A Sit Down with Spankstra Press
Interview with Chris Dusterhoff by Laura Severance
Some say that Chris Dusterhoff, creator of Spankstra Press, is a man of mystery, which is not an uncommon belief regarding poets and writers. He shakes his head and laughs as I tell him this and says, “Well, I am not.” We will see how much mystery I can divulge after a few beers and witty conversation.
Chris is a poet, a publisher, an anthropologist, who spends his days working at Arundel Books. Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, he has traveled to many places and for the past six years has called Seattle home. After a few journeys back and forth from the east coast to the west coast he settled in Eugene, Oregon, and attended the University of Oregon. Chris completed a degree in Cultural Anthropology and decided to move to Portland. He then transplanted to Seattle where he now thrives, working and dedicating himself to his publishing company, Spankstra Press.
His interest in writing sparked during his senior year of high school in Baltimore. His creative writing teacher, Dr. Blankenburg, inspired him to write creatively. Chris’s first monthly publication was Spread, a magazine featuring local writers in addition to well known poets such as Bukowski and Antler. Spankstra Press, so named in honor of his eighth grade Home Ec teacher’s comedic last name, came to life in 1999. That same year he compiled all of his old poems into his first book, Anthropotamous. This was a way of putting all of his earlier material to rest and give him a clean slate to begin writing again.
Chris realized what he wanted to do with his life when the concept of mortality hit home. His sister, Laura, passed away in 1996 from cancer and during that time Chris began to think about life, death, possibilities, and began asking himself what he wanted to accomplish in life. The answer came quickly: to publish poetry and be involved in the writing/publishing community.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s book, A Coney Island of the Mind turned Chris on not only because of its imagery but also the idea of making a living by printing modern American poetry. This book made publishing a realistic goal. Other poets impressed him were Ginsberg, Whitman, and Bukowski. The first Bukowski book he read was Dangling in the Tournefortia. The subject matter is based on working in a factory, what Chris was doing for a living at the time. He realized how much time people spent working and how little it is written about. Chris says Bukowski “brought the sensibilities of a philosopher to the act of working in factories.”
When I ask what qualities he seeks in a writer he’d like to publish, he answers with a shrug and says poetry, short stories… it is all acceptable but he is definitely attracted to the oddball, outcast type. He no longer publishes his own material nor does he tend to read at poetry readings, which may be why he has been dubbed a “mystery man.” Chris has published several books for two modern poets, Todd Moore and Harvey Goldner. Goldner is a Seattle local whose books, including Ancient Pilot, American Flyer, Memphis Jack, and Her Bright Bottom, are available at Arundel Books and Spankstra Press readings, where he also frequents the stage. Moore and Chris have never met but were introduced by Dr. Blankenburg. Chris has published three books for Moore, The First One Hurt, The Weather in Hell, and Sign of the Gun/Russian Roulette.
Chris currently dedicates himself to Spankstra Press and publishing three to four books a year. He works independently and finds poets of interest through open mics and local readings. He hosts a series of monthly readings which feature fellow poets from the community, although he rarely reads his own material. The series, “Spankstra presents 6 months”, was held at the Capital Hill Arts Center (CHAC) and ran from January to June. Spankstra Press readings are open to anyone who is willing to share their creative spirit and are a great place to pick up recently published Spankstra books. Events are typically advertised through word of mouth but blurbs have appeared in The Stranger or Seattle Weekly, so keep your eye out!
Chris does not run Spankstra to strike it rich or to be famous one day. He does it because of his passion for poetry, expression, and the written word. He calls it an “expensive hobby” but remains committed to publishing at least four books a year. Yes, he does dream of one day having an underground cult that will spread Spankstra Press literature around the country, but until then he is perfectly happy working at Arundel Books, publishing poetry, hosting readings, and fighting the “mystery man” myth that has surrounded him.
