It is no secret that this is a difficult moment for small presses throughout the United States. With NEA funding cut from a growing number of non-profit arts organizations, many small publishers among them, the calls for support have been numerous and wide. The less we rely on government funding, the more we rely on readers such as you. Though this might seem to come at a cost, it does perhaps allow a rare moment of literary and artistic independence for authors and publishers living and working within the United States.
Whether happily or unhappily, The Bodily Press has never benefited from NEA grant funding, and therefore has not incurred a related loss this year. But we also still need your support. I am raising funds for the publication of many new titles, the specifics of which are detailed below, and to sustain my continued publishing work with The Bodily Press through the end of the year.
The theme for me this past year, as founding editor of The Bodily Press, has been that of the chance encounter. Many of the books I’ve published this year are the result of having stumbled onto several authors and artists and their work simply by encountering them by chance on the streets of Amherst. Coming to learn of new poets’ work through a steadily growing, creatively and politically steadfast network of living writers, in our ever-evolving, ever-diminishing public spaces, online, and in person, contributed as well.
I found a new form of diversity this year, in my chance encounterswith poets not only from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, but working in and out of wildly contrasting aesthetic modes of creation and thinking. The theme of diversity is fraught, on the one hand under attack by right-wing pundits, and on the other hand, ever-dangerously close to an edge where it blurs into tokenization. In working with such an array of authors, artists, and poets, I have done my best to allow what poet paul catafago (author of The Palestinian Freedom Now Suite, forthcoming) refers to as “mystic transfer.” In this spirit of collaboration and trust, my work as an editor and designer has greatly benefited from such diverse points of view and aesthetic modes of creation as exhibited by the authors whose work I publish.
the unwaveringly direct spoken word protest poetry of paul catafago’s full-length collection The Palestinian Freedom Now Suite;
the minimalist crystalline gems of John Phillips’ chapbook Concrete;
the haunting gnostic lyrics “written in a ghost language” of Patrick Pritchett’s full-length collection Brief Mercy of This Life;
the long-lined American psychic landscapes of Deja Rene Carr (AKA Mal Devisa)’s mid-length collection Elbow Sugar;
a series of paintings and commentaries by “painter-among-poets” Tasha Robbins released, at long last, as An Angel Alphabet, a full-color book to be held by the human hand, visually depicting the Hebrew Alphabet Malachim in Cornelius Agrippa’s Angelic Script;
In my editing and design work, I also found myself descending into the beautiful mess of my own contradictory affinitas(hilaritas?), which proved to be so rich in aesthetical, emotional, and political complexity that it inspired new directions in my own poetic practice. The two books of my own poetry compiled and published through The Bodily Press in May of this year (Wandering Subject and Starlings)borrow more than a phrase or two from the above works, not to mention the work of others I published last year, such as Nathaniel Mackey and Joseph Donahue. It is exciting to realize just how potent an effect these encounters have had on my own particular relationship to poetry, and how they have helped to reshape my own language in relation to the world.
It is at this time that I ask that you peruse the list of rewards on our crowdfunding page, a list that includes all these titles, as well as bundles, subscriptions, and more. Maybe there’s something that catches your eye, or better yet, your heart.
Not only small presses, but these poets and artists, whose work often occurs at the margins of any given cultural page, need all the support, and more importantly, readers and witnessesthey can find. I thank you very much, on behalf of those authors and The Bodily Press, for any amount you are able to give. Your support is crucial, and very much appreciated.
Yours,
Eliot Cardinaux
Founding Editor
The Bodily Press
Rewards
Featured
Amherst Bundle (5 'local' books)
Donate $100.00 or more
Amount over $86.52 is tax-deductible.
Includes 1 copy each of the following books and chapbooks made possible by a generous grant awarded to The Bodily Press by the Amherst Cultural Council:
Tasha Robbins' An Angel Alphabet Deja Rene Carr (AKA Mal Devisa)'s Elbow Sugar Eliot Cardinaux's Wandering Subject Eliot Cardinaux's Starlings Patrick Pritchett's Brief Mercy of This Life
plus 3 bookmarks hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and 3 Bodily Press logo stickers.
Thank You
Donate $5.00 or more
Amount over $1.50 is tax-deductible.
Includes a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker
Pavane (CD by Eliot Cardinaux & Gary Fieldman)
Donate $10.00 or more
Amount over $5.00 is tax-deductible.
