson)
Recently Persephone Books scored great success due to the theatrical adaptation of Winifred Watson’s classic Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. (On a side note, I found the film to be delightful. I am interested in reading the book now to see how it compares). There was no official movie tie-in re-release of the book and so Persephone Books sold 23,000 copies, their biggest seller in their nine-year history.
One of the things I love about both Persephone Books’ website and their catalogs is the lengths they go to in order to let the reader in on the joys of the wonderful books they are offering and the authors of said books. There is detail there that is both fascinating and enticing. It thrills me to see publishers who have such an obvious love for what they are producing.
For example, the catalog listing for Greenery Street by Denis Mackail begins: “PG Wodehouse described this 1925 novel as ‘so good that it makes one feel that it’s the only possible way of writing a book, to take an ordinary couple and just tell the reader about them’ and later goes on to mention that Mackail was the grandson of the incredible pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones on his mother’s side. I rather serendipitously turned to this page in one of my catalogs looking for an example to share and landed right on the Wodehouse quote. As Wodehouse is one of my favorites I have decided that Greenery Street will be my own personal foray into ordering books from Persephone Books.
You can get yourself on the mailing list for the biannual Persephone catalog/magazine by following the instructions here.
Trust me when I say the the catalog’s themselves are a work of art.
Persephone Books is the model of book making done right. They package their creations beautifully and often include lovely postcards and bookmarks as part of book and catalog orders.
One last lovely thing I want to share about Persephone Books is their Perfect Present list which gives ideas for gift giving based on a number of different categories of reader.
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Named as an homage to the great haunted house novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, Hill House Publishers is a small outfit dedicated to “the business of fine book publishing”. It is the creation of Pete Atkins and Peter Schneider. The reason I know about Hill House Publishers? Why Neil Gaiman, of course!
Among other things Hill House Publishers is in the process of producing a highly collectible version of exclusive Neil Gaiman Author’s Preferred Edition books. The above image is of the slipcased edition of American Gods. You can see more pictures of this work of art here.
Years ago. Many years ago. Hill House Publishers announced that they would be releasing the Author’s Preferred Edition of Neverwhere. I of course passed out. Days later when I awoke I determined that come hell or high water I would be paying the (very high) price of this edition of Neverwhere whenever it was released. My bank account is grateful that this project has been long delayed even if my Neverwhere-obsessed, book-lover personality is not.
In addition to many amazing versions of Neil Gaiman books, Hill House Publishers offers uniquely crafted volumes by Lois McMaster Bujold, Ray Bradbury, Neal Stephenson and this exciting news concerning Terry Pratchett.
That is a fantastic deal for Pratchett fans!
While I wait impatiently for the release of Neverwhere, I suggest you take a tour of their website and see what other lovelies they have to offer. Careful not to drool on the merchandise.
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There are two other book related/story related publications that I feel the need to share here. The above publishers were chosen for similar reasons that the following two publications will be shared: what they do and the way they present what they do are works of book art in my humble opinion. The first is Bud’s Art Books (formerly Bud Plant dot com).
Bud’s Art Books specializes in just what it says: art books of all kinds.
From their site:
“Founded in 1970 by renowned illustration & comic art expert Bud Plant, our flagship Incredible Catalog has evolved from its roots, growing to include all forms of great visual art, and now bears the name Bud’s Art Books. Here you will find the very best of the visual arts. A unique and diverse collection representing the past, present and future. And of course, Bud’s trademark service from a great staff who share your passion for great art!”
I can personally attest to the fact that the number and type of illustrative art books that Bud Plant offers is unmatched. Bud Plant often offers books that can only be found through his site and many times includes signed books and/or signed book plates as part of the purchase price. Many an inexpensive collector’s item can be obtained through Bud Plant.
From classic illustrators like Alphonse Mucha
to more contemporary illustrators like Daniel Merriam and Michael Parkes
Bud Plant has it all. There are photography books, illustrated children’s books, and on and on and on.
I highly recommend that you sign up for the print catalog. It is a work of art in itself and is a great resource for lusting after books and placing hints to loved ones about what to get you for gifts.
