Press leadership wants to expand the organization

Much of the initial driving force behind Eastern Washington University Press and its favorite literary child, Get Lit!, is gone.

Christine Holbert, who seven years ago nurtured the first Get Lit! literary festival like a favorite child, is in Sandpoint, overseeing Lost Horse Press.

Scott Poole, former EWU Press co-director who managed to snare nationally known authors such as Kurt Vonnegut and Garrison Keillor, is in Portland, working to create a similar festival there.

But Eastern hasn’t given up on either the press or Get Lit!

The university has hired Ivar Nelson, former head of the University of Idaho Press, to act as interim publisher for the 2004-05 school year. A national search for a permanent publisher will begin in September, says Earl Gibbons, executive director of EWU’s Division of Educational Outreach.

“We’re trying to put pieces in place to make this a more viable organization,” Gibbons says of the press.

Part of that process, which depends on who ends up as permanent publisher, involves finding the right position for Christopher Howell, the press’ director for the past several years.

“Chris plays a very, very large role in the editorial process,” Gibbons says. And that includes a new special emphasis: acquisition.

Right now, Gibbons says, the press puts out six titles a year.

“To add more than a couple a year, given our staffing constraints, is probably all we can handle,” Gibbons says. “But, yes, we absolutely have to increase that number.”

Nelson and Gibbons both say that for the press to be successful, it has to find a niche.

“We have to decide what Eastern Washington University Press is going to be,” Nelson says. “Obviously it’s going to keep publishing literary stuff. We’re strong in that, and we’re only going to get stronger.”

In addition, the press will concentrate on regional issues.

“But when we talk about region now, we’re really talking about the entire northwestern corner of the United States,” Gibbons says. That, he adds, “is a great unserved area with a unique culture and a pretty strong body of literature that continues to come out of there. And we feel we can play a role in giving voice to some of that.”

As for Get Lit!, the 2005 festival (April 17-23) will feature the likes of Salman Rushdie, David Sedaris, Robert Bly, poet Rita Dove and former National Public Radio host Bob Edwards.

All will appear at The Met instead of the Spokane Opera House, as Keillor and Dave Barry did this year to – at least in Barry’s case – a half-full house.

“Get Lit! is something that Eastern is extremely proud of,” Gibbons says. “If we had our wish list, Get Lit! would be something that people in New York and Boston would know of. The kinds of authors we attract makes a statement to the book industry and literary community that we’re very serious.”