“. . . one boy walked alongside the dark in his dark
knee-length shorts & bulb-bright shirt that inflated
& deflated whenever the wind entered or exited the sleeves
as if to say when puffed, This is the man he will become, &
when shrunken, But he is only on the verge now,
                                                                            & it appeared as if a narrow flame
were flaring & flickering & walking or floating alongside
a long stretch of road . . .”

Excerpt from You Don’t Have to Go to Mars for Love by Yona Harvey

Fall 2020

Dear Friends,

I write to you at this time of year to ask for your support of literary publishing, specifically of Four Way Books, which is about to enter its 28th year of nurturing new and known poets and writers of merit, bringing their work to wider and wider audiences. This letter arrives in your hands during exceptionally troubled times when all of us are focusing on the events around us (or at times trying to put the world on mute for a moment, oh just one minute, and then it rushes back). I am keenly sensitive to the many important causes that warrant your attention. I very much hope that you think of Four Way Books as one of them.

Since the onset of the pandemic, we have not missed a beat. Not one. While our crew is far-flung, our Manhattan office remains the mother ship and we continue to acquire books, edit, design, produce, publicize/market, fundraise, write grants, curate and host events—all with the intent of providing a haven for our current and forthcoming authors, as well as our dedicated staff, and presenting our readers with the exciting work that they look forward to season after season, all with your crucial help.

With bookstores (as of this writing) shuttered, libraries, too, sales are dramatically down. But we are hopeful that our community will continue to buy books directly from us and from booksellers that offer mail order and curbside services. We trust that individuals like you will step forward and join us in our determination to meet the Covid-19 blockade head-on. Publishing 15-18 books a year is a challenge in the best of times. We are determined to honor our contractual agreements and to publish, with flourish and love, our upcoming lists—and to usher them into the world with spectacular virtual fireworks. Please send a donation to us that is significant to you. Any amount that you send will be significant to us. If it is easier for you, you can send a check or go to fourwaybooks.com and click on donate. You can also set up recurring payments on a monthly basis. If you have given this year, accept our thanks once more and please consider another 2020 gift.

With hope for our collective future,

Martha Rhodes
Director

Publishing sought-after, buzzy, award-winning authors (as well as under-the-radar tours de force!)—work that is massively resonant in contemporary American life.