Been working on a website for a new, miniscule press I plan to start. Thus far, I've published itty runs of my own chapbooks under the "Hermosa Neutron" imprint, but in an effort to karmically cleanse myself of the moral disadvantages of money while simultaneously fulfilling my love of the creation of books as physical objects, I've decided to expand into publishing other people as well.
But, like I said, I'm starting "miniscule," and I'm looking for advice. I have a few people in mind whose experience I will plumb through backchanneling, but I throw it out to all you others in Blogville and the greater metropolitan internet area . . . what's your advice on an itty bitty press?
Specific things I'd like to hear about:
Making larger runs (50-100 copies) without compromising quality. I'm sort of my own labor force, so I need to know how to do things (like binding) simply but prettily.
Covers! Thus far, all my covers have involved my rather lame little home printer and/or linoleum block prints. Any advice on a good printer for producing high quality cover images -- hopefully one that will print to the border of the page, and which might allow for slightly larger format than the usual 8.5 X 12? Is it worth farming covers out to a local printer? Anyone have an idea on costs?
People with magazines? How much does it cost to publish one of these things? I know that magazines can be as little or fat as you want . . . you can have 20 pages in them, a card stock cover, and go at it with your trusty stapler, but for one of the larger-types that would actually require outside services?
Anyone have experience with grants, etc? I know I said I'm karmically cleansing myself of money, but I still have loans to pay off, yo.
And yes, I'm getting waaaaayyyyy ahead of myself here. But that's an attorney for you. All research, we are.
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