From 2007 to 2017 I actively ran the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography (or CCLaP), a multi-disciplinary arts organization based both in Chicago and globally online, part of a wave of indie presses that opened and then quickly closed in the DIY-friendly 2000s and ‘10s. CCLaP hosted temporary exhibitions, various live events, workshops and classes, and merchandise; but what it was most known for was publishing 40 books, collectively distributed around 20,000 times altogether between paper and ebook, and either winning or being finalists for around half a dozen literary awards. The center itself was also named one of the top ten indie presses in the United States by both BookRiot.com and Poets & Writers magazine.

All the original material of CCLaP’s is no longer on the internet, so I hope for this page to be a small permanent reminder of this Chicago-centric indie press I’m very proud to have run for a decade, although while admitting that it played havoc on my financial life, and that being a freelance editor is a much healthier way to make a living. For those trying to track down details for historical purposes not included on this page, please drop me a line directly at ilikejason@gmail.com, or by using the form at the bottom of this page. I will be continually updating this page in the coming months, as I have time to add more and more details about the center’s books, when they appeared, what awards they won, and what critics had to say about them.