Small/Indie Publishers

Independent publisher Polis Books will close soon and the press has been looking for new publishers for its books in progress. Polis’s website already appears to be defunct. Founded in 2013, the line has been distributed by PGW, and added the Agora Books imprint in 2019. Founder and publisher Jason Pinter first posted the news online in March, “I’m heartbroken to confirm that @PolisBooks will be closing its doors. My priority is working with our authors and their agents now to ensure a smooth transition, revert rights as soon as possible, and that’s all. This was the hardest, and most […]

Starting Jan. 1, trade sales for Microcosm Publishing will be represented by Abraham Associates in the Midwest. Bob Barnett at Third Act Sales will represent Microcosm in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Imprint Group continues to provide sales support in the western US, and Como Sales Co. will continue in the East.

The Independent Book Publishers Association has updated its criteria for what defines “reputable hybrid publishers.” This is the first update to the criteria since they were introduced in 2018. The new guidelines are made up of 11 points, and the IBPA specifies that hybrid publishers must meet all points: Define a mission and vision for its publishing program. Vet submissions. Commit to truth and transparency in business practices. Provide a negotiable, easy-to-understand contract for each book published. Publish under its own imprint(s) and ISBNs. Publish to industry standards Ensure editorial, design, and production quality. Pursue and manage a range of […]

The Academy of American Poets, Community of Literary Magazines & Presses and National Book Foundation have renewed the Literary Arts Emergency Fund (LAEF), which will give $4.3 million in emergency funding to nonprofit literary arts organizations and publishers affected financially by COVID-19. Created last year, the LAEF is again funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Executive director of CLMP Mary Gannon said: “Mission-driven literary magazines and presses form the bedrock of the publishing ecosystem, fostering an environment where literary artists and their work can flourish. By supporting these dedicated publishers through the ongoing challenges they face, we […]

Curiosity Quills Press co-owner Eugene Teplitsky has confirmed to PL that the publisher is behind on authors’ royalty payments and temporarily shutting down print operations with the exception of middle grade novels, citing “month after month” of dwindling sales as the cause. All authors now have the option to terminate their contracts, “no strings attached” (including the waiving of their contractual “termination fees”), Teplitsky wrote in an email. Authors who wish to terminate should “simply email us at editor@curiosityquills.com and we will revert rights to all who ask for it, no questions asked,” he wrote. He is also giving authors the ability to […]