A First Time, Part Time, Small Press Professional

Through an incredibly happy accident, you are now looking at Chicago Center for Literature and Photography's new Marketing Director!

This announcement has me grinning from ear to ear for a few reasons.

For those of you who have been friends of TNBBC since the blog first began, you know how passionate I am about small press literature and how desperately I've wanted to be a part of the independent publishing process. My focus as a blogger and book lover has always been one of connecting readers with authors, and giving those authors and their publishers a platform for their books.

You may also know that one of the first books I ever reviewed here was a CCLaP book - Ben Tanzer's Repetition Patterns. That book caused me to fall hard and fast for CCLaP Publishing (and Ben, let's be honest!). Jason Pettus and his unique book designs, edgy fiction, and pay-you-what-want electronic books kept drawing me back in, year after year... Their books and events have appeared numerous times here on the blog, and now, I am thrilled to play an official role in what they do!

So you're probably wondering how this new position with CCLaP will affect TNBBC, right? 

Well, since I am now working for them, I will no longer review their books. Even though I've positively reviewed them in the past, and have been border-line mushy-gushy about everything they do, it would now be seen as a conflict of interest. I still plan on promoting their titles and blog events, but everything I say and do about them from here on out is absolutely tainted by my professional affiliation with them. So now, every time you see me post about a new CCLaP title or shindig, you will be tortured by the uncertainty of whether I am truly over the moon about it or just doing my obligatory duties. Mwahahahaa!

I am going to love toying with your emotions! 

Sadly, the total number of reviews on the site will start slowing down as well. With most of my free time redirected towards my new job responsibilities, I won't be pleasure-reading as much as I used to. Acceptance of review copies won't come to a screeching halt but I will now be even more picky as far as the titles I choose to review. No worries, though. Those books that I can't devote time to for review will have even more opportunity to appear in one of my never-ending, always-amazing blog series and features!
(Don't roll those eyes, mister!)

Other than that, TNBBC as you know it will remain the same. I love you guys too much to ever let you go. I hope you know that. And I promise to keep bringing the awesome every which way I can.

So what exactly will I be doing as Marketing Director for CCLaP?

Well, Jason is ensuring I am mondo-busy right from the start. As I type this, I am creating a database of independent bookshops across the country - in the hopes that we can get CCLaP's books placed into their hands on consignment. This database is being built from the ground up, since up 'til now, Jason's only ever sold his books on CCLaP's website and at live reading events.

I'll also be searching the web high and low for literary awards to submit our titles to throughout the year, and looking for the support of awesome bloggers like you, and top notch lit magazines, to help spread the word about our books.

I could REALLY use your help here, TNBBCer's! You're a fantabulously bookish bunch and I would love you and hug you and kiss you forever if you could share your favorite indie book stores with me here by leaving a comment - DOUBLE BONUS POINTS if you link me to their website - QUADRUPLE BONUS POINTS if you know that they accept books on consignment.


Oh, and I hope you won't mind much if I post from time to time about my adventures as a first time, part time, small press professional..... and begging for your help from time to time?

*Update: my official welcome at CCLaP!