Artistic expression can exist in many different forms, and Fresno City College student, Daniel Williams, is expressing himself via “The Many Moons All In Orbit”, the literary book he co-published with former FCC student, Jessika Verduzco.
“The Many Moons All in Orbit” was published in Nov. 2011 and features 10 different local artists, eight of which have ties to FCC. It was printed under the publication name, “From Under the Rug”, also started by Williams and Verduzco.
The goal of “Many Moons” is “to express art as a community,” Williams said. The title of book is a reference to how there are many moons in the galaxy, just as there are “many different people and many different places.”
Williams said he wanted the literary book to be a public project with participation of many individuals. Submissions for the first volume were mostly from close friends, but Williams and Verduzco said they would welcome contribution from others in the next issue which will be published this June.
“We’re looking for anyone who is creative and is willing to help us out,” said Verduzco. “We’re not just asking people to submit because they can, but to submit because they feel like they have something to say.”
“Many Moons” was an idea that Williams had for a while, before going through with it. “It originated back in high school when I wanted to collaborate with other writers,” he said. “I wanted to express art with a group of people.”
Williams began working on the idea in September 2011. The first book was funded by both Williams and Verduzco, who saved up the money for it.
Getting “Many Moons” printed was a process all its own. After all the submissions, Williams organized them while Verduzco worked on the design and layout. The book was then published through Lu-Lu.com.
Williams hopes for the project to expand. “We want this to grow and to be something,” said Williams. Both Williams and Verduzco will be attending California State University, Sacramento in the fall semester and would like for the project to expand there as well.
However, Williams said that he would like the book to become more prominent in Fresno, since that is where it was started.
Williams and Verduzco said that after they begin expanding in Sacramento, they will begin collaborating on what direction to go next.
Since publication, they’ve been distribution copies all over town. Contributors received a handful of copies to distribute; a few shops in Fresno have copies for customers to browse while they’re there, and Williams and Verduzco said they were in discussions with Twee Boutique in the Tower District to sell copies. Copies of the book can be purchased through Amazon or directly through the publishers.
They also plan to get involved in Art Hop, and Verduzco is planning an indoor/outdoor show for local bands and artists.
“From Under The Rug” functions as the publisher of books such as “Many Moons”. The first book Williams published shared the same name. Williams has published three books and a chapbook under the imprint, and has also helped other artists get books printed. While the second volume of “Many Moons” won’t be out until June, a new chapbook will be printed ever month.
While juggling school and running this publication is a lot of work for Williams, he says that “the best experience is being able to see people come together.”
Anyone wishing to contact or submit work to “From Under The Rug” can visit facebook.com/themanymoons, facebook.com/fromundertherug, or email the publishers at [email protected].
