Shuffle the Cards - Shuffle the Creators

SIAMB! is going through chaaaaaaaaaanges, the occasional growing pain, and may just gain a new stretchmark or two. As you all undoubtedly know, this year has been bonkers from tits to teeth, and we are all just doing our best to doggy-paddle in tsunami-troubled waters. From a moldy attic to the unwelcome reappearance of fleas and mice to slowly becoming a stepparent, this summer has offered its challenges–high risk, high reward–with a quick slap to the face and a pat on the back. 

Amidst all this wackiness, Sir Princess Brutus and I sat down for a chat about our current capacities for creative life. We came to some interesting and necessary conclusions: that we were both feeling overworked and that our priorities have shifted. Believe me, the burnout is REAL. 

So, what does that mean for SIAMB!? 

Our scrappy little press–one of the many joys in my life–is undergoing a leadership transition and considering a new model by which to function. Sir Princess Brutus has stepped down at SIAMB! to step up at Pop! Booker (check it out here), while I, D. Marise, am stepping down as the leader of Whitty Writers and stepping up as the newest CEO of SIAMB!. 

All this to say, we’re not going anywhere. We’re just going through a puberty of sorts: popping pimples and devoting far too much time to social media. 

Good things await on the horizon–never fear. Keep an eye open for a mailbox or two stationed around two, with books and zines and prompts intended to inspire. Get ready for our revamped office space at MUST and check out our publications on the shelves inside! 

SIAMB! lives to see another day, publish the art we wanted to engage with as kids, and continue bridging the literary community from Chicago to Texas. We’re here, we’re queer, and we may be drinking less beer, but we’re still kicking it into high gear. 

Happy writing, 

D. Marise, Newly-Minted CEO