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ABOUT UNSOLICITED PRESS |
Hello! It seems as though you have stumbled upon our little secret. Unsolicited Press is a no-frills, kick-ass small press that works for the author, not for the dollar.
Founded in 2012, Unsolicited Press (living the dream in Portland, Oregon) focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned, all-volunteer small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Heather Lang-Cassera, Douglas Cole, Francis Daulerio, Shann Ray, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Kris Amos, and John W. Bateman. Our authors have gone on to be nominated for and/or win awards such as the Push Cart Prize, Ohioana Book Award, Pen/Faulkner Award, International Book Award, Eric Hoffer Book Award, LAMBDA, Independent Press Award, NYC Big Book Award, and many more.
The vibe at Unsolicited Press is rebellious, relentless, and philanthropic. All of the net profit is funneled back into the business to maintain operations. Additionally, we love supporting non-profits that are doing so much good by donating a portion of our proceeds to support their missions. We embrace being quirky and love helping authors launch and/or further their writing careers. We are open for submissions year-round. Our submissions rules may have changed since the last time you visited, so please read the Writer Guidelines.
Founded in 2012, Unsolicited Press (living the dream in Portland, Oregon) focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned, all-volunteer small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Heather Lang-Cassera, Douglas Cole, Francis Daulerio, Shann Ray, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Kris Amos, and John W. Bateman. Our authors have gone on to be nominated for and/or win awards such as the Push Cart Prize, Ohioana Book Award, Pen/Faulkner Award, International Book Award, Eric Hoffer Book Award, LAMBDA, Independent Press Award, NYC Big Book Award, and many more.
The vibe at Unsolicited Press is rebellious, relentless, and philanthropic. All of the net profit is funneled back into the business to maintain operations. Additionally, we love supporting non-profits that are doing so much good by donating a portion of our proceeds to support their missions. We embrace being quirky and love helping authors launch and/or further their writing careers. We are open for submissions year-round. Our submissions rules may have changed since the last time you visited, so please read the Writer Guidelines.
The Team
Unsolicited Press believes in respecting one's privacy. With the advent of the internet, writers have begun to expect presses to list personal details of staff on their websites; prior to the digital age, mastheads were found on the copyright pages of books/magazines, and that's a tradition we continue to implement. Our team has decided to list limited information about our team online. We have extensive experience in the publishing industry; if you are selected by our press, we promise that you will get to know us (we're all on a first name basis here). We support our authors throughout the publication process with love and support. In fact, our publisher has the tendency to pass her cell phone number out to make sure everyone is taken care of pre- and post-publication.
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Summer
Publisher Summer is a poet and editor living in the PNW. Prior to co-founding the press, she gained experience through in-print & online journalism and freelance copyediting. Her poetry has been published in Forth Magazine, Ampersand Lit, Two Cities Review, Beacon Magazine, Pear Drop Magazine, Euphony, and Nameless Magazine. She holds an MFA from Portland State. She speaks about the publishing industry at festivals, conferences, and local events. |
Andy
Senior Editor Andy is a salt-of-the-earth Midwesterner with a no bullshit perspective. He earned his MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the Solstice Creative Writing Program at Lasell University, where he was a Michael Steinberg Fellow. Andy’s essays have appeared in Salamander, Sleet Magazine, and Moon City Review as well the anthologies Show Me All Your Scars (In Fact Books) and Come Shining: Essays and Poems on Writing in a Dark Time (Kelson Books). His poetry has appeared in Lily Poetry Review, The American Journal of Poetry, and elsewhere. Andy was a 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee. His first chapbook of hybrid poetry, Blue Horse Suite, is available from Kattywompus Press. His most recent book, The More You Hate Me, a memoir-in-essays, was released in 2022. |
Esme
Production Editor Esme holds a degree in publishing and considers layout the end-all-be-all of bookmaking. Her introduction to the book production world began in NYC via an internship with Penguin. Since then she's gained experience working for academic publishers in the Midwest and Southern California. |
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Kristen
Associate Editor Kristen lives in the Midwest and has a special talent for uncovering all the little errors in a book while simultaneously strengthening a story's core. She has extensive editing experience having worked for Paradigm Communications Group, Professional Pilots of Tomorrow, and eNotes.com. Kristen also has experience writing for lifestyle publications such as Oklahoma Magazine and Springs Magazine. |
Jay
Associate Editor Jay has been an Associate Editor at Unsolicited Press since August, 2018. He is a talented writer. His debut novel Light in Rosadero (2021) was nominated for the 2022 Maya Angelou Book Award and the 2022 Washington State Book Award. His most recent novel Queen Anne Cowboy released in March 2023. Jay lives in the rainy PNW. |
Giuliana
Social Media Manager Giuliana is from Glasgow and lives on the West Coast. Giuliana got her start in the social media world eight years ago working as a freelancer. Her specialties include Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest. Giuliana believes that social media can be an invaluable tool to reach new readers. |
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Kathryn
Graphic Design Manager Kathryn, better known as Katie by the team, balances her time between designing covers and crafting ads for the press. Katie earned a degree in graphic design and art history at Arizona State. She has a collaborative spirit and eclectic aesthetic. In addition to designing book covers, she teaches art to budding artists online. |
News and Notable Reviews
OPA member Laura LeHew’s new book out from Unsolicited Press
Maudlin House Review of Jason Fisk's THE CRAIGSLIST INCIDENT
Fiction Titles Being Released by Unsolicited Press in 2023
Unsolicited Press Holds Reading at AWP 2023
Heavy Feather Review Book Spotlight
WMUK Book Spotlight
Star Tribune Award Notifications
Yahoo! Coverage of Rook
The Making of a Modern Medusa Myth
Kirkus Review of An Open Door
Couple Welcomes Twins After Meeting Man's Long-Lost Sister, Who Offered to Be Their Surrogate
Beat the Blues in Kirkus Reviews
A Nonfiction Roundup Both Wondrous and Beautiful
Midwest Book Review of LUCKY RIDE
Starred Kirkus Review of BLOOD FIRE VAPOR SMOKE
2020 FOREWORD INDIES WINNERS: Nancy Christie
Former Reuters media spokesman has a new novel
Sugar House Review: The Exact Opposite of a Faculty Meeting: Jessy Randall Interviews Rob Carney and Scott Poole
Maudlin House Review of Jason Fisk's THE CRAIGSLIST INCIDENT
Fiction Titles Being Released by Unsolicited Press in 2023
Unsolicited Press Holds Reading at AWP 2023
Heavy Feather Review Book Spotlight
WMUK Book Spotlight
Star Tribune Award Notifications
Yahoo! Coverage of Rook
The Making of a Modern Medusa Myth
Kirkus Review of An Open Door
Couple Welcomes Twins After Meeting Man's Long-Lost Sister, Who Offered to Be Their Surrogate
Beat the Blues in Kirkus Reviews
A Nonfiction Roundup Both Wondrous and Beautiful
Midwest Book Review of LUCKY RIDE
Starred Kirkus Review of BLOOD FIRE VAPOR SMOKE
2020 FOREWORD INDIES WINNERS: Nancy Christie
Former Reuters media spokesman has a new novel
Sugar House Review: The Exact Opposite of a Faculty Meeting: Jessy Randall Interviews Rob Carney and Scott Poole