Black Sparrow Press

In 1966, John Martin began the Black Sparrow Press in California. Initially Black Sparrow published avant garde poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction, primarily by West coast authors, many of whom had been rejected by the East Coast publishing houses. Publishing 12-15 books a year, Black Sparrow Press has printed more than 500 titles to date. In 1986, Martin moved the press from Santa Barbara to Santa Rosa, Calif.

In 1966, John Martin founded Black Sparrow Press in Los Angeles, California, to promote "literary outsiders" through publication in books and serial magazines. Martin became the patron and publisher of Charles Bukowksi, and his author list also included Robert Creeley, Kenneth Koch, Charles Olson, Joyce Carol Oates, and Diane Wakowski. Volumes often were produced in limited numbers, and the press also published a serial magazine, broadsides and chapbooks. Barbara Martin designed the covers and texts for the Press. Martin retired in 2002, and Black Sparrow Press was sold to David R. Godine, publisher.

In 1966, John Martin began the Black Sparrow Press in California. Initially Black Sparrow published avant garde poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction, primarily by West coast authors, many of whom had been rejected by the East Coast publishing houses. Publishing 12-15 books a year, Black Sparrow Press has printed more than 500 titles to date. In 1986, Martin moved the press from Santa Barbara to Santa Rosa, California.

In 1966, John Martin, manager of an office supply company in California, came across the poetry of Charles Bukowski. Overwhelmed by the caliber of Bukowski's writing, Martin went to visit him at his home in Los Angeles. He looked through a closet full of Bukowski's manuscripts, and decided to start the small literary publishing company he'd been thinking about for some time. Martin offered Bukowski $100 a month, which was 20% of his own salary, to quit his post office job and write full time. Bukowski took Martin up on the offer. Martin sold his personal collection of approximately 2,000 modern first edition books for $50,000, and began Black Sparrow Press with the profits. Bukowski would be the first author that Black Sparrow published. Black Sparrow began as a side line business, but within 1 1/2 years, it became a full time endeavor for Martin.

At least initially, Black Sparrow published avant garde poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction, primarily by West coast authors, many of whom had been rejected by the East Coast publishing houses. Martin turned a profit for the first time in 1971, and has continued to do so ever since. Profits from more than 40 Bukowski titles published by Black Sparrow have helped subsidize their publishing of many lesser known literary figures, including Robert Creeley, Denise Levertov, and Diane Wakowski. Black Sparrow has also published authors such as Joyce Carol Oates and Paul Bowles.

Publishing 12-15 books a year, Black Sparrow Press has printed more than 500 titles to date. In 1986, Martin moved the press from an office at his home in Santa Barbara to it's own building in Santa Rosa, California. He and his small staff operate out of a "spartan office with linoleum floors and a couple of struggling plants."

Black Sparrow remains one of the truly independent literary presses in the country. It is completely self supporting, and has never subsisted on grants or endowments. Martin publishes the books he likes and does not succomb to the laws of popular success and marketability. He does not expend extensive resources attending book conventions and literary lunches. John Martin is touted as "a purist who refuses to go commercial."