An Audacious Little Poetry Press

Manifold Press aims to turn shoe strings into purse strings for poets and press alike. Counter to the established literary culture, editor Carol Frome wants to market poetry. She says, "there's little doubt: making money from poetry taints the art...though I've never heard of anyone scolding literary fiction writers simply because they make money."

An Audacious Little Poetry Press

She thought of calling it Shoestring Press, or even The Little Press That Could, but then settled on Manifold Press, hoping to weave shoe-strings into purse strings--and artistic success--for poets and press alike, eventually. "I want the press to at least break even--and if that results in the poets making a little money, good."

Yet, "there's little doubt, making money on poetry taints the art," Manifold's editor, Carol Frome, says. "It smacks of compromise, dumbing down, and commercialization, though I've never heard of anyone scolding literary fiction writers simply because they make money."

Frome thinks poetry should be marketed. "If someone writes a terrific book of poems about food, then in addition to marketing the book through readings and bookstores, why not sell it from gourmet food stores and food fairs? I sincerely hope to come across a good literary collection of NASCAR poems. I'll do my best to have it read and sold at NASCAR specialty shops.

I think the poetry world worries about commercial success compromising the art, an attitude that gets in the way of promoting poetry to a wider audience. That not only stifles poetry, but keeps it out of the homes and hearts of folks outside the literary establishment. I've read that a new poetry release in Russia sells 100,000 copies."

"Just think: If the music world were like the poetry world, the rest of us would be musically impoverished. So it's not just the money--it's the life of the art. We live in a monetary culture. If you're not paid well, your work is valued accordingly. My work is poetry, and I want it to be valued."

Manifold Press is the result of Frome's years of studying the poetry publishing scene. She is herself a poet, a "Discovery/The Nation" award winner, and her work has appeared in prestigious literary magazines such as Nimrod, Northwest Review, and others. She also has a Master of Arts in literature and creative writing from Purdue University where she studied under Li-Young Lee, Marianne Boruch, and Neil Myers. She says she's tired of griping about the lousy state of publishing poetry. "I'd rather do something about it--at least try to," she says. "If one publisher tries something different, maybe someone else will, and eventually, maybe prospects for all poets will improve."

Manifold Press aims to publish known and unknown poets, Frome says. She is using her own money and reading fees to cover the cost of operating. "This is a risk for me, both financially and artistically, and I know I'll have a hungry year or two, but I've been hungry before and survived. It's a risk I'm willing to take because I know the poetry Manifold Press publishes will endure; as well, I want to see it thrive in the way that fiction and music do. That is Manifold Press' mission." Frome invites you to visit them at www.manifoldpress.com.

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