Tag: Publisher highlight

Publisher Highlight: WTAW Press

Posted on by Bee Lehman
WTAW press cover collage and logo

Based in Santa Rosa, California, WTAW Press has provided access to beautiful prose and poetry since 2016. The 501(c)(3) non-profit came out of a reading series called “Why There Are Words” (WTAW), started in Sausalito in 2010 by Peg Alford Pursell. While starting with prose, in 2013 the series extended to poetry and continued with monthly meetings for another seven years.[1] WTAW continues to host author readings and to provide online workshops, and community support for developing literary communities. Yet, what Pursell and their collaborators now focus on is the press, which they announced in 2015.

WTAW concentrates on what they understand as “exceptional, enduring literary books” with the goal to “enrich the literary landscape.”[2] Toward that end, they have open, anonymous submissions for novels, chapbooks (including under the imprint of the Alcover Chapbook Series), as well as mixed-genre. Within their (around) five books a year, they publish one or more books a year under their “Betty” imprint. That imprint focuses on authors who self-identify as women, opening up space for authors under the imprint to collaborate with one another and publish as a cohort.

Readers can find more about WTAW’s books through their webpage or Instagram account.

Books

Notes

[1] Evan Karp, “Why There Are Words Thriving after 3 Years,” SFGate, January 9, 2013, https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/why-there-are-words-thriving-after-3-years-4180675.php;“About,” Why There Are Words, accessed October 19, 2026, http://www.whytherearewords.com/about/.

[2] “About WTAW Press,” WTAW Press, accessed October 19, 2026, https://www.wtawpress.org/about.

[3] “Our Story: What We Do,” WTAW Press, 2026, https://www.wtawpress.org/our-story.

Publisher Highlight: Sley House

Posted on by Bee Lehman
Collage of sley house book covers and logo

Founded in 2020 in San Francisco, Sley House is a small publishing house focused on genre fiction. They separate their material into southern gothic and horror; science fiction; weird fiction; as well as young adult and middle grade. Alongside stand-alone novels, the house publishes a yearly anthology of shorter mixed-genre fiction. Currently, Jeremy Billingsley, one of the founding members, oversees the operation as Editor-in-Chief.

In addition to their literary output, Sley House also puts out a podcast on Spotify. You can check out more information on their Sley House Presents page.

Readers can find more about Sley House’s publications through their webpage or through their Instagram account.

Books

Publisher Highlight: Semiotext(e)

Posted on by Bee Lehman
collage of semiotext covers with logo

Sylvère Lotringer (Wikipedia link) and others at Columbia University in New York City founded Semiotext(e) in 1974 as an anarchic project. The early life of the publisher stemmed from gatherings/conferences of French semioticians. The resulting periodical issues appearing sporadically into the 1990s introduced a wild series of provocations.[1] In the 1980s, Lotringer started the Semiotext(e)’s Foreign Agents book imprint with the intention of introducing French theorists to an English-speaking audience as well as to expose incendiary ideas to that reading public. In 1990, Lotringer and co-editor and writer Chris Kraus started the Native Agents series, focused primarily on U.S. women writers.

In 2001, Lotringer and Kraus took the press to Los Angeles when they moved to the Pacific coast. Revitalizing the press, the editors started a collaboration with MIT Press for distribution, publishing Hatred of Capitalism to mark the occasion. The two also brought on Hedi El Kholti first as art director/managing editor and then as a lead co-editor. Working together, they’ve continued with the Native Agents series and become one of the major publishers for “New Narrative” literature, which emerged in the 1970s in San Francisco partly as an expression of the tensions between Gay Liberation, the Avant-Garde, and the New Left.[3]

The press, still co-edited by Krau and El Kholti, continues to publish 10+ books a year. Their book titles are available on their website and for purchase through MIT Press. Their release announcements and excerpts can be found on their Instagram page.

Recent Books at UC Berkeley

Notes

[1] David L. Ulin, “Appreciation: Sylvère Lotringer Made Book Publishing Safe for Dangerous Ideas,” Books, Los Angeles Times, November 18, 2021, Access through UC Berkeley’s catalog.

[2] “Semiotext(e),” MIT Press, accessed September 2026, https://mitpress.mit.edu/publisher/semiotexte/.

[3] Rob Halpern, “Realism and Utopia: Sex, Writing, and Activism in New Narrative,” Journal of Narrative Theory 41, no. 1 (2011): 82–124, https://muse.jhu.edu/article/443765.

