Interview with Mona Fertig
When did you start publishing?
1990
Why did you start publishing?
I enjoy publishing small beautiful editions of poetry and bookart.
Briefly describe the type of work you publish.
Beautiful limited editons of poetry by Canadian poets. Letterpressed covers, handbound, under 100 copies, original lino-cuts, tipped in photos of painting by Canadian painters, die-cuts, handmade and special papers, signed and numbered, unique book art designs and embossings are some of the features on our books and broadsides.
Do you accept unsolicited submissions?
No. We are a private literary press and only do a couple chapbooks and/ or broadsides a year.
How do you decide what to publish?
I choose work of published Canadian poets I admire or who have not been published in awhile.
Writers who have done their time, whose work fits the chapbook concept. My next two years are booked.
I also do some commisioned work, especially letterpressed broadsides.
How many chapbooks have you published? (both number of books & volume of
books)
13 chapbooks (total of 1325 chapbooks in editions ranging from 75-125 ), 3 broadsides , 2 commissioned chapbooks and one commissioned lino-cut.
Any advice for people thinking of starting a small press?
Get a business mastercard, study design, know your market, get a web site, have fun, be imaginative,
and don't expect to make much money.
Additional comments?
chapbooks used to mean cheap books but they really mean under 48 pages. Small is beautiful.
Thanks!
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(M)othertongue Press