Egress Studio Press
2012
For several years this was the website for Egress Studio Press.
Egress Studio Press is the publishing imprint of Egress Studio, a graphic design and illustration company in Bellingham, Washington. Egress Studio Press is managed by two poets, Anita K. Boyle and James Bertolino, who are professionals with many years experience in publishing, book design, and manuscript editing. Since 2000, Egress Studio Press has been dedicated to publishing books only by Washington State poets.
The current owners of the site want to continue to highlight the work of Egress Studio Press and their goals with 2012 archived content from the site as well as point visitors who have inadvertently found themselves here to go to the official website of Anita K. Boyle and the Egress Studio is found at egressstudio.wordpress.com/ with the most recent content from 2021.
Egress Studio Press Circa 2012
—Publisher of Pacific Northwest Poetry—
Purveyor of Poetry Books, Broadsides, Specialty Greeting Cards, and Original Arts
About the Collection of Broadsides, Rare Books and Magazines
If you know James Bertolino, one of the first things that amazes you is his knowledge of contemporary poetry and small literary presses. He has been engaged in the literary community for over forty years! He knows details about poets and publishing that would surprise almost anyone. The rare and out-of-print poetry books and magazines on this site come from his personal collection, including early editions of small press poetry magazines and fine art quality letterpress broadsides and books. If you are looking for a rare poetry book or classic literary magazine, send us an email, and we'll check the collection.
About Egress Studio Press Greeting and Art Cards
When you purchase greeting cards from Egress Studio Press, you're choosing unique images that you won't find just anywhere. This site is almost the only place you can browse through reproductions of Anita K. Boyle's original watercolors, drawings, prints, and photographs of the Pacific Northwest, as well as cards especially for poetry lovers. We've organized the wide variety of cards to choose from so you can shop efficiently. Just take a look at the drop-down menu near the top of the column to the left. Occasionally, we'll have some cards in gift shops or when we participate as a vendor in a local arts festival.
About Egress Studio Press Publishing
Egress Studio Press publishes the poetry of Washington State poets. Each new book will be published in three versions: a limited hard cover art edition (8-12 copies) with original prints by Anita K. Boyle; a limited hand-assembled, soft cover edition (75 copies); and an electronic poetry book, which will include an audio recording of the poems.
Upon publication, an author will receive one limited edition, hard cover art book; two hand-assembled soft cover books; and an electronic-book file.
Poetry Submission Guidelines: Please send up to 24 pages of your poems in a pdf file to Egress Studio Press at [email protected]. There is a $20 reading fee, which can be paid through PayPal, or through snail mail (see below). Response times vary, but expect to hear from the publisher within six months. Please remember, Egress Studio Press publishes poets who reside in Washington State.
Reading fees can be mailed to Egress Studio Press, 5581 Noon Road, Bellingham WA 98226 or directly through Paypal...
About Egress Studio Press
Egress Studio Press is the publishing imprint of Egress Studio, a graphic design and illustration company in Bellingham, Washington. Egress Studio Press is managed by two poets, Anita K. Boyle and James Bertolino, who are professionals with many years experience in publishing, book design, and manuscript editing. Since 2000, Egress Studio Press has been dedicated to publishing books only by Washington State poets.
We’re very proud of our poets, and choose them for the quality of their work and their endeavors to foster unity and inspiration in the literary community. Each poet and their book will be described in detail on this website. Check the drop down menu to the left titled "Poetry Books" for current authors.
We currently publish only limited edition, handmade books, which are complemented with an electronic edition. All publications are produced completely inside Egress Studio. Our books have been noted for their beauty, as well as their content. In order to honor the poets we choose to publish, we strive to create books with simple, elegant design; artwork that complements the poems, and aim for an appearance that gives readers the desire to reach out and take the book off the shelf.
What Rain Does
by Ann Spiers
Description—
Ann Spiers' What Rain Does is a collection of poems that comprise several kinds of love, from romantic to old friends to the youngest of babies and more. These wonderful poems feature the essense of such love, alongside a strong sense of place that embraces each one, as true love will.