A word to the wise, Bud Plant’s site is not necessarily work safe. His company also offers an Incorrigible Catalog that features art and photography of a more graphic and erotic nature. I don’t recommend ordering it if you have young children (especially ones who get the mail for you.) π
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Electric Velocipede is the passionate creation of John Klima.
John has a history of working in the publishing world and the story of how he started this little zine that could is much better read in his own words than regurgitated by me. Check it out, it is inspiring.
Electric Velocipede comes out twice a year and features a wide variety of speculative fiction short stories, poetry, and nonfiction from many of the authors whose names are circulating during the Once Upon a Time II Challenge: Liz Williams, Jeff VanderMeer, Jeffrey Ford, Catherynne M. Valente, Hal Duncan, Neal Barrett Jr., Alex Irvine, and more.
The latest issue which debuts at Wiscon 32 on May 22 – 26, 2008 features a cover by our much-beloved Lisa Snellings-Clark. It is an extra-big 100 page issue featuring works by an all-female list of contributors.
I highly recommend a trip over to the website to sample various fiction, poetry, and nonfiction offerings and while you are there visit the shop. The prices make these issues virtually irresistible!
All week long I have hinted at a prize pack giveaway without letting you in on any of the wonderful items that may be included. I’ll drop a little hint here:
I ordered a couple of copies of Electric Velocipede issue #14 and I plan on sending both down Lisa Snellings-Clark’s way for autographs. One is for myself, of course, but the other…. π
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As always I covet your comments about any aspect of today’s Book Week post. I would love to see links to other small press or imprint publishers that you think are worthy of notice as well as links to zines or other book-related sites that you feel like sharing. Far be it from me to limit you, links are what make the internet the fascinating path to discovery that it is.
The floor is yours…
Small publishers are great because I think they put a lot more effort into their books. I absolutely loved The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by the way and anxiously await the sequel, The Dark Volume due out tomorrow I believe. Danielle also turned me on to Persephone books, and I have every intention of visiting there store in London in a week or so. You should definitely read Miss Pettigrew, she has become a favorite of mine. Now I just wish I could see the movie but it doesn’t seem that it’s ever going to be released in the UK. Thanks again for the fun Carl! π
Those art books look beautiful. I don’t currently read much by small publishers, but am hoping to follow some of your links and start looking into it as they have some lovely editions and I am trying to collect as much Charles de Lint as possible. I think I have 29 of his back catalogue so far which I am slowly working my way through…
So many places to visit! Thanks Carl!
It’s good to know somebody is interested in publishing illustrated books again – I wish all books for adults had illustrations! Also nice that some of James Blaylock’s books are available again – his stuff has gotten really hard to find.
Thanks for spreading the word about small presses/publishers. They really do publish some of the best books and journals around, and should get more attention than they do.
OK…..how many book lovers do you know that are able to demostrate self-control? That’s what I thought. I couldn’t think of any either!!
I’m already on the Subterraean mailing list. The price is a bit steep, which is the only thing that is keeping me from buying everything they put out!!
Shadow Mountain Publishing is another small, independant house. They are the ones that publish Bradon Mull and J. Scott Savage…and a few other new fantasy writers. I love to check out there new books!
http://www.shadowmountain.com/
What a fabulous post! I’m drooling all over my keyboard. Not a very attractive look. I’ll second the rec that you get Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day from Persephone. I visited the store in London last year and turned into a crazed maniac. I can foresee a pleasant afternoon surfing around the sites you’ve recced here. Thank you! π
Carl, great post and some wonderful stuff . . . and of course, I will get some catalogs because I’m always running short on reading. Ha! A press you might want to check out is Les Figues – http://www.lesfigues.com – they publish avant garde writing in beautiful limited print runs.
You might also look into the Small Press Review for more ideas of where to get beautiful little things. Oh, and also Cloverfield Press – http://www.cloverfieldpress.com – they do tiny letter-pressed editions of great works, including on my Murakami. Thanks again.
