Anne K. Yoder On The Artistcentered Approach Of Meekling Press
Editor's note: Coco Picard spoke with Chicago writer and editor Anne K. Me Yoder about the work of Meekling Press and the importance of independent publishing. The edited text of the comic is transcribed here for ease of reading.
Ann K. Yoder worked as a union pharmacist for many years. The experience inspired her hyperreal novel Amplifiers (Meekling Press, 2022), about teenagers growing up in a techno-pharmaceutical world, and turned her interest into independent publishing. In the following interview, Yoder told the reader about his writing practice and joining the ranks of Meekling Press. Founded in 2012 by Rebecca Elliott and John Wilmes, Mickling's artist-focused company has resulted in publications for authors such as Patrick Cottrell, Willa Smart, Jay Bessemer, Chad Morgan and Foula Abdul-Jabbar.
Anne K. Yoder: “I identify as an Oregon generation, somewhere between X and Y, who grew up on the Internet. There is a connection between big data and big pharma. These are the two biggest engines of our economy. They are focused on redesigning themselves to be more efficient, always accessible, and adaptable to the modern world. Mikling is certainly a pleasure to work with, especially when you create publications whose existence requires its own critique.
“Rebecca and I talked a lot about how to develop a sustainable publishing model in the face of corporatization and rising prices. Many of the independent businesses we have worked with (printers, suppliers, etc.) have been acquired by larger entities since the pandemic. Prices are higher, but quality varies.
“Rebecca is traveling to Iowa this week to buy the perfect binder she found on Craigslist. It's amazing how easy it is to accept "outdated" technology. This will allow you to perform a full internal rotation.
“Meekling Press takes a DIT (Do Together) approach to collaborating with writers and artists, encouraging play and experimentation. We like to be open to incredible ideas, manuscripts that take risks with their form. This seems possible in Chicago, as it is a growing city with a long history of a rich and diverse literary scene and strong activism. Chicago is neither a publishing nor financial capital, which means much of what goes on goes unnoticed. That's also what makes it an exciting place to be creative."
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