Durable Goods Returns for Eight Special Issues

Durable Goods Special Issues Information

As many of you well know, I used to produce a microzine called Durable Goods. It started in 2009 and ended in 2013. Many things were accomplished with this zine and its distribution reached every continent in the world, every state in this country, and was archived in countless zine and university libraries.

Over the years, I have been asked if I would start Durable Goods back up. It is always a hard question. It was my most favorite project that I’ve ever produced, but toward the end it was labor intensive beyond my singular capability. I was folding 250 copies every two weeks by hand as well as handwritten note cards, stamped bookmarks, and handwritten envelopes. Add in a full time nursing job and a kid and trying to have my own creative output. It became too much so I ended it at its peak.

Recently, I was approached by Scot D. Young of Rusty Truck about this very thing. Is Durable Goods ever coming back? The thought of being that involved in one project with where my life is now seemed overwhelming, but as we talked, something came to mind. Scot works with teenage kids who have been through the wringer—abuse of every kind, poverty, hunger. These kids find some direction and solace in writing. This struck a chord with me because my whole life has been saved and elevated over and over again by writing poetry. It has always loved me. It has always been there.

So, Durable Goods is coming back for a special issue series. There will be eight issues, one for each of the kids. Some of you may know that Durable Goods has traditionally been invite only and I sent the kids their invite letter yesterday. Scot will work with them on writing the poetry to fit the parameters of the zine and also teach them how to submit their work for publication. This project is about showing them how to put themselves out there but also that their words can mean something, that they can be heard, that they can make a difference not only to other people but to themselves.

I will be offering up the opportunity to receive this series of 8 zines just like it used to be. Postage has gone up a bit since then, but I still only charge for what it will cost for me to send. This project is about physical connection and sharing creative understanding. Here are the prices:

Domestic $6.50 (includes all 8 issues with shipping)

International (Euro) $11.15 (which works out to be $13.00 US)

International (Pound) $9.50 (which works out to be $13.00 US)

International (Canada Dollar) $16.25 (which works out to be $13.00 US)

**Any other conversions will be assessed per need basis

A new feature is that you’ll be able to send the cost of the issues via PayPal (leathyd or by looking up Aleathia Drehmer) or Venmo (Aleathia-Drehmer). You can also send me payment in the mail or you can send a chapbook of your own writing that is of equal value (address to be provided privately). Please remember to include your mailing address with payment or via private message. Thank you.

We are hoping to have something done by the end of October. Feel free to private message me with any questions. Thanks for supporting these kids and small press poetry.

Aleathia

The End of an Era

Dear wonderful friends and supporters of Durable Goods....

It is with a bit of a heavy heart that I am announcing the end of the zine Durable Goods after the 2013 season.  It has been an amazing few years and the support I have received from the public about this zine and its work has been outstanding....so much more than a girl could ask for.  Durable Goods has been a huge ambition for me since 2009 when my friend Michael J. Solender egged me to push the project forward.  Since that time I have folded well over 12,000 pieces of paper and written more envelopes and quote cards than my fingers could manage.  

I feel at this juncture it is time to get while the getting is good.  I like to go out on top, so to speak.  The 2013 season is packed with some wonderful writers and artists who have taken over the covers for the year.  It has been my pleasure to serve the community with writer's works from all over the world.  Durable Goods has been distributed internationally in all parts of the world.  I could not have done this without the hard work of these folks:

Leah Angstman of Alternating Current

Andrew Taylor of erbacce

Lynn Alexander of Full of Crow

Jason Neese of Killpoet

Subhankar Das of Graffiti Kolkata

Amanda Oaks of Verve Bath Press/Kind Over Matter

Corey Mesler of Burkes Book Store

and a big ups to Brian Fugett at Zygote in my Coffee who has always been my number one fan and biggest cheerleader.

I have to also thank the wonderful folks on the ground level who place Durable Goods around their cities and towns.  Over the years Kristin Fouquet has been dedicate and faithful as well as Seth Elkins and Christopher Luna.  Piotr in Poland has been representing my homeland too :)

In 2013, you can expect things to be pared down quite a bit in the quantity of copies going out, but the work is above board for sure.  The art will be amazing with works from Kristin Fouquet, David Tomaloff, Joshua Cicci, Isabelle Pruneau, Mark Hartenbach, and Andrew Post.

Thank you to the subscribers who have come back year after year and supported the small press and have taken this zine willingly into your homes.  I appreciate you all so much.  I will be honoring your subscriptions through issue 101 and those of you who have stamps beyond that will get them back in the mail.  I will not be renewing any subscriptions at this time or taking on any new subscribers.

Bless you all for your support.  I think now it is time for me to get back to my own writing and artwork.  Thank you for your understanding and kindness.

Sincerely,

Aleathia Drehmer

Editor, Durable Goods

Open Submissions CLOSED

Wow.  Thank you to everyone who submitted.  My inbox got inundated with enough work to fill 4 issues, but alas I only needed work for 2 issues.

I may do another open submissions in the future if the need arises.  Feel free to suggest your own work for future issues.  I do have the 2013 season planned out, but writers do back out from time to time so an alternate list is always needed.

Thank you again for the outpouring of submissions and making the last two issues of the year interesting.

Aleathia Drehmer
Editor

Open Call for Submissions

Durable Goods is doing its first ever open call for submissions.  This is normally an invite only zine, but I thought I would give the opportunity to folks that I might not know.  If you have appeared in DG in any of the previous 75 issues then please refrain from submitting.  I am trying to not repeat writers too much if it can be helped.

Durable Goods takes very short poetry (no more than 20 short lines) or 130 word prose.  Each contributor will receive 10 copies for their contribution.  This zine is archived in 27 different libraries in the US, Canada, and the UK.  There is no payment for appearing in this zine.

There are only enough spots for 6 writers so please make your submissions count.  Submissions can be emailed to:  windwitch27@yahoo.com

Thank you,

Aleathia Drehmer
Editor

Durable Goods Issue 70

Durable Goods Issue 70
Featured Writers:

 

Shoshana Lovett-Graff

 

Paula Cary

 

A.D. Winans

 

 

Read. Write.

Support the Small Press.

Be Kind to Each Other.

 

 

Aleathia

Durable Goods Issue 69

Durable Goods Issue 69
Featured Writers:

 

 

Michael D. Goscinski

 

Eric Krueger

 

 

Read. Write.

Support the Small Press.

Be Kind To Each Other.

 

 

Aleathia

Durable Goods Issue 68

Durable Good Issue 68
Featured Writers:

Corey Mesler

Tobi Cogswell

Cheryl Rice

Read. Write.

Support the Small Press.

Be Kind to Each Other.

Aleathia