Furry literature: Advertising it outside of furry fandom – with Fred Patten and Phil Geusz.
by Patch O'Furr
(Patch:) The Furry Writers’ Guild Coyotl Awards have just opened for voting by members. This is a good occasion to talk about furry publishing. Committed operations are putting out a regular stream of content by fans, for fans – but is it healthy enough to support professionals? Can any of them smoothly transition between this niche and the mainstream, to be as well-rounded as they can be? Here’s a look that builds on past stories like:
- A complaint: Furry fan publishing is overlooked – by Fred Patten.
- The State of Furry Publishing – Fred Patten gives the inside story of eight groups.
- In 2017, for the first time, nonfan publishers are documenting Furry as a movement. (Furry Nation and Furry Fandom Conventions, 1989-2015.)
Let some of the most experienced voices in furry tell you more. Here’s Fred Patten, with comments by Phil Geusz.
(Fred:) Watts Martin’s January 2017 novel, Kismet, is being published under two imprints: at FurPlanet Productions, as furry fiction for the furry market, and Argyll Productions, as science fiction for the larger s-f market or mainstream sales; with two different covers, both by Teagan Gavet, tailored for those markets.
This sounds ambitious and imaginative. But how well will it work in practice? The record isn’t encouraging.