A Book Launch With A Difference: Poet Joyce Harries Meets the Espresso Book Machine

On Thursday, November 15, 2007, Spotted Cow Press launched Joyce Harries' first book of poetry – Twice in a Blue Moon: Poems by Joyce Harries – at the University of Alberta Bookstore in Edmonton. It's a fine volume of verse and Joyce presented it well. Friends and fellow poets came to hear her read and to provide support for this significant event (click here to download a sample of Joyce's poetry from the book ).

There were others in the crowd who came not only to hear Joyce read but to see the new Espresso Book Machine work. Joyce's book was the first trade book produced by the machine. Todd Anderson, Director of the award-winning University of Alberta Bookstore, discussed the machine and how he had decided that he would try to buy a machine after he and Jerome heard Jason Epstein of OnDemand Books discuss the Espresso Book Machine at the Fourth International Conference on the Book in Boston in October, 2006.

There are four Espresso Book Machines in the world at the moment: in addition to this machine there are units operating at the Library at Alexandria in Egypt, the World Bank and the New York Public Library.

Jerome Martin, Publisher at Spotted Cow Press, introduced Todd, who welcomed guests to the Bookstore. Jerome then introduced Joyce who read poems from the different sections in the book. The crowd enjoyed the reading so much that they asked her to read more – and she did.

While Joyce signed books Todd Anderson demonstrated the Espresso Book Machine to a large crowd, including several Alberta publishers. There were cheers and applause when the crowd saw the first book drop from the machine.

The Espresso Book Machine will allow publishers, writers, poets, academics, family historians and others to create and produce small runs on-demand. The unit cost of running one book is the same as that of running 63 or 630 books. It's fast and easy. And it's fun to watch.

Photo Credits: Peter Johnston

Comments

[Gayle Snible]

The Espresso machine was at The New York Public Library for a trail period, which has ended. So, the Espresso machine isn't currently at any NYPL location(s).