A Bridge Between the Cultures

In 1994, Cune Press (from cuneiform*) was founded by Mamoun Sakkal, an internationally recognized Arabic calligrapher from Syria, and award-winning nonfiction writer Scott C. Davis. Soon afterward, independent historian Steven Schlesser from Portland joined the team. Dozens of volunteers also support our efforts.

The knowledge that conglomerate book publishers have abandoned serious nonfiction guided our mission to create books that would "bridge the cultures" by promoting insight, dialogue, and mutual understanding within the US and beyond.

Since its establishment Cune Press has published books that reflect the sometimes idiosyncratic tastes of the three principals. Books on Syria stem from Sakkal's Middle Eastern heritage; memoirs and travelogues emanate from Davis's affection for first person nonfiction; and the histories reflect Schlesser's belief that civilization must continually learn from its past.

In a concession to the economic realities of book publishing, the Press has also developed a number of education titles that are useful for home schooling and have appeal to students of writing and art.

After more than a dozen years of operation, Cune Press prides itself in having published cross-genre work that it felt was important and inspired . . . rather than hewing to the rigid commercial and scholarly categories and genres that govern "factory-produced" books in the current day.

In the Internet age, one that values text for its position in the rapidly emerging online database of every text ever composed, Cune is a throwback that places value on the creative individual, the collaboration between an author and insightful editors, and well-crafted books.

Cune insists that our writers polish their text far more than now is required by commercial houses. And it strives to create reader-friendly and elegant books with wide margins, ample leading (white space between lines), crisp typography, and engaging cover art. The Press believes in the civilizing effect of reading book length work and the impulse it gives to reason, intellect, and imagination.

You can support Cune Press by making a tax-deductible charitable donation to The Cune Project / Salaam Cultural Museum. Mail your check or MC/Visa info to: Cune-Salaam P.O. Box 31024 Seattle, WA 98103.

* Cuneiform characters were formed by the arrangement of small wedge-shaped elements and used in ancient Sumeria (present day Iraq).