Into the Future: Keeping Future Tense Books Alive

Thirty years ago this year, I moved to Portland, Oregon and started making chapbooks and meeting writers I felt a true connection with. I began my mission among writers, readers, artists, and innovators. Future Tense Books was born to be a home for books and authors that may not find a home at a more traditional press. Through the years, I've embraced literary oddballs, rebel poets, young misfits, brave truth-tellers, underground legends, and boundary breakers. I like people and stories that are...different. From scrappy little chapbooks and beautiful sleek paperbacks to shiny eBooks and majestic hardcovers, Future Tense has grown up in public, getting better and more polished each year.

The longevity and commitment of my little "micropress" has endured simply because of my love for books and the pleasure of helping writers find an audience. I'd be willing to bet that some of my favorite writers I've worked with at Future Tense, are probably some of your favorite writers, too. Such as: Hodson, Prado, Washuta, Martin, Caldwell, Weaver, Trope, Ponteri, Drake, Fenton, Leftwich, Kowalski, Tan, Ortiz, Hudson, Seidlinger, Ryckman, Gurba, Roberge, and Lutz.

I'm trying to put out three books a year these days and there's been some challenges of late. Some small (but expensive!) health issues have imploded my wallet and piggie banks. With minimal grant help through the years and a bookstore employee income, my resourcefulness has often come in handy, but now I need to ask for help. Money raised will be used for print costs, as well as to pay cover artists, designers, my co-editor, and other personnel. On the quickly approaching horizon are books by Katie Gene Friedman, Parker Young, and Jennifer Robin. And then I'll be having another submission period in Spring of 2023.

I hope you'll chip in and help me bring more books to life, for many more years. Thank you so much.