The Presses
| Zine Publisher | |
|---|---|
| Name: | The Presses (subsidiaries Otter Limits Press, Bodacious Press, Heart of the Matter Press, Lime 'n' deCoconut Press) |
| Contact: | TM Alexander & P.J. Alexander |
| Type: | fanzine publisher, print |
| Fandoms: | Sentinel & Due South |
| Status: | defunct |
| Other: | |
| URL: | http://members.xoom.com/thepresses/ (site offline and not archived) |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Presses was a slash and gen fanzine publisher in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was often used as an umbrella term for all of the presses created by the fans who operated them. These included: Bodacious Press (slash), Otter Limits Press (gen), Heart of the Matter Press, and Lime 'n' deCoconut Press (slash).
TM Alexander & P.J. Alexander published primarily Sentinel and Due South fanzines.
Heart of the Matter Press was a subsidiary of our other press that we were doing. We had Bodacious Press was our slash zines, Otter Limits Press was our gen zines, and after some years we decided, let's just call ourselves "The Presses" and put everything underneath it. So, yeah, we were known as "The Presses," because we had so many subsidiaries. [1]
"Tailored Classic"
A plan from the very early 2000s for some fan casted original fiction:
Tailored Classics are our line of slash novels that are based on classic films and cast with people from favorite TV shows.
While the majority of them will be by either TM Alexander or PJ Alexander and illustrated by KOZ, we'd like to get this series going with fiction other than our own. Let's see what you've got! If you have a 'customized' story that you've based on an old film, take a look at our guidelines and editorial policy for this series and drop us a line at The Presses. [2]
Some examples:
By PJ Alexander, Illustrated by KOZ. Based on the classic film Jane Eyre and featuring stars from Fox's The X-Files.
Orphaned at an early age, Willem Foxe spent his youth growing up in a strict school for boys, striving toward a future as an educator under the ever-watchful eye of the ruthless Professor Morley, while learning about human nature from amorous, self-serving upperclassmen.
Upon graduation, he answers an advert for a tutor at the country estate of Lord Sergius Walters, a man of great mystery and rumored to be a tyrant. Foxe soon finds himself ensconced in the huge, foreboding Raven Rock Manor, taking on the challenge of teaching Katherine Danielle, Lord Walters' teen-aged charge, who has come to live with her uncle upon the death of her mother.
While Foxe and his pupil become friends, it is the ominous, enigmatic Walters who commands the young teacher's curiosity -- and soon, his passion. But his regard is not so easily reciprocated, for the Lord of Raven Rock has other intentions...and despite their mutual attraction, Foxe soon learns of the dark secret which stands between him and the man he desires.[3]
By TM Alexander, Illustrated by KOZ: Based on the film The Mirror Has Two Faces and featuring the cast of The Sentinel.
A classic tale of two people searching for love everywhere but right in front of them. Wolfe Bergmann is a college professor of music, the Ugly Duckling of his talented family of accomplished musicians, who dreams of one day finding his Handsome Prince. Unbeknownst to him, his well-meaning younger sister decides to answer an ad in his name placed by Jacob Emerson, an attractive professor of literature, who wants nothing more than a platonic relationship. Wolfe is happy with the arrangement for a time, but before he knows it he finds himself falling for his new friend. The situation worsens when Jacob reveals the real reason he chose Wolfe. It is only after a few hearts are broken that Jacob realizes his feelings have changed -- but is he too late?[4]
By PJ Alexander, Illustrated by KOZ: Based on the classic Tarzan series with Johnny Weismüller and featuring stars from Sci Fi's The Sentinel.
When Benjamin travels to meet his father ¾ the renowned botanist Professor Josef Sanderson ¾ in the Brazilian Amazon circa 1904, the young college student encounters a living legend of that region. Jagupóri ¾ the Ghost Jaguar.
The first installment of this series finds young Sanderson embroiled in a web of adventure, greed and treachery. Separated from his campsite, feared dead, Benjamin barely escapes the hungry jaws of bush dogs, only to be captured by a savage wild man living among jaguars.
Still Working, inquire October 2000 - Watch this site for updates.[5]
From an Interview
The editor, P.J. Alexander gave an interview in 2001 discussing the appeal of fanzines:
The average writer seems to be female, between the ages of 20 and 40, single, and working in a clerical job. Remember this is an average, there are exceptions in all cases," said P.J. Alexander editor of fanzine publishers The Presses. Ms. Alexander says much of fan fiction's appeal is its friendliness to new writers.I would say this is a perfect place to hone writing skills," she said.
