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For Exposure: The Life and Times of a Small Press Publisher
What does it take to become a Hugo and Stoker Award-nominated editor and publisher? Follow Jason Sizemore's unconventional professional path as it winds through a tiny, overheated Baptist church deep within the coal fields of Appalachia, Kentucky, past a busted printer and a self-serving boss that triggered an early mid-life crisis and the epiphany that he should open a magazine spreading the gospel of science fiction to the masses, all the way to WorldCon 2012 and his first Hugo Awards ceremony.
In this collection of semi-true and sometimes humorous essays, Jason exposes the parties, people, and triumphs that shaped him into the Apex Overlord. He also lays bare the hardships and failures that have threatened to take it all away. Meet Thong Girl, heed the warning about the ham, receive rest stop bathroom wisdom, and visit an emergency room straight out of a horror movie in this extraordinary account of life as a publisher and editor.
With rebuttal essays from Maurice Broaddus, Monica Valentinelli, Lesley Conner, and more, For Exposure tells Jason’s story with insight from key players along his road to success. It is a comprehensive and frank look at what Apex and the genre publishing business is about. Take a shot with the publisher, dance the night away, and become a legend. And do it all For Exposure.
In this collection of semi-true and sometimes humorous essays, Jason exposes the parties, people, and triumphs that shaped him into the Apex Overlord. He also lays bare the hardships and failures that have threatened to take it all away. Meet Thong Girl, heed the warning about the ham, receive rest stop bathroom wisdom, and visit an emergency room straight out of a horror movie in this extraordinary account of life as a publisher and editor.
With rebuttal essays from Maurice Broaddus, Monica Valentinelli, Lesley Conner, and more, For Exposure tells Jason’s story with insight from key players along his road to success. It is a comprehensive and frank look at what Apex and the genre publishing business is about. Take a shot with the publisher, dance the night away, and become a legend. And do it all For Exposure.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
185 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2015
1 person is currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Jason Sizemore
120 books118 followersI was born the son of an unemployed coal miner in a tiny Kentucky Appalachian villa named Big Creek (population 400). It’s an isolated area with beautiful rolling hills, thick forests, and country folk. I lived in Big Creek until I went to college, spending my weekends cruising the Winn Dixie parking lot of ladies, partying in my cousin’s run-down three room trailer, and being a member of the bad-ass Clay County High School Academic Team.
College was quite a shock for me. Girls! Minorities! Strip clubs! And it didn’t help that I attended Transylvania University, a fairly snotty (but excellent) private college in Lexington, KY (on scholarship… no way my family could have sent me otherwise). I graduated in the standard four years with a degree in Computer Science.
Since 1996, I’ve worked for evil corporations (IBM), dot com dreamers (eCampus.com), The Man (both city and state government), and for The Kids (KY Dept. of Education), and assholes (lots and lots of assholes).
In 2004, I decided my life was boring, that I no longer needed disposable income, and I needed to increase my stress levels. I started Apex Publications, a small press publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. At first it was just a small print zine, then a pro-level online zine, then books, and then ebooks.
I edit anthologies, mostly for Apex (because I’m a control freak). I occasionally do copy editing (when pressed) and have done plenty of acquisition editing over the years.
I also write. I don’t really write enough to leave a mark, but it seems to go well when I do put pen to paper.
Miscellaneous facts about me: left-handed, blue eyes, super geeky, hillbilly accent, near-sighted, and typically in a goofy mood.
Also, and most importantly, I’m not the drunkard all those Facebook photos makes me out to be. It just happens that cameras are always around when I… have libations. Honest!
College was quite a shock for me. Girls! Minorities! Strip clubs! And it didn’t help that I attended Transylvania University, a fairly snotty (but excellent) private college in Lexington, KY (on scholarship… no way my family could have sent me otherwise). I graduated in the standard four years with a degree in Computer Science.
Since 1996, I’ve worked for evil corporations (IBM), dot com dreamers (eCampus.com), The Man (both city and state government), and for The Kids (KY Dept. of Education), and assholes (lots and lots of assholes).
In 2004, I decided my life was boring, that I no longer needed disposable income, and I needed to increase my stress levels. I started Apex Publications, a small press publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. At first it was just a small print zine, then a pro-level online zine, then books, and then ebooks.
I edit anthologies, mostly for Apex (because I’m a control freak). I occasionally do copy editing (when pressed) and have done plenty of acquisition editing over the years.
I also write. I don’t really write enough to leave a mark, but it seems to go well when I do put pen to paper.
