Finding a 1000 people for Zittaw Press

My name is Franz Potter and I am the proprietor of Zittaw Press. For the last eight years we have sought to keep the Gothic flame alive by reprinting rare Gothic chapbooks and novels from the late 18th and early 19th centuries including Curt Herr's tremendous scholarly edition of Varney the Vampire. In 2010 we established an online peer reviewed journal, Studies in Gothic Fiction with an internationally recognized Editorial Board. Notwithstanding these achievements it has never been easy to thrive in a niche market as a micro publisher and it is now more difficult then ever. 


To move Zittaw Press from a micro press to a small press we need your help. We need ONE Thousand people to buy TWO of our 19th century chapbook reproductions by June 1st. That is all! For a only $13.00 you will receive two hand stitched short tales of Romance, Terror and Horror which not only encapsulates the spirit of the Gothic genre, but represents the sheer brilliance of the short tale of terror. 


We currently have five chapbooks available:
Sarah Wilkinson's Albert of Werdendorff; or, Midnight Embrace (1803) 
Sarah Wilkinson's The Subterraneous Passage; or, Gothic Cell (1803) 
Sarah Wilkinson's The Chateau de Montville; or, The Golden Cross (1803)
Sarah Wilkinson's The Spectres; or, Lord Oswald and Lady Rosa (n.d.)
Anonymous Black Forest; or, The Cavern of Death (1802) 
Each chapbook is hand stitched and only $6.50 with free shipping.

Even if you don't read books, I am asking you to please purchase at least two chapbooks to help Zittaw Press as be push towards the future.

Thank you for your support.

The Haunted Palace

Mrs. Yorke's 1801 Gothic novel The Haunted Palace is almost ready!

Searching for Zombies

I have a confession....I really dig zombie movies. I know, who doesn't? But I recently read that zombies or the living dead, have been in found in literature since the middle ages....consequently, I am now hunting for these elusive creatures in our beloved Gothic novels? Anyone know of one? I would love to publish a Gothic novel with zombies....any suggestions?

The Bravo of Venice

Now Available

Remembering Fred Frank

Earlier today my friend and mentor Fred Frank passed away. Fred's impact on my life and career is truly profound. When attending the University of Utah I stumbled upon a book intriguingly titled The First Gothics. I checked it out my Junior year and kept it with me until I graduated. I read every word, every entry over and over again. It proved to be my field guide to the first Gothic novels. It inspired me to spend hours searching for lost Gothic novels and ignited my passion. After graduating from the U of U I finally bought my own copy of The First Gothics which I still look at weekly.

Shortly after graduating I had the chance to attend my first Gothic conference in London at the home of Horace Walpole -- Strawberry Hill! In attendance was none other than Fred Frank. I introduced myself and told him how much I admired his work, particularly The First Gothics... without missing a beat he looked me in the eye and said "You know I wrote that book just for you." I replied, "I know, it saved me!" At that conference Serena and I got to know Fred and his wife Nancy as we wandered through Walpole's Gothic rooms, standing where he wrote The Castle of Otranto.

Later, Fred advised me on grad school....he encouraged me in my research, he shared his wealth of Gothic knowledge with me and for that I will be eternally grateful! Though we communicated regularly, the last time I saw Fred was in Florida at a SCSECS conference where in a twist I could never have anticipated, he came and asked me to sign my book for him.

While I will truly miss his knowledge, his friendship and his encouragement... he can now find those elusive authors and track down those lost novels.

R. I. P.

Varney is making the news

From The Delaware Valley News

'Varney the Vampire' beats 'Dracula'

Thursday, February 14, 2008

By Kevin J. Guhl

Curt Herr, who lives in a Victorian house in Ferndale, Pa., teaches gothic fiction at Kutztown University. He has written the critical edition of what he said is considered the most notorious novel of the 19th century -- James Malcolm Rymer's, Varney the Vampire; or, The Feast of Blood. The book was originally published in weekly installments from 1845-1847. It littered the streets of London, sold at a penny a page, and kept England's working class readers enthralled. The story eventually became so popular, it was reprinted in 1847 and again in 1853. However, the last edition before Herr's was in 1972. Rymer also penned the better-known penny dreadful Sweeney Todd, also known as The String of Pearls, which found fame as the 1979 Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim and is now a Tim Burton film, starring Johnny Depp.