She points to a long list of professional authors with large followings as proof: Mercedes Lackey (known in fan circles as Misti), Teri Smith, Melanie R., Constance Faddis and Julia Ecklar, to name but a few, are all writers who've crossed the line from amateur fan fiction to professional writing.
Fanzines introduce one to the world of publishing, deadlines, and in some cases, editing, which prepares one for the rigorous field of pro writing," Ms. Alexander said. [6]
On the Cusp of Online
In 2000, fanfiction was on the cusp of print and online. An ad in The Web After Dark reflected this major shift in fanwork creation and access.
The following is from a flyer illustrating this shift, including the need to explain the difference between a novel and an anthology.
THE PRESSES: Bringing Online to Zine Form: If you have a story you've published online and would like to see it in print as a novel with illustrations by KOZ, drop us an Email...
All we ask is that the work not have been in a fanzine before and you allow a little technical cleanup via punctuation and spelling, should the piece need it.
Novels should be at least 50 pages long when you save it to a word processing file. Send it to us as an attached file saved in MS Word 7 or under, Word Perfect 6 and under, Write for Windows 98 or under, or a text only file.
A collection is five or six stories by one author. The total page-count on the five or six should be around 50 pages.
All zines are published in digest-size with a full color cover and several color illustrations amongst the black and white ones inside.
Authors receive ten copies of the novel/novella/collection to do with as they please. Give them away or sell them at the asking price. It's our way of saying thank you.
There are still many, many people not online. Have your work seen by an unlimited audience.
From another 2000 flyer:
flyer printed in Walking in the SkyThe Presses.... produces novels and novellas for authors other than those on staff. If you would like to have a novel edited, illustrated by KOZ or PeeJ, and published, contact us for further information.
Authors get eleven copies of their publication — one for themselves and ten to give away or sell. (We're a fannish press and cannot afford to pay our writers. Giving the author ten copies is our way of payment, and showing our appreciation for a job well done.)
We work in various fandoms including The X-Files, The Sentinel, Due South, Stargate SG-1, and more.
We can produce a list of references (authors we've published and worked with) upon request.
Get that novel out there! Not everyone is online!
Proposed But Never Published
Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me
A proposed third zine in the series with Lost in the Shadows and I Still Believe.
Planned for October 1996, it was never published. From the flyer:
I will find you, David. And when I do, I will give you the love you so desperately need....
Indigo is about to keep the promise he made on the Santa Carla boardwalk. After a period of wandering, learning to accept himself and to take control of his immortal life, the young Latino vampire from Chicago is ready to find his destiny.
In this, the third and final installment of The LOST IN THE SHADOWS Trilogy, Indigo is reunited with David, the elusive and troubled blond vampire who created him. He locates his former lover and mentor in New Orleans, where David has established a standing in a community where vampires are known and accepted. The fire of passion still burns deep, but David and Indigo must settle their differences and finally accept the fact that they are meant to be together.
It is an effort made more difficult by the appearance of a renegade vampire who wants to claim David’s territory... and the arrival of a boy from David’s past who wants to settle an old score.
Even Cowboys Get the Blues
A 1995ish zine, slash, Otter Limits Press, sequel to the movie, "The Cowboy Way," "Following their trip to The Big Apple, Sonny, Pepper and Teresa return home to New Mexico and another rodeo season. But while Pepper and Teresa are off on their Las Vegas honeymoon, a stranger named Teodoro arrives from Cuba, claiming to be the son of the late "Nacho" Salazar. As a favor to his dead friend, Sonny takes Teo on as a new hand, teaching him all the ropes of ranch living and life on the rodeo circuit. But soon Teo begins to show Sonny a thing or two about his deepest, darkest feelings, awakening the cowboy to a side of himself that he has never before realized... and the closer they get, the more Sonny falls apart. And all this turmoil ain't doin' a thing to help his concentration out in the arena."
The Final Curtain Affair
A Man from U.N.C.L.E. zine, 1995, "By Tami Marie, Illustrated by KOZ. Sepheran won't rest until he's had his revenge upon the two men who ruined his life — and with the help of a fellow ex-con, he plans to carry out his long awaited plot, by doing what no other man, woman or Thrush has ever been able to accomplish, by killing the Solo-Kuryakin friendship. Slated for late summer 1994.," Otter Limits Press/The Presses
Karma-Chi-Love Thing
A due South zine with five stories.