“Here is a post for all the well-behaved book lovers out there. You know who you are. Those who need more books to fill up your shelves. Those who demonstrate remarkable self-control and never buy more books than they can read in one sitting.”…who the hell do you think you’re kidding?!! You know no such creature exists around here…so this post was evil, just evil. You know you have thrown irresistible temptation in the faces of addicts. You bad, bad man, Carl! π
And on the flip side of the coin…thanks for feeding those addictions in such a wonderful way! Off to check some of these out…
Oh right, I can afford these places LOL..but they are great to look at! I’ve seen Subterranian Press and I was surprised you had a photo here of a book my brother has of Alphonse Mucha.. he has a few “artsy” books around here. The only art books I have are like Frazetta and Boris and Ken Kelly and Daryl Sweet lol..
THis weekend I will be seeing two of my favorite artists Ken Kelly and Roger Kastel, so I will be surrounded by art…not a bad way to spend the day!
Debi: I’m the neighborhood pusher, what can I say? Tempting you with book porn…just take one little look, it can’t hurt. π
Andi: Thanks for the great links. I was thrilled to see an artist gallery at Les Figures. The crow image by Julie Thi Underhill is wonderful. I also liked this statement on their site: “Les Figues Press is an extremely small, extremely independent press, hell-bent on preserving and promulgating art like glass jars of Devonshire cream and batches of fresh yogurt.” I also love letterpress work and so the other site is a thrill as well.
Cath: I’m very jealous of the ability to go to the Persephone Books store. That would be quite fun. I know my wife wants to read Miss Pettigrew as well so I’m sure it will be coming our way soon.
Stephanie: Book lovers don’t have self control? What!?!?! Thanks for the link. I had a flashback for a bit there because Shadow Mountain was the name of a youth inpatient facility that I worked at just out of college. I love their tag line: “We don’t just print books, we publish dreams.”
jlshall: Subterranean Press is publishing a collection this fall entitled The Adventures of Landgon St. Ives which collects the novels and short stories of James Blaylock that are centered around this character. I love the steampunk aura of these stories. I’ve already ordered my copy buy I got a review copy in the mail the other day to read. If you want it after I’m through its yours. Just shoot me your address to cvincent68 at comcast dot net.
JenClair: Sorry…I mean, you’re welcome. π
Rhinoa: Subterranean has some great Charles de Lint books for reasonable prices.
Ashleigh: I’ve been eyeing Glass Books longingly. It, like Jonathan Strange, is a chunkster that I started, fell in love with, and then recklessly abandoned for other pursuits. It sits sadly on my shelf awaiting my return. If the rest of the book is like the first couple hundred pages then I know I’m going to love it. I’m excited to know a sequel is coming out! I’ll be on the lookout for it. I hope Subterranean Press does another Dave McKean covered version of it as I’d like to have a matched set.
Deslily: Not a bad way to spend a weekend at all! I’m thrilled for you! And those artists you mentioned are not bad ones to have book of! I consider them as much fine artists as Mucha and the like.
I’m crazy about Persephone (both Nan and Becca, on my sidebar) hooked me up with that addictive site. I was happy to read Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day long before its American release in film last month or so, and it is only going to be released in Britain next month. Better than Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day, though, was the novel The Home-Maker. It was a complete surprise ending.
For your next post, may I suggest you write about low interest credit cards? π
Bellezza: Ha, that cracks me up!!! Book lovers should really get no-interest credit cards in my opinion! π I am going to make a prediction here that most people who enjoyed Miss Pettigrew as a novel will not enjoy the film version of it. That doesn’t make me much of a prognosticator, after all this is true of most book-to-film adaptations. Having not read the book my wife and I just adored the movie and it was only piles of other commitments that kept me from reviewing it here and going on and on about it. It was somewhat light fare, to be sure, but I thought is was wonderful.
Once again, I am taken by all of these goodies. After reading and clicking on link after link, I am convinced that one of my new hobbies will be book catalog collecting. :] Thanks, Carl!
