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"In her new collection A Girl Goes Into the Forest (Dzanc Books), "Peg Alford Pursell creates characters equally complex and real, whole worlds—sometimes in less than a page," writes Ann Davis-Rowe in her review in Barrelhouse Magazine. "Pursell’s economy of words often left me wanting more. This isn’t a criticism; instead, I feel it’s the key to this collection’s magic. ... When I got past the need to figure it all out, to create a cohesive plotline from these very different fragments, I saw that the through-line of A Girl Goes into the Forest is basic human longing. Even if it’s just a longing to know more."
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"Many delights are found in this debut collection," writes Anthony Bukoski in his Minneapolis Star Tribune review of We Will Tell You Otherwise, winner of the Hudson Prize from Black Lawrence Press, by Beth Mayer. "Mayer...doesn’t condescend to her characters, not to the smelters, not to the galoshes woman “who always came with her own bottle of All.” While acknowledging their limitations, the author recognizes their inherent worth, an appealing feature of the stories. Also appealing are Mayer’s sense of humor, eye for detail, and characters."
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On her website Small Press Picks, Beth Castrodale writes, "In her reflective and lyrical début novel, As a River (Jaded Ibis Press), Sion Dayson explores the hazards of secrets. Whether kept or revealed, they can exact a profound toll: on those who carry them and on those who either remain in the dark or are made to confront new–and potentially life-changing–truths. With deep feeling, Dayson traces these consequences across lives and generations, portraying how those affected cope–sometimes by strengthening old bonds or forming new ones."
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In her interview with author Amy Long for Ravishly, Erin Khar calls Codependence (Cleveland State University Poetry Center) "a remarkable debut—a fascinating read that explores the intersections of chronic pain and opioid addiction, and elicits questions about our current approach to the opioid crisis. ... The book offers a nuanced and complex look into all angles of dependence, both on opioids and within relationships."
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It's no secret that promoting small press books is hard work. In this month's issue of Magnify, I wanted to highlight a handful of websites that make that work FUN by providing small press authors unique forums in which to discuss their work. Whether you're a reader looking for quirky content about new books, or a small press author who wants to expand your list of sites to pitch, you'll find something here that will make you smile.
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A little bit of poetry, a lot of weird comparisons: the "If My Book" series on Monkeybicycle is a great way to get a new view of small press books. Here's a snippet of my piece about Besotted:
If Besotted were a color it would be neon, a pulse against a smog-filled sky.
If a piece of jewelry: pearl, single strand.
If Besotted were a drink, it wouldn’t be just one.
If a means of escape, Besotted would be a plane ticket.
If Besotted were a place, it would be the one you lived in but never understood.
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What writer wouldn't jump at the chance to dish on books they hate? Katharine Coldiron has given many small press authors the chance in her column for Entropy, "Books I Hate (And Also Some I Like)."
"I hate the literary equivalent of a writer masturbating in front of me. Let’s call them literary dick pics. We’ve all had them flashed at us before, been told we were supposed to like them," I told Katharine in our interview. "I think there are a lot of straight white male writers who’ve been given a pass on creating work people actually want to read. They write some version of the 'Great American Novel' that’s just the same story over and over about straight white men triumphing over very small life challenges they mostly create for themselves, or not triumphing and drinking themselves to death instead. I hate books that don’t even try to show me something new."
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Necessary Fiction invites writers to share the "research"—however loosely they define it—that went into their books. In my essay, "Sometimes the Research Comes Second" I wrote about the ex-boyfriend who was my original inspiration for Sasha's character in Besotted:
"Liz falls in love with a woman named Sasha, a character I based on my emotionally manipulative college boyfriend. He sold his prescription Adderall to his frat brothers and flushed his antidepressants down the toilet. “I have you to make me happy now,” he told me. He lied to his psychiatrist about his parents and to his parents about his psychiatrist, and he shared it all with me. He didn’t want secrets between us."
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David Gutowski has been posting playlists written by writers for their books in the "Book Notes" section of his website Largehearted Boy since 2005. Recent small press Book Notes include Alex DiFrancesco with a list for their new novel All City (Seven Stories Press), Tammy Lynne Stoner writing about Sugar Land (Red Hen Press) and Peg Alford Pursell contributing a list for A Girl Goes Into the Forest (Dzanc Books).
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In Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Kurt Baumeister asks writers to answer "6 Ridiculous Questions" to help promote their work. And trust me, they are ridiculous. You'll have to wait until January to learn what kind of Rap Battle Twister judge I would be. Until then, check out this interview with author of IVY DAY (Spaceboy Books) Pam Day to learn what kind of martian she would be if she were from space.
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In the Inside Look column I'll share with readers a bit about my own writing life and experiences publishing my debut novel with the small press 7.13 Books. I'll also be reaching out to other writers, publishers, cover designers, book reviewers, and independent literary magazines and journals to learn more about the small press landscape. If you have an idea for the column, please feel free to reach out!
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 Spheres of Disturbance (Arktoi Pre  ss) by Amy Schutzer is so well written; Schutzer is quite obviously a poet as well as a novelist. The story is told over the course of 24 hours (although there are flashbacks) from eight different points of view (including that of a very pregnant pig!). Despite the time constraints and various perspectives, the narrative doesn't feel rushed or confusing at all. Reading this is an immersive experience—it feels like you've been with the characters and their lives far longer than the day you're given with them. It's a beautiful journey about death and grief and love. And of course, it’s also about life (and not just because that pig is ready to give birth) and navigating the emotions that come with birth and death and everything in between. It's beautifully done. |
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Each month, Another Read Through owner Elisa Saphier will choose a small press book released a year or more ago for our Another Look column. Based in Portland, Oregon, Another Read Through ships, so if you want to order any of the books featured in Magnify, follow the links to order them from Elisa!
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Last weekend, author Kimberly King Parsons and I hosted our first Amplify retreat "Submit Your Book with Confidence" at Heaven and Earth Retreats in Banks, Oregon. We were honored to help a group of women writers craft their query letters, learn about the book submission process, and develop the confidence then need to send out their work!
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Amplify is an organization dedicated to helping women and non-binary writers develop the skills and confidence to sell and promote their work. We host retreats, workshops, and networking events and provide fellowships to writers of color. Learn more.
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What's next for Amplify? We're honored to have Chelsea Biondolillo—who has experience teaching, applying for (and getting) fellowships and residencies, and submitting non-fiction proposals—to join the Amplify team! There are still a few spaces left in Chelsea's popular class "Art of Applying: Fellowships, Residencies, and Grants." Sign up now to take the course at Corporeal Writing on Oct. 5 in Portland.
And mark your calendars for our next two retreats at Heaven and Earth!
March 27–29, 2020: Promote Your Work with Confidence
October 2–4, 2020: Submit Your Book with Confidence
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 Thanks so much for reading Magnify! If you have a review of a recent small press book you'd like to see included in our Critical Look, or questions about life as a small press author, feel free to contact me. See you next month!
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