Several of you have asked about the origin of the name Argiope Press, the branch of our collective responsible for transforming manuscript into book.
Two years ago in August I was in my garden weeding (crouched on my knees) when I lifted my head and saw an enormous spider just inches away from my face. She had concealed herself in a clump of balloon flowers, where she was busily spinning a web. By her girth and markings I assumed she was something special, so for the first time in my life I was interested in identifying a spider.
An internet search led me to a picture of argiope, an orb weaver or “writing spider,” named for the way she stabilizes her web by appearing to create letters. I grabbed a camera and snapped a photo. After several days, argiope had disappeared, but the inspiration stayed, and we decided she was a perfect mascot for our group—a Kentucky gal who writes and thrives in a natural landscape.
This August, just as copies of When the Bough Breaks arrived from Larkspur after their letterpress dust jackets and bindings had been completed, I saw another argiope busily writing in the midst of my hostas and took it as a sign of great good fortune than once again our endeavor had received this blessing.
P.S. Argiope Press is not able to accept other manuscripts for publication at this time.
Good post, Jan. Love the picture!