Three Small Presses, One Big Read

March 2, 2009

by Neil Kahn

Showcasing the thriving literary and musical talents in Austin, Dalton Publishing, American Short Fiction, and Bat City Review come together to celebrate Small Press Month. Held annually in March, Small Press Month highlights the innovative and exciting work produced by small publishers.

Dalton author and humorist Owen Egerton (How Best to Avoid Dying) will emcee the evening featuring six writers reading both newly published and yet to be published works. The musical stylings of alt-country band Jenny and the Corn Ponies will kick off the evening, and Southpaw Jones, whose music is at once hilarious and heartbreaking, will bring the festivities to a close. From Dalton Publishing, Ric Williams shares tales from his forthcoming novel Woman in the Tower, and stuntman Gary Kent entertains with his insider’s view on revolutionary Hollywood, reading from the much-anticipated Shadows & Light. Smith Henderson and Amelia Gray, two writers featured in the Spring 2009 issue of American Short Fiction, offer a taste of delectable, unconventional short fiction. And, breathing poetic air into the evening, Josh Morison and Elyse Fenton of Bat City Review deliver lyrical and contemplative poetry.

Stacey Swann, editor of American Short Fiction, organized this brand new event to recognize the small presses, who she says “are motivated by a love of books and literature,” allowing them to “take greater risks” than big publishers. “In the current economic crisis,” Swann says, “support of these [small] presses is even more important.” While mainstream publishers are putting a freeze on acquisitions, small presses need to seize the opportunity and fill in the gap.

American Short Fiction is a literary journal that publishes short fiction written by some of the finest authors of contemporary literature. It is printed quarterly by the independent non-profit Badgerdog Literary Publishing, Inc. and distributed nationally. Bat City Review is the literary magazine of UT Austin’s Creative Writing graduate students. The nationally-circulated magazine publishes the best in contemporary short fiction and poetry.

This feast of words and music will transpire in the heart of south Austin at Cafe Caffeine (909 W. Mary) on Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m.

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