I saw the film Miss Pettigrew before reading the book, and I must say I felt the film was better (a very rare case for me). I’d love to tell you in what ways I appreciated one over the other, but then why should you pick up the book when someone’s spoiled it for you?
I’m so glad your blog wasn’t kidnapped for good!
I knew that I should have posted last night after you posted…. I would have been first before the evil of the world kidnapped your site!
I am sooooo green when it comes to independent publishers, but I believe with eBooks and word-of-mouth/ internet media sweeping all forms of entertainment, they’ll become more and more influential.
Thanks for the links. It’s a great way for me to begin my investigations π
Speaking as one book lover who does have self control (it’s call the library, people!)…
I’m actually not all that familiar with small presses. Though I’ve been contacted by authors who’ve published on a tiny press, looking for publicity. It’s got to be difficult for them trying to get past the giants of publishing to get the word out about the little books. I’m sure they appreciate your plugs, Carl.
BTW, Love the new look, even if it came about in a not-so-nice way. π
Yay, you’re back!
I wanted to rave about Arkham House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkham_House), a small-press publisher that specializes in weird fiction (think cyclopean cities and nameless dread horrors. It’s very, VERY late and I am now too sleepy to rant extensively, but I think participants in the next R.I.P. should definitely give them a try.
Oh, my goodness, I have to get some sleep though!…Congrats on SSD’s safe return. π
Bellezza: I hope you can recall the differences so that we can talk about it after I get around to reading the book. I’m glad I’m back as well.
Orchidus: I collect a lot of interesting, eclectic catalogs, some of which I’ll be posting on in the near future.
Tasses: You’re welcome, I’m sure you’ll find some treasures once you start looking.
Melissa: Self control is overrated. π Your comments made me think about the fine line between small publishers and vanity presses. I am not a fan per se of the vanity press though I wouldn’t dismiss them completely out of hand. It sounds a bit snobbish. I think these small publishers who are trying to revive lost books or put together interesting new works are to be admired. But places where anyone can pay out of their own pocket to have their book published isn’t something I feel good about. I feel better when someone actually self-publishes if it comes to that. An odd distinction. Does anyone know what I’m talking about. And thanks Melissa, sometimes good things do arise from bad ones.
RB: With a name like Arkham House, what else *could* they specialize in? π I’ll be checking them out for sure, thanks for the link. Goodnight RB, and thanks.
I am so glad that you are up and running now. I like the rusty car image, you should keep it.
Tonight I was just minding my own business, doing my homework online, when I got your email. Why must you tempt me like this!?! Now I will be online all night, drooling over books. I love Persephone Books, though I still haven’t received my catalogue in the mail.
Thank you so much. Now I’m off to drool!
Vasilly: The latest catalog is out as I just got mine in the mail today, and it had a lovely bookmark in it (which, shhhh, is going into this week’s prize pack!!!) I hope you get your catalog soon.
I wish my library would get more books from small presses (and I should try again with suggesting them). I think this post may be bad for my budget.
Sorry to hear about the hackers. But it did give you a excuse to “re-decorate.”
The new look of this site looks a little sparse at the moment. I like the beat up car on the header – a kind of wild west hobo feel to it.
Those special Hill House Preferred editions of Gaiman’s books looks very, very classy. *drool*
Dark O: Other than the order I put things in this new theme is all as it was designed by someone else. I’ll certainly jazz things up in the future, I think. Of course if I wait as long as I did to update WordPress…. π
Nicole: I’m not sure at all how our public libraries treat small press books. I’ve never really paid attention. I’m intrigued now though.
I wish my budget permitted a few of those purchases!!
They’re lovely – thank you for sharing!
okay, here’s the comment I was trying to post earlier just as the site stopped working (I even thought the problem was on my end before you explained via e-mail…I’m so glad you got everything back without any losses!)
Well thanks a bunch, Carl, if there’s something I need is more things in which to spend money π
In all seriousness now, thanks so much for the links. Some of these are new to me, and yet they publish authors I really like – Small Beer Press in particular.
