May’s sunshine not only brings out the flowers, it also marks the start of festival season in the Northwest. The 2024 Seattle Art Book Fair recently announced their lineup of 80+ artists, designers, publishers, and for their May 11-12 event at Washington Hall in Seattle.
This free annual festival celebrates independent publishing, book design, and books-as-art. Check their website or follow them on Instagram for more information on the 2024 programs and exhibits at https://www.seattleartbookfair.org/.
Seattle Art Book Fair
SABF’s published list of exhibitors and participants reads as follows: 51 Personae // A is A // A. T. Pratt // Adelaide Blair // afterhours // Alder & Frankia / Impractical Labor (ILSSA) // Amalgam // ANEMONE // Anna Moore // Are Not Books // & Publications // Awkward // Ladies Club // Bad Student / Future Fellow // Robert Baxter & Co. // Benschop Books // Berm // BEST KEPT SECRET // Body&Forma // Bored Wolves // Broccoli // Carletta Carrington Wilson // The Cauldron Press // Chin Music Press // Cold Cube Press // The Corners of Their Mouth Press // Cornish College of the Arts, Design Department // Crackling.Co // Crow Design Studio // Curious Publishing // Current Editions // Ediciones Concordia Mx // Editions // Erika Rier // Errant Press // Fillip // G.U.P.I. // Gelkheht (Yewon Kwon & Benjamin Kraco) // Girl Noise Press // Historical Seditions // HOMOCATS // horse gurl press // Insert Press // Irrelevant Press // Issue Press // Jason Hendardy // Keep On! Creative // Late Night Copies Press // Leobardo Bañuelos Jr // Living Room Press // Mara Gervais // michelle ho // Mirrored Society Books // Moniker Press // Monograph Bookwerks // National Monument Press // NEOGLYPHIC MEDIA // New Documents // Nick Thompson // NIGHTED // Ouroboros Press // Paper Press Punch // Photoverge Studios // play.ground // PM Press // pocket press // Popla1000 // PrintED Studio 印得物工作室 // Raspberry Bow Press // Risolana // RITE Editions // self.img // Set Margins’ // sick sad trans fags // Skylark Editions // Snack Break Studio // Siempre Snack Time & Slow Nights Studio // Sybil Press // Taxonomy Press // Temporary Services / Half Letter Press // Tiny Splendor // Track and Field // UW Division of Design // Wave Books // Winter texts // Wonderfolio // Zine Hug // Zines4Queers // Community Tables: ARCADE Magazine // Books to Prisoners // Center for Contemporary Art // Folio Seattle // The Garfield Messenger // Puget Sound Book Artists // Real Change Newspaper // SPL ZAPP Zine Archive
Oregon poet, author, publisher, and podcaster Benjamin Gorman decided to do something different with his weekly podcast featuring writers. The result was Writers Not Writing, which has received more than 10,000 views on YouTube and is available for download from all the podcasting platforms. Rather than dive into craft or how to be published like other podcasts, Gorman concentrates on what writers do when they are procrastinating…or perhaps just living a fully rounded life.
We wanted to know more about what Gorman does when he is not podcasting, including his publishing company Not a Pipe Publishing and how the podcast came to be. Following is a recent interview via email.
Please tell us about Not a Pipe Publishing.
Not a Pipe Publishing is an indie press located, fittingly, in Independence, Oregon. We started off publishing exclusively sci-fi and fantasy for adult and YA audiences, but we’ve expanded into paranormal and horror, a thriller, a bunch of anthologies around different themes, and collections of poetry.
How did you come up with the “Not a Pipe” name?
The name of the company is a reference to René Magritte’s famous painting “The Treachery of Images,” the one with a pipe on it that says (in French), “This is not a pipe.” The painting is about how an image of a thing isn’t the thing itself, and I thought that would be perfect for a company which publishes fiction. One of our central animating principles is that fiction isn’t an accurate description of the world but can tell deeper truths.
What inspired you to start the Writers Not Writing podcast?
I’d been a guest on many podcasts and a few TV shows, and while I’m grateful to all those interviewers, I found that I kept responding to the same questions about writing process. That’s great for other writers, but I suspected the lines of questioning weren’t very entertaining for readers. I wanted to create a show that is reader-focused, so instead of asking writers about how they write, I ask them how they do something every reader also does: Procrastinate. I think the show helps readers get to know authors as more well-rounded human beings, and I hope that makes the viewers/listeners more interested in checking out our work.
How many writers have you interviewed?
As of this writing, we’ve aired 65 episodes, but I try to keep a little ahead, so I’ve recorded 70. It’s been a wonderful experience because I’ve been able to meet these big-name Emmy winners and New York Times best-sellers, and also authors who are just starting out in their careers. I like to keep that mix because everyone has a unique collection of fun procrastination behavior.
