A new science emerges from publishing in Mexico
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Mauricio Sánchez and Jacobo Zanella founded Gris Tormenta publishing house in Querétaro, Mexico, in 2017, and are developing a systematic approach to editorial curation.
They envision publishing catalogs not just as collections of books, but as narratives and manifestos shaping literature and thought. Their work builds on the idea, previously expressed by Roberto Calasso of Adelphi publishing, that a publisher’s choices define a body of work, but Gris Tormenta adds a reflective, self-examining dimension.
The publishers focus on non-fiction, carefully considering every aspect of book design and structure to create thoughtful collections. They recently completed Paisajes hechos con libros, a detailed description of their work, published with support from the Universidad del Litoral. Gris Tormenta’s approach draws inspiration from Lewis Lapham, who edited Harper’s Magazine and Lapham’s Quarterly, and championed books that challenged conventional ideas about interesting content.
Sánchez and Zanella believe a strong catalog should break from mass-produced writing and elevate publishing to an art form, a tool, and a meaningful endeavor. Though this emerging field, potentially “the architecture of catalogs”, lacks a formal name, the publishers see Lapham as a pioneer and themselves as its early proponents.
