Page 2: Publishing Smarts

Abstract

Page 2 American Book Review American Book Review Founded 1977 by Ronald Sukenick Published at the School of Arts and Sciences, University of Houston–Victoria American Book Review specializes in reviews of frequently neglected published works of fiction, poetry, literary and cultural criticism from small, regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde, and women’s presses. ABR as a literary journal aims to project the sense of engagement that writers themselves feel about what is being published. It is edited and produced by writers for writers and the general public. Comment on its reviews is encouraged, as are suggestions for future reviews. Send all editorial correspondence or review copies to: American Book Review, University of Houston–Victoria, School of Arts and Sciences, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, TX 77901-5731 Telephone: (361) 570-4101 Fax: (361) 580-5501 Email: americanbookreview@uhv.edu Send all subscription correspondence to: American Book Review, University of Houston–Victoria, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, TX 77901-5731 Telephone: (361) 570-4101 Email: americanbookreview@uhv.edu© 2009 by American Book Review ISSN 0149-9408. Covers and cover details used by permission. American Book Review appears bimonthly.Annual subscription rates are $24 for a one-year and $40 for a two-year individual subscription; $30 for a one-year institutional subscription; $35 for a one-year foreign, airmail subscription. American Book Review is published by its editors, and is made possible, in part, by generous support from the School ofArts and Sciences, University of Houston–Victoria and Friends of ABR. This project is also supported in part by awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art, and the Texas Commission on the Arts. ABR is also a member of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses. Trade distribution by Hudson–RPM, 150 Black River Road, Worcester, MA 01607; and Armadillo, 7310 LaCienaga Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302. Indexed in Humanities International Complete, Book Review Index, Current Contents/Arts & Humanities, and Arts & Humanities Citation Index. http://americanbookreview.org Publisher: Editor: Managing Editor: Assistant Editor: Layout: Subscription Manager: Cover Image: Focus Editor: Publisher Emeritus: Associate Editors: Contributing Editors: Assistants: Jeffrey R. Di Leo Jeffrey R. Di Leo Charles Alcorn David C. Felts David C. Felts Susie Albert© istockphoto.com/sironpe, “Cyborg Head” Zahi Zalloua Charles B. Harris Mark Amerika, R.M. Berry, C. S. Giscombe, Larry McCaffery, Doug Nufer, Lance Olsen, Kevin Prufer, John Tytell, Barry Wallenstein, Tom Williams, Eric Miles Williamson Rudolfo Anaya, Ron Arias, John Ashbery, Michael Bérubé, Rosellen Brown, Andrei Codrescu, William Demby, Rikki Ducornet, Raymond Federman, William Gass, Russell Hoover, Steve Katz, Clarence Major, Michael McClure, Joyce Carol Oates, Marjorie Perloff, Robert Peters, Corinne Robins, Charles Russell, Paul Schiavo, Barry Seiler, Charles Simic, Bruce Sterling, Regina Weinreich Nathan King Page 2 Stories are beginning to circulate about the negative impact that the economic crisis is having on the world of book publishing. And they’re coming from all corners of the publishing world. Just today, a friend who is an editor at a major university press told me that five of his colleagues were let go by the press. I’m sure that other university presses are feeling the financial crunch and downsizing as well. Even the big publishing houses are cutting back. Simon & Schuster just cut thirty-five jobs, and Thomas Nelson fired fifty-four employees—which amounted to 10% of their workforce. And the worst is probably yet to come. Publishing giant Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, with $1.3 billion in revenue and 3,550 employees, is rumored to have laid off hundreds of employees this past month (as of right now, solid numbers are not in general circulation). In addition, Houghton has put a ban on all new acquisitions. Before the acquisition ban was publicly announced, Becky Saletan, Houghton’s trade and reference publisher, was said to have teared up at an editorial meeting. Shortly after the announcement, she quit. The downsizing has sent a chill through the publishing world. I’m sure many in the book business are wondering if they’re next. Even the big-box booksellers are getting hit: the nation’s three largest bookstore chains—Barnes & Noble, Borders Group, and Books-A-Million—all...