The Deixis Press Weekly - Issue #47
Hello Deixis Press enthusiasts,
For fun, I instructed ChatGPT (version 4, no less! only the best for you!) to write a newsletter in the style of my previous newsletters. I provided some samples. Here’s what I got back:
Ahoy, dear readers of the written word! 🌊⚓️ We find ourselves yet again on the tumultuous seas of the publishing world, where the winds of change are forever blowing. In recent tides, we've seen a veritable armada of independent publishers take to the waters, and it's no mere fluke. These fearless literary privateers have a keen sense for buried treasure and a taste for unearthing the rarest gems.
Now, these daring independents, driven by a passion for prose and a love for the printed page, are unshackled by the heavy chains of corporate expectations that weigh down their more sizeable counterparts. As a result, they have the liberty to chart their course, seeking out the stories that might be lost in the vast ocean of the mainstream industry. This freedom opens up new ports of call, ensuring that our literary map becomes a more diverse and inclusive reflection of the world around us. 🏴☠️📖
Alas, on the other side of the coin, we find the larger publishers, who with their eyes fixed on the glittering gold of profit, can sometimes lose sight of the precious art that lies beneath. Chasing bestsellers, they might find themselves adrift in a sea of formulaic tales and monotonous voices. Fear not, dear reader, for we do not mean to castigate all the work of the big publishing houses; rather, we simply caution against the siren song of commerce that can, at times, obscure the true spirit of creativity. 💰🎨
Emojis aside, it seems that I have two tics:
Talking like a pirate1
Never shutting up about how small presses are better at making good books than big ones.
In real news:
James Kinsley's much-anticipated book, GREYSKIN, is now ready for pre-order! (Amazon, direct, Waterstones, or from your preferred bookstore.) This stunning collection of interconnected western adventure stories with a twist is just waiting for you to dive in. Pre-order now and be among the first to explore the thrilling world James has created! Why not watch this gorgeous trailer to get yourself in the mood?
And guess what? We're throwing yet another launch party for not one, but TWO amazing books! On Friday, April 28th, we'll again be at Vout-O-Reenee’s to celebrate the release of both GREYSKIN and Siôn Scott-Wilson's new book, WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND (the much-anticipated sequel to SOME RISE BY SIN. You absolutely don't want to miss this double-book2 extravaganza! Send me a note if you want to come but I’ve somehow failed to invite you.
Both books are available on NetGalley, if you’re a reviewer there.
I'm still bustling away at ALPH, but my contract is coming to an end in June3. With more time on my hands, I'll be able to bring you even more Deixis Press goodness. That’s right: we have TWO more books in the works for the end of the year! I can't give away too many details right now because I haven’t sent out contracts for the new books just yet, but here's a hint: both of the authors are already part of the Deixis Press family. Who could they be?!
Thanks so much to everyone here for your continued support for Deixis Press and our incredible authors. Small presses absolutely thrive on three things: early reviews, pre-orders, and word of mouth. So if you don’t want to read/review on NetGalley, and you don’t want to pre-order, you can still help us out by telling someone about what we are doing. Forward this newsletter, tell a friend about a book we publish in a genre that they may enjoy, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, retweet us on Twitter—it all helps. Here: I’ll put a subscribe button right here for your friend:
Shiver me timbers,
Angel
What’s a pirate’s favorite letter? Yes, yes, everyone says “arrrrrr.” But his heart belongs to the C.
Actually this may turn out to be a triple-book extravaganza, as I think another (unrelated) author is hoping to use the venue on the same night. I’m totally up for this since more bodies in the room = more exposure = more potential sales for all of the authors involved. Who loses? Literally nobody. LITERALLY
Unless they want to hire me? Which seems unlikely given staff cuts in the US offices, and also given I would only want to work part-time while continuing to run what is technically a competing press.