Steve Libbey, owner of Subatomic Books, has posted the following on the site blog:
We regret to announce that as of December 21, 2008, Subatomic Books will be suspending our operations for the foreseeable future.
All our plans to release annual anthologies, publish weekly content on the site and novels by Portland writers and a few non-locals, and in various ways champion the cause of challenging fantastic fiction, they must be set aside for the time being.
Artist-run presses are extremely vulnerable to economic downturns because they are a labor of love. When the artists running the press come under financial pressure, the press takes a back seat to real world concerns. In this case, the publisher (me) encountered unexpected hospitalizations and the commensurate bills, which ate all the money tucked away for promotion, production and author fees. Meanwhile, the editor-in-chief had to rededicate her time to her freelance editing business.
We’re proud of the work we did in the short time Subatomic was extant. Perhaps when President Obama has repaired the economy, there will be disposable income enough to resurrect the press. A winning lottery ticket would also be useful. Regardless, we will ensure that our authors are compensated for their efforts in as timely a manner as possible.
We encourage readers to track down and follow the authors that we published in the anthology. Unleash your google skills and visit their sites for more news about their publications.
Thank you for your support.
Steve Libbey, Publisher.
Let's hope there's enough money left to pay the contributors, as payment was due in September.
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