Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Sanders.
Hi Todd, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my independent publishing imprint Air and Nothingness Press 30 years ago when I started translating and publishing the work of the French surrealist poet Robert Desnos. I did this for a number of years, eventually publishing 5 books of his writing as well as a number of other small projects.
In 2017 I was approached by a local author and agreed to publish a collection of her short fantasy stories. That has now grown to 4 to 5 books a year, publishing mostly science fiction and fantasy anthologies and working with authors around the world. All books are limited edition print runs.
I also act as a mentor and advisor to a number of other small presses and have a large number of self-publishing clients and organizations. I help design the books, source illustrators, and act as the project manager with book printers.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being an independent press beginning in 1997, I’ve seen the growth of print on demand services, internet sales, new opportunities for letterpress produced books, which has really opened the market for small presses to thrive and be unique in their individual focus.
Sadly right now the main struggle is against AI slop, submissions from fake authors trying to send stories they have not written themselves to make a quick buck, as well as wading through AI illustrations generated on the hard work of human artists. That is becoming an endemic problem in the indie publishing community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am known for my limited edition books, carefully designed in a branded size that make them interesting to collectors. I am extremely gratified to have a great reputation in the writing and indie publishing scene. Many authors I publish are at the start of their career ladders and paying them professional rates helps them gain industry memberships and benefits. Very proud to see my authors go on to win important industry awards, find agents, and write novels.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I own a very large library of books which is a continual source of inspiration. Beyond that there are a few podcasts I listen to but nothing overly “industry focused” or centered on marketing tools or anything like that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aanpress.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aanpress/
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/aanpress.bsky.social