For the complete story go to http://www.nj.com/delawarevalleynews/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1203019517178170.xml&coll=12

A letter to our customers

I hope this new year finds you all well. I want to take a few minutes to thank our loyal customers. In the four years that Zittaw Press has been around I have enjoyed, not only your support, but your understanding and sometimes even patience. My goal for Zittaw Press is simple: to resurrect forgotten Gothic novels. I don't claim to be an expert on publishing, I just think it is important to see these novel in print after 200 years. I don't have fancy equipment to typeset these books, an army of proofreaders or money for book designers. I am a professor full time with mounds of papers to correct, lectures to prepare and most importantly a family to support.



Recently Zittaw Press has been criticized for being well intentioned, but an unprofessional publisher, creating poor books. These remarks have appeared on Amazon and other websites. The criticism, while perhaps initially well intended, has become mean, pointing out Zittaw's mistakes, shortcomings and generally expressing dislike about how we do everything. We are not perfect nor have we ever claimed we are. I am a professor who wants to keep the Gothic alive, affordable and accecsible for students and scholars, not conquer the publishing world.

It is important to remember that historically Gothic novels were published fast and as cheaply as possible. If you read the originals you will see countless mistakes in typset, spelling, pagination and often even keeping characters names straight. We do try to fix these, but if we are off the mark at least we are in keeping with history.

Merry Christmas

From everyone at Zittaw Press (well Serena and I) we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful Gothic filled New Year.
Best,
Franz, Serena, MaCall and Eloise Potter
Zittaw Press

Birthday Wishes

Today Zittaw Press would like to remember Sarah Wilkinson who was born 228 years ago today. Although a marginalized author of sensational Gothic novels, she is, nonetheless, my favorite Gothic hack and will forever be remembered.

We would also like to wish Norbert Besch a happy birthday and many thanks for his passion and assistance in all things Gothic.

Finding Skeletons

Well another year is coming to an end and here at Zittaw Press we have been a lot to be thankful for...We are excited by the recently released Varney the Vampire which is selling quite well. Thank you for all the support! Clearly it was time for a scholarly edition of that sensational work. By the end of the year we hope to have the two volume collection of chapbooks, Literary Mushrooms, at the printers with a new edition of Matthew Lewis's The Bravo of Venice following in early January.

As for 2008 we have some great novels in the pipeline including several by Sheridan Le Fanu, Mrs. Yorke's The Haunted Palace, George Walker's The Three Spaniards and Sarah Wilkinson's The Fugitive Countess. We also have several surprises up our sleeve which we are working diligently on.
I would personally like to thank everyone for their continued support of Zittaw Press. We could not have done anything without you.
best,
Franz Potter

After the fires

We are back from evacuations and working hard to get out Mrs. Yorke's The Haunted Palace and fine tuning Varney the Vampire. It was unexpected and difficult being away from the house, work and Zittaw for a week, but we are back. Thank you for all the support.

Lake Arrowhead Fire

Zittaw Press has been evacuated as a fire descends down a ridge above our house. Varney the Vampire may be delayed as we cannot retrive the proof...hopefully everything will be saved and the Vampire will rise soon.
Best,
Franz Potter

Horrors and More: Zittaw News

In celebration of Halloween next month Zittaw Press is planning a special release of Mrs. R. M. P. Yorke's 1801 Gothic masterpiece The Haunted Palace; or, The Horrors of Ventoliene. Fred Frank calls this novel the "highest of high Gothics...[this] is nothing more nor less than an encyclopedia of horror."

This week has been a busy week for us all. Curt Herr's brilliant scholarly edition of Varney the Vampire is almost ready for the printers and is on track for a Halloween release. Curt has worked tirelessly on this edition and it is stocked full of useful information and will be perfect for classroom use.

Varney the Vampire

The first ever scholarly edition of Varney the Vampire, tirelessly edited by Curt Herr will hopefully be ready by Halloween. This MASSIVE 824 page 8.5x11 tome will be a wonderful (and hopefully affordable) addition to vampire studies. Curt has worked incredible hard on this volume and we would encourage all scholars to get this volume for their school's libraries and private collections.