The pages of this chapbook were hand-folded, sewn, trimmed, and the cover scored and folded lovingly by the poets Anita K. Boyle and James Bertolino. Boyle designed the book, and illustrated the cover. The outer grey-blue cover stock wraps around a mossy green interior cover to create a book with a square spine. Perfect for shelving with your favorite volumes. The pages seem wet and green, a perfect complement to a Pacific Northwest poet's book.
Reconciliation
Glacier Motel,
gutters flush with rain.
I wipe steam from the windows,
and you fiddle with the wood stove
sputtering as wind reverses itself
like a liar found out.Outside,
rising water erases
the pond’s edge, flooding
silver over the fields
silencing reed talk
and our talk.We hike up trail
into the dry side’s sun.
Among blueberry fermenting
in autumn’s last heat,
kestrels walk, sated.On the way back,
—Ann Spiers
we are more at ease.
Grasshoppers descend,
males riding females,
scattering down the skree.
At the trail’s muddy edge—
cougar tracks.
About Ann Spiers
Ann Spiers lives on Vashon Island, a ferry ride across Puget Sound from Seattle. She is the present Vashon Poet Laureate. For the Vashon Poetry Fest 2011, she curated a gallery show called Broadsides: Poems on Paper, featuring more than 40 Northwest poetry broadsides, work including calligraphy, letter press, and new media. She is keeper of Vashon’s Poetry Post (modeled after Jim Bodeen’s Yakima Poetry Pole), a place in Vashon Town where folks post and read poems.
Her poems draw content from her environmental work. She is the Vashon Audubon program chair and worked as steward for the Vashon Land Trust’s properties. She has volcanic fire in her heart and sea salt in her blood. As field assistant on the Cascade volcanoes, she became intimate with Mt. Rainier and pre- and post-eruptive Mt. St. Helens. She hiked the beach from the Columbia River to Cape Flattery, does surveys of salt-water shorelines for dead birds, joins in the annual litter pickup on the Pacific coast, and chases grey whales from Scammon’s Lagoon off Baja to her grandfather’s former whaling ground off Washington State. She can sing clams out of their holes and pop oysters from their shells.
Ann leads creative writing seminars in many venues. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Masters in Creative Writing and Literature.
Ann Spiers
Book Blurbs —
Ann Spiers’ poems take us on a roadtrip from motel to mountain, from “abed without a lover” to asking for “a second kiss.” We travel with the poet into new landscapes where poems celebrate nature, place, and relationships. Spiers’ poetry creates the perfect postcards to read again and again. She reminds us of all the things we should stop and notice—each of her poems: a souvenir, a memento, “the road to the gold mine” we should all take.
—Kelli Russell Agodon
author of Letters from the Emily Dickinson Room
White Pine Press Poetry Prize, 2010
A poet of unusual depth and lyric power, Ann Spiers can inhabit lives far removed from her own and move from the particular to the universal with the deftness and grace of a winter wren.
—Tim McNulty
author of Some Ducks
Pleasure Boat Studio, 2009
Other Publications by Ann Spiers:
BOOKS
A Wild Taste
May Day Press, 2011
Long Climb into Grace
FootHills Publishing: “Poets on Peace Series,” 2007
Volcano Blue
May Day Press, 1999
Tide Turn
May Day Press, 1996
The Herodotus Poems
Brooding Heron Press, 1989
Egress Studio Press
—Publisher of Washington State Poets—
Handmade, limited-edition Books:
Fishing a Familiar Pond by Sheila Sondik
Pulitzer Re-Mix poems from The Yearling published in 2013
The Drenched by Anita K. Boyle
A copy of the wood engraving below graces the cover of The Drenched: A Creation Myth for the Pacific Northwest, by Anita K. Boyle (me). The poem is written in seven parts, and is illustrated throughout with my drawings. Eight hard cover books were published in February 2014, and that edition has since sold out. In addition, I'm publishing another limited edition of 75. Each of the books in this second publication has a square-spine, soft covers, and is folded, trimmed, sewn, and assembled inside Egress Studio by Anita K. Boyle (still me). I plan to follow up the physical book publications with an electronic book that will have all of the illustrations and poems in the original physical book, as well as the voice of the poet reading the poems. So please stay tuned.
