"As Water to Flowers, Independent Publishing to Democracy" Alice WalkerIn 2005 about 80% of all books released were published by a small press. Unfortunately, the publishers that produced the other 20% make all the noise and leave little room for the others.James Joyce's Ulysses was first published by a small press, a bookshop no less.Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard ran the seminal Hogarth Press.Sherman Alexie's first book was published by a small press, Hanging Loose Press.Samuel Johnson's Dictionary was originally published by his small press.William Burroughs "Naked Lunch" was first published by a small press in ParisThe list goes...
Powell’s Goes to the Movies
On the heels of their successful author blogs and podcasts Powell's Books is getting into the movie business. Welcome to "Out of the Book."The plan:To produce short films of up to 23 minutes by accomplished directors "about a frontlist title and giving a broad sense of the author"The films will be distributed free to other booksellers around the countryThe inaugural film will be the centerpiece of events at nearly 40 bookstores.They will produce "as few as one a quarter to as many as one or two a month."The premier event will take place at the Bagdad Theater in Portland, were...
The "Bible Guy" Thrives While the Bible Factory Outlet Dies
Rich Kastura is known to his fellow churchgoers as "the Bible guy" No he is not the pastor but a heating and plumbing technician who when business is slow drives around the neighborhood collecting and delivering Bibles. He calls his gig the "Word On the Street Ministries"Airbrushed on the side of his van "Need a Bible, ask me for one."It all began when he started trying to find 70 bibles for kids in a youth group. Katsura says "When it's [the Bible] in the hands of young people, it can give a lot of inspiration...People need to know that others...
In Some Places Today is World Book Day
Today is World Book Day, a "worldwide celebration of books and reading"in the UK.For scheduling reasons the UK has celebrated on March 1st. For the rest of us we have to wait until April 23rd for World Book Day which happens to also be the day that both Shakespeare and Cervantes died.No matter what world you live in this is a big day."A main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own"What else can you ask for.Whenever you...
One Way To Attract Attention To Your Bookstore
"I just couldn't take it anymore, so I put up the sign" says Nancy Locken owner of Auntie Em's bookstore in Minneapolis.She says that if anything the sign has helped business and that she finally doesn't feel "so helpless and hopeless anymore"Locken is also offering her customers a free sign with every purchase.A couple of people have come in and complained about the sign but since they didn't buy anything Locken says she will "save her consideration for her paying customers and for the poor soldiers that have been so cruelly used and abandoned by George Bush and his cronies"The...