Look Who Else is Coming to Indie Lit

Indie Lit kicks off tomorrow with a Poetry Slam at Dante’s Bar (16 W Main St). The event begins at 6pm and is only $2. Come out and support Frostburg’s Center for Creative Writing as well as enjoy some good poetry. 

On another note, as you guys know, I’ve been keeping up with some of the presses that will be participating in this year’s festival. Today I’m featuring PM Press. PM Press is definitely not a stranger to Indie Lit. However, they are new to the area of Frostburg. Press cofounder Craig O’ Hara states, “PM Press now has an office and warehouse in Frostburg, MD (in addition to Boston, MA, Portland, OR, Oakland, CA and London, UK) within walking distance of the festival, so how could we not participate! We moved North from WV this past year and are looking forward to getting involved with the local literary community.” 

PM Press is known for releasing works that would be considered radical to some. O’Hara speaks out on this matter:

                “Our titles have been highly controversial across the literate political spectrum, which is exciting when used as part of informed debate, but we certainly haven't received a significant amount of animosity or criticism from readers for our work. Instead of backlash, the worst response for independent or radical presses (and I would include University presses along with other independently-produced or radical art, music, film, and culture) is simply being ignored by mainstream sensation-driven news outlets and retailers.”

Although the press experiences criticism, they are still dedicated to getting their message across. “The simple inspiration (apart from a love of printed books) is to be part of a movement for a more just, humane, fun, and sustainable culture and society in which to live,” says O’Hara. 

For more information on PM Press come to the Indie Lit Festival on Saturday!! OR visit http://www.pmpress.org

Look Who's Coming to Indie Lit

The kickoff to Indie Lit is only 3 days away! Just in case you forgot what’s going on, here you go: 

Thursday Oct. 9

·         Poetry Slam at Dante’s 6-8pm (16 W. Main St.) 

 

Friday Oct 10

·         Book reading at Main Street Books 5:30pm (2 E Main St.)

·         Reception at Center for Creative Writing (22 E Main St.)

·         Panel discussion on author/publisher relationship at Frostburg Public Library (65 E Main St.)

Saturday Oct 11

THE BIG DAY!

Downtown Main St, Frostburg

·         Panel discussions

·         Roundtable discussion

·         Book Fair at Lyric Building (20E Main St.)

·         Cash Bar Cocktail Hour at Lyric Building 5-6pm (wine, beer, and tapas) 

Sunday Oct 12

·         Rock Out, Write Now fundraiser at Dante’s 2-6pm 

Indie Lit is HUGE on presses and, this year, we have many to share. I had the privilege of speaking with one of the many participants, Black Hat/Black Tree Press. Black Hat/Black Tree is new to this whole experience and, as expected in any new situation, they are little concerned about what’s in store. Editor Brittany Tabler admits, “We are very excited to participate in Indie Lit, but we are feeling a little overwhelmed.  It's a bit hard to prepare as a press, even though both of us have attended the festival before.”  

                Even though Black Hat has their understandable concerns, they are still determined to come to the festival prepared. “We are still getting off the ground,” says Tabler. “So most of what we have to present will be information about the press: copies of our blog, newsletter, and other content from our website will be available.  Also, candy!” 

                No matter what, Black Hat/Black Tree is going to take full advantage of Indie Lit, branch out, meet new people and grow as a press. Tabler concludes, “The reason we started the press was to provide a means of self-expression without limitation.  We were shocked to learn that a mutual friend of ours was shunned from a nearby literary event due to her content, so we decided that our press and reading series would be different. As it says in our mission statement: We create opportunities for writers to share their work both through the spoken word and, soon, the written page. We are particularly fond of avant-garde, edgy work that challenges the reader’s/listener’s world view, forcing a questioning process. We are also dedicated to further promoting the work of LBGTQI feminist, people of color and alternate spirituality writers.  Our press will continue with the Reading Series (an event that features two local writers, an open mic, and a writing prompt reading session) and continue with our plans to publish our first review next fall.  In the future, we hope to host more literature themed-events and publish two chapbooks a year.”

For more information on Black Hat/ Black Tree, visit www.blackhat-blacktree.org