Started in 1997 in Riverside, CA, USA, Budget Press is the artistic outlet of me (johnnie b. baker), and as of today has published over 90 different zines and chapbooks from more than that many different writers and artists as well as a few by myself. Budget Press doesn’t stick to any specific genre, it’s more like whatever I want to do at that time of my life - perzines, litzines, photo zines, short stories, history zines, poetry chapbooks, etc. A major aim of Budget Press is to have something anyone can afford, with everything costing between $3-$6.
Currently in Washington DC, the last couple years I have started two new multiple issue projects. The first are called Pocket Histories, which are small, cheap zines on specific World and US historical topics that are based on my community college history lectures. Ten have been done so far, from topics ranging from the Birth of Islam to Bill Clinton. The other is connected to my volunteer work at DC Books to Prisons, with that money kept separate and donated to the cause. The first two issues were a mix of art and writing from the incarcerated, information about the program, and volunteer essays. The most recent issue is all art and writing from the incarcerated. However, while not as often as in the past, Budget Press is still publishing individual zines and poetry chapbooks written by chosen collaborators, such as poetry by Robin Joy and a short story by Stephen T. Brophy.
Poetry and stories for your listening pleasure can be found at the Budget Press Review podcast! 