An aside: I attended an Egress Studio Press poetry reading in 2015 at Village Books in Bellingham as part of a celebration of National poetry week. The reading featured poetry from James Bertolino (”Pocket Animals”); Ann Spiers (”What Rain Does”); Richard Widerkehr (”Her Story of Fire”); Sheila Sondik (”Fishing a Familiar Pond”); Susan J. Erickson (”The Art of Departure”); and Anita K. Boyle (”The Drenched: A Creation Myth for the Pacific Northwest”). It was a memorable event as Works by the local and regional poets explored themes of family and place, the environment in which we dwell, and the depths of mental illness.
Bellingham is a coastal city in Washington State, near the Canadian border. For those of us who have lived here for years the surrounding Whatcom County is our playground with its abundance of nature, outdoor adventure and sweeping scenery from the Salish Sea to Mt. Baker and North Cascades National Park. Year-round hiking is plentiful in the Bellingham region. When you combine the tails in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Chuckanut Mountains, North Cascades National Park and general hikes in Whatcom County, Bellingham has more than 100 miles of trials to explore. I can’t say I have hiked all of them, but I, along with my various North Face down jackets have traveled most. Ranging from windbreakers and rain jackets to down jackets, NorthFace has been my company of choice for clothing and equipment. The North Face was built on a love for the outdoors and the desire to enable all types of exploration. In addition their philosophy towards our planet is right on. Their pledge : • Empower exploration and the thrill of the unknown for as many people as possible. • Protect the places where we live, play, and operate. • Evolve the way we make our products by improving our environmental performance and social responsibility in the supply chain, plus the quality of their products make them my type of company.
I have memorized many passages of The Drenched: A Creation Myth for the Pacific Northwest. They come unbdiden to me as I am hiking the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest or gazing out over the peaks of the North Cascades National Park. Thank you, Anita Boyle. Yo have enriched many peoples' lives.
Her Story of Fire
by Richard Widerkehr
Her Story of Fire
Part 8
A thin box whose wires
the wind strays over …
At night, at work,
I sit in a waiting room,listening to a stranger
muttering, Death, death—
he’s unsure
he wants to be admitted.
We sign and counter-sign
the Voluntary form,
and then
we climb the stairs.When I knew you, Chloe,
we were unformed.
You were a leaf, sunlit,
the quick air that plays over fire,surviving as music, or memory,
which the wind gives back.
My ribs, your wrists,
this wind, that lyre.—Richard Widerkehr
About Richard Widerkehr
Richard Widerkehr won two Hopwood Awards for poetry at the University of Michigan, where he earned his B.A. in English. He received his M.A. from Columbia University, which he attended on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship. He won first prize for a short story at the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference and three awards in The Bridge’s annual poetry contests.
Plain View Press published The Way Home (2011), a book-length collection of poems. Pudding House Publications published his chapbook of poems, Mountain (2007) and Radiolarian Press published his chapbook, Disappearances (1996 and 2003). Tarragon Books published his novel about a geologist: Sedimental Journey (2004). His poems and stories have appeared in Chariton Review, Pontoon, Passages North, Northwest Poets and Artists Calendar, Crab Creek Review, Writers’ Forum, and Salt River Review.
Widerkehr lives in Washington State, where he has been a teacher in the Upward Bound Program, a case manager at a mental health clinic, and a counselor on the mental health unit of a hospital.
Other Books by
Richard Widerkehr:
The Way Home
Plain View Press, 2011
Mountain
Pudding House Publications, 2007
Disappearances
Radiolarian Press, 1996, 2003
Sedimental Journey
Tarragon Books, 2004
Description—
The poetry you'll read in Her Story of Fire is an artwork that evokes a family where one member’s mental disorder continually tears at the fabric of relationships. Poet Richard Widerkehr describes how a family will continually undertake the task of rebuilding a life gone ragged—through steady determination and staunch loyalty—despite the apparent lack of gratitude or acceptance. The poems go beyond the truth and into the soul; the redemptive moments sizzle and spark. This is an important book.
