Chestertown, MD — An innovative modern fiction magazine and the traditional art of printing have formed a felicitous union: Washington College's Literary House Press has hand-printed and bound a fine press, limited edition of the 100th issue of One Story magazine.
Based in the College's famed Rose O'Neill Literary House, the Literary House Press draws on traditional printing methods—including lead type and hand presses—with modern technology to emphasize the unique beauty and power of the printed word. Literary House Press broadsides have featured such sterling authors as Toni Morrison, Mary Karr, John Barth, and William Warner.
One Story is a non-profit literary magazine that features one great short story mailed to subscribers every three weeks. The publication's mission is to "save the short story" by publishing in a friendly format that allows readers to experience each story as a stand-alone work of art and a simple form of entertainment. One Story is designed to fit into a purse or pocket.
In the past five years One Story has grown to have more than 4,000 subscribers. A hotspot for emerging writers, its stories have been reprinted in Best American Short Stories, Best New American Voices, and other anthologies. Many One Story writers have gone on to publish their first books.
In January, One Story produced its 100th issue with "Beanball," by Ron Carlson, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker and one of the best regarded story writers in the country. To recognize One Story, the Literary House Press recruited Washington College alumnus and master printer Jim Dissette to design and produce a fine press accompaniment in an edition of 100.
The publication of "Beanball" was supported by the Maureen Jacoby Endowment for Editing and Publishing at Washington College. The books, which feature original illustrations by Mary Rhinelander and are hand-bound in a hard-cover foil-stamped spine, will sell for $75.
Carlson is the author of nine books of fiction, most recently the novel Five Skies, published by Viking Press. He directs the graduate program in fiction at the University of California-Irvine.
The Lit House Press's "Beanball" was unveiled to the reading public at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) 2008 Conference and Bookfair in New York City on February 1.
For more information on "Beanball," or to find out about joining the One Story subscription list, visit http://one-story.com/. For more information on the Literary House Press at Washington College, go to http://lithouse.washcoll.edu/.
February 7, 2008
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