Saturday 23 May 2009

Salt needs help


Some readers (and writers) will alread know that Salt, the publisher of a great many beautiful books of new poetry by a great many very fine new poets and fiction writers is in financial trouble. Here is the appeal by Chris Hamilton-Emery, asking people to buy books to keep Salt afloat. It seems necessary to me to do so. For my own part I have donated money and purchased five books and I commend the action - just one book would help - to any reader here. Without Salt, Carcanet and Bloodaxe there would be so little new innovative poetry and fiction published in this country that you might as well put all the writers into a single lifeboat and lose it.

Chris's message:

The Just One Book Campaign

From Chris Hamilton-Emery:

“As many of you will know, Jen and I have been struggling to keep Salt moving since June last year when the economic downturn began to affect our press. Our three year funding ends this year: we’ve £4,000 due from Arts Council England in a final payment, but cannot apply through Grants for the Arts for further funding for Salt’s operations. Spring sales were down nearly 80% on the previous year, and despite April’s much improved trading, the past twelve months has left us with a budget deficit of over £55,000. It’s proving to be a very big hole and we’re having to take some drastic measures to save our business. Here’s how you can help us to save Salt and all our work with hundreds of authors around the world.

JUST ONE BOOK

1. Please buy just one book, right now. We don’t mind from where, you can buy it from us or from Amazon, your local shop or megastore, online or offline. If you buy just one book now, you’ll help to save Salt. Timing is absolutely everything here. We need cash now to stay afloat. If you love literature, help keep it alive. All it takes is just one book sale. Go to our online store and help us keep going.

2. Share this note on your profile. Tell your friends. If we can spread the word about our cash crisis, we can hopefully find more sales and save our literary publishing. Remember it’s just one book, that’s all it takes to save us. Please do it now.

With my best wishes to everyone

Chris

Director Salt Publishing”

Other routes to appeal here and here and here, and many more...



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