Become a Subscribing Member

BWP logoBlack Widow Press is not a non-profit entity therefore any donation of any kind is not tax deductible.

We are one of a dwindling number of for-profit poetry publishers. Poetry publishing really does not make sense anymore as a for-profit entity as the economics of the genre grow worse every year. Compared to other genres, poetry sales are quite small; even a good title will only sell modest quantities over a long period of time. New bookshops continue to shrink their poetry sections. Most of them, particularly the chains, do not look at the long term potential of a title; rather, they give it a couple months on their shelves. If it sells, they will re-order it. If not, it will be returned and usually not re-ordered, regardless of the title's merits or that it could consistently sell a few copies a year.

For these reasons, many poetry presses are becoming non-profit or university-partnered entities. Non-profit status, however, changes the character of the press - a governing board would come into play, editorial decisions would be made by committee, and solicited grants come with conditions and the politics of approval.

Black Widow Press wishes to avoid this change and keep its vision intact. We have no trust fund or entity funding us; we are supported by our used bookstores (Commonwealth Books, Inc.), sales of the BWP titles, and whatever the editor can come up with to fund each book. We are hoping to reach the point where our in-print titles generate enough income to cover the forthcoming titles, but this is not yet a reality. All money generated by the press goes immediately back into the press; BWP has no paid employees.

We welcome any contribution to support the press or even individual titles that one feels strongly about. Any contribution can be designated towards general operations (going towards design fees, advertising, postage, etc.) or to be used toward a specific forthcoming title.

$50.00 entitles you to any two titles (domestic postage included) and a 40% discount on all forthcoming titles as they become available.

$100.00 entitles you to any four titles (domestic postage included) and a 40% discount on all forthcoming titles as they become available.

$500.00 entitles you to any ten titles (domestic postage included) and a 40% discount on all forthcoming titles as they become available. You may also designate this sum toward any specific forthcoming title, and, if not already at the printer, you will be mentioned in the book as having helped make this work possible.

$1,000.00 or more entitles you to a complete run of our current title list, plus a free copy of each of our titles as they become available for one year, and a 40% discount on all forthcoming titles as they become available after one year. As you will be helping in defraying some of the printing costs for one title we would ask that you designate a specific forthcoming title for these funds to go towards and you will be mentioned in the published book as having helped to make that title possible.


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Please print out this page and circle the subscription above that you wish to contribute towards. Please also write down the titles you would like to receive. For sponsoring subscriptions for specific titles please feel free to email with your phone number and further discussions can be had.(info@blackwidowpress.com). Please make checks payable to BWP/Commonwealth Books.

Please mail to:


Black Widow Press
c/o Commonwealth Books, Inc.
9 Spring Lane
Boston, MA. 02109
(800) 259-7616

Thank you again for your support of the press and our publishing program!

Joseph S. Phillips
Publisher/Editor
Black Widow Press
www.blackwidowpress.com
info@blackwidowpress.com or books@commonwealthbooks.com

 

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