Dear Ishmael
Reed,
I sold the
printing equipment in July and moved myself and the Lost Roads inventory to SF
this month. Since I have been here I’ve had the flu, the blues, the hives, and
a stopped up head. Now that’s all clearing up and I am ready to go back on
line, finish my manuscript, continue with Frank’s work, and with Lost Roads, as
well as, with some kind of employment. The latter being why I am writing to
you. While I am aware the job I aspire to probably doesn’t exist, I’m still
applying. As the publisher/editor and sole staff member of Lost Roads I’ve
acquired some skills I’d like to put to use: I’ve learned the fundamentals of
offset printing, done the typesetting, layout, camera work, stripping, plate
burning, design, type and paper selection and ordering, silkscreening;
coordinated distribution, edited manuscripts, handled correspondence, written
grants, filled out legal forms, tax forms, done the mailing and the billing,
etc., etc. I’ve spent my free time perusing the California literary scene, and
the only one that makes any damn sense to me is the activity around Before
Columbus, Y’bird, and Reed, Cannon and Johnson. With all those irons in the
fire – even if all the printing and design work is jobbed out – you still have
to maintain some semblance of a staff. Don’t you? If not maybe you have a lead
or two for me. After three years as a grad assistant, two years on a grant, and
a year running LR I am spoiled – I just don’t want to work for a fool. I want
to work for who I want to work for – else I just don’t care what happens. I go
to pot.
I have a
standard resume if you want to see it.
And I have
time at your convenience if you could talk to me about this.
I move into
an apt this weekend but won’t have a phone for a few weeks. A message can be
left for me at 552-5464 or a card at the LR p.o. would do. Meanwhile I may keep
trying to reach you at Before Columbus.
My thanks,
appreciation, the best,
CD
CD Wright
cc/cdw