Includes 1 copy of Eliot Cardinaux and Gary Fieldman's duo CD Pavane, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
Supertrios (Disc 1) (chapbook by A.L. Nielsen)
Donate $12.00 or more
Amount over $7.00 is tax-deductible.
Includes one copy of A.L. Nielsen's chapbook Supertrios (Disc 1), a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
Winter Rose (chapbook by Sarah Menefee)
Donate $15.00 or more
Amount over $10.00 is tax-deductible.
1 copy of Sarah Menefee's chapbook Winter Rose, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
Concrete (chapbook by John Phillips)
Donate $15.00 or more
Amount over $10.00 is tax-deductible.
Includes 1 copy of John Phillip's chapbook Concrete, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
A smudge. Attenuated. (chapbook by Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi)
Donate $15.00 or more
Amount over $10.00 is tax-deductible.
1 copy of Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi's chapbook A smudge. Attenuated., a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
By Bent Light (chapbook by Nathaniel Mackey)
Donate $18.00 or more
Amount over $14.00 is tax-deductible.
1 copy of Nathaniel Mackey's 2024 chapbook By Bent Light, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
The Palestinian Freedom Now Suite (full-length by Paul Catafago)
Donate $20.00 or more
Amount over $15.99 is tax-deductible.
Includes 1 copy of Paul Catafago's collection The Palestinian Freedom Now Suite, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
Starlings (full-length by Eliot Cardinaux)
Donate $20.00 or more
Amount over $15.60 is tax-deductible.
1 copy of Eliot Cardinaux's poetry collection Starlings, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
Brief Mercy of This Life (full-length by Patrick Pritchett)
Donate $22.00 or more
Amount over $16.99 is tax-deductible.
1 copy of Patrick Pritchett's poetry collection Brief Mercy of This Life, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
Elbow Sugar (full-length by Deja Rene Carr aka Mal Devisa)
Donate $22.00 or more
Amount over $16.99 is tax-deductible.
Includes 1 copy of Deja Rene Carr's poetry collection Elbow Sugar, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
Wandering Subject (full-length by Eliot Cardinaux)
Donate $23.00 or more
Amount over $17.95 is tax-deductible.
1 copy of Eliot Cardinaux's poetry collection Wandering Subject, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
A Common World (full-length by Andrew Mossin)
Donate $25.00 or more
Amount over $17.95 is tax-deductible.
1 copy of Andrew Mossin's poetry collection A Common World, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
An Angel Alphabet (book of paintings by Tasha Robbins)
Donate $25.00 or more
Amount over $18.99 is tax-deductible.
1 copy of Tasha Robbins' book of paintings An Angel Alphabet, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
The Etcetera Variations (full-length by Denver Butson)
Donate $30.00 or more
Amount over $25.00 is tax-deductible.
1 copy of Denver Butson's full-length collection The Etcetera Variations: Poems For and With Musicians, a bookmark hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and a Bodily Press logo sticker.
Chapbook Bundle (4 chapbooks)
Donate $50.00 or more
Amount over $37.00 is tax-deductible.
Includes 1 copy each of
Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi's A smudge. Attenuated. Sarah Menefee's Winter Rose A.L. Nielsen's Supertrios (Disc 1) John Phillips' Concrete
plus 3 bookmarks hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and 3 Bodily Press logo stickers.
Bi-Annual Subscription
Donate $75.00 or more
Amount over $74.50 is tax-deductible.
Includes any and all titles yet to be released in 2025. Includes books and chapbooks by Dana Henry Martin, David Need, Shana Bulhan, Mary Gilliland, Martha McCollough, Jim Dunn, Heller Levinson, and more, plus 3 bookmarks hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and 3 Bodily Press logo stickers.
NOTE: this option does not include those titles listed in the Bi-Annual Bundle, which have already been released in 2025. This option only includes books that are forthcoming in the second half of 2025.
Book-Length Bundle (7 paperbacks)
Donate $125.00 or more
Amount over $120.46 is tax-deductible.
Includes 1 copy each of
Andrew Mossin's A Common World Tasha Robbins' An Angel Alphabet Paul Catafago's The Palestinian Freedom Now Suite Eliot Cardinaux's Wandering Subject Eliot Cardinaux's Starlings Deja Rene Carr (AKA Mal Devisa)'s Elbow Sugar Patrick Pritchett's Brief Mercy of This Life
plus 5 bookmarks hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and 5 Bodily Press logo stickers.
