What is the Value Chain? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

Peter Workman referred to it as “The Three Legged Stool,” meaning that if one stakeholder wasn’t benefiting in some way, a book would fail. And that’s a catchier way to explain the concept that publishing a book has to add value to everyone who touches it at every stage. This week on the pod, we unpack the idea of what makes any organization successful.

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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How did we become the distributor for the new Lydia Davis book? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

Popular author Lydia Davis decided that she no longer wanted her books sold on Amazon. So she tasked her agent with finding a publisher who could do this for her. Everyone said that it was impossible. But through a unique partnership between Microcosm and Bookshop.org, we found a way. And it wasn’t even hard. This is how it turned out. Over 10,000 books sold in the first month and growing!

Check out our interview with Sarah High here.

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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An Interview with Rick Griffith, owner of The Shop at MATTER in Denver, Colorado.

Welcome to the next installment of the Bookstore Solidarity Project! Every month, we’ll be highlighting indie bookstore owners and booksellers across the country.

This month, we’re featuring The Shop at MATTER in Denver! It’s a Black- and woman-owned store that also triples as a design consultancy and letterpress workshop.

Your name and pronouns?
Rick Griffith (He/Him/Them)

Tell us a little bit about the store and your community!
Since 2014 our bookstore has been the only Black- and woman-owned independent, full service (internet and brick) cultural justice bookstore in the United States Mountain Time Zone. We are a haven for fem, queer, non-binary, trans, LatinX, Indigenous, AAPI, and Black persons. We have always respected and invested in the intellectual and creative products of the people who represent our community. We have a print shop with five letterpress printing presses and thousands of pieces of wood type that we employ to print community projects that are pro-democracy, pro-liberation, and pro-freedom. We are political—and we are activists. A bookstore to integrate Art, Design and Cultural Justice for all generations.

What got you into bookselling?
The desire to positively affect the lives of the people we know and love with books and products that acknowledge those of us in the margins.

What’s something about your store that you think will surprise people?
We are working on a lending library for our community so everyone can have access. We have five 19th and early 20th century printing presses. We letterpress print for our community and ask people to pay what they can afford for most of our prints.

What are some of you favorite ways your community supports your store?
Besides buying books, buying our prints and posters. Ordering for personal and business book clubs. Having us bring our pop-up to conferences and large gatherings. Getting the word out. Shopping in pairs.

What are two books you can’t wait for people to read, or your current favorite handsells?
Can’t Pay Won’t Pay and There are Places in the World Where Rules are Less Important than Kindness

How can customers who aren’t local shop your shelves?
on the internet: shopatmatter.com

Anything else you would like us to know?
We are love, revolution, and abolition.

Be sure to follow The Shop at MATTER on Instagram and Facebook, and check out their interview on our podcast here!

Check out our other Bookstore Solidarity Project posts here!
And click here to check out How to Protect Bookstores and Why.


The Intimacy Conversation Deck by Dr. Faith G. Harper

If you’re looking for a way to grow even closer with your partner (or partners!), this new deck from Dr. Faith is a great place to start!


Intimacy isn’t always easy to bring up in a relationship. Vulnerability can be rough, and figuring out where to start or what to say can be tricky. This deck offers approachable, bite-size prompts that you can use to jump-start conversations, gain new insights, and improve your romantic and sexual relationships.


The deck has 52 cards that cover everything from past relationships to romance to what you want in bed (and out!), helping you dive in and open up with your loved one. (Or yourself—the cards make great journaling prompts, too!)

We’re nearing the end of the Kickstarter for Intimacy Conversation Deck, but you still have time to back the project! It could make a great gift for Valentine’s Day, or just as a way to show a partner you care.

How does design build community bookselling? w/ Rick from Shop at MATTER (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

The Shop at MATTER has been an innovative bookseller and design studio for decades. For our featured bookseller of the month we invite Rick Griffith to discuss the intersection of revolutionary bookselling and radical design.

Check out their interview on the blog here!

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Check out other Bookstore Solidarity Project Posts here.

What is a Publishing Sales Conference? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

In several previous episodes, we’ve made reference to presenting your books at a “sales conference.” It’s a fundamentally misleading event, since you aren’t actually presenting to buyers. So this week, on the pod, we answer the reader question “What is a sales conference?”

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

A Holiday Shopping Guide, Microcosm Style

Welcome to the first ever Microcosm “oh crap I’m supposed to be thinking about gifts for people” guide! Between zines, buttons, books, patches, and more, we’ve got something for everyone on your list.