Karmic Concurrence 3
A The Man from U.N.C.L.E. zine that already had with two issues. There was to be a third issue that would contain slash. This issue was never published. From the first issue, regarding this third issue and genre:
Issue #3 is up to our writers and artists. We are taking votes at this-time as to whether or not you readers would like to see female-incarnation (the men as, as, girls)stories. If so, we will allow one per issue. Be sure and let us know how you feel about that, as we want to please our readers our much as possible. Issue #3 is slated to be devoted to the lives in which these spirits might have been lovers. Our readers should be warned that we will look at all sorts of stories, including same-sex. However, this cannot be considered "SLASH," as all the characters represented in KC are original; if they happened to be created as Homosexuals, well... that's the "lay" of the land. We will strive not to have this sort of story dominate the zine — however that really depends on what our writers send us. In keeping with our guidelines, however, we draw the line at an "R" rating. We're not out to do a "hot-licks" publication: we're out to do one that spans time, and presents adventure to the reader.
Knob Hill
A gen, "Doug and Bob McKenzie" zine. "We will happily review poetry, short stories, filks, and comix (strip style). We will also view scripts for comix style art. We are desperate for artists and any other lunatics or Elsinore escapees to work on this piece of... literary genius," Otter Limits Press, 1985
The Leviathan Affair
A 1995, Man from U.N.C.L.E. zien, Otter Limits Press, written by PJ Alexander
Live and Die in Ballet Affair
A Man from U.N.C.L.E. zine, 1995, Otter Limits Press, written and illustrated by PJ Alexander
Masterkey
A 1980, Doctor Who zine, Otter Limits Press
Partners in Crime
A multifandom zine, 1995, Otter Limits Press. "A collection of stories featuring Cop, Enforcement, Detective, Spy, Good guys, and Bad guys type stories from all times and places. Fandoms will include: MUNCLE, X-Files, Starsky & Hutch, Department S, 21 Jump Street just to name a few."
Ridin' Out the Storm
A Miami Vice zine, 1995, slash, Otter Limits Press, by Robyn LaSalle and Tosya Stohn, illustrated by KOZ, "In this tense, digest-sized novella, Sonny's return to Miami coincides with the arrive of Hurricane Andrew."
Sleepless in Manhattan
A Man from U.N.C.L.E. zine, 1994, Otter Limits Press, by Robyn LaSalle, illustrated by KOZ, a story based on the classic movie "An Affair to Remember."
Territorial Imperative, Yukon Extreme, Aqsiqniq
A series of due South zines: Territorial Imperative (slated for Fall 2002), Yukon Extreme (slated for Spring 2002), and Aqsiqniq (slated for Fall 2002).
They are all in the series with Northwest Passage and The Brothers Kowalski.
Third Power
This was to be a sequel to to the zine, The Second Power, which was a The First Power/Kiefer/Lou zine. Summary:
To Russ' horror, Patrick Charming has found a way back -- this time through someone very close to Russ. Close as a lover. Can he save Tarri from the evil spirit that possesses him, without permanently damaging - or even killing him?
The Wakan's Dream
This was a 1992 Renegades/Thunderheart Kiefer/Lou novella, Otter Limits Press/Heart of the Matter Press, slash, by Robyn LaSalle and Tosya Stohn, illustrated by KOZ, "Studying under Grampa Reaches, Wakans-in-training Hank Storm and Ray LeVoi follow the old man on a quest for ceremonial peyote. Meanwhile, Buster McHenry approaches Ray's lover Walter Crow Horse for advice on how to tell Hank he loves him. Then they receive word that Hank, Ray, and Grampa have been abducted by drug dealers."
Willem Foxe
WILLEM FOXE by TM Alexander, complete with Victorian illustrations by KOZ. An X-File AU spun to the tune of Jane Eyre in the darkest Brontean fashion. We're all familiar with Jane Eyre, from her tragic childhood to her hard-earned triumph with Mr. Rochester. Being the hopeless romantics we are, and always loving the fen "/" AU stories recast with favorite slash teams, we were struck with the idea of gender-reversing Jane into young Willem (Fox Mulder) Foxe, hired tutor to Mr. Sergei (AD Skinner) Gauthier's ward Katherine Danielle (Dana Scully, a young woman rather than a child). The Eyre/Rochester relationship transfers to Foxe/Gauthier. The story gets steamier page by page, from Willem's banishment to the strict and rutheless care of Mr. Morley (Cancer Man)and his boy's school, to Foxe's defiant determination to strike out on his own by turning down a teaching position, instead accepting a job under the dark and watchful eye of Mr. Gauthier. Everyone has a part, even Krycek! Slated for winter 1997.
References
- ^ Media Fandom Oral History Project Interview with TM Alexander (2012)
- ^ The Presses
- ^ The Presses
- ^ The Presses
- ^ The Presses
- ^ Hello Mary Sue!, Archived version 2001. (Accessed 16 March 2010)