John Martin told me that when he was starting BSP in 1966, he was a guest at a literary party in L.A. where Robert Kirsch was the featured guest. Apparently at that time Kirsch was the most powerful and influential book reviewer in the US.After asking John his plans for Black Sparrow, Kirsch said he thought it was great that L.A. would finally have an active literary press. At the end of the con:eek:versation Kirsch offered the following brilliant advice: " I have only one piece of advice for you and I hope you take it seriously. Don't publish Charles Bukowski. It will ruin you before you can get started." And as John comments " The rest is history."