Final issue of “Wapsipinicon Almanac” released

     “The ‘Wapsipinicon Almanac’ jumped from a canoe onto dry ground in May of 1988, and I’ve decided it’s time for it to slip back into the current and course its ways downstream. It’s been an interesting journey, and I can’t think of anything else I’d have preferred giving time to in the last 30 years.”

     Those are Tim Fay’s departing words as he just completed his 25^th and final volume of the acclaimed “Wapsipinicon Almanac.”

     Fay edited, published, and printed the historic book at his residence in rural Anamosa for 30 years. His home sits near the Wapsipinicon River, which was helpful in naming the Almanac.

     “It’s a good time to cut it off,” he said. “I feel good about it.”

     Fay said he wanted to end the publication while it was still popular with readers and writers.

     “The response has been really heartwarming,” he added.

     During a 2014 interview with the Monticello Express on the production of his 20^th volume, Fay described the Almanac in this fashion: “It grew from the idea that the abundance of talented Iowa writers, artists and small business proprietors living and creating here in the mid-1980s needed a new forum for publishing and advertising.”

     The first volume of the “Wapsipinicon Almanac” was published in 1988.

     Fay didn’t suddenly come to this decision; it’s been something he’s been contemplating for a couple of years.

     Now that he’s in his mid-60s, there are other ventures Fay wants to dedicate his time to.

     “I want to offer small printing projects,” he said, “literary projects.”

     Fay has several author friends, and wants to look at printing hardbound chapbooks (small books). He’s already published thee chapbooks for Mary Swander, the Poet Laureate of Iowa. Swander is a dedicated reader of Fay’s Almanac and also wrote a book review in one of the issues.

     While the final Almanac is complete, Fay did produce a slightly larger print run on this issue knowing it might spark additional attention.

     “I’m still binding and delivering copies all over the state,” he said. “It really doesn’t feel like anything has changed yet.”

     This final volume has prompted Fay to re-stock the Almanac at various locations throughout Eastern Iowa. “They’re really selling,” he said.

     His delivery travels have taken him all over the state and he’s met some great people.

     “I’ll miss the interesting people,” Fay said. “I’ve taken many of Iowa’s back roads and took in some beautiful scenery in making my rounds.”

     The Almanac is sold in small-town, independent bookstores, small-town businesses and food coops all over Iowa.

     Fay said his audience hasn’t changed much over the past 30 years.

     “It has its limited, but dedicated audience,” he said.

     Every issue of the “Wapsipinicon Almanac” includes short essays, short works of fiction, heartwarming stories, book reviews, unique artwork, regional factoids/tidbits, historical pieces, and advertisements for small businesses throughout Iowa. For this final issue, Fay wanted to include works of young and new writers. “They were solid contributors,” he praised.

     Looking back, Fay said the public’s whole outlook on the Almanac “stayed pretty stagnant.

     “That’s about what I expected,” he said.

     He went from producing 1,300 copies in the late 1980s to 1,600 copies in its recent years.

     Several copies are also mailed out to dedicated readers, ex-Iowans in Oregon, California, New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois.

     Fay also sends a copy of the Almanac to Ted Kooser, a U.S. Poet Laureate, living in Nebraska.

     “That’s pretty gratifying,” admitted Fay.

     Fay said he would miss the people he’s met all these years associated with the Almanac. Fay also held several public readings at independent bookstores that brought in crowds of people.

     “I liked getting out and about,” he continued.

     It’s not as though he’ll run out of things to do. Fay also serves on the Jones County Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as the Historic Preservation Commission.

     “It’s been a long, fun trip,” he said fondly.

     Copies of the final issue of the “Wapsipinicon Almanac” are available locally at McNeill Hardware in Monticello. Visit Fay’s website www.wapsialmanac.com for a complete list of where you can get your hands on this historic publication.