Writ Large Press

Stacey Mangiaracina and Roy Johnston of “Between the Sheets,” a show on BlogTalkRadio, were kind enough to have us on for an interview. They wanted to know what our process has been in launching a small literary press and we read some of the poems from Kim’s collection.

The two hosts were really great, generous and supportive, and we’re looking forward to speaking to them again. (Thanks Rafael for the hook-up.)

Check it out below:

Okay. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but we have finally opened our (virtual) bookstore.

Here’s the entrance. Come on in.

Once inside, you will see our entire catalog of books. Don’t freak out when you see only one title in this catalog, because we all know that it’s going to grow into something incredible.

For now, you have the option to buy the old fashioned way…by mailing us a check. And the check needs to be made out to me, Chiwan Choi, because we haven’t been able to set up a business account at the bank yet.

Or, for those of you youngsters out there who like to do everything through the interweb, we have the Amazon link for the book. Yes people, the book is up on Amazon.com finally! (We think it’s going to be on the Barnes & Noble online.)

Hopefully, our PayPal system will be set up by this weekend and we’ll be able to put one of those “buy now” buttons on the page so you don’t have to mail a check or go to Amazon.

(Note: It is wonderful getting our book on Amazon so those of you not nearby can purchase the book, and we definitely encourage this. However, I think once we set up the PayPal system, it will be better for us when people purchase directly through our website. Amazon just takes such a big cut from the sale that it’s difficult for small presses. BUT either way you buy the book, we’re 100% thankful! So shop away!)

Thank you again for all the support and pass the word to friends, family, neighbors, strangers…

Peace.

Yesterday, we received the proof copy of Who’s to Say What’s Home from Lightning Source.

We spent a good amount of time going through the pages, checking for errors, and mostly staring at it from all angles. To paraphrase our dear friend Michelle in New York, it is beautiful and perfect. (Okay, there was one slightly misaligned page that we instantly corrected, but still perfect!)

Today I’ve been sitting here, feeling sort of sick with this nasty cold that’s been going around forever. We’d also received a box of books from Amazon yesterday and I thought I’d start on one of them, the new Junot Diaz novel.

But I didn’t. Instead, I’ve been reading through Kim’s book, poems that I feel like I’ve read a thousand times each over the past two years or so of editing. And I am amazed that even now, each poem feels so new, as powerful and original as the first time I held them in my hands.

Next: ordering the first batch of copies and getting the word out to local press!

Wish us luck.

Great news!

We just talked to a manager at La Cita and he says it’s a go. We’re going to have our launch and release party there on May 2nd. So mark your calendars and plan on joining us.

They’re letting us have the back patio of the bar at no cost, other than all the booze that people will be buying and drinking, on a Friday night. But one drawback – well drawback for you young ‘uns that like to go out real real late – is that it will be slightly earlier in the evening than we were hoping. It will start at 7 and we’ll start wrapping up around 10′ish.

We’re still trying to figure out details – you know, what time to have the actual reading segment of the night so people can hear Kim read, buy copies of her book and get her to sign them, stuff like that. As always, we’ll keep you updated.

What better place to launch our company than in a place called La Cita, no?

Well, that’s it for now. MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Friday, May 2nd, 7 pm on. The Writ Large Press Launch. Kim Calder book release.

And just to be redundant, the details once more below. (Thanks Keith at La Cita!)

Join us for the LAUNCH of
WRIT LARGE PRESS
with the release of
Kim Calder’s
“WHO’S TO SAY WHAT’S HOME”

Friday May 2nd
7 pm
LA CITA BAR
336 South Hill St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013