McNally Jackson’s Espresso Book Machine: Write it. Print it. Now!

Espresso Book Machine at McNally Jackson’s Manhattan Bookstore

“I like the part where it pops out,” says Beth Steidle, who is one of two primary operators of McNally Jackson’s Espresso Book Machine. “It’s kind of like Willy Wonka.” But despite the analogy, this machine isn’t popping out candy (or coffee beans or a steamy brew!); it’s printing books. One at a time. Exactly how the customers want them. Last week, NYU’s M.S. in Publishing: Digital and Print Media Program students got a first-hand look at the machine and its wonders during a private visit to the Nolita bookstore.

The Espresso Book Machine (EBM) is a giant contraption that creates print-on-demand paperback books, fully bound, in minutes. The 87 EBMs in the world are sold or rented/leased by On Demand Books. The New York-based company was founded in 2003 by publishing legend Jason Epstein, who had long envisioned an efficient way to print books at an affordable cost in a neighborhood setting. Today, the company stores all of its books on a network database. They’re boldly tackling the old publishing model of gambling on print runs. And they are partnering with major publishers like HarperCollins to deliver out-of-print books at the customer’s convenience (and expense!). In addition, On Demand Books is providing an instant means for self-publishers to see their e-creations in printed form. With all this undeniable business potential, it’s no wonder McNally Jackson was the first in New York to invest in an Espresso Book Machine—and they’ve never regretted it.

Indie Closeup: The Paris Review

Paris Review Editor Lorin Stein at SPI

“I don’t read short stories any more than you do. I don’t read poetry any more than you do.”

These words were surprising coming from Lorin Stein, editor of The Paris Review, which specializes in short stories and poetry. Stein spoke to the NYU-SCPS Summer Publishing Institute (SPI) about independent publishing.

“I started thinking about how to get you and me to read a short story,” Stein said of his first days as editor. “What would that short story look like?” He then referenced n+1, a periodical he said anyone interested in the magazine industry should look at. It comes out three times a year, has no web component and, according to Stein, “shows that young people can write work that spoke more to the readers.”

“I was very inspired and heartened by the example of n+1, in particular by their editorial bravery, their high standards, and their refusal to accept the current state of magazines as a given,” he said. “Why not publish a magazine of long-form criticism? Why not take our own educations seriously? Why not treat our readers as if they were our ideal readers?”