Press 53 celebrated its first anniversary today. During our first year we published 9 books: 5 short story collections, 2 poetry collections, 1 novel and 1 memoir. Here are some highlights:

One of our titles, The Land Breakers, by John Ehle, was selected for On the Same Page, the community read program by the Forsyth County Public Library.

Press 53 received a personal hand-written letter from Harper Lee praisinf Press 53 for bringing The Land Breaker back into print and for honoring one of her favorite authors.

One of our authors (Tom Sheehan) and co-owner Kevin Watson were featured authors at New Works Review (www.new-works.org).

Doug Frelke's short story "Ghost Train" from his newest collection of short stories, Croatan, was featured in the Raleigh News & Record.

Press 53 established the first ever Short Story to Screen competition with the North Cartolina School of the Arts, in which screenwriters will adapt Press 53 short stories for the screen, which will then be judged by Hollywood and New York producers, directors, agents and screenwriters. The screenplay judged to be the top three will be published in a book by Press 53, Summer 2007.

Visit www.Press53.com for updates and more exciting news.

If you live in the Triad, NC area, join us at RayLen Vineyards & Winery on Thursday, October 19, 6 p.m., for our first annual Wine & Words Festival. We're celebrating our first anniversary in a big way!