| Ricasso Press is being envisioned as a small press. "Small" as in "we'll be lucky to see a profit." And by "we" I mean me. So few small presses survive these days, probably for the same reason many ideas go away: they simply fail to maintain interest for the person who came up with the idea. I cannot make a solemn pledge here and now to see that Ricasso Press shines forever brightly, but I have set up a business model that will guarantee that expenses do not become unbearable. For now, my expenses are small, even with paying authors. My focus will be to remember that "small" in "small press" applies to most aspects of the business, except quality. By thinking small (and dreaming big) I feel Ricasso Press can exist for many years to come.
This was all started as a way to continue the Magistria shared world anthology started by G. W. Thomas. The first book in the series saw life and was, I believe, well received. The second book came *that* close to being born before the whole thing fell apart. I took over and will see that Magistria as a world continues.
However, not wanting Ricasso Press to be a one-trick pony, I decided it needed to offer more. When the doors officially open this summer, both Magistria 1 and 2 will be available. Within a few months, Ricasso Press intends to release two more fantasy anthologies. I am delighted to announce that the first will be Mages & Mechanica, previously mentioned on this board. Bill Ward and I will be co-editing, a first for me (then again, just about everything involved with Ricasso Press is a first for me). The second anthology will follow hot on M&M's heels. Announcements for submissions for both are forthcoming shortly.
Of course, my timeline is dependent on several factors, not the least of which is finding a reliable printer. I believe I have and will know the answers to all my questions within a week or so. Should this particular printer not work out, all schedules will be necessarily pushed back.
Please feel free to send me any questions, posted here or in private messaging. I will answer them as best I can with what little knowledge I have. For now, this is a dedicated project built on inspiration. Thanks for your support.
Oh, and as a post script I should point out that there isn't a website yet. The announcement for that should happen in a month or so. Also being a first, it's sapping my free time putting it together. The learning curve through all this has been - how shall I say? - steep. But my Dad has a riddle that applies to this (as it does most things in life): how do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time.
Rob Santa |