It's pretty widely known by now that Southern Methodist University is considering closing their press. This is a press that has had the same trio at the helm for years, that publishes fantastic authors, many of whom write either story collections, or what I consider quieter novels, that larger publishing houses would quash early in the process because they're not the easiest to market. However they do get reviews for their authors.
Anyway, the original blast of support, emails to Senior Editor, Kathryn Lang, to take with her to a meeting with Provost Ludden, and some other actions taken by the faculty of SMU have given the press a small extension to prove their viability.
How can we help now? Write an email to the Provost and cc it to Kathryn (emails are listed below). Please think about how to address this - chiding the Provost for the decision to cut the press probably won't help. Explain as succinctly as possible why SMU Press is an asset to the University and an important institution to the culture at large.
Provost Ludden: pludden@smu.edu
Kathryn Lang: klang@smu.edu
It's definitely worth your time and effort to keep this venerable institution up and running, and to see authors like Tracy Daugherty, Debra Monroe, Mitch Wieland and many others continue to find a home for their fantastic work.
SMU is a private university and I assume that its donations are down just like almost every other private educational institution. While there is no doubt that emails help, I think a letter along with a check would be in order, no matter how small. A check for ten dollars would probably demonstrate more interest in keeping the press alive than ten emails. Make checks to SMU Press.
Paul Ludden, Provost
Southern Methodist University
Perkins Administration Building, Suite 219
6425 Boaz Lane
Dallas, TX 75205
Posted by: Jim Ryals | May 25, 2010 at 11:48 AM
A great list of authors here but let's not forget to mention Allen Wier's enormous and amazing novel Tejano which, after a 12 year journey, only SMU Press had the cajones to publish. In doing this, they made an important contribution to American Literature that not many bigger presses with 10 times the cash flow have made. I've always admired SMU Press.
Posted by: M.O. Walsh | May 25, 2010 at 07:07 PM
А разве это верно ? Мне кажется что тут очень как-то не так.
Posted by: astessedoxtic | November 23, 2010 at 06:51 PM
An excellent record of writers here but let's not ignore to bring up Allen Wier's tremendous and awesome novel Tejano which, after a 12 season voyage, only SMU Media had the cajones to submit.
Posted by: Jacksonville Web Design | May 08, 2012 at 08:03 AM