Do you hear any common themes?
One question I always ask authors is what they’ve been daydreaming about, and I’ve appreciated the common recognition that daydreaming, while it can feel like procrastination, is an essential part of the work we do. Authors have fascinating answers ranging from the weirdest flights of fancy to very practical wonderings, and it’s great to contemplate how those inform their work.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing indie authors and publishers?
I think the publishing industry is going through a transition that’s very similar to what the music industry experienced with the rise of Napster. Before, music was limited to what a small number of gatekeepers allowed. Suddenly everything was accessible, and anyone could throw their music out into the world. That was wonderful for listeners (at first) because there was this glut of great stuff, but it made it so difficult for artists to break out, and then it made it nearly impossible for artists to make a living creating their art. Those pressures then become bad for music listeners (and now readers), because the quantity of work is huge, but it’s being created by people who are essentially donating it to the world. That’s not good for artists of any kind, and when the artists are exploiting themselves, it ultimately isn’t good for readers, either. I suspect that, like iTunes, we’ll eventually settle on some other gatekeeping method that will allow some people to get attention without those decisions being made by a bunch of white, male billionaires picking from among their friends. Instead, it will be white, male billionaires choosing from what they see bubbling up from a much larger pool. That’s still far from perfect, but it will lead to more diverse literature that will be at least slightly more representative of the readers (who are predominantly women and disproportionately people of color) while providing more authors a living wage. I hope indie authors and publishers will play a vital role in that future ecosystem, creating meaningful connections between authors and readers on smaller scales, like the bands that are figuring out ways to make ends meet by doing live shows in more intimate venues rather than selling out arenas and living off of hit albums. We’ll see. I could be overly optimistic. But I hope we’ll find ourselves in a world of more public readings and more intimate signings at small, independent bookstores. It’s a tight time for indie publishers and indie bookstores now, but I really hope the ones who can weather this tenuous time will be the places readers look to when they want to find the voices of their own communities in a future of homogeneous, AI generated schlock.
For those who want to learn more about Not a Pipe Publishing, where can they find you?
Please come learn more about our authors and their marvelous books at www.notapipepublishing.com We have some great novels we’ll be releasing this year by Amanda Cherry, Beth Gibbs, and Karen Eisenbrey. We’re also publishing our first translation, a powerful collection of poetry by the renowned Mexican poet Verónica Arredondo translated by A.A. deFreese. And we just released a beautiful collection of found poetry and art by Jennifer Rood. There will be cover reveals, launch parties, and signings for all of these, so check out the events page on the site or follow us on any of the social media apps. (We’re on all of them. It’s awful, but we have to go where the readers are, so please follow us to make it worth our while!)
Seattle City of Literature started a calendar in February “to celebrate the people and organizations that make Seattle a UNESCO designated City of Literature.” Organizations are encouraged to contribute information on “all literary adjacent events open to the public — readings, workshops, open mics, comics classes, discussions, lectures, youth programs, book clubs, residency deadlines, festivals, talks, plays — anything you might dream up that’s “literary” in the loosest sense,” according to the announcement.
Seattle City of Literature aims to email a biweekly digest of all the literary events listed to their subscribers.
“The calendar will also serve as an important way to benchmark the health of our literary community and track all of the events that are happening every year,” said José L. Montero, President of the Board, Seattle City of Literature.
The UNESCO Cities of Literature network of 53 cities represents 6 continents and 39 countries, and a combined population of over 26 million. Seattle received its designation in 2017.
Map of the current Cities of Literature from the UNESCO press kit about the program.
The Portland Book Festival selects featured books for the November event on a rolling basis from now through June. The 2024 festival is scheduled for Saturday, November 2, 2024. Organizers plan to feature a diverse group of contemporary authors in conversations, panels, and presentations.
Literary Arts must receive complete submissions by June 14 for consideration. All selected authors will be contacted by September.
Note that the consideration for self-published titles uses the same criteria as traditionally published books. For the 2024 festival, Literary Arts will not accept self-published titles that exist only in ebook format.
Humanities Montana is encouraging local historians, cultural knowledge keepers, scholars, and storytellers to submit proposals to expand knowledge and understanding of Montana’s diverse culture and history.
If interested, check the 2024 Mini-Grants and Community Project Grants webpages at humanitiesmontana.org. A recent letter about grant opportunities emphasized the organization is particularly interested in “projects that engage youth in living history experiences.”
Humanities Montana also announced the state’s oldest county library, Chouteau County Library — Fort Benton, received a $500 stipend to support “Community Conversations.” In April, the library will host an “Everyone Reads” book discussion to help community members get to know one another.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Western Washington chapter is offering a free online class on marketing this month.
