Small Press Fortnight: The Feminist Press
I have to start by saying that until now I didn’t even know what a fortnight was. While it’s one of those words used in classic British literature, I’ve never actually looked it up. It turns out that, according to Google, a fortnight is two weeks, or 14 days. I find this a random unit of measure, but interesting as well.
Small Press Fortnight is a project being hosted by Jodie of BookGazing after her internship with Peirene Press. She wanted to take some time to highlight some of the fantastic smaller and independent presses that exist, and the wonderful books that they publish. To this end she has invited a group of us to talk about some of our favourites. I’m honoured to have been asked, and I knew that I had to take the opportunity to talk about my favourite press – The Feminist Press in New York, at the City University of New York.
The Feminist Press is an independent nonprofit literary publisher that promotes freedom of expression and social justice. We publish exciting authors who share an activist spirit and a belief in choice and equality. Founded in 1970, we began by rescuing “lost” works by writers such as Zora Neale Hurston and Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and established our publishing program with books by American writers of diverse racial and class backgrounds. Since then we have also been bringing works from around the world to North American readers. We seek out innovative, often surprising books that tell a different story.
The books published by The Feminist Press have always been really interesting. Their catalogue includes fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels. The books discuss women’s health, safety, cultural resistance, sociology, size acceptance, GLBTQ issues, and more. Some of the titles that I’ve been absolutely blown away by include:
- Two Whole Cakes: How to Stop Dieting and Learn to Love Your Body by Lesley Kinzel
- Rape New York by Jana Leo
- Complaints & Disorders: The Sexual Politics of Sickness by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English
- Hey Shorty! A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Schools and on the Streets by Joanne N Smith, Mandy van Deven and Meghan Huppuch of Girls for Gender Equity
- Revenge by Taslima Nasrin
- His Own Where by June Jordan
- Who is Ana Mendieta? by Christine Redfern and Caro Caron
But the BEST thing about The Feminist Press? You can become a ‘Friend of FP‘ for a monthly or yearly amount and receive their books, hot off the press. Many of them come signed, and it is always the most exciting package landing in my mailbox! Unfortunately, double checking this, I see that the cost has been raised ($20 a month or $150 a year in the US, $250 a year in Canada, $300 a year elsewhere) making it less feasible for me in Canada (booooo) but it has been really exciting for the past two years anyway.
For more, check them out on twitter and facebook.
Note: You’d almost think I got some kind of cut from them, from the amount of enthusiasm I always show. This isn’t the case, I just apparently get really excited about smart Feminist books. And their books always are both smart and feminist!
I want to know – have you ever read a book published by The Feminist Press? Any in particular that you’re a huge fan of?
I keep finding all these things that don’t translate like I think they do across the Atlantic. Want to trade a Canadian specific word?
Thanks so much for taking part in the blog tour. Great to see The Feminist Press represented and a useful reminder to me to pick up one of their books.
I’m not sure what a specifically Canadian word might be Jodie – you might have to tell me after your trip here!
Thank you for organizing the tour
There are some smaller presses that are doing great. It great to highlight your favorite. Cheers!
Agreed Geosi.
Thanks so much for your support!!
Amy Scholder, Editorial Director, Feminist Press
Thank you for publishing such great books Amy!
Love the idea, wish I had the extra cash!
I know right Trish! I just don’t think I can swing it next year
I haven’t read any of the books by this press, but the description of what they publish does indeed intrigue, and I am loving the choices that you have sampled, so I might just have to see what I can pick up soon. Thanks for this great spotlight today, Amy!
Thank you zibilee – they really do publish a wide range of books – all of which are great!
Ooh, I love this post. It’s always great to see small feminist publishers get some love. I’ve had my eye on Feminist Press for a while now, and they seem totally awesome. I haven’t read any of their books yet, but I’ve been meaning to pick up Hey Shorty! for a long time.
Highly recommend them Emily O, Hey Shorty was one of my favorites!
It took me ages to learn what “fortnight” meant too! Glad to know I’m not alone
Anyway, I feel like I already love Feminist Press just from reading all the awesome reviews of their books you post. Now I only need to actually pick some up myself!
Heh OK, I’m really glad not to be alone on that either Ana!! I hope you can find some of the titles over there.
Peirene ,Istros books ,twisted spoon ,stork books to name a few any that specialize in translation ,all the best stu
Some great publishers, thanks Stu.
Very cool! I just finished Women Without Men, which is from Feminist Press. Ironically, in my review I just happened to mentioned Revenge by Taslima Nasrin.
Nice! That’s fun maphead, I must make sure I read that review… I’ve been offline for too long!
This is my kind of press! I don’t think I’ve read any of their books, but I’m going to change that.
I hope you love them as much as I do Athira
Thank you! I love your choice of favorites. They reflect our very wide range of books. And I can vouch that we’re not paying you off, just grateful for the support and publicity.
Gloria Jacobs, Executive Director, Feminist Press
Thank you for stopping by Gloria! And for publishing such great books