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ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 02:41 pm: | 
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Last weekend, while watching a bookfair on CSPAN Booknotes (Man, I can watch Booknotes ALL DAY cause that the best daym thang on the boob tube, Bar None!), I happened upon an interview of a white woman who represented a not-for-profit (NFP) publisher. The publisher is primarily funded by a large foundation (??? name) that wanted to promote writing that is specific to the vision of the publisher, which deals books that would presumably have very limited demand in the general book buying market. The interviewer (& I) was surprised by the existence of a NFP publisher, as he (& I) likely thinks of today's publisher to be as mercenary as a used car dealer.
Are any of you aware of NFP publishers - maybe funded by foundations, government(s), companies, and wealthy individuals - that specialize in AA books? If so, what are their names and what are the names/types of some of books they produce. Have the books done well? And in general, does/would the concept of an NFP help to provide a viable alternative for introducing more unique/interesting AA books that might not be available via the standard book selling channels? |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 06:32 pm: |
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Hello ABM,
Actually I know of one such NFP publishing company, Coffee House Press. I've been a big supporter of their AA titles for years now, as is evident in my reading list. This month's CWMYB selection is My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy, which was the basis for the Broadway musical, On This Island (I think). My Love, My Love as well as Bird At My Window both written by Rosa Guy had been republished by Coffee House Press. As well as the following titles:
1.) Clifford Blues - John A. Williams
2.) Captain Blackman - John A. Williams
3.) dem - William Melvin Kelley
4.) The Cotillion - John Oliver Killens
5.) Striking Distance - Clarence Major
6.) Pictures of a Dying Man - Agymah Kamau
ABM, I can't tell you if the books have done well or not. I can say, and those of you who have followed our CWMYB selections can attest to, the books are top notch. You may like some more than others, but the books aren't sloppy, which is why AALBC supports these titles and a few others from Coffee House Press that I can't remember off the top of my head.
I haven't heard of a NFP publisher that specializes exclusively in AA titles. If you discover them, let me know.
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ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 11:46 am: |
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Thanks for the insider dope, Thumper. Based on your recommendation, I will include Coffee House Press books on my literary radar. And if I learn of any other hi-quality NFP publishers, I'll shoot'em by you. |
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