Dear Friends and Supporters, Fellow Pilgrims All,

I had been holding off posting an update for a few weeks, hoping that we would soon have a new printing schedule, which would be thrilling news to share after so much anticipation.

All the while, behind the scenes, a major development was occurring which I hope and trust will make The North American Thebaid Book an even more cherished volume now and for years to come. The story is best told by Fr Mikel Hill, Managing Editor of St Tikhon’s Press, in the recent STMP Summer Update:

A New Chapter: A New Printer

We have entered into a partnership with a new printer in Great Britain. Gomer Press has been making high quality books since 1892 and is still owned and operated by the original family. Gomer Press offers many of the same materials and options as does our printer in China and all at a very competitive price point. Overarching these offerings is the advantage of working with a company that is accessible and in a country that has an excellent relationship with the United States. This means that I will be able to devote the same on-the-ground, hands-on care for printing our hard bound books as we have with our softcover books.

I have to admit a sense of relief to have found an alternative to printing in China, about which there has been no little embarrassment. We have already sent two print jobs to Gomer Press and I am planning to follow through by personally visiting their facility to examine their product offerings and production capabilities. I look forward to sharing more about Gomer Press after my visit. In the meantime, please enjoy a short video about Gomer Press here.

The transition to the new printer involves confirmation of the many specifications, plus some moving parts at our end here in the States, including a slight resize of the book dimensions, which has required some reformatting of the text, and another review of the final draft of the book file to make sure all the page elements are properly placed in the layout.

Do take a few minutes to watch the video about Gomer Press, to appreciate their admirable history and deserved reputation, commitment to excellence in printing, and their capabilities in the area of art and coffee table books. I am especially pleased that the book will be printed in Wales, United Kingdom, which embeds the book in the beloved and historic lands of Celtic Christendom. The Anglo-Celtic connection is also dear to me personally, as my forefather, James Sidway, came here to the Colonies from Dudley, England, in the mid-eighteenth century, establishing the family in America. As for myself, in 1983 I was able to study at Oxford for the summer, spending time also in Glastonbury and Bath, as well as London.

Watch for more updates in the days and weeks ahead as all the details get checked off and we go to press with our new printing partner, Gomer Press of Wales, UK.

Thank you for your prayers and support!