Publisher Highlight: punctum books

Posted on by Bee Lehman
collage of book covers and punctum books logo

Eileen A. Fradenburg Joy and Nicola Masciandaro, two medievalists, founded punctum books in 2011 in Brooklyn, New York. The two wanted to provide a space for experiments with form and para-academic writing, as well as mash-ups of different genres of art and academic thought. In 2012, Masciandaro decided to focus on other things, leaving the press. In 2015, Vincent W. J. van Gerven Oei (an art curator and book designer, among other skills) joined as co-director and brought their own press, Uitgeverij, into the fold.[1]

Now in Santa Barbara, California, with an imprint line reading “Earth, Milky Way,” the press has an impressive list of hundreds of publications explore the idea of literature, medieval studies, Nubian studies (including Dotawo: A Journal of Nubian Studies), as well as space, gender, and the body.

Alongside pushing the boundaries of academia and art, the press’ co-directors and Advisory Boards have also emphasized the importance of open access scholarship and art. In particular, they emphasize the right to read but also distribute and create derivative works. For them, this has meant contributing to developing Open Access (OA) models in collaboration with institutions like UCSB. They also publish all of their books as Open Access, making them fully available through their website and popular spaces like Project MUSE and JSTOR as PDFs you can read on your preferred e-reader (e.g., your phone).[2]

You can find–and access–punctum books’ entire catalog through their website and through multiple library portals. You can also get news about new publications through their Instagram page and other social media platforms.

Accessing Books at UC Berkeley

You can access punctum’s entire catalog either through their website or through our UC Berkeley Library Search (as well as on Project MUSE and JSTOR). Here are a few highlights!

 

Notes

[1] Vincent W. J. van Gerven Oei and Eileen A. Fradenburg Jo, “Scenes: Punctum Books: An Interview with Vincent W. J. van Gerven Oei and Eileen A. Fradenburg Joy,” American Book Review 45, no. 2 (2024): 168–73.

[2] “Vision Statement — Punctum Books,” punctum books accessed September 23, 2026, https://punctumbooks.com/vision-statement.

Publisher Highlight: Moon Tide Press

Posted on by Bee Lehman
Collage image of Moon Tide Press logo and covers

Michael Miller founded Moon Tide Press in 2006. Located in Whittier, CA, Miller turned the press into a Southern California institution for poetry. The press provided space for many unpublished writers, including poet Eric Morago in a 2007 anthology. Over the following years, Morago (along with many others) would publish more with Moon Tide Press and work closely with Miller. In 2016, Morago took over the press when Miller decided it was time to move on to other things.[1] Under Morago’s leadership, Moon Tide has continued publishing two to four collections or anthologies a year alongside arranging readings and community events.

Moon Tide focuses on poetry, encompasses a range of life-moments and emotions. Individual volumes reflect on the horror of life; on remembering friends; of the process of aging.

In 2024, they also picked up the poetry magazine Spillways’ compilation and release. Readers can find information about those activities on Moon Tide Press’ webpage or social media accounts, including their Instagram page.

Titles at UC Berkeley

Notes

[1] Local Stories, “Meet Eric Morago of Moon Tide Press,” Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide, January 29, 2019, https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-eric-morago-moon-tide-press-los-angeles/; “About Us,” Moon Tide Press, accessed July 6, 2026, https://www.moontidepress.com/about-us.

Publisher Highlight: Gunpowder Press

Posted on by Bee Lehman
collage of gunpowder press with logo

David Starkey founded Gunpowder Press in 2013 in Santa Barbara with a focus on California poetry. With the first two volumes, Starkey reached out to Chryss Yost to assist with the books’ layout and cover design. Today, with almost 50 volumes, the Starkey and Yost continue to helm the press. Their beautifully designed output showcases individually authored and compilation anthologies.

For their 30th-year anniversary, the Santa Barbara Independent recognized the press among Santa Barbara’s local heroes [1]. The same year, Starkey and Yost started the Anacapa Review. The review seeks to place established and new poets side-by-side, demonstrating the established and continued vibrancy of Santa Barbara’s literary scene.

logo for Anacapa ReviewReaders can find out more about the press’ titles and readings through their website or Instagram page.

At UC Berkeley

Notes

Indy Staff, “Local Heroes 2023,” The Santa Barbara Independent, November 22, 2023, https://www.independent.com/2023/11/21/local-heroes-2023/.

Publisher Highlight: Transit Books

Posted on by Bee Lehman
Collage of Transit Books covers and logo

In 2015, Adam Z. Levy and Ashley Nelson Levy founded Transit Books in the East Bay. In their decade of existence, they have released almost a hundred titles, ranging from beautiful translations of award-winning titles to adorably illustrated children’s picture books. The two came together when attending a graduate program in Columbia University. The two discovered a mutual interest in translation and, after work in translation and writing themselves, moved to California and founded the press. Under the banner of not-for-profit Transit Books, the two publishers started releasing stunning translations of fictional literature from around the world. Recently, they’ve added English fiction as well as non-fiction/essays as a series of “Undelivered Lectures.”[1]

The press has been highly successful, allowing the move from a home office to a space in the Strawberry Creek Design Center. They are now able to hold events even as they release more than a dozen books a year. Readers can follow Transit Books’ events through their social media accounts including Instagram and following their books on their webpage.

