I don’t know if it’s just Jung’s collective unconscious or if we’re all slaves to social media, but I’ve noticed a trend lately in people posting lists of publishers.
Like the “7 Chapbook Publishers” on Authors Publish, which includes the always-excellent Black Lawrence Press, my pal Maragret Bashaar’s Hyacinth Girl Press, and (best of all!) sunnyoutside press, home of my own chapbook, Box Cutters. That last one is worthy of special attention because, starting yesterday and only for the month of August, sunnyoutside is open for submissions! You can find their guidelines here.
For (sometimes) larger books from amazing indie presses, there’s also the “Ten US Presses That Don’t Play by the Rules,” in Dazed & Confused Magazine. It’s an incredible list that includes not only the obvious, like Coffee House Press and the celebrated Publishing Genius, but also lesser-known heroes like Spork (home to Zachary Schomburg’s From the Fjords as well as the first home of my friend Amy Temple Harper’s Cramped Uptown) and Oregon’s own Artistically Declined Press (who has published Ben Tanzer and Hosho McCreesh, and was the first press to put out a book by the now ubiquitous Roxane Gay).
I’d sure like to see Hagridden‘s Columbus Press on a list like this soon — I don’t know that I’d call them “rule breakers,” per se, but I’ve had a fantastic experience working with them, and they sure know how to throw a literary party!
Dazed and Confused also has an excellent list on “the next generation of American lit mags,” which (like all these lists) isn’t nearly thorough enough! (What, no Jersey Devil Press?) Still, it starts off as strong as any list like this could, with the triple-whammy of Hobart, Gigantic Sequins, and The Atlas Review, and after a few names new to me, they round out the list with Slice and Everyday Genius! That’s an exciting list of lit mags, folks, and if you’re not reading them yet, start!
In the meantime, stay tuned for the August issue of Jersey Devil Press, because I’m REALLY excited about this one! Legendary creatures, the new addition of poetry, and a cover I am all-caps GEEKING OUT over! It’s a beauty. 🙂
Samuel Snoek-Brown 