Finding Our Place

Pulley Press at AWP Seattle 2023

The Association of Writers and Programs Conference came to Seattle and this meant that we saw thousands of writers and editors stumbling around downtown and Capitol Hill! Zaira Bardos, Kate Brackman, Krista Orejudos, and Julia park were running the booth and they worked enthusiastically from a humble table in a far-off corner speaking to passerbyers. Zaira says that they met people from New York City, New Orleans, Tuscaloosa, and other far-off places. What they had in common was how they discussed both writing and publishing as pursuits that began as small passion projects and grew and grew. A highlight was when Ricardo Ruiz, our beloved poet of WE HAD OUR REASONS, fan-girled over Kali Fajardo-Anstine, and enthused over Rana Tahi, Kalehua Kim, and everyone else he met. Even with all of those artistic introverts under one roof, the Pulley team was inspired by the contagiously warm and inviting energy. As Frances says, “Look, we’re a real thing!”.