Literary heavy hitters come out swinging on behalf of foundering SMU Press

Respect and appreciation to well-known literary figures, including novelists Ann Beattie, Madison Smartt Bell, Abraham Verghese, who spoke out after word went out this week that SMU Press would be suspending operations June 1.

According to the Texas Pages blog, John Dufresne, novelist and a Florida International University professor says, "I have long sung the praises of SMU Press as the finest small press in the country as far as publishing quality literary fiction goes. It is disheartening to think that the university administration puts such little value in literature, not to mention in the well-being of its long-time employees. This a blow to the national literary community."

Meanwhile, Jennifer Howard has this to say in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Is this the end for SMU Press?

The Dallas Morning News reported earlier today that Southern Methodist University has suspended operations at SMU Press. According to Paul W. Ludden, SMU provost and vice president for academic affairs:

"It is with regret that we make the decision to suspend operations of the SMU Press, which has enjoyed a distinguished history of publishing...SMU has weathered the financial crisis well, but some cuts were necessary," he wrote. "By suspending operations rather than closing the press with finality, we retain the option to resume the press in a renewed form in the future."

SMU Press has published a lot of terrific fiction, including the hardcover of Tracy Winn's Mrs. Somebody Somebody, which scored a starred review in PW and launched her over to a book deal at Random House, who'll be publishing the paperback this summer. Read the whole sad story here.