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Futurepoem Books
Fractured Atlas Member Profile
by Krista Apple in Winter 2005: The Advocacy Issue
Dan Machlin, a Fractured Atlas member since 2002, is the co-founder of independent publishing collaborative Futurepoem books. Dedicated to presenting innovative works of poetry and prose, Futurepoem began in 2001 as a collaboration between Machlin (himself a poet) and graphic designer Anthony Monahan. They are the recent recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) 2006 Access to Artistic Excellence grant, making them the first Fractured Atlas member to receive NEA funding. The most recent Futurepoem title, Mad Science in Imperial City, is the stunning debut title of Shanxing Wang, a former mechanical engineer.
We recently spoke with Machlin about independent publishing, and the unique identity of Futurepoem books.
Fractured Atlas: What does the name Futurepoem symbolize?
Dan Machlin: We like to think of the authors we're selecting - we only publish two authors per year, from over 100 submissions - as having unique literary methods. The forms they're using are interesting ones, questioning the possibilities of literature. Our name is also a challenge and question to our authors and potential readers: what can literature potentially be in the future?
FA: Is publishing a creatively satisfying experience?
DM: The inspiration to start the press came from my own reading of innovative poetry and prose from authors I cared about. I realized that so many people's work has come to the forefront by the action of peer writers and, of course, independent publishers. Innovative poetry in America is built by peer writers publishing other poets. There are so many people out there who want to be published. I get inspired by all the possibilities.
FA: What makes Futurepoem unique even among its small press compatriots?
DM: I feel strongly about the collective approach to publishing that we champion. It's not just me and Anthony; we choose a rotating panel of accomplished peer editors and a yearly guest editorial board. We also place strong emphasis on the relationship between graphic design and literature. We've worked hard to maintain a consistent image for the press. But it's not about a template - we try and keep it flexible, and adjust our own design according to the book.
FA: Where does your funding come from?
DM: We're in our third year of NYSCA (New York State Council on the Arts) funding through Fractured Atlas, and we've just received funding from the NEA for next year's projects. We've also received private funding from the New York Community Trust and a Fractured Atlas development grant. But individual donations are the most promising source of funding, along with potential federal funding. We're typically half-funded through individual donations, including my own. We hope of course to make Futurepoem self-sustaining as an organization, with a funding base we can depend on.
Futurepoem books can be purchased at St. Marks Bookshop in Manhattan and online at www.spdbooks.org or www.futurepoem.com.
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