If you're in the Houston area this is an easy event to make. (This information is culled from a Houston email announcement list (HCW-L).) CLMP Southern Lit Mag and Small Press Fair, February 7, 2004, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Brazos Bookstore Gallery, 2425 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX

"The magazines and presses may be little, but the day is big, big, big! The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses and Gulf Coast (CLMP) present this massive showcase highlighting America's independent literary publishers. Over 60 publishers from all over the country (including Antioch Review, FC2, Fence/Fence Books, The Gettysburg Review, Mississippi Review and Tupelo Press) will converge on Houston with copies and issues galore, and many editors will be present to meet and greet.

"All magazines will be on sale for $2 and all books will be on sale for $4--so hungry readers will be able to sample a wide variety of today's freshest literature. Note: sale does not apply to Brazos Bookstore merchendise

"The Fair also includes a panel discussion, 'Inside the Masthead.' featuring editors from Houston-based publishers Arte Publico Press, Gulf Coast, and Lyric Poetry Review (and moderated by CLMP Membership Manger and jubilat publisher Roger Casper). This panel will take place at 2:00 PM and will focus on the editorial selection process, offering tips on how to submit to literary magazines and presses.

"The fair is free and open to the public. For more information, including directions and itinerary, contact Robert N. Casper at rcasper@clmp.org.

Nearly a thousand primarily nonprofit literary magazines, presses and online publishers can be found across the country, in every state, serving hundreds of unique audiences. CLMP, a New York-based nonprofit organization, was founded in 1967. It is the nation's only organization devoted to supporting and advocating for independent literary publishers. CLMP strengthens its membership of magazines, presses and online publisehrs by offering marketing and organizational workshops, hosting a national meeting, sponsoring technical assistance programs, representing the voice of its pubilshers in government and the media, maintaining a comprehensive website (http://www.clmp.org), and providing basic information services and publications. In addition, CLMP informs funders and otehr arts groups about the role of the independent literary publishing in American culture, conducts research about the field and ensures that literature has a voice in the politics of cultural policy."