Miscellaneous facts about me: left-handed, blue eyes, super geeky, hillbilly accent, near-sighted, and typically in a goofy mood.
Also, and most importantly, I’m not the drunkard all those Facebook photos makes me out to be. It just happens that cameras are always around when I… have libations. Honest!
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 17, 2015
Review copy
For the record, I read fiction, primarily horror. I'm not one for biographies or historical novels , so when the opportunity arose to read For Exposure, I hesitated, but just for a moment. I respect and admire what Jason Sizemore has been able to accomplish at Apex Publications and thought it might me interesting to see how he got there.
At the beginning of For Exposure it was like Jason was channeling the legendary Jean Sheppard, you know, the man responsible for "A Christmas Story." I nearly expected Jason to tell us that all he ever wanted for Christmas was a Red Ryder BB Gun.
As an adult, Jason, like many of us, felt stuck in a dead end job. Unlike many of us, he did something about that and followed his passion and so Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest was born. What follows are numerous stories of trips to cons and ongoing efforts to grow a following for his new endeavor.
It's a great story of perseverance filled with delightful anecdotes of the publishing business and the writers who contribute to the Science Fiction and Horror genres. Jason even gives several of those he writes about in the book a chance to tell their side of the story.
All told, For Exposure: The Life and Times of a Small Press Publisher, is great for anyone who might like to see what goes into creating a successful small press, or just enjoys hearing great con stories, and believe me there are a few of those between these pages. Here's to the next ten years, Jason.
Available now in both Trade Paperback and Hardcover, and available soon as an e-book, from Apex Publications.
Recommended.
For the record, I read fiction, primarily horror. I'm not one for biographies or historical novels , so when the opportunity arose to read For Exposure, I hesitated, but just for a moment. I respect and admire what Jason Sizemore has been able to accomplish at Apex Publications and thought it might me interesting to see how he got there.
At the beginning of For Exposure it was like Jason was channeling the legendary Jean Sheppard, you know, the man responsible for "A Christmas Story." I nearly expected Jason to tell us that all he ever wanted for Christmas was a Red Ryder BB Gun.
As an adult, Jason, like many of us, felt stuck in a dead end job. Unlike many of us, he did something about that and followed his passion and so Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest was born. What follows are numerous stories of trips to cons and ongoing efforts to grow a following for his new endeavor.
It's a great story of perseverance filled with delightful anecdotes of the publishing business and the writers who contribute to the Science Fiction and Horror genres. Jason even gives several of those he writes about in the book a chance to tell their side of the story.
All told, For Exposure: The Life and Times of a Small Press Publisher, is great for anyone who might like to see what goes into creating a successful small press, or just enjoys hearing great con stories, and believe me there are a few of those between these pages. Here's to the next ten years, Jason.
Available now in both Trade Paperback and Hardcover, and available soon as an e-book, from Apex Publications.
Recommended.
June 15, 2015
If you want to know all of Jason's most embarrassing moments, how hard he almost failed at life, and how many people remember stories completely differently from him, read this book! Also, it's got lots of nifty tips and advice and some sort of bizarre choose your own adventure table at the very end.
October 19, 2015
Jason Sizemore's FOR EXPOSURE is an informative and funny glimpse at how one man, a self-described "shy little hillbilly from Big Creek, Kentucky" found success in small press publishing.
Jason had already put out one issue of APEX SCIENCE FICTION AND HORROR DIGEST before he faced an unfair accusation at his day job. His boss accused him of breaking a printer that was already broken (a segment that reads like an outtake from the movie OFFICE SPACE). He walked out on that job, and in the three months before he started a new position, he looked into ways to promote his magazine.
Specifically, he started going to science fiction conventions, and discovered the advantages of networking. He gave away issues of APEX, thus gaining new readers, and found new friends who introduced him to the joys of fan parties. Not to mention the "joys" of waking up the next morning face down on a bed with no memory of how you got there.
No really, he may not want you to mention it.
Many of the friends he's made at such conventions ended up working with him on the magazine. They're also given time in their own chapters to "rebut" Jason's versions of events.
We follow Jason as he learns some hard financial lessons about the realities of magazine publishing and expands his global empire to book publishing.
Throughout, Jason tells his tale through fast-paced prose and with great humor.
FOR EXPOSURE is a must-read for anyone interested in a peak "behind the curtain" of magazine and small press publishing, or who just wants to read an entertaining story of a small-town boy who makes good.
