Beltway RESOURCE BANK
Small Literary Publishers in DC, MD, and VA
ABZ Press
Small press based in Huntington, WV that publishes first books of poetry through an annual competition.
http://abzpress.com/prize.aspxApprentice House
Non-profit and student-run, Apprentice House is sponsored by the Department of Communication at Loyola College in Baltimore.
http://www.apprenticehouse.comArgonne Hotel Press
Limited edition chapbooks of fiction or poetry. Publishes only authors previously published in the literary journal, WordWrights! Lots of DC area authors, including Grace Cavalieri, Sunil Freeman, Miles David Moore, Rhonda Williford, and Richard Peabody included in the chapbook series. The magazine comes out twice a year. R.D. Baker, editor.
http://www.angelfire.com/art/wwAstounding Beauty Ruffian Press
Small press in Stuart, VA that publishes poetry chapbooks through an annual summer competition. Sherry Beasley, editor.
http://home.earthlink.net/~astoundingbeautyruffianpress/index.htmlAzul Editions
DC-based press, founded in 1986. Publishes poetry, prose, essays, literary and art criticism, speeches, broadsides, and manifestos that address issues of economic, political, and social justice. Richard Scaaf, Editor.
http://www.azuleditions.comBay Oak Publishers
Delaware-based publisher of poetry, fiction, criticism, and historical nonfiction for young readers.
http://www.bayoakpublishers.com/Beothuk Books
DC-based press for new and innovative poetry, founded 2008. Michael Gushue, Editor.
http://www.beothuckbooks.com/Big Game Books
DC based, "an itty teeny tiny press dedicated to poems, poetry, and poeting. We also like handmade things and playing with glue and needles." Maureen Thorson, Editor.
http://www.reenhead.com/biggame/biggame.htmlBogg Publications
Publishes chapbooks (in conjunction with a literary journal). John Elsberg, Editor. Boggmag@aol.com.BrickHouse Books
Maryland's oldest continuously operating small press, edited by Clarinda Harriss. Publishes poetry, fiction, drama, and artistic nonfiction. Also publishes special imprints: New Poets Series (first books), Stonewall (work with a gay, lesbian, or bisexual perspective), and Chestnut Hills Press (author-subsidy books).
http://www.towson.edu/~harriss/!bhbwebs.ite/bhb.htmDC Poets Against the War
Publishes anthologies of political poems.
http://www.dcpaw.orgDryad Press
Brief history of the press, sponsored by the University of Maryland, holders of the press's archives. Dryad has published such authors as Rod Jellema, Linda Pastan, Myra Sklarew, Roland Flint, and Reed Whittemore. Founded by Merrill Leffler and Neil Lehrman.
http://www.dryadpress.comEchelon Press
Publishes electronic and print titles. Novels, young adult fiction, genre fiction. Based in Laurel, MD. Karen Syed, publisher.
http://www.echelonpress.comEdge Books
Publishes experimental poetry, with books by Buck Downs, Heather Fuller, Joan Retallack, Mark Wallace, and others. Rod Smith, editor.
http://www.aerialedge.comEntasis Press
Based in DC, founded in 2007, publishes literary fiction, poetry, nonfiction. Ed Perlman, editor.
http://www.entasispress.comGirlChild Press
Feminist press founded and edited by Michelle Sewell, based in DC.
http://www.girlchildpress.com/Gival Press
An independent publishing house with titles in poetry, fiction, and non-fiction in English, French, and Spanish. Runs an annual poetry book competition as well as two competitions for single poems, the Tri-Language contest and the Oscar Wilde Award. Publisher: Robert L. Giron.
http://www.givalpress.comIbex Publishers, Inc.
English and Persian books about Iran and the Middle East. Titles include modern and classical Persian poetry. Located in Bethesda, MD.
http://www.ibexpub.comJames A. Rock & Company
Publishes novels, nonfiction, how-to books, children's literature. Their Sense of Wonder imprint publishes science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels. Based in Rockville, MD.
http://www.rockpublishing.comThe Johns Hopkins University Press
America's oldest university press, founded in 1878. Poetry and fiction series edited by John Irwin.
http://www.press.jhu.edu/Minimus
Literary press that publishes books and CDs and an annual literary journal. Publisher: Terrence Mulligan. Poetry Editor: Martha Sanchez-Lowery.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tmulligan6/Miniweb/index.htmNarrow House Recordings
Publishes CDs of poets from Baltimore, DC, and New York. Featured authors include Rod Smith and Heather Fuller.
http://www.narrowhouserecordings.comNew Academia Publishing
Independent publisher of academic titles. Does not publish poems, but does carry books on literary history and theory, and linguistics. Based in Washington, DC.
http://www.newacademia.comNo Tell Books
Poetry books, chapbooks, and anthologies. Based in Reston, VA. Reb Livingston, publisher and editor.
http://www.notellbooks.orgOrchises Press
Publishes 5-8 titles per year, mostly poetry, by such authors as Peter Klappert and Lia Purpura. Also reprints classics such as Ulysses by James Joyce, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Located in Alexandria, VA. Editor: Richard Lathbury.
http://www.iso.gmu.edu/~rlathburPassager Press
Publishes poetry, memoir, and fiction by new older writers whose work has appeared in Passager literary journal. Housed at the University of Baltimore. Does not accept unsolicited submissions. Mary Azrael and Kendra Kopelke, eds.
