Founded in 2001, Omnidawn Publishing Inc. (https://www.omnidawn.com/) is a nonprofit, independent press based in Richmond, CA. Ken Keegan & Rusty Morrison founded the press to support their belief in the value of literature and stance that it would be a privilege to participate in the development and release of “lively, culturally pertinent, emotionally and intellectually engaging” material. The House focuses on poetry, both original and in translation.
A quarter century old, Omnidawn has a history of supporting and expanding the community of writers. Now headed by Rusty Morrison & Laura Joakimson, the two have renewed that commitment with an added focus on “becoming a more modernized, resilient and sustainable press.”[1] Part of that includes celebrating authors from different backgrounds, socio-economic status, sexuality, and physicality. Another aspect focuses on providing a yearly writing prize for first-time poets or poets with only one book already published.[2]
Omnidawn holds book readings, participates in festivals, and hosts poetry month events. You can find out more about their community events through their Instagram (link) and other social media accounts. This is also one of the many publishers that include works by our own, UNC Berkeley community members – so make sure to keep an eye on them!
Select Titles at UC Berkeley
Additional Titles
Not only does UC Berkeley’s Doe and Bancroft Libraries heavily collect from Omnidawn, but UCLA and UC Davis do as well. You can find the hundred-plus titles and their locations through our UC Library Search with a publisher limitation. Be aware that Omnidawn works with the University of Chicago Press for distribution (U of Chicago page).
Notes
[1] “Our Mission,” Omnidawn, accessed January 5, 2026, https://www.omnidawn.com/our-mission/.
[2] John Maher, “Fresh Off a National Book Award Win, Omnidawn Looks Toward the Holidays,” Publishers Weekly, December 4, 2023, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/93821-fresh-off-a-national-book-award-win-omnidawn-looks-toward-the-holidays.html.
