Is it that time of the year already?
Yes! Today marks the start of our annual two-week closure (during which our entire 100-strong virtual but very human team enters hibernation—so we hope you understand if we only respond to your emails in the New Year). But, before we go off the grid completely, let’s take a look at the rear-view. In 2024, we gave you:
- Four bountiful quarterly issues, with never-before-published work transporting readers to more than 70 countries and territories, including Ukraine and Gaza;
- The English debuts of long anticipated international authors, such as Brigette Giraud, winner of the 2022 Prix Goncourt;
- In addition to a spotlight on Faroese voices, Special Features themed on “Coexistence,” “The Story of Us,” and—in response to the surge of xenophobia—“Outsiders”;
- A newly rebooted What’s New in Translation column, expanding our coverage to as many as ten new titles out each month;
- The return of our podcast, with six new episodes; and
- Four new educational guides, helping to bring world literature into classrooms everywhere.
Ahead of us, we have plans to:
- Revamp our website, which has been overdue for an update for some time now;
- Launch a Substack—with even more thoughtful coverage and greater depth!; and
- Bring back our international translation contest for emerging translators.
But to do any of the above, we have to be sustainable first—an uphill task given that Asymptote is incorporated outside of the US and Europe, where most of English-language literary arts funding lies. Sadly, despite a full 14 years of hard work behind the scenes and a London Book Fair award under our belt, the revenue that currently comes in each year is still not yet enough to support one full-time member’s involvement.
Which is why we just have to ask during this season of giving: Can you spare us five bucks a month?
Because that’s all it takes to sustain this platform—that we use to advocate for a more inclusive world literature and to amplify underrepresented voices like H.W. Burg’s—if enough of you stand with us. Tempted to sign on as a patron or even a masthead member? We’d be overjoyed and shower you with perks—including newly unveiled ones like literary care packages I’ll personally assemble. We just want to make sure that those of you who value our work have the chance to support it before it’s too late. So, if you can afford it, please take a few minutes to sign up via the link below:
