Kore Press

Nandi · Jan 12, 2009

From their web site:

Kore Press was founded in 1993 by the creative efforts
of book designer Lisa Bowden and poet Karen
Falkenstrom. Building on the energy of the Women in
Print movement of the 60s and 70s, Kore's vision has
been to publish and distribute excellent works of
literary and artistic value by a diversity of
women, those traditionally underrepresented in the
cultural mainstream; to promote those voices; and to
educate young people about bookmaking, printing, the
literary arts as social activism, and publishing.
Inspired by the words of Alison Deming on how to
survive as a woman artist, Kore opened house and
printed Ms. Deming's terse advice as their first
publication, called Girls in the Jungle. Since then,
this feminist-literary-arts-press has brought over 40
creative works by established and new voices into
print.

http://www.korepress.org/index.htm

They say that January is their "open submissions" period. They charge a reading fee (I know, I know!)

Vanity Press? Something else? For a publisher that's been in business for 15 years, they don't seem to offer many titles.

veinglory · Jan 12, 2009

I know you know--but I can't help but comment on the tension between a press trying to support diversity and accepting submissions only from people willing and able to pay a $30 reading fee. (Unless income level is not considered relevant to that issue).

I notice a best Amazon rank of #137,432 and Borders says this book cannot be found in store at any location.

Nandi · Jan 12, 2009

Not available at B&N, either, Veinglory. And your point about the $$$ and diversity is well taken.

On Amazon, it says there's a wait for the book which suggests POD, yes?

M.R.J. Le Blanc · Jan 12, 2009

Either vanity or inexperienced - I'm leaning more towards the latter. Either way, not worthwhile.

Unimportant · Jan 12, 2009

I think they're one of those tiny literary non-profit presses that publish niche feminist poetry and literary works. I've never heard any hint of scam or cluelessness about them. Gival Press also charges a reading fee for its short story contest, and Gival is eminently respectable.

veinglory · Jan 12, 2009

This is not for their contest, which I would understand. It is a straight out reading fee for non-contest submissions.

victoriastrauss · Jan 12, 2009

Yeah. A lot of contests involve a small reading fee, including those conducted by publishers, but a publisher shouldn't charge a reading fee for ordinary submissions. Given the number of niche publishers that don't charge any sort of reading fee, I don't see any reason to submit to one that does, even if, as in this case, it's pretty clearly not any kind of scam.

If that makes any sense. I'm wacked on drugs at the moment (bad back sprain).

- Victoria

M.R.J. Le Blanc · Jan 12, 2009

Made sense to me Victoria. Hope you feel better soon

CaoPaux · Jan 26, 2009

Site is currently showing "expired domain" placeholder, but the blog's still up: http://www.korepress.blogspot.com/

Nandi · Jan 26, 2009

CaoPaux said:
Site is currently showing "expired domain" placeholder, but the blog's still up: http://www.korepress.blogspot.com/

Uh-oh. Not a good sign. I hope this doesn't mean they are defunct. I'd decided not to submit to them, but I applaud their hard work and their vision. They seem to be admired and respected in the Phoenix area. It would be a shame if they have fallen victim to the current economy.

CaoPaux · Feb 2, 2009

And they're back!

Interesting bit on their news page:

Yale Beinecke Archive Sale

We are pleased to announce that Yale University has purchased Kore Press's archives to include in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Kore Press

Nandi

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Nandi

M.R.J. Le Blanc

aka Sadistic Mistress Mi-chan

Unimportant

No COVID yet. Still masking.

veinglory

volitare nequeo

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess

M.R.J. Le Blanc

aka Sadistic Mistress Mi-chan

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless

Nandi

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless