How do you set a personal budget, even if thinking about money feels like the worst thing ever? What if you’re allergic to spreadsheets, or your family set you up with a ton of anxiety and expectations around finances?
Joe Biel, founder and CEO of Microcosm and regular host of the pod, did a little seminar for Microcosm staff on setting a personal budget and Joe’s favorite tips for money management. We got so much out of it, we wanted to share it with you!
In-demand independent publishers available via MCP in 2026!
Portland, OR—Microcosm Publishing & Distribution has entered distribution agreements with three new client publishers: Nine Ten Publications, a Canadian publisher specializing in art, craft, and creativity; Bellingham, WA-based Generous Press, focused on high-caliber romance writing by queer, BIPOC, and disabled writers; and Bobby Dazzler, a mission-driven imprint of Jim Dandy Books featuring non-fiction and self-help titles that offer support for mental wellbeing, illness, and discrimination.
Of the new partnerships, Microcosm founder and CEO, Joe Biel, says, “We’re excited about our growing collaborations with these publishers—they are solid complements to Microcosm’s own offerings in home and crafts, inclusive erotica and body positivity, and self-help and that acknowledges systemic injustice. They’re a breath of fresh air expanding genres in substantial ways that are honestly interesting. All of them are logical companions to what we publish while still being remarkably different from us editorially.”
Nine Ten’s newest release, Kate Atherley’s Math for Knitters, quickly skyrocketed to #5 on the Globe and Mail bestsellers chart of Canadian non-fiction and has been taking the U.S. by storm, selling out of its first print run as it landed in Microcosm’s warehouse. Kim Werker of Nine Ten is excited about the new partnership, explaining “Working with a values-aligned partner and such an enjoyable team to bring our books to a much wider audience of makers is a tremendous leap for Nine Ten.”
Generous Press has been racking up praise for Black romantic comedy novel Losing Sightby Tati M. Richardson and inclusive romance anthology Someplace Generous, edited by publishers Amber Flame and Elaina Ellis (formerly of Copper Canyon). Their previous titles were praised by the trade and continue to be popular. Elaina Ellis approached Microcosm for their new distribution relationship because “The inclusive romance market is surging, and Generous Press is growing along with it. Microcosm has cracked the code on scaling with integrity—they’re the ideal partner to help us meet this incredible moment.”
And Bobby Dazzler (co-led by Duncan MacLeod and Brenda Knight, formerly of Mango Publishing) is preparing its list of titles curated specifically for a collaboration with Microcosm. Knight says, “Microcosm is the stuff of dreams to me as a writer, publisher and fan of badass book people. I can’t wait for the day when the super cool feed store that sells gift books and CBD lattes is selling our books. Microcosm will put them there.”
Microcosm vice president Elly Blue noted of all the new distribution clients, “These books feel like a natural fit for us—I love the way they bring practical, political, and inclusive ideas into their respective lists.” Microcosm currently represents Nine Ten Publications and their full front- and backlist catalogs everywhere but Canada, and will begin worldwide distribution for Generous Press with their spring 2026 frontlist. Microcosm will offer worldwide distribution for Bobby Dazzler’s frontlist titles beginning in 2026.
“Innovation” is one of the biggest words you hear in just about any industry, especially with the rise of our new AI overlords. It can be so tempting to make big changes just for the sake of making changes! But what is real innovation, and how do you know when it needs to happen? How do you innovate with intention? Is innovation even right for you? Jane Friedman of The Bottom Line is back with Joe and Elly this week to talk about branding, change, innovation, and how to go about it all thoughtfully. (Does “innovation” sound like a word to you anymore?)
Usually books and math don’t mix. The book people sit in one spot, the math in another, with their calculators and abacuses (or whatever it is math people use). But Microcosm founder and CEO Joe Biel is a known champion of combining the two!
This week on the pod, Joe and Elly talk about the math that goes into publishing, from finances, to calculating print runs, and everything in between.
Breaking it off? Got dumped? Parting ways with a pal? Ouch, that hurts. Even beyond the heartache, embarrassment, and logistical strain of the moment, breakups can summon up all our old baggage to play havoc with our lives and heads.
Dr. Faith G. Harper, bestselling author of books like Unfuck Your Brain and Unfuck Your Intimacy, brings you a kind, relatable, and plain-language guide to all things break-up: deciding to do it (or not), doing the thing, and picking up the pieces afterward to build a life that suits you better than ever. Whether or not the breakup was your idea, or if the partnership was romantic, sexual, or platonic, no matter the seriousness of the bond or the shared responsibilities and finances involved, parting ways can be a canon life event with powerful transformational potential as you rise from the wreckage. And it’s never too late to come back to your best self.
Keep reading for an excerpt of Dr. Faith G. Harper’s Unfuck Your Breakup,shipping now from our site and available through your favorite purveyors of indie books!
Being an author can often be an isolating experience. From writing to marketing, you’re often running solo.
Jessie Kwak, author of FROM CHAOS TO CREATIVITY and FROM SOLO TO SUPPORTED, joins us on the podcast this week to talk about building community as a freelance author, making connections as an introvert, and leaning into what people will notice about you.
Connect to nature and live to tell the tale with this camping guide packed with practical knowledge from a time before ultralight backpacking gadgets, synthetic rainwear, and cell phones. The emphasis is on preparation and survival, starting with how to plan your trip, pick your companions, how to get to your campsite, and what gear, food, and clothes to bring along. You’ll learn to choose a good campsite and set up your tarp or build a lean-to, and navigate on your backcountry trek. There’s an extensive section on wilderness first aid, plus guides to backwoods housekeeping and cooking, blazing a trail, starting a fire without a match, sending smoke signals, and choosing the best axe.
In the words of the author, “Camping calls for old clothes, lack of luxuries and conveniences, primitive life, and unfailing good temper and cheerfulness under all conditions, as well as plenty of hard work and a willingness to do one’s share of anything and everything without being asked.” If roughing it is more your style than glamping, this guide will spark your imagination and help you plan your next trip.
Keep reading for an excerpt of Elly Blue’s foreword to How to Survive in the Woods, our new edition of A. Hyatt Verrill’sBook of Camping, first published in 1917. Shipping direct from the Microcosm site starting December 8th, or available from your favorite local Microcosm purveyor in April 2026!
Put simply, bookstore co-op is a tool publishers can use to incentivize bookstores for ordering and featuring their books, or hosting events with their authors. Is co-op right for your publisher? How do you best use it? Jane Friedman of The Bottom Line is back to chat with Joe and Elly about co-op, Microcosm’s experience with it, and how to communicate with buyers and reps about it.
Inside the treasured “nerd Disneyland” of Annapolis
Welcome to the Indie Solidarity Project! Part of Microcosm’s special sauce is our network of amazing retailers around the world—some of whom are traditional bookstores, but many more who aren’t solely book-focused—we peddle “books for stores who don’t sell books!” as our sales team puts it. Much like our Bookstore Solidarity Project, this series highlights our partners who run all kinds of small and independent businesses, blazing their own trails, supporting their communities, and growing our small world.
This week, we’re pleased to introduce you to Third Eye Comics, crown jewel of the Annapolis game, toy, music, and media scene. Co-owner, founder, and president Steve Anderson guides us through the personality-packed stores that have inspired a legion of Third Eye Faithful (a.k.a. loyal customers) with their diverse array of specialties for every nerdy niche. Dive in to learn more about this “place for everyone who doesn’t have a place”!
Tell us a little bit about the store and your community Third Eye is a regional chain of 8 locations varying in size, with the Annapolis stores – Third Eye Comics, Third Eye Music & Video and Third Eye Games being the biggest and the ones we’re known the best for. We consider ourselves the nerd equivalent of Disneyland for many, where no matter what your passion is: be it books, be it comics, be it music, be it toys, we have it for you. We’re very thankful to have the most diehard and enthusiastic customers in the world, affectionately known as the Third Eye Faithful, who truly make the stores what they are.
How was the store’s name chosen? There’s a few different reasons. The first was when we opened in 2008 —the phone book was still relevant, and I wanted something that we could spell numerically to get to the top of the listings, ha! But: the main choice for it comes from wanting a name for our store that we could shorten in case we moved into other categories (as we ended up doing). Third Eye stores are unlike any other, and we really wanted something that captured that. And, then the nerdy reason? I love Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing so much that I thought it’d be a fun nod to the occult bookstore, Third Eye Books, in the series. 🙂
How did you get into your store’s area of business? I started working at the comic shop I grew up going to when I was 18, and fell in love with it. The relationships with the customers, the atmosphere, the whole thing, but at the same time: also fell in love with specialty retail as a whole. I worked there until I was 23, tried my hand at a few jobs I wasn’t as wild about, and ended up going back to the comic shop at 24, working there all week, delivering pizzas on the weekends and nights, and selling my collection at local shows to raise the money to open the first Third Eye store.
What’s something about your store that you think will surprise people? It’s weird to say, but people are always surprised to find out we’re independently owned and operated. Our stores are large, and with the multiple locations, and the consistency of our brand across them, folks often think we’re much bigger than we actually are. Don’t get me wrong: for nerd stores, we are big, but it’s still Trish (my wife & co-founder) and myself working the stores and warehouses every day, alongside our amazing staff, many of whom have been with us for 10+ years.
What are some of you favorite ways your community supports your store? Honestly, the way they embrace all the crazy fun things we do. Whether it’s introducing new product categories, and them getting stoked on them, or turning out in droves for our events and chanting BUY THIRD EYE OR DIE for a midnight release: we just love how much they feel a part of Third Eye, and how important it is to them!
What are some of your favorite way to support your community? The mission statement of Third Eye has always been to be a place for everyone who doesn’t have a place. Stores like our’s are a common ground and comfortable space for many, and since day one, we’ve built our stores and the culture of them, to make it so that anyone who visits can feel welcome, and at home, no matter their level of experience with the items we sell. So, just having a space that people can come to and celebrate all the things they love: that makes us feel really good. In addition, we work hard to provide career opportunities for our community, by offering competitive wages, 401K retirement benefits, and health care. Outside of that, we do a charitable events & donations throughout the year to various local groups in our community!
What are three things (books or not books!) you’re stocking right now that you want everyone to know about? Oh this is tough! First off: Weird Music That Goes on Forever: A Punk’s Guide to Loving Jazz is one of our personal favorites, and people LOVE it! Second: Absolute Batman is the most punk rock Batman comic you’ll ever read, seriously: give it a go! Third: Mork Borg and its assorted RPG offerings are so much fun, and so gnarly—we love it!
How can non-local customers shop with you? Visit shop.thirdeyecomics.com—we offer nationwide flat rate shipping for just $5! And you can stay in touch through our newsletter at the bottom of that page (we send a lot of email though, be warned ha!).
It’s a throwback episode! Contracts are no one’s favorite part of publishing, no matter which side of the table you’re sitting on. This week on the pod, we revisit a classic People’s Guide to Publishing episode where Joe and Elly walk you through why contracts are important, how to navigate them as an author, and what makes a good publishing contract.