For Exposure: The Life and Times of a Small Press Publisher
Jason had already put out one issue of APEX SCIENCE FICTION AND HORROR DIGEST before he faced an unfair accusation at his day job. His boss accused him of breaking a printer that was already broken (a segment that reads like an outtake from the movie OFFICE SPACE). He walked out on that job, and in the three months before he started a new position, he looked into ways to promote his magazine.
Specifically, he started going to science fiction conventions, and discovered the advantages of networking. He gave away issues of APEX, thus gaining new readers, and found new friends who introduced him to the joys of fan parties. Not to mention the "joys" of waking up the next morning face down on a bed with no memory of how you got there.
No really, he may not want you to mention it.
Many of the friends he's made at such conventions ended up working with him on the magazine. They're also given time in their own chapters to "rebut" Jason's versions of events.
We follow Jason as he learns some hard financial lessons about the realities of magazine publishing and expands his global empire to book publishing.
Throughout, Jason tells his tale through fast-paced prose and with great humor.
FOR EXPOSURE is a must-read for anyone interested in a peak "behind the curtain" of magazine and small press publishing, or who just wants to read an entertaining story of a small-town boy who makes good.
For Exposure: The Life and Times of a Small Press Publisher
June 24, 2015
This is a laugh out loud funny book about Jason Sizemore's adventures in publishing. The best thing about it is two-fold: 1. Despite all the setbacks and mistakes, Jason turned everything into an opportunity to succeed. 2. It is clear that Jason cares about everyone who works for and with him at Apex. Very much worth the read. Buy this book!
July 24, 2015
Jason Sizemore’s For Exposure isn’t quite like anything else I’ve read – for that matter I don’t think there are too many titles out there chronicling the life and times of running a small press (writers’ memoirs are plenty; editors’ and publishers’ less so).
It’s a very personal, and very honest, book. It gets into the numbers, the practicalities: being cheated out of money by distributors, That Guy who won’t stop pitching the editor terrible novels at cons, the ups and downs of running a business specializing in some of the most unpredictable markets on earth. It also reminds us that publishing is – though certainly a business – also a thing most people do as a labor of love (paid, of course, but it’s mostly about love of reading and love of the imagination rather than the Capitalistic Dream).
It is also, of course, absolutely entertaining.
(I asked Jason how many times this has gotten him into trouble. Apparently, a lot!)
It amuses me thoroughly that one of Apex’s writers today literally asked Jason ‘Who the fuck are you?’ the first time they met – it’s that kind of book: full of endearing anecdotes, spirited friendship, a lot of con experiences (which make me worry for Jason – he does seem to run into excruciating health problems at cons a lot!), embarrassing but hilarious stories, ‘eyewitness rebuttals’ all in the spirit of fun. And the most hilarious footnotes ever!
I do wish there were a bit more on the advent of digital publishing, ebooks, and all that – but I’m pretty interested in that sort of thing, disruptive technology and all that, and I appreciate it’s stuff too dry for the tone of the book, which aims toward lighthearted. The overall direction and theme help a lot in taking away the image of the publisher as humorless and heartless gatekeeper: to a reader, it makes you want to support this resilient and charming small press. To a writer, it makes you really want to work with Apex because all this (as many sections of the book are by folks Jason has worked with and Apex’s other staff) tells you it’s run by fantastic, generous and lovable people.
Get a copy. I gifted one to a friend and that’s one of the highest recommendations I can make for a book.
It’s a very personal, and very honest, book. It gets into the numbers, the practicalities: being cheated out of money by distributors, That Guy who won’t stop pitching the editor terrible novels at cons, the ups and downs of running a business specializing in some of the most unpredictable markets on earth. It also reminds us that publishing is – though certainly a business – also a thing most people do as a labor of love (paid, of course, but it’s mostly about love of reading and love of the imagination rather than the Capitalistic Dream).
It is also, of course, absolutely entertaining.
Thanks to my deep-in-the-Appalachian accent, many words I say come out sounding profane or nonsensical. “Horror” always came out as “whore.”
(I asked Jason how many times this has gotten him into trouble. Apparently, a lot!)
It amuses me thoroughly that one of Apex’s writers today literally asked Jason ‘Who the fuck are you?’ the first time they met – it’s that kind of book: full of endearing anecdotes, spirited friendship, a lot of con experiences (which make me worry for Jason – he does seem to run into excruciating health problems at cons a lot!), embarrassing but hilarious stories, ‘eyewitness rebuttals’ all in the spirit of fun. And the most hilarious footnotes ever!
