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Publishing Profiles: Dan Nowak of Imaginary Friend Press

What You Loved About Your Imaginary Friend, Now Available in a Publisher

by Katharine Zurek

Dan Nowak sought to create in his publishing company what a young kid loves about her imaginary friend: someone who is always there to talk to, who likes you exactly the way you are, and who makes you feel part of something, a partnership.  As a result, Nowak founded Imaginary Friend Press (IFP) in 2008 as a poetry publisher committed to accessibility, dismantling hierarchies, and creating an inclusive literary community. 

Following the success of his first full-length book, Recycle Suburbia, Nowak was inspired to publish poetry.  He told me, “I wanted to do something to give back to the writing community.  It was at that time when my friend, Anthony Frame, sent me his chapbook [Paper Guillotines] to go over.  It was what I wanted to publish.  So I called him up and asked to.  I am extremely grateful to him being my first author because he was so patient.  I think it took almost a year and a half before I printed the book.”

The publishing of Paper Guillotines, as well as every chapbook since, has been completed, start to finish, by Nowak himself.  While he does rely on a book designer to help his artistic ideas come to fruition, Nowak does all the marketing, typesetting, editing, and everything else needed to publish an IFP chapbook. 

It’s clear that after 5 years of single-handedly publishing poetry, Nowak’s initial visions for his press—accessible, egalitarian, and inclusive—are still alive and well.  Doing what he can to keep the dialogue alive between readers and writers, and not let high prices discourage readers from discovery new poetry, Nowak prices IFP’s chapbooks at just $7 apiece, including shipping, and sometimes for even less. 

Not only does Nowak keep things affordable for readers, he also extends the low costs to writers.  Troubled by the high costs of contests, Nowak told me, “I’ve seen chapbook competitions with $25 entry costs, full-lengths with $30+.  On top of that you generally don’t get a copy of the winning book or a previous book in the catalog, so all that money for what?  A grand and getting published?”  Determined to keep his inaugural full-length book contest affordable, Nowak set the entrance fee at $11, or $16 for an entry and a copy of the winning book (winner Ayshia Stephenson was announced in June). 

Extending accessibility beyond pricing, Nowak strives to make the literary playing field a little more even.  Ayshia Stephenson, full-length book contest winner, is a first-time author, something that really excites Nowak.  “I also really like publishing first time authors,” Nowak said.  “I have a few authors who have books and accolades,” he continued, “but I get really excited when I publish someone’s first collection.” 

Nowak is also excited by publishing writers with non-dominant identities.  Imaginary Friend Press will soon be launching a new contest to promote under-represented writers.  Not a fan of restrictions, Nowak is placing just one on this contest: that no straight-white-male can win.    

Aside from social identity, Nowak is aware of another kind of barrier in the publishing world: the difficulty for new authors to reach an audience outside of their intimate circle.  The industry can be unkind to non-academic and non-yet-established writers, so Nowak pairs each IFP writer with a more established poet.  According to IFP’s mission statement, IFP will “solicit [the established writer] for either 1) an introduction, or 2) a new, original, previously unpublished poem by the established poet, written in response to the emerging poet’s chapbook as a whole, or to some element or poem of the chapbook, so as to provide emerging poets with an audience which transcends their primary circle of acquaintances and foster a literary community which is less hierarchical.”

Revealing his favorite pairings, Nowak said, “One of my favorite pairings would probably be Jim Daniels writing the introductory poem to Anthony Frame’s book [Paper Guillotines].  I went to school with Anthony, so I knew how much he admired Daniels’ work.”  Another of Nowak’s favorite pairings is the lyrical interview between Christopher Shipman and Bhanu Kapil in Shipman’s chapbook I Carved Your Name.

Aside from accessibility, inclusivity, and community, another focus of IFP is tangibility.  Part of IFP’s three-fold mission is to ensure that its published authors have a physical product with which to promote their work.  Commenting on the importance of the tangible chapbook, Nowak noted, “They’re an easy sell at readings for a couple dollars or a drink (multiple drinks if you’re a great reader).  I can’t imagine taking IFP digital.  I have a Kindle.  I love my Kindle.  I use my Kindle to read prose.  Prose works on that medium, poetry doesn’t.” 

While going digital isn’t on IFP’s agenda, continuing to produce affordable, quality poetry is.  Nowak’s goal for 2014 is to put out 3-5 chapbooks and one full-length book.  In addition, IFP plans on having a chapbook contest this winter and another full-length contest in the spring of 2014.  Thanks to Dan Nowak, the continued success of Imaginary Friend Press means the literary community will move toward what we all hoped the world would be as kids: a friendly, receptive, and poetic place. 

 

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Katharine Zurek graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English and Women's Studies.  She currently works in the social service field.  Please email krzurek@gmail.com with comments or questions.

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