Category: Newsletter

October 17 was the publication of Ioulia Kolovou’s novel The Stone Maidens, followed by a reading and discussion with Zoë Strachan at John Smith’s bookshop at the University of Glasgow. Thanks to all who attended this great event—our first in-person launch! And to who all who have purchased copies: it’s a gripping multi-generational saga of how lives and families become intertwined, set in a changing Argentina.

Elizabeth represented us at the West Virginia Book Festival October 21-22. The vendors’ hall was packed with authors, other presses, and book-related businesses. Nearly everyone who stopped commented on how lovely our books are (yes, thank you Eilidh!) and sales were high. So high that Tuscawilla: Stories of a Farm and I Piped, That She Might Dance are now out of stock in the US. A new print run has been ordered, and there’s always the ebook version of I Piped, That She Might Dance in the meantime.

We were delighted to learn that Tuscawilla: Stories of a Farm is being used as a textbook for the Future Generations University, located in Pendleton County, WV. Says Strategy and Impact Officer Jenny Totten, “We’re just learning that there are some educational materials that don’t exist, and this book is perfect for our masters in community development program.” Jane Cary had wanted to be teacher; we like to think she would be proud that her book and her knowledge were being used in this way.

Do you want to use one of our titles for a class? Just let us know and we’ll make sure you get enough copies!

We recently collaborated with old-time musician Pete Kosky on two new ballads to complement Melanie McGee Bianchi’s The Ballad of Cherrystoke and Other Stories. Check them out here and here, and then read the article Elizabeth wrote on ballads and tradition for LitHub.

If you’re a user of Goodreads or Storygraph, our books are now listed, thanks to our new intern. Please go review them! The more reviews the better! Tell your friends!

And, we’re sorry to announce that US publication of Ma Chère Maman—Mon Cher Enfant: The Letters of Lucien and Louise Durosoir, 1914-1919 is delayed, but the UK publication is still on schedule for November 11. This blog post by the translator and friend of the Durosoir family, Elizabeth Auld, is an excellent introduction to this fascinating and moving collection.

September, where to begin? How about with Melanie McGee Bianchi’s The Ballad of Cherrystoke and Other Stories being named a Distinguished Favorite at the NYC Big Book Awards! Blackwater also dipped its first toe into the digital world with an eBook to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Iain MacDonald’s award-winning novel I Piped, That She Might Dance.

We will be releasing more and more eBooks as time goes on, to help make our titles accessible to as many readers as possible. This is in no small part thanks to shiny new Blackwater team member, Luca Guariento, who we are absolutely delighted to have on board. ???? Everyone say Welcome, Luca!In Edinburgh it was great to have a table at the Indie Book Festival 2022 at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Huge thanks to everyone that came down and to the team at Stairwell Books (https://www.facebook.com/StairwellBooks) for organizing. And that brings us nicely on to our fantastic next author, Ioulia Kolovou, who performed a reading from her forthcoming novel The Stone Maidens at the festival.

The Stone Maidens is officially out on October 17th, with the launch at John Smith’s Bookshop at the University of Glasgow on the 19th. Ioulia will be in conversation with renowned Scottish novelist Zoë Strachan; this is not one to miss. Entry is free, and more details can be found here.

And as readers of Tuscawilla: Stories of a Farm will know, it’s apple butter time! Big Jane’s niece and nephew, Kaaren Cary Ford and Frank Cary, participated over two weekends in the annual apple butter making at Edgewood Presbyterian Church just outside of Lewisburg. In all, they made over 140 gallons of apple butter.

And there’s more! The winners of the second Blackwater Press Short Story Contest were revealed earlier this month as well. Congratulations to all, and stay tuned for the ensuing collection.

Phew, we could go on but we’d better stop it there! Bring on October x