Trembling Pillow Press is a New Orleans based publishing outfit founded by poet Dave Brinks in 1997. Its mission is to publish contemporary authors whose works are vitally important to the crescent city community. In 2001, Trembling Pillow Press welcomed poet Megan Burns on board as co-publisher. Throughout the past decade Trembling Pillow Press has published dozens of broadsides and post cards featuring New Orleans based poets and artists. Trembling Pillow Press has also published three issues of YAWP: A Journal of Poetry and Art, three issues of Solid Quarter Poetry Magazine, poetry chapbooks and seven full length collections of poetry; all available for purchase online and at our partner bookstores. In 2011, Trembling Pillow Press introduced the publication, Entrpôt, a monthly collection of articles and essays focusing on poetics, history and specifically New Orleans’ place in the world of letters and creative endeavors. 2011 will mark the 14th year of Trembling Pillow Press’ publishing efforts in New Orleans.

Coming soon...

MASTHEAD:
Dave Brinks, Publisher
Megan Burns, Editor and Layout Design
Geoff Munsterman, Copy Editor and Text Design
Bill Lavender, Technical and Design Support
Anna Myles, Intern

CONTACT:
For Press Inquiries, Contact Megan Burns: editor@tremblingpillowpress.com

MAILING ADDRESS:
907 Saint Peter St.
New Orleans, LA 70116

REVIEW COPIES:
For review copies, please email Megan Burns with your affiliation or a list of prior review publications as well as the title you would like to review.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:
$125.00 Annual Subscription will include all perfect bound books for the year
           4-5 titles
           Copies of the monthly newspaper Entrepôt
           Issues of YAWP and Solid Quarter that are produced in that calendar year

2011 Subscription will include Ethics of Sleep by Bernadette Mayer, DOWNTOWN by Lee Meitzen Grue, SONG OF PRAISE Homage to John Coltrane by John Sinclair Book and CD Combo, and Untitled Writings from a Member of the Blank Generation by Phil Good as well as the initial copies of the monthly newspaper Entrepôt beginning in September.

DISTRIBUTION:
Trembling Pillow Press Books are distributed by Amazon and SPD BOOKS.
CDs are distributed by CDbaby and iTunes.

Bookstores that carry Trembling Pillow Press books:
           Crescent City Books
           McKeown’s Books
           Woodland Pattern Book Center

How are books selected for publication?
Generally, most of the books published by Trembling Pillow Press have been solicited manuscripts and we will continue to solicit manuscripts. We are always open to finding great new work, so we have decided to always have an open reading period with no fee. In order to help defray costs for publishing, we also have decided to hold a fee-based contest. Part of the fee will go towards our guest judge and the remainder will go towards publishing expenses. Hopefully, our readers will see this as not only an opportunity to support the press, but to also have their work read by a poet whose work we think is exemplary. The press editors, Megan Burns and Dave Brinks, read submissions during our open period and you will receive a response in the designated length of time from one of our editors. Judges for our Book Prize read all entries.
We are committed to devoting a portion of our energies and attention to New Orleans writers and New Orleans texts every year as we continue to foster and nurture our local community in coordination with the 17 Poets! Literary and Performance Series, the New Orleans School for the Imagination and the Poetry Never Sleeps Foundation.

Are their other options for getting published with Trembling Pillow Press?
Yes. If your manuscript isn’t accepted, consider submitting to our journals during their open submission periods. It’s a great way for us to see more of your work.

How many books does Trembling Pillow Press publish each year?
Right now, we are committed to publishing 4-5 perfect bound books a year. We also have recently added a literary monthly to our list of projects. We also publish two Journals, YAWP and Solid Quarter. We occasionally make chapbooks and broadsides as well.

Are authors asked to contribute financially to the publication of their books?
No

How are contributors to journals or to Entrepôt compensated?
We don’t compensate financially for contributions to our journals or monthly, but we do offer contributor copies.

Do authors collaborate on their books?
We usually accept manuscripts that are considered finished. From there, we do the entire layout and design for the book, and we design the covers. The author approves all of this, and so we collaborate as far as making sure the product meets the author’s vision of their work. Each book has its own needs, so this is always a new experience for every project.

How are authors compensated for books?
We don’t pay any money in advance, but we do provide a number of copies to the author upon publication. We also place the books online, with SPD and in bookstores to ensure sales. We work with each of our authors to supply books for events and to bookstores as needed. We are happy to help set up readings in the New Orleans area, and we encourage our authors to promote their work with readings and signings. We do not provide any marketing products, but we do maintain a website where each author receives their own web page updated with their news and events.
From sales, we pay 10% royalties. As we use POD, the book will never go out of print. All ISBNs are owned by Trembling Pillow Press and are entered into Books In Print.

How does Trembling Pillow Press support itself financially?
We are a small operation and work largely uncompensated. Book sales from events, orders, and online usually go towards backing the next project; we try to pace our publications in such a way that we don’t overextend ourselves. We started in 1999 and have slowly built up a base of supporters who have made it possible for us to expand into making books on a regular basis. The authors that we have worked with so far have all been proactive in selling their books and it’s really their amazing work and their energy that have kept us rolling. We’ve had the benefit of really great editors and publishers who have given us advice and pointed us in the right direction as well, and that has made all the difference.

If I didn’t answer something, feel free to drop me a line:
Megan Burns
editor@tremblingpillowpress.com