SmallPressBigStories - Atthis Arts

For my third blog post for the SmallPressBigStories month initiated by Runalong Womble, please meet Atthis Arts. They're a small independent SFF US publisher whose stories range from Middle Grade to Adult, from novellas to novels, without forgetting anthologies.

Atthis Arts publishes stories which are very much diverse with an emphasis on LGBTQIA+ representation. You'll find there, among others, a collection drawn from Romanian folklore lavishly praised by Bogi Takács, a novella set in Delhi written by an Indian author, and a dark fantasy novel blurbed by Martha Wells.
Although Atthis Arts list is still small, it is packed with quality stories for all ages.

I've asked three questions to E.D.E. Bell, the Executive director, so that she can present her small press to you.

1. What can a reader expect to find in Atthis Arts books?

We hope that a reader will always find something new and unexpected in an Atthis Arts book, assured by our core commitments to the reader experience. First, the author's authentic voice will be at the forefront. Through different writing styles and different presentations, the reader will always find a story that came from the writer's heart, not one that was shaped to fit industry perceptions or bookstore shelves. Second, thoughtfulness to content. Difficult topics are not avoided, but are presented with purpose, sensitivity, and an eye to reader trauma. And third, we thrive here on our community and our power together, and we think that shows in all of our tales through elements of joy, love, defiance, resilience, chosen family—and hope.

2. Tell us about two books you've published in 2022.

We believe our first two releases of 2022 really show how publishing outside of industry bins lifts and enables the range and power of global speculative fiction.

In March, we released Alia Terra: Stories from the Dragon Realm, a book of three short fairy tales in side-by-side English and Romanian, written by Romanian in Norway Ava Kelly and illustrated in gorgeous color by Michigan artist Matthew Spencer. These gender-diverse, aromantic stories are kind and healing. Given the content and lovely illustrations, we've found people assuming the book is for children. Yet this spec-fic title is truly all-ages. The power of kindness, art, language, and culture, all in one powerful book.

In April, we released One Arm Shorter Than The Other by Delhi author Gigi Ganguly, and with a sweet, heartwarming cover illustration by British Indian artist Haricha Abdaal. This uncanny, genre-twisting novella starts as historical urban fantasy and transitions to science fiction, as it weaves its way through three short stories, and then a longer tale which pulls the first three together. Many global readers have pointed out the originality of the construction, while at the same time noting the familiar dance of the Bengali Tall Tales. In Dadaji’s small shop…some repairs are timeless.

We are so proud of our 2022 releases, also including Grayshade by Gregory A. Wilson, Rogue Artists featuring Cat Rambo, Night Ivy by E.D.E. Bell, and Catalyst by Brandon Crilly. To read more about these books (and check out some quirky exclusive treasures designed around each) we hope you’ll visit our Traveling Treasure Trove Kickstarter campaign, running only through November.

3. What are the plans for 2023?

Keep going, keep creating art, and glitter so hard we’ll have to be seen! We have four books in the works right now, all of which we think are amazing. In continuing plotlines, we will rejoin Grayshade in Renegade by Gregory A. Wilson and Xeleanor Du’Tam in Inkbloom by E.D.E. Bell. Plus, two new standalone books. Be the Sea by California-based writer Clara Ward is a queer, polyamorous science fantasy novel explores the near-future via a journey across the Pacific Ocean to the islands of Hawai’i. And, we were thrilled to recently announce Pluralities by Ontario writer Avi Silver, a slipstream-meets-space-adventure novella about the turbulent journey into gender euphoria. The team is pouring our hearts, our joy, and yes, the full range of our writer angst into polishing these stories up to dazzle and shine. For the latest on these adventures, follow our social media link, at atthisarts.com.

* * *

So far, I've only reviewed from Atthis Arts One Arm Shorter Than the Other by Gigi Ganguly, but I very strongly recommend this unique novella. (Click on the cover to access the review.)

Atthis Arts is running a Kickstarter in November 2022 and you can contribute here. The website for the small press is here and you'll find their shop directly here.

Thank you to E.D.E. Bell for her time and I hope you'll all enjoy what Atthis Arts has to offer!