First Bite Press produces fine press books with original writing and illustration.
Throughout the history of printing, romance writing and illustration published in books were often banned or censored. The definition of what is considered “romantic” versus “erotic” changes over the years based on whatever social, political, cultural, religious fluctuations are afoot at the time. Even today, romance authors and their publishers hide the true nature of their work under the genre of “romance,” perhaps calling is “steamy romance” when it is more close to erotica with relationships and emotional elements. Just ask any reader of contemporary “romantasy.”
Historically, the printing of spicier romance and erotic works of fiction was often clandestine and ownership was banned. Erotic books were cheaply produced and hidden behind false publishers’ names and printing locations. A book binder might be employed to conceal the book in a fine binding that would be hidden by the reader in a private library.
Fine press printers from the 1920s, such as the Golden Cockerel Press, produced limited edition romance with genteel erotic illustrations. For example: Eric Gill’s wood engravings in Song of Songs printed in 1925 or John Buckland Wright’s engravings for Endymion in 1947. Beginning around the 1950s, fine press books went back to focusing on republishing classic literature - what the printers knew would sell - and it was not common for fine press, limited edition printers to produce erotica or romance novels.
First Bite Press publishes limited edition books in a genre of fiction that is currently not being produced by fine press printers. Romance novels, including those with “steamy” scenes, are the highest grossing genre in fiction.
Today, large book publishers and online booksellers in every genre sell to mass markets and restrict the creative content produced by authors and illustrators. Beautiful, high-quality, hand made books to showcase the author’s stories are rare.
As a result, what we often lack in fine press books is the fun and exciting exploration of the human condition and imagination through intimate experiences. It seems a natural fit for the tactile experience of reading a handmade book.
For fans of either fine press books or romance, you are invited to experience books that will increase your reading pleasure with:
the touch and texture of fine printing [in fine press printing the ink “kisses” the paper],
exciting, original illustrations,
handmade or mouldmade papers that are soft to the touch, often with deckled edges,
binding materials, such as a variety of colors of book cloth, silk, or leather,
decorations on the binding on the spine, cover, edges and often with a slipcase or box to match,
all of the elements selected to work together with the writer’s content for a full reading experience.
CAVEAT LECTOR
First Bite Press publishes original writing by experienced authors who are seeking an outlet for publishing quality romantic literature for the intelligent, discerning reader.
Because the Press does not sell books to the mass market, it reserves the right to publish content as the publisher sees fit, without censorship or trigger warning.
Authors selected for publication are given free reign to explore their imagination. Editing by the publisher focuses on story development and copyediting, but does not restrict the author’s exploration or the illustrator’s creative interpretation of the work.
Presses
First Bite Press owns several different presses: a new style Chandler & Price, a Vandercook Universal III (manual with adjustable bed), and an Albion Handpress. Books, illustrations, and ephemera may be printed on any of these depending on the project.
The Illustrators
It’s o.k. if you only read our books for the writing. However, the Press collaborates with artists to create book illustrations that intentionally enhance the original writing. The form of artwork will vary with each project.
Wood engravings by Keith Cranmer for the Press’ forthcoming novella, Victoria: A Bedside Table Tale, by NPR Book of the Year Author, Tiffany Reisz.
One of the hand painted frontispieces created by Laurelin Gilmore for the Deluxe Edition of The Canon of Aphrodisia.
Image by Vladimir Zimakov, book maker and illustrator, who designed the press marks for First Bite Press.
The Paper
First Bite Press prefers to print on handmade or mould made paper. The type of paper used in each book is carefully selected for each individual project based on the size of the book and the type of illustrations to be printed. Both the illustrators and the limited edition binders are consulted before the printer makes her selection after running tests of the paper with different inks on the press. Following the close of the Zerkall Paper Mill, the preferred book paper for fine press publications, we have tested several handmade papers from the States and the UK to find a solid quality match for book weight paper, including John Purcell Paper, Somerset, Arches Rives, Cave, Twinrocker, and Shotwell Paper Mill.
The Publisher and Printer
First Bite Press is owned and operated by Stephanie Kimbro Dolin. Stephanie began working with books as a volunteer in the Preservation Department of a Museum. After learning how to repair and rebind antiquarian books and make paper repairs, she began making her own books and set up a bookbinding studio in her home. Tired of creating bindings for blank books, she learned how to print. A longer list of book-related and “past life” experience can be found here.
After a successful career in the legal technology field, she turned her attention to learning the skills necessary to publish, design, and produce limited edition books. She has a long history of designing publications for different organizations throughout her life. An avid reader and book collector, Stephanie was accepted into the Grolier Club in 2022. She attends classes each summer in either the Virginia or California Rare Book Schools in a variety of book-related subjects to further broaden her knowledge of books. Stephanie collects and studies limited edition, private press, and fine press books from the Golden Age of fine press printing to modern day fine press books and contemporary book arts.
With her work at First Bite Press, she wants to create beautiful books where all of the components of a book from the content to the sewing of the bindings, coalesces into a pleasurable, thoughtful experience for the reader. She enjoys collaborating with authors, illustrators, papermakers, and book binders.
The Binders
First Bite Press collaborates with limited edition binders, including John Demerritt, Amy Borezo, Liz McHugh, and hopes to work with others. We also have a full bindery on site at the press and will be binding chapbooks and producing other simple bindings and covers in the studio depending on the project.
