Concentrate Media Welcomes You to Ann Arbor's Literary Culture

Who knew that Ann Arbor, Michigan has such a vibrant literary culture and publishing community? Actually, we knew that all along! But here's an even more detailed glimpse at the writers, readers, and publishers than one could ever hope for... so... let's go! From Concentrate Media:

Steven Gillis says it’s good to be a publisher in "a nice town that is book-minded," but that Ann Arbor’s literary community still is not what it used to be.

"I’ve been here for 30 years, and before there was really an intense vibe here," says Gillis, founder and publisher of Dzanc Books. "I don’t think that’s any longer the case. It could just be the total climate across the country."

Gillis says that while a visiting author in town used to easily draw a crowd of anywhere from 30 to 50, it’s now more of a "fight" than a "flow" to draw that kind of attendance. However, Gillis and his local colleagues in the publishing business agree that the community still demonstrates above-average interest in literary events. University of Michigan Press editorial director Aaron McCollough says Ann Arbor boasts a highly educated population that turns out for readings and other events.

"One of the weird ironies of, say, New York City is even though it’s a great book town in lots of ways…I’ve gone to lots of readings there where very few people showed up because there are a dozen competing readings," he says. "So in some ways the combination of a small [town] with a really high percentage of educated and interested people is the perfect balance, the perfect mix." [...]

Learn more at Concentrate Media.