All I Want for Christmas...

As Phineas and Ferb's Buford said when given the chance to ask for anything from the Wizard of Odd, "I don't want nothin'," but I do want to put a Christmas wish out there for The Lineup: Poems on Crime.

Up to now, my co-editors and I have published The Lineup at Lulu.com. All along, though, we've courted established small presses to help with cost and distribution. Busted Flush was first on our list, then Tyrus Books (which acquired Busted Flush). While we've given Tyrus the right of first refusal, it doesn't hurt to have backup plans. If we don't find small press backing within the next year, we'll have to consider closing shop after Issue 5 (2012).

More than a matter of money, this is a matter of turning people on to the power of poetry. The four of us can only talk up the concept to an extent. The more readers The Lineup reaches, the more readers talk, blog, and write honestly about it, the further the concept will go.

We are refining the concept in two ways from Issue 5 onward: 1) we will publish all-new poetry (no longer accepting reprints); 2) for variety, we will not publish the same poets two issues in a row.

If you're a fan of The Lineup, write about it, ask your favorite indie bookstore to carry it. If you're a Lineup contributor, write about your experience working with us. All I want for Christmas is for all of you to take part in The Lineup's future.