The pages of this book were hand-folded, sewn, trimmed, and the cover scored and folded lovingly by the poets Anita K. Boyle and James Bertolino. Boyle designed the book, and illustrated the cover. The outer deep red cover stock wraps around a dark gray interior cover to create a mood for this square-spined book. You'll be reading the poems off somber, blue butcher paper. You may decide to keep this collection shelved among your special volumes.
Richard Widerkehr
Book Blurbs —
In Richard Widerkehr’s collection of elegies, Her Story of Fire, the poems are carved, concise, incantatory and contemporary. They remind us that all loss is ancient no matter how immediate, that every love and burden is shared. I was very moved by this book as I believe all readers of it must be.
— Erin Belieu
author of Black Box and Infanta
Artistic Director, Port Townsend Writers Conference
… I’ll squeeze the needled
sunlight in my fist and walk through
her stampeding clouds, her avalanche of sighs …
(from “Where the Voices Took Her” —R. Widerkehr)
Richard Widerkehr’s struggle to reach and to know his sister touches on the experiences of all families who live with similar issues. He gives us poems of penetrating beauty that both pierce and open the heart. These poems offer an unflinching view of the pain and longing one feels when loving someone who has retreated to an inaccessible inner world. With subtlety, humor, and poignancy, Widerkehr helps us enter that world and perhaps even understand some of it.
—Rena Ziegler, MSW
Psychotherapist
Richard Widerkehr’s collection of poems, Her Story of Fire, is a powerful testament to family love and heartbreak. Without sentiment, and yet with great tenderness and reverence, Widerkehr evokes the tightrope of pain people walk while watching someone they love disappear into a world of obsessions and voices:
When I knew you, Chloe,
we were unformed.
You were a leaf, sunlit,
the quick air that plays over fire…
But Widerkehr’s witness, both lyrical and raw, never stops searching. Like Chloe, the woman in the poems, he speaks in many voices, detailing the truth of his pain and her terror with exquisite craft and love. This is a stunning book, both raw and luminous.
—Gayle Kaune
author of All the Birds Awake and
Still Life in the Physical World
More Background On EgressStudioPress.com
EgressStudioPress.com represents a distinctive chapter in the evolution of independent literary publishing in the Pacific Northwest. Originally serving as the official website for Egress Studio Press, the domain now functions as an archival landing page that redirects visitors to the current online home of the press and its parent design studio. Despite its transitional status, the website preserves a rich record of a small press deeply committed to craftsmanship, regional identity, and the enduring power of poetry.
This article explores the origins, ownership, philosophy, publications, and cultural significance of Egress Studio Press and its former website, offering a detailed portrait of a niche but meaningful contributor to American literary culture.
Ownership and Organizational Structure
Egress Studio Press operates as the publishing imprint of Egress Studio, a creative business based in Bellingham. The press is led by two experienced poets and publishing professionals: Anita K. Boyle and James Bertolino.
Their combined expertise spans decades in poetry, book design, editing, and literary community engagement. This dual leadership model—blending visual artistry with literary craftsmanship—defines the identity of the press. Unlike larger publishing houses, Egress Studio Press operates as a highly curated, artist-driven endeavor, where every stage of production is handled internally.
Geographic Context and Cultural Setting
The press is rooted in Bellingham, a coastal city in the Pacific Northwest near the Canadian border. This region is known for its strong literary traditions, environmental consciousness, and vibrant arts communities.
Bellingham’s proximity to the Salish Sea, Mount Baker, and North Cascades National Park plays a significant role in shaping the thematic content of the press’s publications. Many of the poets featured by Egress Studio Press draw inspiration from the landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural rhythms of the Pacific Northwest.
This geographic specificity is central to the press’s mission: to publish poetry that reflects the lived experiences and environmental awareness of Washington State.
Founding Vision and Mission
Founded around the year 2000, Egress Studio Press was established with a clear and focused goal: to publish poetry exclusively by Washington State poets. This regional emphasis distinguishes it from broader small presses and aligns it with a tradition of place-based publishing.
