With Christmas and Kwanzaa fast approaching (and Hanukkah still in progress), you are probably out shopping. Or maybe you are dreading it and hoping it will just kind of disappear. Never fear. I’m here to offer help in the form of links and information to a number of independent publishers of excellent books that you probably don’t know about (yet). But you will. A rather long list with brief descriptions and links are provided below. I encourage you to check them out, and to consider ordering at least one. Not only will it be a show of support to these independent publishers, but the book is likely to be one with which your recipient will be delighted.

  There’s less than three weeks until Christmas! If you still need to shop (or need to start) for some bibliophiles on your list, books should be your first choice. A suggestion: if you don’t have specific titles that the recipient has requested, why not take some time to look around at the smaller presses and university presses? Often they publish excellent books that don’t get major attention, not for lack of quality but lack of space. Out of a long list I keep here are some links to web sites for various publishers. I’ve tried to consider all reading preferences, though not everyone I wanted to include could be; there just isn’t enough room without making you scroll from now to the new year. But the ones I did choose represent a nice variety. All you have to do is click on their web sites and look around. Consider it! Your recipient will be glad you did.

Academy Chicago Publishers has an eclectic and wonderful selection of books in fiction, nonfiction, mystery and suspense, art and architecture, sports,  biography, fantasy, gay and lesbian, food/cooking and a lot more. Check out their subject list of current books. It’s fascinating!

Akashic Books is an edgy publisher that issues urban literary fiction and political nonfiction by authors “who are either ignored by the mainstream or who have no interest in working within the  . . . ranks of the major corporate publishers.” Literary fiction, mysteries and crime, original noir anthologies, African American, and gay and lesbian are among their offerings. 

Angel City Press is located in my original hometown of Los Angeles, so they tend to focus on books centered in L.A. and southern California. However, they also have a strong presence in various aspects of national pop culture (Barbie, Americana, early media ventriloquists, Hollywood). Their books are as fun as they are intelligent.

Across the country from ACP, literally as well as “literary-ally,” is John F. Blair who publishes books about the southeast. Categories include Appalachian, biography and memoir, Civil War, fiction, folklore, history and more highlight the offerings of this excellent regional publisher. 

Bleak House Books focuses on “hardboiled/noir books with real type protagonists.” Not all have an element of crime, but mystery lovers will no doubt love their distinctive stories.

BüK America is a different kind of publisher. Their “books” are actually pamphlets (5x7 inches and 16-32 pages) arrayed throughout nine general categories—Arts, Buff, Cook, Idea, People, Picture, Spook, Story and Word. Each contains a single essay, short story, portfolio of pictures, collection of poems or other short piece that is perfect for a coffee break or a waiting room delay.

Chelsea Green Publishing offers books on “the politics and practice of sustainable living.” From how-to books on composting and recycling to exposés in environmental health and safety or the dangers of unchecked political power, Chelsea Green offers a strong niche in high quality books that speak to social commitment and awareness.

Children’s Book Press offers—what else?—children’s books but with a special touch: multiculturalism. “Our books help equip children with a love of reading and a sense of possibility,” their mission statement reads. “We connect kids to their rich and varied cultures, their home languages, their emerging identities and to each other. We inspire them, validate them, mirror their worlds and expand their horizons.” Their books include African American, Asian American, Latino/Chicano, Multicultural Anthologies and Native American.

Cleis Press calls itself “a queer press” that focuses on “provocative, intelligent books” about “sexuality, gay and lesbian studies, erotica, fiction, gender studies, and human rights.” Edgy, honest, fine books for the open-minded reader.

Another unusual press, Cloverfield Book , offers small volumes that pair a single short story and a unique illustration. As a “boutique publishing house,” they strive to create physically beautiful books that range from 11 to 45 pages in length and are sized approximately 6x4 inches.

Coffee House Press is a nonprofit literary publisher dedicated to “books that present the dreams and ambitions of people who have been underrepresented in published literature, books that shape our national consciousness while strengthening a larger sense of community.” What you’ll find: memoirs, novels, poetry, short stories, anthologies, essays.

Cune Press, “where literature and humanity intersect,” specializes in serious nonfiction books of public interest. I like their philosophy: “We specialize in memoir, travelogue, and history for thoughtful readers.” Categories include African-American, American Life, Anti-War, Art & Photography, Essays, Fiction, Poetry, History, Humor, Middle East, Theater and more.

David R. Godine is a proud house that features “deliberately eclectic and features works that many other publishers can’t or won’t support . . . original fiction and non-fiction of the highest rank, rediscovered masterworks, translations of outstanding world literature, poetry, art, photography, and beautifully designed books for children.” I own several of their books and can testify to this truth. The famous publisher, Black Sparrow, is now part of Godine.

Europa Editions publishes literary fiction, high-end crime and noir, memoir and children’s books. Located in Europe, they specialize in bringing books to the American market that create an exchange facilitated by literature chosen not only for its ability to entertain and fascinate, but also to inform and enlighten.”

