Someone’s Read it Already

Vera Nazarian is the head of Norilana Books, a small press born just over two years ago in California. In a strange way, reviewing a book written by Vera Nazarian when she’s the head of the publisher would also be an example of self-publishing, but considering that she’s published several other novels with various other publishers, I don’t think this was her main impetus. She’s quite amazing, in that in addition to being the head of the publisher, she also does nearly everything else, including book design, cover design, and web geekery. Norilana specializes in reprints of classics (such as very lovely editions of two of Georges Sands’s novels) as well as original titles; they have more than ten different imprints, and more might be coming. I included Norilana in the first installment of Small Press Week, but I happened to have a second novel (novella, actually) of theirs to read, so I included this one. The Duke in his Castle was published on June 1st of this year.

Rossian, the Duke of Violet, like all the other dukes in his country (all named after colors), is imprisoned in his castle. They have been thus for several generations now; other people are free to come and go, but the dukes, duchesses, and their heirs cannot leave. It is not very healthy for them; Rossian feels that he is dying a slow death. When an emissary from the Duchess of White comes, bearing a box of bones that she swears belong to Nairis the Fabled One, he treats her as a combination of distraction and annoyance. It’s been said that if one of the dukes, duchesses, or heirs can discover the secret of each of the other houses (a secret arcane power), then the spell of imprisonment will be broken. Is that what the White Duchess’s emissary wants? (more…)

A couple months ago, we had the first installment of Small Press Week. I’ve managed to collect another five publishers, so we’re having our second installment of Small Press Week (Small Press Week — the Sequel!) already. I’m very happy to be doing this; there is a wealth of small publishers out there, for every kind of book you can imagine.

As I said last time, there are many reasons to publish with a small press; there are also many reasons to start a small publishing company. In some cases, the publishers decided that they could do better in some way, shape, or fashion. In other cases, the publishers saw a hole in the market and wanted to fill it. In all cases, though, the publishers (at least the ones I’ve selected) are dedicated to providing the best product possible for their readers.

Some of the publishers I’ve selected specialize in classics; some specialize in women’s fiction; some specialize in short-story collections. Some are British (actually, 3 of them are); some are American. (I haven’t tempted an Australian, New Zealander, or Canadian publisher yet, and I can only read in English. Unfortunately.) Some have been around for quite a few years; one is barely two. Some we’ve seen before in Small Press Week — the Original; most of them are brand-new to me as well as to Small Press Week.

As always, if you are a small publisher and you’d like to be included in Small Press Week III, please send me an email (see the ‘Contact’ button above).