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December 19, 2008

Distinctively Different and New

We were pleased tonight to come across an article In ForeWord Magazine, a publication devoted to reviewing independently published books.

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If you are so inclined, click on this link to read "Literary Treasures from the Small Press Book Fair" and scroll down to hear what Editor at Large Eugene Schwartz had to say about Idiots'Books.

The fair in question was the 21st Annual Independent and Small Press Expo, which happened a few weekends ago in NYC.

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Robbi and I decided to make an appearance and see if we could meet some new people. As is always the case at fairs like these, we were allotted a six-foot table in a row of other six-foot tables. The lay of the land looks something like this.

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The Idiots'Books table looked something like this.

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The weekend consists of standing behind our table while people wander by. Some stop to read our books. Some even buy them. Others walk on by. Occasionally we meet people who are truly interested in what we're up to and have long, encouraging conversations. We met a number of wonderful folks at the fair, including one kindred spirit from Connecticut who invited us to come spend a week in artists' retreat at her guest home in the woods.

Although it is engaging and enjoyable to talk to people about our books, it is somewhat taxing to do so while entertaining a baby who has recently discovered how to yell and kick, and so Robbi and I took turns exercising her in an unoccupied corner. Eventually the baby grew weary, but we lacked an adequate place to put her down for a nap.

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And so we improvised.

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Yes, Alden snoozed in her plush blue lion suit for the better part of two hours as the bustle of the book fair continued above and around her.

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The underside of a table doesn't really qualify as a container, I suppose, but it served as a more than adequate crib.

If you aren't the sort that tends to go to book fairs, I recommend giving one a try. The world is full of books beyond those that may be economically shelved at the local Barnes and Noble and equally teeming with people whose devotion to books and publishing borders on the eccentric. I proudly count Robbi and myself among them.

Posted by bogenamp at December 19, 2008 10:35 PM