Thank you to everyone who came out for our Publishing 101 Workshop this weekend! It was great being in community with you all to discuss the ins and outs of publishing! I can’t wait to see and hear about what you make!
Remember:
📚 You get to be the authority on your creative work.
📚 Layer meaning into every aspect of what you craft.
📚 Make sure your creative team is stacked with people whose judgment, taste, and values align with your own.
📚 Work with people you trust.
📚 You can make a meaningful book at any budget.
📚 Make a book for your particular audiences and marketplaces, not just those in traditional publishing spaces.
📚 Have fun!
✌🏼 Other than that, see you around town and don’t forget to come show us what you make!
I’ll be at @lapalomamarketplace this Saturday from 9am-2pm. Come see me and grab your next great read!
The power is out! We’re one of many businesses affected by the power outage on UWT campus and the wider city block. Apparently someone crashed their car into a transformer. One week later, we’re still operating (or not) with no power.
Luckily, I’ve been able to pivot and do much of my work from home, though shipping and order fulfillment are definitely delayed because of this. If you’re waiting on a shipment, I’m trying to get them all out this weekend. Wish me luck!
There are a lot of businesses, storefronts, more specifically, tremendously impacted by the power outage, including @shopmccoykids @stocklistgoods @channingbabyco and @tinkertopia . If you’re able to, support these businesses to keep them resourced and moving through this mess! If you want to come see them IRL, there’s a sidewalk sale happening in front of their stores on Pac Ave from 3-6pm today! Go show them some love!
The stress from running a small business is never ending , so make sure you give these folks a hug and some encouragement while you’re shopping!
To support BCP through this situation, please come buy books from us at the @lapalomamarketplace this Saturday from 9am to 2pm. I’ll be there chatting, trying to stay cool, and selling books from small presses and independent artists from the greater Tacoma region.
✌🏼👨🌾🖤📚🏜️🏳️🌈
Looky looky! Blue Csctus Press’ brand new magical realism eco-lit short story collection, If the Storm Clears , is available at our alma mater bookstore, @kingsbooks !
We just restocked If the Storm Clears, so head to King’s Books to get a copy today and see what else piques your interest.
Most folks know I (Chris) got my bookselling feet under me at King’s. The owner, sweet pea Flaherty, taught me everything I know about bookselling and customer service. And, sweet pea took me to my first industry trade shows, where I realized I could take BCP to another level and try publishing full-time. I worked at King’s Books for about three years and I loved it. It’s a safe haven for queer folks, especially, and tbh, folks from all walks of life looking to push beyond their comfort zone in books and self-education. Needless to say, I love this store and the folks who make it run. Support King’s Books, my friends! You can find BCP’s full catalog on it’s shelves.
Update! I got the money back! For those of you who have been following these financial shenanigans, know that the bank replaced our stolen funds last week and most of the financial strain I and the press were under has been alleviated.
Running a small business, especially the economics of doing so, can be out of this world stressful (as you witnessed or probably feel yourself). But/and it is worth it. On the other side of the stress is a satisfaction and delight in being able to live a creative and meaningful life, at home and in my work, that I am thankful to have.
I am thankful to you all for holding me up through this mess, and for your support in nurturing local creative economy, grassroots publishing, and the writing profession.
Now, go grab your notebook and write something devastating. Grab a book and get carried away in the story. — CV
I choose to move forward with abundance.
& I am incredibly thankful for the outpouring of love, kindness, check-ins, and general support I received from everyone last week after our bank info was stolen and the BCP checking account was emptied by thieves. Without you all, I would have reverted to old habits, self-sabotage, and def fallen into depression. I would not have been able to recalculate my finances or make a plan to move forward financially. I would not have gotten out of bed.
So, thank you, all of you, for picking me up and helping me dust myself off and get back to it. This is community. And this is the support I needed and wanted. I love you and appreciate you for it.
With abundance in mind, from now on, all BCP workshops and events are free. ✌🏼
Did you notice our growing collection of small press titles from regional, independent presses when you last visited the BCP studio? We hope so! We've been growing our collection over the last few years, to expose our readers to the beauty and breadth of literary works crafted by small, independent presses like us. Too often, small press titles are buried among the large catalogues and seasonal releases of the big five publishers. But don't worry, small press titles are front and center on our bookshelves.
Next time you're in for a meeting, event, or personal shopping experience, spend time exploring some of these gems from indie presses including Winter Texts, Forest Avenue Press, The 3rd Thing, Entre Ríos Books, Frontera Revista Bilingüe // Bilingual Magazine, Papeachu Press, Chin Music Press, Microcosm Publishing, and more.
Today is the last full day to support our #kickstartercampaign for Reveal the Elephant board game, and we need you — each and every one of our community members — to spread the word about this campaign and if you have the means, support the campaign by pre-ordering your copy using the link in our bio.
We're in this together. Let's make it happen!
Publishing that moves us from words to action, by writers from historically marginalized groups.
