Sadly, The Orphan is no longer a publishing project of Cultural Research.

Cultural Research to Publish The Orphan

Cultural Research is beginning its offline publishing efforts with The Orphan, a novel by David Wilson originally published as a blog at netweed.

Update: The Orphan is now slated for release in 2006 with cover art by David Larson.

April 11, 2005 - Cultural Research Press Release

Fiction Blog Leads to Book Contract

David Wilson's The Orphan, a novel initially published in weblog form, will be the first publication from Cultural Research, a new small press based in San Francisco. Wilson launched The Orphan as a blog last October and posted daily excerpts along with original songs inspired by the novel's characters through mid-March. Cultural Research will publish The Orphan in book form in Fall 2005 and an accompanying cd of the original music, attributed to The Orphans, may also be released.

The blog was originally described in the following manner:
"'The Orphan' is David Wilson's transcription of a found legend--a collection of cassette tapes discovered in an attic with an abandoned trombone. Among the tapes were recordings of the band 'The Orphans,' which will be included."

In addition, a discussion board was created and dialogue ensued regarding the mysterious origins of the tapes. Over time it became clear to many readers of David's blog that the story was too well developed and the details drawn too clearly to simply be a lucky find. In fact, the unique characters posting on the accompanying discussion board raised the possibility that others were participating in extending the boundaries of a fictional creation.

Publisher Clyde Smith initially provided blogging space for David Wilson's blog/novel at netweed, an online center for alternative culture and politics. Clyde Smith relates, "As the story unfolded I was simply drawn in by the unique tale and David's excellent writing. Eventually I realized that this novel really deserved to be in print and I decided to take the opportunity to launch Cultural Research as a small press with this great book."

David Wilson considers himself a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. Though born in Oklahoma City, he grew up in Raleigh's Cameron Park neighborhood. David Wilson went on to earn a BA in Philosophy and an MA in English from North Carolina State University. He taught Freshman composition at NCSU for a number of years and now works in the Acquisitions Department of the University's D.H. Hill Library. David also slings beer at the infamous Sadlack's Heroes, writes fiction, plays music and makes the local scene a much better place for having him.

For more information about Cultural Research and the publication of The Orphan, please contact:
Clyde Smith
415-356-9826
clydesmith(at)culturalresearch(dot)org

To contact David Wilson directly, please write:
theorphan(at)netweed(dot)com

Related links:
The Orphan - http://www.netweed.com/orphan
The Orphan Discussion Board - http://www.netweed.com/orphan/bb/
The Orphans' Downloads - http://www.soundclick.com/bands/4/theorphans.htm
Cultural Research - http://www.culturalresearch.org
netweed - http://www.netweed.com

About Cultural Research
Cultural Research, based in San Francisco, began as an open access archive for Clyde Smith's academic research into dance, education, cultural studies and qualitative methods. Dr. Smith received his PhD in Cultural Studies at Ohio State University in 2000. Since then he has increasingly pursued online activities and, with the publication of The Orphan, will now begin the offline task of building a publishing house.

About netweed
netweed, based in San Francisco, is an online alternative resource center that includes a web directory, news feeds and special projects like The Orphan as well as a number of blogs, all of which are published using Blogger. netweed is also a project of Clyde Smith who wanted to create an alternative information resource that was ad supported rather than basing its viability on grants or donations.