This is not exactly a small publisher, but I thought I’d be of interest anyway: Clarkesworld Magazine publishes really great short stories and non-fiction articles online, but they also have their issues available as chapbooks, and they publish an annual best of anthology.
Great to see you back in action Carl, and I know you’ve said it is temporary, but I love your new theme. That header picture is great.
I’m going to have to sign up for some of these catalogues, if only so I can look at the purty pictures π
Glad to see you survived the hackers! What a wonderful collection of small publishers – the Persephone catalogue lives on my bedside table. Can I add two more: Snowbooks (http://www.snowbooks.com/) which publishes some very interesting books, and my favourite, Fidra Books (http://www.fidrabooks.co.uk/) – they specialise, their website says “in rescuing neglected childrenβs fiction and making it available to a new generation of readers. Our books range from 1940s adventure stories to iconic 1960s fantasy novels, and from pony books by Carnegie medal winning authors to rare boarding school stories from the 1990s”. There are some treasures there, including the long-out-of-print books by Victoria Walker, cited by Neil Gaiman as an early influence.
Welcome back, Carl π
The Light Fantastic!! My goodness that brings back memories! It’s been a long time since I visited Terry Pratchett’s work, I think a trip to the bookstore is in order to remedy that π Thank you for the reminder, and for the info on these publishers.. Image Cascade especially sounds interesting, I bet my mom would love to have a couple of books from them.
Glad you’re back – popped in last night – but when I went back from looking at the last of the wonderful publishers you had gone!!!!!!
Ohhh Carl, you are a very bad man! I already have a Subterranean Press addiction, and I wish I could afford a Hill House addiction too…Small Beer Press will probably be added to that…
I have the new edition of Electric Velocipede on order…of course, my Poppets wouldn’t forgive me if I overlooked that!
The Hill House Terry Pratchett editions are hugely tempting…but alas I think my bank would actually part company with me…
Glad the site is back up and that you have finally upgraded! Had to chuckle at the rusty car in the header. Stainless Steel indeed! Good luck with the new template…
Glad to see you back Carl! And in all honesty, I really like the site design!
As for this post, thank you for the plethora of books and small presses to drool over. Like I don’t have enough books already!
And I prefer that cover of Glass Books of the Dream Eaters to the one I have. It does a much better job of personifying the craziness that is that book!
Sorry you got hacked, Carl – mean people are just frustrating!
I’ve sent requests for catalogs or info from the publishers you (and everyone else) have listed – I think I’m gonna be in serious trouble…
One of my favorite independent publishers is The Book Depository. They are really a hybrid, of sorts β they function as a wholesale distributor, an on-line bookseller, and as a publisher through the Dodo Press and Asio Press.
The purpose of these two imprints is ββ¦to reissue and digitize out of print books that are in the public domain. At present we are publishing 50 new titles every week and hope to increase this to 400 per week over the next few months – this means we will be allowing book-lovers to be able to obtain 20,000 titles a year that previously they could simply not get.β
They provide high quality editions that are reasonably priced (with FREE shipping worldwide).
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/WWW/WEBPAGES/homepage.php
Back! Back you evil devil you! Sob, I must resest temtation. Wallet is empty. WILL. NOT. USE. CREDIT. CARDS. Back you tempter!
I’m so glad you didn’t lose all your content!
I would be unlikely to read any of Image Cascade’s reprints today (they just look too…wholesome!), but I must have read tons of books like that in the early 80s, as just the images flooded me with memories. One series I wish they would consider reproducing is the Ginny and Geneva series by Woolley. I loved these books when I was in probably about 3rd grade, and they’re out of print. However, at the same time, I’d be afraid to re-read them because they might not live up to my memories…
Carrie: You know that just eggs me on, right? I may have to just show up outside your house and wave new books in front of your window.
Ken: Thanks for the great link. I like their mission statement!
Heather: I just knew when I saw the Dave McKean art on the Subterranean Press version of Glass Books that it was the version I had to own. I don’t mind this design, my other was outdated in many ways. I need to change the link color a bit as it isn’t as easy to see links embedded in posts and comments and at some point I’ll give this a slightly more personal touch.
