I'm not sure what to make of this press, to be honest (and I am speaking of it as an independent literary press, not in terms of its journal). I checked some of the websites that reckon publishing scams but saw no record of it. From an exploration of its website, it sounds as if it's pretty much a one-person show. I hesitate to call it a hobby operation, but the editor is, apparently, employed full-time at Middle Georgia College, with which the press is not affiliated.
The submission guidelines for book-length works are on its homepage:
Anaphora has now published over 30 creative and non-fiction books. Professors have agreed to teach from a few Anaphora books. Several writers have scheduled readings at major local book stores. Anaphora books have also had several articles published about them in regional newspapers. We are actively seeking single and multiple-author books in fiction (poetry, novels, and short story collections) and non-fiction (academic, legal, business, journals, edited and un-edited dissertations, biographies, and memoires). Email full MS (books must be completed prior to submission), bio, summary and marketing plan in a single Word document to
pennsylvaniajournal@gmail.com. Profits are split 50/50% with writers. Direct author sales and marketing are essential to the success of a project. We are currently printing books with Lightning Source, a subsidiary of Ingram. Anna Faktorovich, an English professor, acts as the Director, and designs most of the books.
This is not a standard publishing model, at least in the West. In standard American publishing (small, university, or commercial), marketing is the job of the press. Sure, the author is expected to show up--to attend appropriate conferences, try to organize readings or signings or other appearances (as appropriate)--but marketing, qua marketing, is the press's job. I could be wrong, but what I hear Faktorovich saying here is “We don’t do any marketing. You do marketing.”
“Lightning Source” is a POD (print-on-demand) operation that is indeed a subsidiary of Ingram, and Anaphora’s books are listed on Amazon. So they’re at least available. I don’t see any evidence that Faktorovich is requesting money from accepted authors. She’s certainly casting her net very wide, though—everything from poetry to novels to dissertations to whatever.
In sum: legit? I
think so, technically, but it’s certainly not a press that would, to my knowledge, carry any weight in the academic world, in terms of either scholarship or creative work. Why would you want to send there, K_G, anyway? I suppose Anaphora seems a little like McFarland to me, back when McFarland started up (to the extent that I can remember that) (and no disrespect to McFarland intended)...except that Faktorovich shows an unnerving lack of familiarity with the business end of academic publishing, based on her language and website.
I was keeping an eye on this thread, wondering if anyone would have more information on the press from a professional academic point of view. I would be glad to hear more about this operation, especially peer review for scholarly works and how the business model (i.e., the money) works.