Go to Felony & Mayhem Press if you have a mystery lover on your gift list. “Bringing the best in bygone mysteries back to life” is the motto. Their books are in categories, which often overlap but since mystery readers tend to feel a strong loyalty to their favorite type, this categorization helps the shopper: British (“set in or around the UK”); Traditional (“classy cozies”); Historical (“from the ancient world to the 1940s and everything in between”); Hard Boiled (“mean streets and meaner bad buys”); Espionage (“spies and conspiracies, from WWI to the present”); and Vintage (“published prior to 1965 . . . twisty, ingenious puzzles”).   

Greywolf Press is a small publisher with a large reputation for quality. Its book, Out Stealing Horses, was, in 2007, named by the New York Times as one of its ten best books. But that was just icing on the cake of their list which has outstanding books in the fields of creative writing, cultural criticism, essays, gay and lesbian literature, literary criticism, memoir, novels, poetry, short stories, and translations.

I love Green Integer’s mission statement which reads: Essays, Manifestos, Statements, Speeches, Maxims, Epistles, Diaristic Jottings, Narratives, Natural histories, Poems, Plays, Performances, Ramblings, Revelations, and all such ephemera as may appear necessary to bring society into a slight tremolo of confusion and fright at least. They bring to print not only works by contemporary artists, critics and historians, but works by authors long since passed on, and significant international works never before published in English.

Hawthorne Books & Literary Arts publishes American literary fiction and narrative nonfiction in gorgeous editions (acid-free paper, sewn bindings, French flaps and built-in bookmarks). “We promote emerging writers, cultivate notable literary figures, and strive to present international voices to our readers,” they say. And their catalog of interesting descriptions backs this up. 

Heyday Books is one of California’s most honored literary publishers. Their books focus on the state’s  diverse literary legacy through anthologies of poetry, literature and nonfiction; Art, Architecture and Photography; California Indian; Heyday Kids; History of the West; Latino; Natural History. Imprints include Great Valley Books (focusing on the Central Valley) and the California Legacy Series (essential writings by California’s most important authors). I own a number of their books, and recommend them.

An unusual publisher, Hesperus publishes translations of world literature (Spanish, Hungarian, French, English, Italian, American, Russian, German, Czech) as well as biography and nonfiction. Each beautifully printed book is a “short significant work” (around 100 pages) with introductions by important contemporary writers.

Kore Press, a feminist-literary-arts-press, was founded in 1993 to publish “excellent works of literary and artistic value by a diversity of women, those traditionally underrepresented in the cultural mainstream . . . and to educate young people about bookmaking, printing, the literary arts as social activism, and publishing.” They have more than 40 lovely books, limited editions and handcovers, audio CDs, chapbooks, essays and broadsides.

McPherson & Company publishes literary nonfiction and fiction (translations of Italian, French and Spanish literature as well as contemporary American and British fiction), books in the arts and general culture and a series titled Recovered Classics. In fiction you can find, among other subjects, Adventure, Afro-American, Comic, Dystopian, Fantasy, First Person and First Person Deranged, Historical, Jewish, Labor, Magic Realism, Postmodernism, Satire and Travel. Nonfiction has many of those same subjects but also Aesthetics, Art History, Film, History, Journal/Diary, Music, Photography and Religion.  

McSweeney’s began as a literary journal that published only works rejected by other magazines. However, they attract some of the finest writers now, and it has become an important journal. Its publishing house has four imprints: (1) McSweeney’s Rectangulars, a new fiction series, featuring original works that vary in style and subject matter; (2) Believer Books, collected works from some of the magazine’s most popular contributors as well as books from around the non-English-speaking world that are published in English for the first time; (3) the Collins Library, a series of handsome reprints of forgotten classics; and (4) McSweeney’s Irregulars, a collection of irregular books of irregular content appearing at irregular intervals that aim to be funny.

Milkweed Editions “publishes with the intention of making a humane impact on society, in the belief that literature is a transformative art uniquely able to convey the essential experiences of the human heart and spirit. To that end, Milkweed publishes distinctive voices of literary merit in handsomely designed, visually dynamic books, exploring the ethical, cultural, and esthetic issues that free societies need continually to address.” Their lovely offerings include fiction, nonfiction (essays, writing, gender and sexuality, environment, Literature for a Land Ethic, spirituality and religion, travel, , poetry and young readers (girls, boys, outdoors, young adult).

For serious readers, The New Press offers books well worth reading. They “operate editorially in the public interest,” publishing books  that “provide ideas and viewpoints under-represented in the mass media. Among the subject categories are Arts/Culture/Film, Criminal Justice/Law, Current Affairs, Ecology/Health, Economics/Globalization, Education, Fiction/Literature, Gender Studies, Human Rights, Labor Studies, Latin America, Media/Journalism, Middle East, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, Sociology, U.S. History and World History.

