End of the Year Update

Greetings from Awst Press.
We don't send out emails regularly—this being our first—but we didn't want 2015 to slip away without a heartfelt thank you for your support.
This year, we've featured 16 authors via four curated series, as well as three additional authors via our essay series in August. We've sold hundreds of chapbooks online and at various events. This month, we are moving into several retail locations around the country including Malvern Books, Powell's, Berl's Brooklyn Poetry Shop, and Deep Vellum. This week, we’ll also be offering different groupings of the chapbooks online—poetry, fiction, essays, and Pushcart Prize nominations—based on responses we’ve had from customers.
 
We've participated in various events including New South Lit Festival, Texas Book Festival, TBF <3's Indies, Lit Crawl Austin, E.A.S.T., Letters Festival, and One Page Salon.
 
As 2015 draws to a close, we are putting the final touches on our first book-length project by David Olimpio, This Is Not A Confession. Through this collection of essays David reckons with the troubling landscape of his childhood in an outwardly wholesome suburban Houston neighborhood. Colored by sexual abuse, divorce, and alcoholism, David's thoughtful reflections on his past remind the reader that we are more than our circumstances. This Is Not A Confession is scheduled for release in print on 4/22/16. We will have events in Austin and Dallas around that weekend, and hope that you'll join us in celebrating. More details to come as the release date approaches.
 
We're also excited about the top-notch talent joining the Awst Press team this year. LK James is our Art Director securing artwork for our covers and website, and guiding the overall aesthetics of the group. Liz Blood is a Contributing Editor focusing on interviews and social media content. Emily Roberts is our Production Editor focusing on copyediting and proofreading, keeping us in line with the style sheet. Jené Gutierrez is a Staff Writer stepping in with some of the interviews. We've also been fortunate to have the assistance of Paul Adams (interviews) and Tatiana Ryckman (curating/editing) this year.
 
Speaking of curating, we wouldn't be anywhere without the help of our curators—Mike Young, Tatiana Ryckman, and Amy Gentry. They rounded up a superb group of talented writers this year. We've had a great time talking to potential customers about the wide variety of work we are able to offer. Just a few examples: flash poetry, creative non-fiction, novel excerpts, speculative fiction, short stories, experimental poetry, a play, and essays on everything from art to marriage.
 
In November, we selected six Pushcart Prize nominations from our impressive group of authors. Those six include Susanna Childress, David Olimpio, RE Katz, Laura Warman, LaToya Watkins, and Donald Quist.
 
Most of you have supported us by purchasing chapbooks and adding yourself to our email list. Because we rarely email, the best way to follow us as we support our authors is to like us on Facebook and/or to follow us on Twitter. Even if an author's feature is completed, we still look for ways to celebrate them by sharing their publication successes and upcoming literary events. Plus, it gives you a way to find out what we're doing next—2016 is already packed with even more great offerings.
 
We've come a long way thanks to having you in our diverse and supportive audience. 
 
Best wishes, and thanks for reading.