http://www.passagerpress.comPaycock Press
Publishes one title per year of fiction or poetry, in addition to Gargoyle Magazine. Current titles include work by Ed Cox and Joyce Renwick. Editor: Richard Peabody.
http://www.gargoylemagazine.comPlan B Press
Based in Alexandria, VA and Philadelphia, PA, this non-profit press publishes 5-10 titles per year, mostly poetry, and runs 2 chapbook contests annually (one poetry, one short fiction). Authors include Lyn Lifshin and Mary Ann Larkin. Steven Allen May, Publisher.
http://www.planbpress.comPond Road Press
Established in 2002 by Mary Ann Larkin and Patric Pepper to publish literary chapbooks of poetry and prose. Headquartered in North Truro, MA and Washington, DC.
http://www.pondroadpress.comThe Portal Press
Publishes fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and cookbooks. Based in DC. Darick Allan, publisher.
http://theportalpress.comPretend Genius Press
Publishes anthologies and single-author books. Based in Washington, DC.
http://www.pretendgenius.comprimitive publications
Publisher of poetry chapbooks by Mark Wallace, Mary Hilton, others. Mary Hilton, editor.
http://www.durationpress.com/primitiveRedBone Press
Publishes work "celebrating the cultures of black lesbians and gay men, and work that further promotes understanding between black gays and lesbians and the black mainstream," including single-author poetry and fiction, and anthologies. Based in DC.
http://www.redbonepress.comRed Dragon Press
Publisher of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction that stresses the symbolic value of language and deals with psychological and parapsychological topics. Based in Alexandria, VA. Laura Qa, editor.
http://www.reddragonpress.com/Red Moon Press
The largest publisher of English-language haiku and related forms in the world. Publishes the Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku series (an annual compilation of the best haiku and related forms published around the world), a contemporary haibun series (the best haiku published around the world in English), and an online journal of haibun. Edited by Jim Kacian out of Winchester, VA.
http://www.redmoonpress.comRed Morning Press
Based in DC; published contemporary poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Editors: Andrew Brown, Dennis Campbell, and Chris Perkowski.
http://www.redmorningpress.comRose Metal Press
Publishes approximately 3 books a year, specializing in hybrid genres: short short, flash, and micro-fiction, prose poetry, novels-in-verse, book-length linked narrative poems, and other transgressive and unusual work. Co-editor Abigail Beckel is based in Takoma Park, MD.
http://www.rosemetalpress.com/Tameme Chapbooks - Cuadernos
Non-profit publisher of bilingual (English and Spanish) chapbooks of new writing from North America. C.M. Mayo, Editor.
http://www.tameme.orgThree Continents Press
This article, reprinted from Gargoyle in 1980, tells the story of this publisher of literature from the third world, including some poetry. Although no longer in existence, Three Continents published an impressive array of writers from Africa, the Carribean, the Middle East, and Asia.
http://www.atticusbooks.com/gargoyle/Issues/scanned/issue15/herdeck_interview.htmVrzhu Press
Based in DC, Vrzhu attributes its existence to "either an act of supreme foolhardiness or a cosmic wager on the power of joy." Founded in 2006 by Dan Vera and Michael Gushue.
http://www.vrzhu.comWashington Writers' Publishing House
Non-profit, cooperative press that has published over 50 volumes of poetry since 1973. The Press sponsors an annual competition for poets living in the Washington-Baltimore area. Also publishes some fiction. The press has published David Bristol, Nancy Naomi Carlson, Ramola D, Nan Fry, Beth Joselow, Ann Knox, David McAleavey, May Miller, Elisabeth Murawski, Jean Nordhaus, Myra Sklarew, Elisavietta Ritchie, Kim Roberts, Grace Cavalieri, and E. Ethelbert Miller, among other authors. Carly Sachs, President.
http://www.wwph.orgWaywiser Press
Small independent press based in London, with a subsidiary in Baltimore, specializing in the publication of modern poetry in English. Publishes American authors in the UK, such as Anthony Hecht and Richard Wilbur. Also sponsors the Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize, open to US poets.
http://www.waywiser-press.com/The Word Works, Inc.
Publishes at least two books of poetry each year, one based on a national competition, the other featuring noteworthy regional writers in the Capital Collection series. Occasional anthologies also printed. The catalogue includes books by such area authors as: Sarah Browning, Kathi Morrison-Taylor, Rosemary Winslow, Grace Cavalieri, Brandon D. Johnson, Judith McCombs, M.A. Schaffner, Miles David Moore, Hilary Tham, and Robert Sargent. Offers an annual writers' retreat in Tuscany, Italy. Offers critiques by professional writers for a fee, publishes a newsletter, hosts the monthly Cafe Muse reading series. President: Karren L. Alenier. Editor-in-Chief: Katherine Young.
http://www.wordworksdc.comThe Writer's Lair Books
Publishes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Based in Nottingham, MD. Authors include Kwame Alexander and Shana Yarborough. Also sponsors workshops and readings for youth through Project Inkwell.
http://www.writerslairbooks.comXpress Yourself Publishing
Publishes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Based in Upper Marlboro, MD.
http://www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org
Also of Interest
CapLit: The Capital Area Literary Publishers Group
List serve of editors and publishers of literary presses in the greater Washington DC area.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CapLit/