I, as someone who adores illustrations, am excited to read Jaque Jours’ children’s book The Muéganos (available in both English and Spanish) at the end of July.

Books at UC Berkeley

Notes

[1] “About,” Transit Books, accessed June 29, 2026, https://www.transitbooks.org/about; Joanne Furio, “The Indie Berkeley Book Publisher with a Worldwide View,” Berkeleyside, January 2, 2025, https://www.berkeleyside.org/2025/01/02/the-indie-berkeley-publisher-with-a-worldwide-view.

Publisher Highlight: Tebot Bach

Posted on by Bee Lehman
Collage Tebot Bach logo and covers

Tebot Bach, the little teapot publisher of Orange County (located in Huntington Beach), came into existence in 1993, publishing Spillway Magazine. In 1999, founding members Mifanwy Kaiser and Mark Bergendahl chose to incorporate as a not-for-profit publisher in 1999. For almost three decades, the press published lovely books of poetry and fiction as well as organized local events, including poetry readings. Those events were held throughout their local area, in cafes and theaters as well as homeless shelters and nursing homes. Like their little Welsh teapot (tebot) namesake, they wanted to promote a spirit of community.

While little news has been published about their current status and the press is currently in “good standing” as a Nonprofit Corporation – CA – Public Benefit, evidence suggests that Tebot Bach has been winding down since 2021. They do not currently have any calls for proposals, their Facebook page is rather quiet, and their appearance in most bookstores is limited to older publications. To add to the impression, this Library appreciated Moon Tide Press (in Whittier, CA) picking up the excellent Spillway Magazine in 2023.

If the impression is accurate, we at Doe Library thank the members of and writers for Tebot Bach and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Books from the Press

Notes

[1] “Tebot Bach,” SparkOC.Com – The Happening Place for Arts Happenings in the O.C., n.d., accessed June 22, 2026, https://sparkoc.com/organization/tebot-bach/; “About Tebot Bach,” Tebot Bach, accessed June 22, 2026, https://tebotbach.org/about.html.

[2] “Business Search,” California Secretary of State, accessed June 22, 2026, https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business.

[3] “Spillway,” Mood Tide Press, accessed June 22, 2026, https://www.moontidepress.com/spillway; “Los Ángeles Literary Journals,” Los Angeles Literature, April 20, 2015, https://losangelesliterature.com/the-literature/los-angeles-literary-journals/.

Publisher Highlight: Sapphire Books

Posted on by Bee Lehman
Sapphire Books banner with cover collage

Christine Svendsen founded Sapphire Books Publishing in 2010 in Salinas, California as a one-person press. Her goal was to provide a lesbian-run publishing house for lesbian writers to tell their own stories. Over the years, the house has grown.

Today, 16 years later, the press has released dozens of titles in literary fiction, memoirs, genres including mystery, and non-fiction. In particular, they highlight their romances. Titles range from deeply personal to light, fluffy comfort reads.

Readers can follow Sapphire Books developments on their Facebook page or on their website.

Titles at UC Berkeley

Notes

[1] CURVE Staff, “Sapphire Books, A Cut Above,” CURVE, November 5, 2020, https://www.curvemag.com/blog/literature/sapphire-books-a-cut-above/.

[2] “Sapphire Books,” Duotrope, accessed June 9, 2026, https://duotrope.com//publisher/sapphire-books-36288.

Publisher Highlight: Inlandia Books

Posted on by Bee Lehman
Collage of Inlandia book covers and logo

Inlandia Institute became an independent, not-for-profit organization in 2009 with Inlandia Books “founded circa 2011.” It has existed, however, since 2007, when it was spun into existence as a collaboration between Heyday Books and the Riverside Public Library. It grew out of Heyday’s wonderful, 2006 anthology, Inlandia: a Literary Journey Through California’s Inland Empire (link to UC Search record). Since then, (and continuing since incorporation), the Institute has embraced its mission of “deepen[ing] people’s awareness” of the Inland Empire and expanding knowledge of the area’s “unique, complex[,] and creativ[e]” vibrancy.[1]

Inlandia Books releases a variety of material, ranging from yearly anthologies, to poetry, novels, memoirs, essays, children’s books, and more. With uniformly attractive covers, the books build a beautiful picture of the Inland Empire the House has set out to capture.

Inlandia is an incredibly active Institute. Readers can follow their activities through their social media presence on Instagram and other platforms. Their website is one of the best places to follow their book releases.

Titles at UC Berkeley

Notes

[1] “Inlandia Institute,” Wikipedia, November 28, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inlandia_Institute&oldid=1324624111; “About Us,” Inlandia Institute, accessed June 2, 2026, https://inlandiainstitute.org/about-us/.