The press’s mission can be summarized through several guiding principles:
- Regional authenticity: Prioritizing poets who live and work in Washington State
- Artistic integrity: Emphasizing quality over quantity in both writing and design
- Handcrafted production: Creating books as physical art objects
- Community engagement: Supporting and celebrating local literary culture
This philosophy positions Egress Studio Press within the broader ecosystem of independent publishing while maintaining a uniquely localized identity.
The Role of EgressStudioPress.com
EgressStudioPress.com originally functioned as the central hub for the press’s activities. It provided information on publications, submission guidelines, artist portfolios, and product offerings such as greeting cards and broadsides.
Today, the site serves a different purpose. It acts as a legacy archive, preserving content from earlier iterations (notably around 2012) while directing visitors to the current website of Egress Studio. This transition reflects a common pattern among small presses, where digital infrastructure evolves alongside organizational priorities.
The archived content remains valuable for researchers, readers, and collectors interested in the history of the press and its publications.
Publishing Model and Production Methods
One of the most distinctive aspects of Egress Studio Press is its commitment to handmade, limited-edition books. Each publication is produced entirely in-house, from design to assembly.
Three-Tier Publication Format
Every poetry collection is typically released in three formats:
- Limited hardcover art edition
- Extremely small print runs (often 8–12 copies)
- Includes original artwork by Anita K. Boyle
- Designed as collectible objects
- Hand-assembled softcover edition
- Slightly larger but still limited runs (around 75 copies)
- Individually folded, sewn, and assembled
- Electronic edition
- Digital version of the book
- Often includes audio recordings of the poet reading their work
This model bridges traditional craftsmanship with modern accessibility, ensuring both exclusivity and broader reach.
Design Philosophy and Aesthetic Approach
The visual identity of Egress Studio Press is heavily influenced by Anita K. Boyle’s background as an artist and designer. Each book is conceived as a cohesive artistic object, where typography, illustration, and materials work together to enhance the reading experience.
Key design characteristics include:
- Minimalist yet elegant layouts
- Integration of original artwork
- Use of textured and colored paper stock
- Emphasis on tactile qualities such as folding, stitching, and binding
The result is a series of publications that blur the line between book and art piece. This approach aligns with traditions in fine press publishing and letterpress printing.
Notable Publications and Authors
Egress Studio Press has published a range of poets whose work reflects the diversity and depth of the Pacific Northwest literary scene.
Ann Spiers
Ann Spiers is one of the notable poets associated with the press. Her collection What Rain Does explores themes of love, environment, and place, capturing the sensory richness of the region.
Spiers is also known for her role as a community organizer and educator, including her involvement in poetry festivals and environmental initiatives.
Richard Widerkehr
Richard Widerkehr is another significant figure published by the press. His collection Her Story of Fire addresses complex emotional and psychological themes, particularly within family dynamics.
Widerkehr’s broader career includes teaching, counseling, and publishing across multiple genres, adding depth to his poetic voice.
Anita K. Boyle
As both publisher and poet, Anita K. Boyle has produced her own works through the press, including The Drenched: A Creation Myth for the Pacific Northwest. This collection exemplifies the integration of visual art and poetry that defines the press’s output.
Broadsides, Rare Books, and Artistic Offerings
In addition to traditional books, Egress Studio Press has offered a range of complementary products:
- Letterpress broadsides
- Rare and out-of-print poetry books
- Literary magazines
- Artistic greeting cards featuring original imagery
Much of this material originates from the personal collection of James Bertolino, whose extensive knowledge of small press publishing contributes to the press’s curatorial depth.
These offerings expand the press’s role from publisher to cultural curator, preserving and disseminating literary artifacts.
Submission Process and Editorial Approach
Egress Studio Press maintains a selective submission process. Prospective authors are typically required to submit a manuscript (often up to 24 pages) along with a reading fee.