In his class, Northwest writer Will Taylor promises to explore: “How to optimize marketing efforts via language tricks, framing, and behavioral science. How to create simple systems that take the guesswork out of marketing and leave you reassured, relaxed, and ready to focus on your real work. Come learn to make your marketing process easier, more fun, and more effective!”
Taylor is a published author of stories for “current and former kids.” More about his books for Scholastic and Harper Collins can be found at willtaylorbooks.com. He also works as a copywriter for Fran’s Chocolates, the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), and LAIKA Studios.
Where would indie writers and publishers be without indie bookstores? Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association recently announced the following moves and, sadly, one closure.
Tacoma will have a new bookstore in 2024: Grit City Books. Established online in 2023, the owners plan to open at 3116 Sixth Ave in the spring. Find out more about the owners and their plans in Shelf Awareness. PNBA also reported another new Tacoma member, the pop-up bookstore Lucky Duck Book Shop.
In Corvallis, Oregon, Grass Roots Books & Music will be moving to a new location in 2024. Established in 1971, the store offers a wide range of books and free shipping for online orders. Keep an eye on their website for updates at grassrootsbookstore.com.
Longtime Seattle bookstore East West Books & Gifts relocated to Edmonds at the end of 2023. Located at 110 Third Ave. N, East West continues to offer a full array of metaphysical books and related items. Once again, they are hosting a packed events calendar too. According to their website: “Edmonds is such a beautiful town with its welcoming people, making it a fantastic destination to visit. We are beyond grateful to be able to reopen East West in this amazing community!” Find out more at the website, still called eastwestseattle.org.
Also in Edmonds, the Neverending Bookshop closed with a party on December 17. Owner Annie Carl recently edited the anthology Soul Jar featuring 31 disabled authors exploring disability representation through horror, science fiction, and fantasy stories. Carl plans to focus on her writing career in 2024.
Local authors and indie publishers are showing up at holiday fairs throughout the month, because nothing makes a better gift than a book!
The Author Event Network, an association of local award-winning authors, will be signing books at the Mercer Island Holiday Market on December 2. Look for Peter Stockwell, Patrick Foley, Karen Eisenbrey, Susan Kemp, Guy Morris, and Mi Ae Lupe at the Mercer Island Community Center, 10am to 3pm.
Joyce Yarrow and 25 other Washington authors will be at Issaquah’s Historically Hip Author Fair on December 9 at the Issaquah Library, 11am to 4pm. The one-day event will have books for adults, teens and kids in a variety of genres, perfect for gift-giving or your own winter reading! Don’t forget to visit the Historically Hip Artisan Market at the Historic Issaquah Train Depot for locally crafted gifts.
Have an event to share? Send us a note at bpnwnews at aol.com.
Eugene’s Tsunami Books operates Tsunami Press, which rounds off 2023 with Bookstore Clerks and Significant Others featuring the work of 14 former and current Tsunami booksellers and others. Pre-orders are available now for the 2,000 book print run.
As Tsunami puts it so aptly on their website: “We want to sell them, get the rent paid, and get a seond printing going. This, for us, is the essence of Crowdfunding.”
The bookstore also supports the local writing, arts, and publishing community by offering author events, ongoing writers’ workshops, poetry slams, and other festivities, including “a wedding where both people changed their name to Whitman.” The store stocks more than 30,000 quality used and new books, cards and postcards, a great little collection of vinyl LPs, and a rotating selection of fine art and crafts from members of the local community.
As the holiday shopping season descends, look to this store/press and other members of Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association for great ways to shop local and support indie writers and publishers.
On November 13, Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum invites localself-published authors, poets, bloggers, storytellers, and all wordsmiths to participate in their inaugural open mic night. Writers will be invited to share a piece from their self-published work in a supportive literary setting while enjoying a complimentary beer and wine reception. Arrive by 6:30pm to sign up for a spot on the stage.
Authors can bring their self-published books to the event to sell. Reservations are recommended and tickets are a “donate what you want.” More information about the event can be found at folioseattle.org.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) write-ins also return to Folio in November on Saturday afternoons.
Writers are welcome to write in sprints with the group or go at their own pace while enjoying the company of fellow writers from 1pm to 4pm. They can also add to their NaNoWriMo duck collection or win other prizes such as a pocket notebook, free books, pens or Folio passes. More details on the website.
About Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum is a nonprofit library and cultural center located in the Pike Place Market. Folio offers a circulating book collection, provides workspaces for writers, and presents numerous public programs, author readings, civic discussions and musical evenings. It is located at 93 Pike St. #307.
More information and details about currents can be found at folioseattle.org
Folio is located in the Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market in the Economy Building at First Avenue and Pike Street. They provide rental space for other literary events and meet-ups as well as hosting their own events.
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