SMALL PUBLISHERS

John K - In your May 1, 2007 Newsletter you listed eight options for publishing a book. One of them was to use a small publisher. You mentioned the Santa Monica Press. I looked over its site, and it appears to be genuine and excellent. It has an interesting booklist. I may submit a ms to it. However, in the past I had researched the small presses and found the experience to be depressing. Most of them are niche or what I call "coterie" presses. "Coterie" presses are ones that get their funding from local patrons or from the NEA. They make extravagant claims for what they intend to publish, but in actuality publish their coterie, their friends and colleagues. I do not have a quarrel with niche or coterie presses, but if I'm not in their loop, they are of no use to me. I've examined Dustbook's publication of little magazines and small presses, and found it full of chaff, as to any use by me, and discouraging to read through. Further, most of the magazines and presses listed are ephemeral. (For that matter, any one on BMN or elsewhere could call himself or herself a small publisher, and maybe even do something durable with it eventually, but without it being of immediate use to anyone except its creator.) What I'd like to receive from you, if your schedule permits it, is a list of small publishers that have legitimacy in publishing. Or, as an alternative, you could give links where the small presses have been reviewed and culled as to their seriousness. Thanks, Ted P.S. I also stand to be corrected as to my comments.