North Atlantic Book ’ stated mission is to “affect planetary consciousness, nurture spiritual and ecological disciplines, disseminate ancient wisdom, and put forth ways to transmute cultural dissonance and violence into service” through books that focus on “martial arts, bodywork, history of medicine, homeopathy, archaeo-astronomy, transdimensional realms, Eastern religion, diet and natural foods, live food, fine literature, and quirky aspects of pop culture. They also publish environmental titles; graphic novels and comics; urban literature and detective novels; cookbooks; art books; sports books; and new perspectives in dance, film, and theater.”

Paris Press publishes literature by women who have been neglected or misrepresented by the mainstream publishing world. They are small (one to three books per year), but significant in terms of quality. Their tag line is “daring and beautiful books,” and they “place special emphasis on beautiful design as well as essential and ground-breaking content.” Lovely!

Paul Dry Books publishes “lively books ‘to awaken, delight, and educate’—and to spark conversation.” Their works include fiction, both novels and short stories, and nonfiction—biography, memoirs, history, and essays, covering subjects from Homer to Chekhov, bird watching to jazz music, New York City to shogunate Japan.” I have several of their books (they have also been reviewed on BiblioBuffet), and can recommend them.

Persephone Books is a favorite UK publisher that prints in lovely editions (complete with dove gray jacket, specially chosen endpapers and matching bookmark), “neglected fiction and nonfiction by women, for women and about women.” They are up to 75 books now that include novels, short stories, diaries, cookery and gardening books.

Perceval Press publishes both books and CDs that challenge readers. Whether multimedia, poetry, fiction or nonfiction (including photography), their works document life and thought.

Persea Books publishes “works that endure by meeting high standards of literary merit and relevance . . . whether of a single work or writer's entire oeuvre.” Among their offerings are poetry, fiction, essays, memoir, biography, literary anthologies, young adult titles including America Street: A Multicultural Anthology of Stories, Imagining America: Stories from the Promised Land, A Walk in My World: International Short Stories About Youth, and Starting With “I”: Personal Essays by Teenagers, Jewish and Middle Eastern interest, women's studies, American Indian folklore, and revived classics, as well as a notable selection of works in translation.

Mysteries, mysteries and more mysteries! Poisoned Pen Press focuses on this genre (cozies, noir, classical and more), and their books are known for their excellent writing and high quality.

Lively books on politics, culture and science for general audiences can be found at Polipoint Press. The books express mostly progressive ideas and insights through which the publishers hope to “invigorate the national political dialoge and encourage positive social and political action.”

Pushkin Press focuses on literary fiction (old and new) and translations of high quality works. Just reading their books’ descriptions is a treat—The Fascination of Evil and Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman—are enough to make me get out my credit card.

Quantuck Lane Press publishes “beautiful books of photography, art and the eccentric, whether illustrated or not.” And they are as beautiful as they are unusual.

Soft Skull Press is an alternative publisher that issues provocative books on history, politics and current events, and music. They also have inspired fiction, memoir and biography, art/graphics/commix, gay and lesbian interests, and erotica.

Steerforth and its imprints publish general interest books “intended to engage the full attention of the reader, and has something new or important to say.” Politics, culture, international relations, biography and memoir. U.S. and world history, environment and more can be found as can translations, thrillers, poetry and more.

Storey publishes books for the lover of do-it-yourself projects with plenty of practical advice and inspiration. Their books’ categories include Barnyard, Beer/Wine, Building, Cooking, Crafts, Garden, Home Reference, Horses, Nature, Pets, Sports and Well-Being.

Ten Speed Books has several imprints, but its largest and most popular category of books is Books for Cooks. And they are spectacular. Ranging from general interest to gourmet to quirky (Maui Onion Cookbook), these are gorgeously photographed and s0 beautifully laid out that they will spend as much time on the recipient’s coffee table as they will in the kitchen. 

For the gardening or horticultural fan, Timber Press offers lovely and practical books about those plus books on botany, natural history, and the Pacific Northwest. This is the place to outfit your garden fan.

Gifts for the get-up-and-go kind or the armchair variety of traveler will find a wide variety over at Travelers Tales. “Whether we go abroad or roam about our own country,” states TT’s philosophy, “we often enter territory so unfamiliar that our frames of reference become sorely inadequate . . . guidebooks don't really prepare you, the individual, who has feelings and fears, hopes and dreams, goals. This kind of preparation is best achieved through other travelers' tales, for we get our inner landmarks more from anecdote than from information.” Their categories include Travel Guides, Women’s Travel, Spirituality, Humor, Food, Adventure, Travel Advice, Family Travel and more.

Travelman is a unique UK company that prints works of classic and modern fiction on single sheets of paper folded like maps (though they are read like books). Perfect for a short span of time, these lovely pieces include romance, classics, crime, suspense, comedy, first edition, sex, adventure and science fiction. They even offer a special box set.  

For the hiker, kayaker, backpacker, skier, snowshoer, climber, surfer or trail runner on your gift list, Wilderness Press is the place to visit. Their books and maps are the best and most reliable in the industry.

Happy shopping. Until next week, read well, read often and read on!

Lauren