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March is Small Press Month 2002

"It's What's Between the Covers that Counts"
"In real life I'm a reader, not a wiseguy," says Dominic Chianese, known as Uncle Junior on The Sopranos. "In the world of books, it's what's between the covers that counts."

This March, Mr. Chianese is the voice of Small Press Month on public radio stations nationwide, as libraries, booksellers and presses across the country celebrate independent publishing with special programs, readings and exhibits. Independent presses publish great books and magazines every day of the year, but Small Press Month presents a particular focus on the vitality, diversity and importance of their work. The program is jointly organized by the Small Press Center, New York City, and the Publishers Marketing Association, in California.

"Small Press Month is about the heart and soul of publishing," says Jan Nathan, Executive Director of the Publishers Marketing Association. "Independent presses are as diverse as the 1.1 million books that they publish each year, but they share much common ground. These presses cultivate talented new authors and develop influential editorial voices, taking risks with authors and ideas. If you want to uncover the growing part of the book publishing business, look no further than the titles that are currently published by the independent press." Fifty thousand independent publishers accounted for over $14 billion in sales in 1999 (well over half of total book sales), according to a comprehensive survey by the Book Industry Study Group and the Publishers Marketing Association; this figure has been on the increase since. "In today's book industry, independent publishers operate in a different end of the market than large conglomerates: one in which individual expression, rather than shareholder value, drives the finished product," adds Karin Taylor, Executive Director of the Small Press Center.

Major events during Small Press Month include:

… The Small Press Book Fair, the country's leading book fair for independent publishers, at the Small Press Center in midtown Manhattan, March 23-24. Over 200 independent book and magazine publishers take part, and special events include literary panels and book arts demonstrations. Admission is free. For info call 212/764-7021 or visit www.smallpress.org.

… The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses' new panel discussion series - "Contents Under Pressure: Debates and Trends in Independent Literary Publishing"- kicks off at the New York Public Library on March 20th at 6:30 pm with "Invisible Ink: The World of Independent Literary Publishing Revealed." Call 212/741-9110 for info, or visit www.clmp.org.

… 7,500 free copies of the popular poetry anthology, Poetry in Motion, are being given away to Small Press Center visitors during the week of March 18-22. This free book of poems, featured in New York City subways, will be available as part of the celebration of Small Press Month. For information, contact the Small Press Center.

… Free posters celebrating Small Press Month are now available for libraries, retailers, schools and individuals. Bookstores, libraries and individuals can obtain some of these high quality, attractively illustrated materials to make Small Press Month a part of their promotions by calling the Publishers Marketing Association at 310/372-2732.

The non-profit organizations, the Small Press Center and the Publishers Marketing Association and PMA's affiliates, sponsor Small Press Month. Additional support is provided by R.R. Bowker, Small Press Distribution, the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP), Consortium Inc. and the American Booksellers Association (ABA).


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