(Or yourself, because you deserve something fun, too.)

Plus, you can use coupon code DECEMBER to get 10% off on your order from now until December 8th.

We’ve sorted it all by interest, to make things easier for you. Happy scrolling!

The Zine Lover

Disgruntled Barista Coloring Book is part graphic novel, part coloring book. This zine takes you on a caffeinated journey through the working lives of baristas and the customers they serve coffee to every day.

Other ideas: Conspiracy Fun Book (Holiday Edition)Indigenous NomsThe Revolution Won’t Forget the Holidays,  True Cat Confessions50 Ways to Protect Bookstores

The Cozy One

Everyday Herbal Teamaking is a great little pocket guide to 35 easily-accessible herbs that make great teas, perfect for the comfy-cozy time of year.

Other Ideas: Flowering Plants & How to Grow ThemWinter Window Gardens & How to Grow ThemMake Your PlaceBread of the Resistance

The Memoir/Music/Travel Journal/Self Improvement Fan

That’s very specific, but you’ll definitely want to check out Beatles Blackouts, Jack Marriott’s journey to visit every single Beatles monument in the world after he hit rock bottom. 

Other Ideas: Couple’s Vacation PassportSober Travel HandbookCola Pop Creemees, “Hittin’ the Road” PatchPunk USA

The Activist

From Conflict to Community is Gwendolyn Olton’s guide to resolving conflicts without calling the cops (or HR). It’s a realistic and kind read for anyone looking into the world of mutual aid and community care.

Other Ideas: “Free Palestine” Button“Defend Trans Kids” stickerDirect Action HandbookHow to Organize Inclusive EventsThe Enduring Legacy of Portland’s Black Panthers

The Cyclist

The Bikes in Space series is full of fun and feminist sci-fi and fantasy short stories. The latest volume, The Bicyclist’s Guide to the Galaxy, adds a bookish twist to it all!

Other: Cruiser Bike Sticker“Put the Fun Between Your Legs” ShirtGo by BicycleHow to Ride SlowBiking Fun Magnets

The Witchy One

The Practical Witch’s Almanac 2024 is all about growing your craft in the new year. This planner has recipes, spells, DIY projects, all focused on herbalism, magic, divination, and more!

Other Ideas: Pocket Guide to Futhark RunesCulpeper’s Complete AstrologyDivine Deco Tarot (and Coloring Book!), Year of the Witch“Kitchen Witch” Sticker

The Writer

The Wayward Writer is all about writing without selling out or selling yourself short. With practical advice on balancing your writing craft with progressive ideas, this is a book for anyone who wants to turn writing into an honest literary community.

Other Ideas: From Dream to RealityPromote Your BookUnf*ck Your Writing“This Font Is Chaotic Evil” Sticker, “Revolution Between the Lines” Pin

The Self-Help Reader

Unfu*ck Your Stress might seem like a strange gift (“here, I got you this book to help you calm the heck down!”) but honestly, we all know someone who could use Dr. Faith’s clutch advice on helping turn overwhelm into excitement. 

Other Ideas: Stress Coping Skills DeckMonthly Manifestation ManualHow to Get Off Social Media and Still Keep In Touch With Your FriendsI Love My Queer Kid“Do No Harm Take No Sh*t” Pin“You Got This” Sticker

The One You Don’t Know How To Shop For

Whether they don’t like gifts or have read just about everything we have, hook them up with a gift certificateBFF subscription, or even donate books to incarcerated folks in their honor.

We hope this list was helpful!
Remember to be kind to folks this holiday, and shop local where you can.

How Should Publishers Handle Submissions? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

How do authors find a publisher? (Or, how can publishers find authors?) How do publishers choose which books to acquire? What does the development and contract negotiation process look like? How can the publishing process be re-shaped to be more inclusive for diversity, equity, and inclusion? What are the best practices? Why do they work?

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers!

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

What are the jobs of a publisher? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

When we tell strangers what we do, they either bemoan the death of the publishing industry or assume that we sit around and read books all day. So this week on the pod, we take a look at what a publisher actually does and the outcome of all of this work!

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

How Do I Know if My Book is “Good?” (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

Taste is subjective and arbitrary, but still, everyone carries a certain amount of imposter syndrome, wondering if their book if any good. So this week on the pod, we take a look at what makes a book good, successful, and resonating with readers!

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!