Small talk

I'd previously blogged an earlier version of this article, on running a small publishing firm, by Two Ravens Press. I was reminded of Chaim Bermant many years ago saying that the only way to make a small fortune in publishing is to start with a large one. Two Ravens has one big advantage, that the main Scottish market is defined, the country has some good bookshops, 36 book festivals and a lively literature community. The disadvantage is living in one of the furthest out places in that country, making, say, a stall at a Festival impossible. Nevertheless, with tweaks, all small publishers could write something similar. http://www.tworavenspress.com/TRP%20Publishing,%20four%20and%20a%20half%20years%20on.html

Where are the Moomins when you need them?

Only four more days before our second States of Independence day in Leicester, celebrating the wonderful world of small and independent presses, this Saturday at De Montfort University. A one day - and free - book and spoken word festival. This list gives you an idea what it is about.

The 1950s, artists' books, publishing, eBooks, Asian writing, Irish writing, speculative fiction, spoken word from Short Fuse and Word!, anarchism, sex and sensibility, crime fiction, graphic novels, the Moomins, music, short fiction, money, poetry, making it as a writer, editing, East Midlands Book Award, book and magazine launches. Cafe available. Come for an hour or all day. Full programme on http://www.statesofindependence.co.uk/. All human and Moomin life welcome.