I'm writing today to tell you about some exciting developments at Coffee House Press, and to ask for your financial contribution, which will allow us to continue changing the face of American literature, and to reach our fiscal year goals.

For the past nine months, under the auspices of a major grant from the Bush Foundation, we've been working with consultants to develop a strategic plan with four priorities: continued artistic excellence, leadership transition, electronic marketing, and financial capitalization. The result will be a Coffee House Press that is stronger, healthier, and more viable than ever, allowing us to continue our 25-year tradition of publishing extraordinary literature. This foundational support is a signal of confidence in our organization, and we hope it inspires your confidence as well.

And now and then we get an extraordinary response, like this one from a student in an English-Language-Learner class at the St. Paul Open High School, after reading Kao Kalia Yang's book, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir: "I don't like reading that much, but I thought that the book was very interesting and before I knew it the book was finished." Another student wrote, "What I have learned so far is that Kao Kalia never gives up on her education and neither should I. Our parents came to America to get a better chance at life."

Those reactions certainly inspire us, especially in the midst of difficult times. In fact, in difficult times, presses like Coffee House are more important than ever. As an independent publisher of literary excellence, we publish the authentic voices of the American experience. These books, like a beacon in the wilderness, inspire us and allow us to reach forward. We have great new titles, backlist books that are being used in classrooms across the country, and an outstanding staff and board that share my passion for publishing.

We've just published new poetry collections by Bill Berkson, Mark Nowak, and Ted Mathys, plus the long-awaited novel, German for Travelers, by the incomparable Norah Labiner. We'd love to send you one of our new titles for your $100 donation, three for your gift of $250 or our entire eight-book spring list for $500 or more.

You can read about our spring list and make a donation on our web site, and send us an e-mail with your book selection.

To good books!


Allan Kornblum, Publisher