Small Press Week: Past

For the second Small Press Week topic, #SPWPast, we're flashing back to the very first books we published when World Weaver Press started in 2012. I (Sarena Ulibarri) was not in charge of WWP back then—I came on board as assistant editor at the very end of 2014, and took over management in early 2016. World Weaver Press was founded by Eileen Wiedbrauk and Elizabeth Wagner, who poured their blood, sweat, and tears into getting this wonderful press off the ground. Fortunately, they had the help of some absolutely excellent authors.

Cursed: Wickedly Fun Stories by Susan Abel Sullivan

It’s Ladies Night in the little town of Foggy Hollow. You won’t be attending, of course, not yet, not until you get the curse. Your mom, and all of your girlfriends and their moms, will be out painting the town red tonight while you sit home alone, doing your algebra homework at the kitchen table. Being a late bloomer just isn't fair, you think.

What had been a light pitter-patter of rain quickly turns into the drumming of a torrential downpour. You get a small sense of satisfaction in knowing it’ll be cold and wet in the woods tonight. But you still wish like crazy that you were out there with the other women.

CURSED: WICKEDLY FUN STORIES was our very first release on March 4, 2012. Since then, we've been able to publish two of Susan Abel Sullivan's paranormal mystery novels, THE HAUNTED HOUSEWIVES OF ALLISTER, ALABAMA and THE WEREDOG WHISPERER. Rumor is there may be a third one on the way in the next year or so. Susan's writing is delightful and funny, and we're lucky to have her along on this small press journey.

Shards of History by Rebecca Roland

The creature’s face reminded Malia of a wolf. Sharp teeth lined an elongated snout covered with down, and a short beard clung to its chin. Its eyes, set forward in its face, were closed, and its tufted ears, although pointed, seemed relaxed.

Feathers on one side of an outstretched wing melded from light gray to dark gray on the other side of the wing. Blood covered its right shoulder.

Feathers gave way to down on its face and barreled chest, but that was the only thing soft about the Jegudun. It had squat, heavily muscled legs, and arms separate from its wings. An outstretched, human-like hand ended in curved, sharp claws that could easily tear flesh.

While CURSED was our first story collection, SHARDS OF HISTORY was our first full-length novel, released August 21, 2012. A sequel, FRACTURED DAYS, came out in 2015, and we'll be rounding out the trilogy with SHATTERED FATES in 2017. We also have a short collection of Rebecca Roland's stories, THE KING OF ASH AND BONES AND OTHER STORIES. SHARDS OF HISTORY is a unique fantasy set in a world of magic, dragons, and peril, with a Native American-inspired fantasy culture and a kick-ass heroine who discovers her people have been afraid of the wrong invaders. This was the book that first made me excited about World Weaver Press, and confident in the quality of small press books.

Opal by Kristina Wojtaszek

Perhaps I was also searching for the truth behind my mother’s tales. Fairy tales, some straight out of the annals of classic folklore, some loosed from the tightly wound spindle of her memories, ten, twenty generations old, passed down through the women of her family. Stories of the Fae. Of course I believed them as a boy. I was a young prince who cared nothing for castles nor riches if at the end of the day I could not find my mother’s arms, and her tales. Over time, though, I grew into reason. My mother’s face, bruised with the seal of my father’s massive ring, swam through my dreams as if to prove her every fable wrong. She was the heroine of her own story, the gentle maiden bound to a cruel king, and there would be no happy ending.

OPAL by Kristina Wojtaszek was our first novella, a rare and beautiful book length, published December 18, 2012. A standalone sequel, CHAR, was published earlier in 2016. In addition, Kristina Wojtaszek has appeared in a number of World Weaver Press anthologies, including FAE, SCARECROW, SPECTER SPECTACULAR, and SPECULATIVE STORY BITES. I think it's safe to say we adore her lyrical, heartbreaking prose, and we love it just as much now as when her words first appeared in our slush pile.

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We've picked up quite a few amazing authors during our journey, but those above are the ones that have been with us for the whole ride.

We have more Small Press Week Posts coming up later this week. Check the hashtag #SPWeek16 on Twitter to find more great small presses!