Quixotic: SP can definitely be an addicting place. It perhaps isn’t the best idea to be on their emailing list as temptation comes in every week! I wish I could afford Hill House editions as well, they are lovely books.
Sally: Thanks, its good to be back.
Asara: You’re mom probably would. I think my wife got hooked on those old books because her mother had them when Mary was young.
Geranium Cat: Great links, thank you so much! I love their mission statement as well. Back when Neil Gaiman and others were talking about the Victoria Walker books I had my wife scour through her university library connections to find the first book in the series. I reviewed it here: Winter of Enchantment. At the time, because of Gaiman and a few other high profile authors talking about it, the books were selling on ebay for up to $1000. I told my wife that it would have been tempting to pay the library fine for the book and sell it! I couldn’t believe they actually loaned it out. I’m really happy for her that Gaiman and others who read her work as children and were fond of it were able to bring her books back to light.
Fence: Thanks, I like it as well. I wouldn’t hold my breath about the temporary part as redesigning the site will not be a priority. I just want to keep it up and running!
Nymeth: Thanks for the Clarkesworld link, I appreciate it. I vaguely remember hearing of them.
Heidi: I wish my budget did as well.
Somer: I am glad that I didn’t lose anything as well. That would have been devastating. I don’t mind a good ‘wholesome’ young adult book now and then. They remind me of the the innocence of childhood and the nostalgia for those romanticized ‘good ol’ days’. I haven’t read any of these so I have no idea of the quality of the writing, but I certainly consider books like the Anne of Green Gables series wholesome and I couldn’t imagine not having read them, or rereading them, as they are just so magically good! π
Hi Carl, I went on Jenn See’s blog for 5/27/05 before I read your Book Week and she has post on Jeanette Winterson’s books. Just thought you might want to revisit. It was kinda of cool.
Cyn
And I had so many other things that *had* to get done today…laundry, dishes, sweeping. I’m just coming up for air from following links in this post. Oh my. Such fun things!
I’ve noticed the trend to include illustrations lately. I like it.
What a great post π Now I’m off to explore π
i’m just so thrilled that you did not lose your entire work of art here ….. so what’s a few background manipulations, eh??
actually, i happen to love the rusted old car ….. now THAT looks like something lady blue would post …. truly, truly am thrilled! if it had happened to me, i just would have given up and walked away. Perseverance ….. great virtue, c.v.
fondly,
lady blue
Okay, I have never heard of any of these. I better get on the ball π
wow, wonderful post as always. I am off to check some of these links out. wish I could splurge on some of these books!
Bookworm: You’re not alone. Maybe we will all win the lottery!
Susan: It has been fun getting links from all of you this week for places I haven’t heard of. Its great!
Lady Blue: I am very relieved. I am also glad I didn’t resort to a fit of anger or bout of depression. It all worked out and really good things came out of it.
Becky: Go forth my child and explore!!!
Rachael: Now really, you weren’t going to do those things today anyway, were you? π
Cynthia: Hi!!! I will pop over there and read that post, thanks for the reminder.
As Piglet would say “oh d-d-d-dear!” Seriously, publisher overload! I’ve long been a fan of Subterannean and they were the first real small publisher that I found when they published Orson Scott Card’s Saints in a limited edition. Since then I’ve fallen in love with them and it just amazes me that they feature all of my favorite authors! What are the chances? Card, Gaiman, Bradbury…and since discovering them I’ve discovered de Lint and George Martin. Unfortunately I’ll never be able to afford the Martin books that I want π They also publish works by Poppy Z. Brite who is a local author from New Orleans whom I’ve met a few times and read quite a bit when I was a teen. That was a nice twist of fate too. Really cool publisher.
I love Hill House too, but once again, can’t afford the books I really want.
So many great publishers to check out now…and I just got paid today! Oh no….A publisher that I like a lot is Juno Books. I’ve just discovered them in the last year and they’re a small publisher who focuses on publishing fantasy with strong female leads. I was sent a few review copies of their books and I’ve really enjoyed them…they have some great titles and authors. Website is http://juno-books.com
another great post – for another genre small press that I like – PS publishing in the UK.
