An Ear to the Ground: Presenting Writers from 2 Coasts

We're all familiar with cooperative art galleries. The artists pay their dues and assume the gallery's administrative roles; in return, they are rewarded with a space to show their work. Enter the co-op book, An Ear to the Ground, for which "grassroots publisher" Scott C. Davis assembled a cast of more than 200 volunteer writers and artists (and publicists and the like). The book comprises 75 essays by as many writers; each is accompanied by a portrait and profile of the author, and a bit in which the author divulges such secrets as favorite books, belief systems, and cravings. The writers weren't paid for their work; nor did they pay for its publication, as they would with a vanity press. The writing is uneven, though there are some interesting essays, including a piece by Doris Colmes on escaping the Third Reich, a "food diary" by M. Cassandra Cossitt, and a coming-of-age tale by Israeli Arab Hanna Eady. Most interesting is Davis's afterword, in which he rallies for reforms in the publishing business. He'd like to see more books published on recycled paper; he pushes for an end to the current returns policy (which is causing great strain to publishers large and small); and he issues a reminder to writers that all the money spent sending manuscripts out could be used to start or support a small press (where you could just publish your work yourself).

Booko found 2 book editions

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May, 1997

Feb, 1997

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