So Many Birds publishing [SMBp] is an independent not-for-profit small press which was developed to produce quality chapbooks for writers, artists, and musicians. These elegant and cost-effective books were intended for use in introducing the authors' work to potential publishers while, at the same time, helping those who published with SMBp to achieve greater recognition with the general public on a local level and over the internet. SMBp was founded in Eugene, OR in 1999 by Stephen Jackson, and the first two books produced by SMBp were of his own work. The response to the quality of the design and layout found others seeking out SMBp to produce their own chapbooks.
In 2000, SMBp relocated to Seattle, WA and began scouting for writers whose work deserved a wider audience than the local cafe's open mic night. Between 2000 and 2003, SMBp, with Jackson as the sole proprietor, published eight chapbooks and one bound book for seven individual writers and one musician. In 2002, Future Present was created - a biannual chapbook-style publication featuring the work of five young writers living in the Seattle area - with original cover art by local artists. During this period, SMBp became a "family of writers" dedicated to publishing their work, promoting it [book release parties, readings], holding regular "gatherings" to discuss eachother's work, and participating in spontaneous private readings.
In 2003, Jackson joined forces with Brendan Kiley. Shortly thereafter, they teamed up with editors Clyde Tombaugh and Claude Souvenir to develop, design, and produce Harness Magazine. SMBp stopped producing books for individuals and, after three successful issues, ceased publication of Future Present. With the work of twenty-five talented people published under the So Many Birds name, SMBp redirected its energy solely into the new literary magazine. Harness, while publishing the work of those established on national and international levels, kept to SMBp's original goal of focusing on the local Seattle community. Jackson envisioned an opportunity to harness the energy of the Seattle writing community - where he felt most other publications were neglecting the burgeoning scene. Harness was billed as "an international publication seeking enough gas money to get beyond Seattle's city limits."
The first year of Harness included original fiction, poetry, plays, essays, and oddities from the likes of Rebecca Brown, Robert Gluck, Gregory Hischak, Yves Jaques, Stacey Levine, Camille Roy, Matthew Stadler, Joshua Marie Wilkinson, Deborah Woodard, and Wayne Rawley. Interviews have included Pulizer prize-winning poet Galway Kinnell and Egyptian poet Mohammed Metwalli, as well as the women representing Seattle in the 2003 National Poetry Slam. Michael Franti of Spearhead was interviewed for an article on hip-hop as literature - part of an ongoing series of essays by editor Souvenir, which also included a feature on a poetry workshop for juvenile felons. In addition, the first year of Harness included contributions by Sherman Alexie, Christopher Frizzelle of The Stranger, and De Kwok of Tablet Magazine. Regular columnist included Greg Bachar ["Lives in Seattle"] and David LaTerre ["Atlantic & Pacific"].
Year two was no less exceptional, with new work from J. Wesley Fullerton, Elizabeth Alexander, Julianna Spallholz, Michael C. Boyko, Frank Montesonti, Aaron Burch, Tommy Smith, and Stokely Towles. Original artwork from Willow Bittner and Max Moore, who created an original cover for the first anniversary issue, was included. Featured essays appeared from Selah Saterstrom on Japanese haibun, and Claude Souvenir on language and dance - including an interview with internationally renowned Israeli choreographer Ohad Nahirin. Harness continued to deliver an updated listing of local readings and welcomed James D. Newman ["Ascensions & Eclipses"] as a regular columnist. After two extremely successful years of producing the quarterly publication in print, Harness went on sabbatical pending the construction of a web site.
Plans for the web site included expanding the "Get Listed!" guide to local open mic and poetry readings to encompass the greater North West area [including a resource guide for book readings] and adding book reviews. Also, Harness planned to include original artwork, music, and features on songwriters and younger writers [picking up where Future Present left off]. Reader favorites "Ex Nihilo" [in which readers submit "self-generated art"] and "Who's reading?" [in which local and national writers and/or the person-on-the-street are pitted against eachother in their reading and writing habits] would have remained regular fixtures in Harness. For more information about So Many Birds publishing or Harness Magazine, contact us.
~ MERCURY images ~
A bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates.
Visit SMBp's photography page, MERCURY images