You know, you’re a dangerous influence on a girl. π Sometime ago I discovered Subterranean Press through you; since then, I’ve dropped more than a few dollars on books from them. (I have Backup coming, too, and I so cannot wait for it.) And, I have to admit, I’m lucky to own Hill House’s edition of American Gods. (That book is something to behold, indeed.) I’ve heard a lot of good things about Persephone books- understandably, I think, the name appeals to me. π
Well, I sort of looked at all that, but I really do not have money for books lately, so I didn’t look too hard! I will just save it for later when I can give into temptation. haha
Kailana: Sometimes avoidance is the best policy!!! π
Chelle: I know, I’m a bad man. I’m quite envious of your American Gods book, you should post some nice detailed pics of it if you haven’t already. Book porn is a good thing.
Neth: Thanks, I’ll check them out as well. I love getting these other small publisher referrals.
Chris: Thanks for the link to Juno. We’re in the same boat when it comes to Hill House. Of course if we spent less at Subterranean we could afford Hill House! π
Oh so many pretty books! I see what I’ll be looking at this week.
Lots of wonderful stuff, Carl. Makes one have hope with all of the Amazon, Borders, blah, blah, blah business.
You also sent me back to some fond memories, that had been tucked away and unlooked at for some time. Thanks!
I have posted my trip down memory lane about a particular press I like, and more specifically, about letterpress.
http://qugrainne.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/small-press-books-black-pennell-press/
Actually I have to say this post didn’t make me want to buy books, I’m not interested in most of what you posted about.
I don’t know if the publishers I read are small press or not.
Oh dear. I’ve just bookmarked several of these sites! π
I ordered Connie Willis’ new novella DA which is only in Hard cover from my favourite independent bookstore here in Ottawa. Imagine my surprise, when I picked the book up yesterday, I discovered it was a) from Subterranean Press and b) A SIGNED COPY!!! All for $20 Canadian!!!!! I’m still feeling kind of faint…..one of my very favourite authors, a SIGNED COPY, in hardcover!!! I will be ordering more from them, and checking out all your other wonderful sites mentioned, though *shh* can’t say anything too loudly, my husband still has to pay $45 for Connie Willis’s collection of short stories that just came out from another small press, for my birthday. If there were a medal for all you do for books and fantasy and artists, you’d get it, Carl! You did get a mention on Endicott Studios by Terri herself, so that’s kind of close, don’t you think? and well-deserved!!!!
I will vouch for my love of Subterranean Press books. I have several and the Bud Plant Catalogs are great. One day I hope to pick several items up.
Thanks for the others to check out as well, Carl!
Jeff: We both have that hope. Between Bud Plant and Subterranean we could fill a pretty good sized home library!
Susan: The nod from Terri Windling is much more precious than any medal Susan, you are quite correct. That is great about the Connie Willis book, wonderful in fact. I read a short story of hers recently that I enjoyed and I have Doomsday Book on the shelf waiting for my return to sci fi once the Once Upon a Time II Challenge is over.
Tanabata: I’m sorry…though of course that was the point. π
Callista: Sorry, not everything appeals to every one. I pretty much know who the big publishers are as they are the ones who were putting out fantasy and science fiction when I was a kid and are still going strong today. Sometimes I am unaware of whether a ‘small press’ is really just an imprint of a larger company, but either way I am impressed when these smaller publishing houses put out quality books and when they seek to re-introduce books that may have gone out of print but deserve to be discovered by new generations of readers. Of course I do feel a little more…pride, I guess is the word…in supporting those publishers that I do for sure know are small press outfits because I know that if I started my own business, or was working in a small company, I would want others to support me and help me succeed.
Kerry: That’s great, I’ll be heading over to check out your post!
Sarah: I’m sure you’ll have plenty to keep you busy perusing these sites.
Oh, this is certainly very diverse. I ahve heard of soem of these publishers, but this is great welth. I am saving this one.