The fees off-set the administrative, printing, and distribution fees. (The cost of printing a high-quality book is substantial.) Plus, artists that are selected get a level of professional exposure that they otherwise would not have direct access to.

If the artist is going to get that much exposure, then one would think advance orders would offset the publication costs. It also appears that this is a "submission fee." What if the artist gets rejected? Is it fair for that person to pay for the administration, publication costs, and distribution of a book that he/she will not appear in? Or are you basically accepting anything that anyone submits, as long as they pay the submission fee? In that case, it raises questions about the quality of the publication. I could render a metallic sphere floating over an ocean, pay you my $20, and get in the book?

Message edited on: 02/01/2005 21:21