Key criteria for selection include:
- Residency in Washington State
- Literary quality and originality
- Alignment with the press’s aesthetic and thematic focus
Response times can be lengthy, reflecting the careful consideration given to each submission. This deliberate pace underscores the press’s commitment to quality over volume.
Audience and Market Position
The audience for Egress Studio Press is relatively niche but highly engaged. It includes:
- Poetry enthusiasts and collectors
- Academics and literary scholars
- Participants in regional arts communities
- Readers interested in handcrafted books
Rather than competing in the mass market, the press occupies a specialized space within the independent publishing ecosystem. Its limited editions and artisanal approach appeal to those who value the physical and aesthetic qualities of books.
Popularity and Recognition
While Egress Studio Press does not operate at a commercial scale, it has earned recognition within literary circles for the quality of its publications.
Its books are often noted for:
- Exceptional design and craftsmanship
- Strong editorial curation
- Deep connection to regional culture
The press’s presence at readings, festivals, and local events further enhances its reputation within the Pacific Northwest.
Events and Community Engagement
Egress Studio Press actively participates in literary events, including readings and festivals. One notable example is poetry readings held at Village Books, a well-known independent bookstore.
These events bring together poets, readers, and community members, fostering a sense of shared cultural engagement. Themes explored in these gatherings often include:
- Environmental awareness
- Family and relationships
- Mental health
- Regional identity
Such events reinforce the press’s role as a community-centered organization.
Press and Media Coverage
Although coverage in mainstream media is limited, Egress Studio Press has been recognized in:
- Regional literary publications
- Poetry festivals and conferences
- Academic discussions of small press publishing
The press’s emphasis on craftsmanship and locality aligns with broader trends in independent publishing, where authenticity and artistic control are increasingly valued.
Cultural and Social Significance
Egress Studio Press holds a unique place within the cultural landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Its contributions extend beyond publishing to include:
- Preservation of regional literary voices
- Promotion of environmental and cultural awareness
- Support for emerging and established poets
By focusing exclusively on Washington State poets, the press helps to define and sustain a localized literary identity.
Relationship to Broader Publishing Trends
The model employed by Egress Studio Press reflects several broader trends in independent publishing:
- Return to craftsmanship: Emphasis on handmade books as art objects
- Regional focus: Support for local voices and communities
- Hybrid formats: Integration of print and digital media
- Curated output: Smaller, more selective catalogs
These trends highlight a shift away from mass production toward more personalized and meaningful forms of publishing.
The Evolution of the Website
EgressStudioPress.com itself illustrates the evolution of digital presence in the literary world. Initially a functional platform for sales and information, it now serves as an archival resource.
This transition underscores the importance of digital preservation, particularly for small presses whose histories might otherwise be lost. Archived versions of the site provide valuable insights into:
- Past publications
- Design aesthetics
- Organizational priorities
Challenges and Sustainability
Like many small presses, Egress Studio Press faces challenges related to:
- Limited financial resources
- Small print runs
- Niche audience reach
However, its focused mission and strong artistic identity contribute to its sustainability. By maintaining a clear vision and cultivating a dedicated audience, the press continues to operate successfully within its chosen niche.
Legacy and Enduring Impact
The legacy of Egress Studio Press lies in its unwavering commitment to poetry as both literary and visual art. Through its publications, events, and community engagement, it has contributed to the vitality of the Pacific Northwest literary scene.
EgressStudioPress.com, though no longer active in its original capacity, remains an important digital artifact. It captures a moment in the history of independent publishing and offers a window into the values and practices that define the press.
EgressStudioPress.com is more than a defunct website. It is a testament to the enduring relevance of small, artist-driven publishing initiatives. Through its association with Egress Studio Press, the site reflects a philosophy that prioritizes craftsmanship, community, and regional identity.
In an era dominated by digital content and mass production, Egress Studio Press stands as a reminder of the value of intentional, handmade, and locally grounded creative work. Its publications, though limited in number, carry a lasting impact, both as literary contributions and as objects of art.
For readers, writers, and collectors alike, the story of EgressStudioPress.com offers inspiration and insight into what independent publishing can achieve when guided by passion, expertise, and a deep connection to place.