Bi-Annual Bundle (4 chapbooks, 7 paperbacks)
Donate $150.00 or more
Amount over $140.47 is tax-deductible.
Includes 1 copy each of
CHAPBOOKS:
Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi's A smudge. Attenuated. Sarah Menefee's Winter Rose A.L. Nielsen's Supertrios (Disc 1) John Phillips' Concrete
BOOK-LENGTH COLLECTIONS:
Andrew Mossin's A Common World Tasha Robbins' An Angel Alphabet Paul Catafago's The Palestinian Freedom Now Suite Eliot Cardinaux's Wandering Subject Eliot Cardinaux's Starlings Patrick Pritchett's Brief Mercy of This Life
plus 5 bookmarks hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and 5 Bodily Press logo stickers.
2025 Subscription Bundle
Donate $250.00 or more
Amount over $200.00 is tax-deductible.
Includes 1 copy each of
CHAPBOOKS:
Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi's A smudge. Attenuated. Sarah Menefee's Winter Rose A.L. Nielsen's Supertrios (Disc 1) John Phillips' Concrete
BOOK-LENGTH COLLECTIONS:
Andrew Mossin's A Common World Tasha Robbins' An Angel Alphabet Paul Catafago's The Palestinian Freedom Now Suite Eliot Cardinaux's Wandering Subject Eliot Cardinaux's Starlings Patrick Pritchett's Brief Mercy of This Life
plus all titles forthcoming in 2025, including books and chapbooks by Dana Henry Martin, David Need, Shana Bulhan, Mary Gilliland, Martha McCollough, Jim Dunn, Heller Levinson, and more,
plus 5 bookmarks hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and 5 Bodily Press logo stickers.
Annual Bundle
Donate $300.00 or more
Amount over $290.47 is tax-deductible.
Includes all 2024 tiles, as well as all 2025 titles to date:
CHAPBOOKS:
Mark Scroggins' forage acanthus Norman Finkelstein's Four Episodes Joseph Donahue's An Drochshaol Eliot Cardinaux's Blue Flowers for Michael Palmer Nathaniel Mackey's By Bent Light Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi's A smudge. Attenuated. Sarah Menefee's Winter Rose A.L. Nielsen's Supertrios (Disc 1) John Phillips' Concrete
BOOK-LENGTH COLLECTIONS:
Denver Butson's The Etcetera Variations Eliot Cardinaux's Quiet Labor Eliot Cardinaux's Toy Elegy Eliot Cardinaux's This Music From Another Room Eliot Cardinaux's The Ocean From Here to Here Andrew Mossin's A Common World Tasha Robbins' An Angel Alphabet Paul Catafago's The Palestinian Freedom Now Suite Eliot Cardinaux's Wandering Subject Eliot Cardinaux's Starlings Patrick Pritchett's Brief Mercy of This Life
plus 5 bookmarks hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and 5 Bodily Press logo stickers.
Full Catalog + 2025 Subscription
Donate $400.00 or more
Amount over $365.00 is tax-deductible.
Includes all 2024 tiles, as well as all 2025 titles to date:
CHAPBOOKS:
Mark Scroggins' forage acanthus Norman Finkelstein's Four Episodes Joseph Donahue's An Drochshaol Eliot Cardinaux's Blue Flowers for Michael Palmer Nathaniel Mackey's By Bent Light Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi's A smudge. Attenuated. Sarah Menefee's Winter Rose A.L. Nielsen's Supertrios (Disc 1) John Phillips' Concrete
BOOK-LENGTH COLLECTIONS:
Denver Butson's The Etcetera Variations Eliot Cardinaux's Quiet Labor Eliot Cardinaux's Toy Elegy Eliot Cardinaux's This Music From Another Room Eliot Cardinaux's The Ocean From Here to Here Andrew Mossin's A Common World Tasha Robbins' An Angel Alphabet Paul Catafago's The Palestinian Freedom Now Suite Eliot Cardinaux's Wandering Subject Eliot Cardinaux's Starlings Patrick Pritchett's Brief Mercy of This Life
plus all titles forthcoming in 2025, including books and chapbooks by Dana Henry Martin, David Need, Shana Bulhan, Mary Gilliland, Martha McCollough, Jim Dunn, Heller Levinson, and more,
as well as plus 5 bookmarks hand-embossed with the Bodily Press logo, and 5 Bodily Press logo stickers.
