PW Daily newsletter reports on publishing companies in the vicinity of WTC, one year later - by Steven Zeitchik:

They are connected in the unlikeliest of ways, six companies that because of geographic coincidence became touchstones for how publishing felt America's tragedy.

In mission they are as different as midnight and high noon - a noted art book publisher, a Hollywood-minded startup that had yet to release its first book, a store that was part of America's second-largest chain, the publishing arm of a West Coast distributor, a two-man literary house and a scrappy political press. But on September 11, 2001, something as simple as a postal address lifted these companies south of Canal Street off of our map and placed them on an unfamiliar atlas of loss and confusion.

To them, there were no witnesses, only participants. The smell of burnt metal, the eerie quiet of streets without traffic and the sight of police barriers in front of their offices all blocked access to their creative missions. While most of publishing hunkered down in familiar roles - writing a press release, bidding on a proposal, scheduling a reading, donating profits - these six found themselves literal and figurative nomads, unsure whether their own psyches could survive the wandering and even less confident about the prospects for their fragile task.

In the first part of a series remembering 9/11, we look at several of these companies. One year later, some have still not found a place to return to; others have physically come back, but to places that seem forever changed. As was the case a year ago, these firms remain true to their cause of disseminating books. They seek to become no greater symbol. Yet as it was a year ago, a symbol is exactly what they've become, showing us that if tragedy often happens by accident, survival can be achieved only through will power.

Abbeville

What They Faced: President Bob Abrams was putting on his coat to leave his office for a meeting on the morning of September 11 when he heard an airplane fly over the publisher's loft. Seconds later, that plane crashed into the World Trade Center. Employees evacuated the building as their offices were buried under ash and debris.

How They Reacted: The art book publisher soon relocated to temporary offices on 23d street. Because of a space shortage, many employees telecommuted. In the weeks after the attacks, executives also met to figure out how to commemorate the event. They ultimately decided to do a photographic history, The World Trade Center Remembered, which went on to become one its biggest titles of the year. "For people who weren't there," Abrams said, "there's a desire to see the attacks from many points of view. [But] this book was the only book I could have done - to try and remember the towers for what they were."

Where They Are Now: The attacks were both cause of and omen for a bad year to come the company has endured several rounds of layoffs and a scaling back of its list. As for its real-estate situation, Abbeville remains in a state of limbo. The company is still temporarily headquartered on 23d street and Abrams said he is not sure when or even if he will move into permanent offices again....