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It's that time of year, the scuttle-to-the-mall time, when shoppers wait in line for hours at the local Whatever Mart to get a shot at procuring a Nintendo Wii. Wouldn't it be great to see shoppers waiting in line at the independent bookstore on the corner, eagerly anticipating the arrival of a poet's first collection? Imagine readers tackling each other, pushing their way through stacks of books, reading glasses clutched in their teeth, clawing toward the latest issue of Gertrude. Imagine millions of copies sold in just hours!
I wake up with a really big…smile. Then I remember we don't live in that kind of world. But it never hurts to dream, and that's what truly makes me proud of what the Board of Directors and the supporters of Gertrude Press have been able to accomplish. There's an admirable sense of dedication to publishing the work of talented and creative individuals, and to being a strong presence in promoting voices absent from the mainstream. In November, we attended Wordstock, a popular annual literary festival in Portland, Oregon. It was a wonderful experience, having the opportunity to share Gertrude Press with others and to meet-often for the first time-authors and artists we've published. We are grateful for their visions and words, because it is this talent that makes the pages of Gertrude and our chapbooks shine. And we are equally excited to hear what our support has meant to them, and while it isn't monetary, it serves as a recognition and validation of their work. I suspect this is why you support the work that we do. The press has adopted a "pay-as-you-go" policy (we owe no money to foreign governments), so our publication schedule can be a little erratic, yet going into our eleventh year our prospects continue to be bright. The intensity of this light, though, depends on our readers and writers. Your support continues to be the critical component of our success and the success of those we publish. I hope that you will take a moment to purchase an extra copy of Gertrude for a friend, order a chapbook, subscribe, or send a donation. I hope you enjoy our twelfth issue and the talents showcased within. Thank you for your support of Gertrude Press. Eric K Delehoy |
