Message from the Fathom Productions Founder

Currently the book publishing industry is in what economists call

a “maturing phase”, a euphemism for “decline”. Though our

society is grappling with the new, namely television and the

internet, the print medium remains vital to cultivate the intellect

and imagination. The death knell for the publishing industry has

more to do with the attitude of media conglomerates who now

own most of the publishing industry as opposed to the changing

attitudes of consumers. Whereas during the early part of the 20th

century publishing houses had the luxury of releasing works based

on literary merit and the appeal of a good story--rather than just

potential sales, it is now the latter that dominates the mindset. This

is short-sighted thinking as history is rife with examples of writers

with modest sales figures during their lifetimes who then became

the staple of publishing houses after death. Cases in point being

William Faulkner, H.P. Lovercraft, Franz Kafka…the list goes on.

Conversely, current best selling authors fall in and out of favor,

seldom outlasting their time. Flocks of geese that are ready to lay

the proverbial ‘golden egg’ are being over-looked by publishers.

In a word, talent is being overlooked.

Much emerging talent is in need of encouragement, but they will

rarely find it with the bigger houses. This was not always the case

as publishing houses like Scribners used to cultivate their writers

from a very young age with editors like the late Max Perkins.

Therefore more small press publishing houses ought to emerge

to serve as a launching pad for the new artist and writer. Fathom

Productions endeavors to be such a refuge of encouragement and

support. Though our runs and products are modest, contributors

will be served to the utmost with whatever resources we have

available. We hope to encourage the developmental process, thus

bringing the author closer to being published by more established

houses. Perhaps these established publishers may recall the vital

element of process and encouragement in order to maintain their

own existence. Until then, there is Fathom Productions.

I. Khider