I do wish there were a bit more on the advent of digital publishing, ebooks, and all that – but I’m pretty interested in that sort of thing, disruptive technology and all that, and I appreciate it’s stuff too dry for the tone of the book, which aims toward lighthearted. The overall direction and theme help a lot in taking away the image of the publisher as humorless and heartless gatekeeper: to a reader, it makes you want to support this resilient and charming small press. To a writer, it makes you really want to work with Apex because all this (as many sections of the book are by folks Jason has worked with and Apex’s other staff) tells you it’s run by fantastic, generous and lovable people.
Get a copy. I gifted one to a friend and that’s one of the highest recommendations I can make for a book.
July 21, 2015
This is an enjoyable autobiographical volume detailing the first decade of Sizemore's struggles to build a successful publishing company. It's especially interesting in that he gives many of the people he writes about the chance to respond to his perception of the events they shared. I thought his tone bordered a little on the arrogant side at times, but he did accomplish what he set out to do, and also on the other hand he didn't shy away from detailing some of his failures. I can't claim to be completely impartial in my opinion because I know several of the people involved and was present at several of the events discussed. I know that he could have said some very negative things at several points in his story and elected to not say anything, which strikes me as classy and admirable. He's published some very good works and this is the story of how he did it, told with considerable humor and honesty.
September 9, 2015
I was interested in reading a review copy of this because I have worked with people who either own or have been published by a small press. Sizemore starts off this book with some great story telling about his childhood. He paints a vivid picture of growing up in Appalachia and how his mother and his church influenced his interest in speculative/horror fiction.
At some points, I wished he had separated his exposition about the background of publishing from the narrative sections. He is great storyteller, but sometimes he included a long list of writers he worked with or he would infodump about print-on-demand. While I found both interesting, I believe he could have separated the backdrop from his hilarious tales into separate chapters or sidebar articles between stories.
People involved in the indie publishing industry will enjoy this FOR EXPOSURE. This book has a specific audience, but I believe anyone interested in some funny stories will also enjoy it.
At some points, I wished he had separated his exposition about the background of publishing from the narrative sections. He is great storyteller, but sometimes he included a long list of writers he worked with or he would infodump about print-on-demand. While I found both interesting, I believe he could have separated the backdrop from his hilarious tales into separate chapters or sidebar articles between stories.
People involved in the indie publishing industry will enjoy this FOR EXPOSURE. This book has a specific audience, but I believe anyone interested in some funny stories will also enjoy it.
April 5, 2017
Loved the hilarious look at what being a publisher means. This book was funny, honest and a damn good time!
January 3, 2019
If you are at all interested in starting a small press then do yourself a favor a read this book. If you are at all interested in the early years of Apex then read this book. If you are at all interested in what a bunch of genre authors are like during a con then read this book.
I loved everything about this book, the essays on Jason's adventures creating Apex, the rebuttals from people who were at these events, the inspiration and grit that it takes to keep something like this running. There are some really crazy things that happen here, from crazy after parties to a hospital straight out of a horror movie. It almost comes across a bit like a Hunter S. Thompson novel, with Jason as the gonzo detective digging deeper into the crazy world of genre fiction.
I think I read this at the right time as a writer, I've been questioning if I should go to some different horror writer conventions, knowing that I'd probably go alone. Well, Jason's essays are enough of a shining commentary on the fun and camaraderie that it feels like I have to go. I just have to make sure I stay away from the ham...
So, even if you are not a writer or looking to run a small press, you will still have a blast reading this. The cameo's from amazing genre authors should keep you interested and then the bizarre road Jason takes will keep you flipping the pages.
I loved everything about this book, the essays on Jason's adventures creating Apex, the rebuttals from people who were at these events, the inspiration and grit that it takes to keep something like this running. There are some really crazy things that happen here, from crazy after parties to a hospital straight out of a horror movie. It almost comes across a bit like a Hunter S. Thompson novel, with Jason as the gonzo detective digging deeper into the crazy world of genre fiction.
I think I read this at the right time as a writer, I've been questioning if I should go to some different horror writer conventions, knowing that I'd probably go alone. Well, Jason's essays are enough of a shining commentary on the fun and camaraderie that it feels like I have to go. I just have to make sure I stay away from the ham...
So, even if you are not a writer or looking to run a small press, you will still have a blast reading this. The cameo's from amazing genre authors should keep you interested and then the bizarre road Jason takes will keep you flipping the pages.
