From the website for McSweeney’s (publisher of excellent books, publisher of the McSweeney’s quarterly, publisher of The Believer, publisher of DVD quarterly Wholphin):

As you may know, it’s been tough going for many independent publishers, McSweeney’s included, since our distributor filed for bankruptcy last December 29. We lost about $130,000—actual earnings that were simply erased. Due to the intricacies of the settlement, the real hurt didn’t hit right away, but it’s hitting now. Like most small publishers, our business is basically a break-even proposition in the best of times, so there’s really no way to absorb a loss that big.

Taking a cue from Fantagraphics (when Fantagraphics was “in similarly dire straits”), McSweeney’s is selling everything in their store at discounted prices (including subscriptions to McSweeney’s, the huge faces-of-The Believer poster, and fine T-shirts) AND holding an auction of rare items.

What sorts of rare items? Right now, an original Tony Millionaire drawing of Ben Gibbard, a painting of an amputated president by Dave Eggers, a copy of Wholphin doodled on by Spike Jonze, this awesome package of Marcel Dzama Berlin Years prints doodled on by Dzama, and more.

You know what to do.

(Now please enjoy some reviews of Seattle audiences written for The Stranger by McSweeney’s and Believer alums: Sarah Vowell in 2002; Ben Marcus in 2002; Vendela Vida in 2003; Paul Collins in 2004; Sean Wilsey in 2005; Dave Eggers in 2005; John Hodgman in 2005; and Ryan Boudinot in 2006.)