January 9, 2021
To be honest, it took me nearly a month to finally get myself to read past the first few paragraphs. It was just… weirdly religious, out of the blue, and had nothing to do with publishing. Then I promised myself I’d sit down and read through at least a chapter, and couldn’t put it down.
It’s more or less what LT thing described: humorous autobiographical essays, starting with the author’s early life -- a strange mixture of rural Baptist Christianity and Scifi/horror movies -- before moving quickly into the world of publishing. What really sets this book apart is the writing. The whole “humorous semi-autobiographical essay” genre is full of fun and engaging writing, but Sizemore is unexpectedly sharp and smart. It doesn’t feel like he’s trying too hard to be witty. Something about the writing reminds me of… well, a good Scifi author.
If you’re looking for insight into the publishing world, this isn’t really the book you want. It’s very specific to the world of Scifi/horror genre magazine publishing.
Sharp, smart, blunt, with more action than navel-gazing. He explains the inspiration and creation of Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest in just 303 words, and it's well done. That’s the kind of thing most authors would needlessly drag out for a chapter or two.
It’s more or less what LT thing described: humorous autobiographical essays, starting with the author’s early life -- a strange mixture of rural Baptist Christianity and Scifi/horror movies -- before moving quickly into the world of publishing. What really sets this book apart is the writing. The whole “humorous semi-autobiographical essay” genre is full of fun and engaging writing, but Sizemore is unexpectedly sharp and smart. It doesn’t feel like he’s trying too hard to be witty. Something about the writing reminds me of… well, a good Scifi author.
If you’re looking for insight into the publishing world, this isn’t really the book you want. It’s very specific to the world of Scifi/horror genre magazine publishing.
Sharp, smart, blunt, with more action than navel-gazing. He explains the inspiration and creation of Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest in just 303 words, and it's well done. That’s the kind of thing most authors would needlessly drag out for a chapter or two.
September 8, 2015
This is an insightful account of the hard road for a small SF publisher. Jason opens up about his struggles, his doubts, his down moments and also his accomplishments with such honesty that you can only but devour the pages.
One thing I like in writing is for authors to don't hold back and expose themselves: Jason does exactly that, from the title, and gives us his experience with all the weird and all of the mistakes.
Any history, including Apex's, is beautiful because of the ups and dows, because of the successes and the mistakes: that's what it makes it rich, useful to other aspiring editors, and... it's really funny. You can see that Jason had fun writing it (the room dedicated to the "art of relaxation" it's just hilarious)
I like Apex because is a courageous publication. Now I know why it's like that: Jason Sizemore cares.
Very recomendable!
One thing I like in writing is for authors to don't hold back and expose themselves: Jason does exactly that, from the title, and gives us his experience with all the weird and all of the mistakes.
Any history, including Apex's, is beautiful because of the ups and dows, because of the successes and the mistakes: that's what it makes it rich, useful to other aspiring editors, and... it's really funny. You can see that Jason had fun writing it (the room dedicated to the "art of relaxation" it's just hilarious)
I like Apex because is a courageous publication. Now I know why it's like that: Jason Sizemore cares.
Very recomendable!
August 18, 2018
This is the hilarious account of how Jason Sizemore had a mid life crisis and decided to launch his own publishing company, Apex, which needs no introduction.
Reading this book has given me so much respect and admiration for small independent publishers. The struggles of a writer are very well documented but for the first time you get to see the trials and tribulations of an editor.
Jason Sizemore recounts his journey of becoming on of the top indie publishers with pure charm and sincerity. I was really rooting for him and long live Apex. It's a very honest account of his struggles and shortcomings with brilliant anecdotes of book con shenanigans. I've never been to a convention but after reading this I'm dying to try them out! Bring on StokerCon 2020!
Reading this book has given me so much respect and admiration for small independent publishers. The struggles of a writer are very well documented but for the first time you get to see the trials and tribulations of an editor.
Jason Sizemore recounts his journey of becoming on of the top indie publishers with pure charm and sincerity. I was really rooting for him and long live Apex. It's a very honest account of his struggles and shortcomings with brilliant anecdotes of book con shenanigans. I've never been to a convention but after reading this I'm dying to try them out! Bring on StokerCon 2020!
June 20, 2020
Cool little biography about Apex Magazine. Funny little stories about the magazine. Comparable to The Cat And The Curmudgeon, but the viewpoint character changes.
There are a couple of formatting things I didn't like (Bold brackets take over a whole chapter). There is an odd joke where Jason finds himself in a compromising situation (Orgy, 16 year old selling his books, women pees on him) that is executed one too many times for my tastes.
There are a couple of formatting things I didn't like (Bold brackets take over a whole chapter). There is an odd joke where Jason finds himself in a compromising situation (Orgy, 16 year old selling his books, women pees on him) that is executed one too many times for my tastes.
May 3, 2022
For Exposure is an honest look at the ups and downs of small press-publishing and a love letter to making art with friends. A great read for those in publishing or seeking to be in publishing, or anyone stuck in a dead-end job who longs for more.
August 28, 2018
Definitely an interesting look at one of the leaders in indie publishing and their path from first issue to years later. 3.5*
June 9, 2022
Some fun anecdotes, some insights into the growth and inner workings of a small press.
July 12, 2015
To massacre Dickens, it was the best of books, it was the worst of books, averaging out to 3 stars. I enjoyed the story very much, and Mr. Sizemore is an entertaining writer. I didn't enjoy lengthy explanations of inside jokes, and then reading the inside joke stories twice over, once from Sizemore, and once from a bystander at the time. Story-wise, my heart bled for a guy trying to launch a new publication, working his keyster off, and eventually settling on an on-line-only magazine.
Starting up and launching a new magazine is nigh unto impossible, what with finding seed money; finding talent; managing printing, distribution, sales, and, hopefully, profits; and hoping you can excite people with your ideas, editing skill, and vision for the future. Like many who jump into this shark pond, Mr. Sizemore had vague ideas but no experience. With hard work, blind luck, a supportive wife, and the good fortune of great and talented friends, Apex is a success story.
Starting up and launching a new magazine is nigh unto impossible, what with finding seed money; finding talent; managing printing, distribution, sales, and, hopefully, profits; and hoping you can excite people with your ideas, editing skill, and vision for the future. Like many who jump into this shark pond, Mr. Sizemore had vague ideas but no experience. With hard work, blind luck, a supportive wife, and the good fortune of great and talented friends, Apex is a success story.
January 26, 2016
3.5 stars
I’m a follower of Apex Publications, but I had my doubts about this book, as I was afraid it was going to be too dense or specialized for a person like me, who knows nothing about the American publishing business. But I must say it’s been a pleasant surprise. The story of how Apex Publishing came to be turned out to be highly entertaining and informative, with plenty of hilarious behind-the-scene anecdotes. My main problem with the book was its sort of rashomonesque structure, in which those chapters written by Jason Sizemore intermingle with others with slightly (sometimes not so slightly) different versions of the same facts written by some of his collaborators, because although it worked well at the beginning, it started to feel too repetitive as I advanced in the book. And the same goes for some of the lengthy footnotes. Despite those caveats, I would recommend this book to any genre fan.
I’m a follower of Apex Publications, but I had my doubts about this book, as I was afraid it was going to be too dense or specialized for a person like me, who knows nothing about the American publishing business. But I must say it’s been a pleasant surprise. The story of how Apex Publishing came to be turned out to be highly entertaining and informative, with plenty of hilarious behind-the-scene anecdotes. My main problem with the book was its sort of rashomonesque structure, in which those chapters written by Jason Sizemore intermingle with others with slightly (sometimes not so slightly) different versions of the same facts written by some of his collaborators, because although it worked well at the beginning, it started to feel too repetitive as I advanced in the book. And the same goes for some of the lengthy footnotes. Despite those caveats, I would recommend this book to any genre fan.
January 17, 2016
Sizemore takes us from his Kentucky childhood, through a job that he hated and walked away from, and up to his present-day adventures at Apex Magazine, one of science fiction and fantasy's most respected publications. He's proud of his work, but he's also quick to share many of his misadventures and mistakes along the way. Over the years, Sizemore has befriended many people in the SFF community, some of whom were also witnesses to the book's events. He gives these folks space for formal rebuttals to the way he remembers or characterizes things, which is a fun way of going about it, as his memories don't always mesh with the memories of others (alcohol might have been involved, or food poisoning, or kidney stones, or...). An entertaining read that shines light on the world of small-press indie publishing.
August 10, 2015
I received For Exposure: The Life and Times of a Small Press Publisher by Jason Sizemore as an LibraryThing Early Reviewer. It tells the tale of Sizemore's struggle to found and maintain the fantastic Apex Publications. It's an entertaining read with plenty of detail (and guest rebuttals) of what Sizemore has gone through as a small press publisher. Brings a good dose of insight into the small press world.
June 24, 2015
Full review is here: http://overtheeffingrainbow.co.uk/201...
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews