Milkweed Editions

Milkweed Editions is an independent nonprofit literary publisher headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The organization developed from Milkweed Chronicle, a literature and arts journal founded in Minneapolis in 1979 by Emilie Buchwald and R. W. Scholes. Buchwald served as editor and Scholes as art director. The journal’s first issue appeared in 1980, and the publication ran for 21 issues before ending in 1987. During the transition away from periodical publishing, the organization began publishing books under the Milkweed Editions name. The press has built its identity around literary publishing rather than mass-market volume. Its principal categories are fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with an increasing emphasis on works in translation. Milkweed publishes approximately 18 to 20 new books annually and has issued more than 350 titles over the course of its history. Its catalog includes work by emerging and established writers, with an editorial profile that emphasizes literary quality, cultural range, and books capable of sustaining serious critical and public discussion. Milkweed’s institutional model is closely tied to the nonprofit and independent literary ecosystems of Minnesota and the wider United States. In 1999, it joined the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the Loft Literary Center in acquiring and renovating a warehouse in downtown Minneapolis. The organizations created Open Book, a shared literary and book-arts facility that became an important part of the city’s cultural infrastructure. In 2016, Milkweed expanded its public-facing activities by opening Milkweed Books, an independent bookstore associated with the press. The organization also supports poetry through awards and partnerships. Its Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry, established in 2011, is a regional award for poets in the Upper Midwest and combines a cash award with a publishing contract. Milkweed has also worked with Copper Nickel on the Jake Adam York Prize and serves as a partner publisher for the National Poetry Series. In 2017, it announced the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize, supported by the Alan B. Slifka Foundation. Daniel Slager became Milkweed’s publisher and chief executive officer in 2007. During his tenure, the press sharpened its focus on fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and translated literature. Milkweed received the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Small Press Publisher Award in 2021, recognition that reflected its contribution to independent literary publishing. The press remains an active nonprofit publisher and bookseller, although detailed current ownership, executive, financial, and sales information is not established in the supplied sources.

Milkweed Editions began as Milkweed Chronicle, a Minneapolis-based literature and arts journal co-founded in 1979 by Emilie Buchwald and R. W. Scholes. Buchwald was the journal’s editor, while Scholes served as art director. The first issue was published in 1980, and the journal presented work by writers and artists from Minnesota and elsewhere in the United States. It continued for 21 issues before publication ended in 1987. The end of the journal did not end the organization. During the mid-1980s, its activities shifted toward book publishing, and Milkweed released its first book as it moved away from the periodical model. This transition established the core identity the organization retains: a nonprofit literary press publishing books rather than a commercial magazine or general-interest publishing house. Over time, Milkweed’s catalog expanded beyond poetry and literary writing to include fiction, nonfiction, and books translated into English. The press has published more than 350 titles and generally releases between 18 and 20 new books per year. A major institutional development came in 1999, when Milkweed joined the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the Loft Literary Center in purchasing a former warehouse in downtown Minneapolis. The three organizations developed the property as Open Book, a shared center for literary and book-arts activity. The project connected Milkweed’s publishing work with writing education, bookmaking, public programming, and the broader cultural infrastructure of Minneapolis. Daniel Slager was named publisher and chief executive officer in 2007. The supplied historical account associates his leadership with a strengthened focus on fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and translated literature. Under this editorial direction, Milkweed continued to operate as an independent press with an emphasis on literary distinction and a willingness to publish work outside the commercial mainstream. Poetry prizes became another durable part of Milkweed’s institutional role. In 2011, the press and the Lindquist & Vennum Foundation established the Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry. The award is regional, accepting submissions from poets living in the Upper Midwest, and includes a cash prize and a publication agreement. Milkweed has also participated in the Jake Adam York Prize with Copper Nickel and has served as a partner publisher for the National Poetry Series. In 2017, the organization announced the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize, backed by the Alan B. Slifka Foundation; Grady Chambers was named its first winner later that year. Milkweed broadened its relationship with readers in 2016 by opening Milkweed Books, an independent bookstore. The store gave the press a direct retail presence and created an additional venue for books, authors, and literary events. This publishing-and-bookselling model reflects Milkweed’s role as both a press and a community-oriented literary institution. Recognition from the independent publishing field continued in 2021, when the Association of Writers & Writing Programs awarded Milkweed its Small Press Publisher Award. The award cited the creative and innovative contribution of small presses and acknowledged Milkweed’s sustained literary publishing work. Milkweed Editions remains an active Minneapolis nonprofit literary publisher. Publicly available information in the supplied materials does not establish a current ownership structure, detailed financial results, or a complete current executive roster.

• 2021

  AWP Small Press Publisher Award

  [1]Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org

  The Association of Writers & Writing Programs honors Milkweed Editions with its Small Press Publisher Award.

• 2017

  Max Ritvo Poetry Prize is announced

  [1]Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org

  Milkweed announces a new poetry prize supported by the Alan B. Slifka Foundation, with Grady Chambers as inaugural winner.

• 2016

  Milkweed Books opens

  [1]Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org

  The press opens an independent bookstore in Minneapolis.

• 2011

  Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry is established

  [1]Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org

  Milkweed and the Lindquist & Vennum Foundation create a regional Upper Midwest poetry award with a publication contract.

• 2007

  Daniel Slager becomes publisher and CEO

  [1]Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org

  Slager takes on the publisher and chief executive role and guides a focus on literary genres and translated work.

• 1999

  Open Book is established

  [1]Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org

  Milkweed joins the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the Loft Literary Center in acquiring a downtown Minneapolis warehouse for shared cultural use.

• 1987

  Milkweed Chronicle ends

  [1]Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org

  After 21 issues, the journal ceases publication as the organization’s work transitions into book publishing.

• 1980

  First issue of Milkweed Chronicle appears

  [1]Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org

  The journal publishes its first issue under Buchwald’s editorial leadership and Scholes’s art direction.

• 1979

  Milkweed Chronicle is founded

  [1]Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org

  Emilie Buchwald and R. W. Scholes co-found a literature and arts journal in Minneapolis that becomes the institutional predecessor of Milkweed Editions.

An independent nonprofit literary press emphasizing high-quality fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated writing, author development, and participation in the civic and cultural life of independent bookselling.

• Fiction

  Literary fiction

  Milkweed publishes literary novels and other works of imaginative prose within an independent-press catalog. The fiction program is positioned around editorial distinction and authorial voice rather than high-volume commercial publishing.

• Nonfiction

  Literary nonfiction

  The nonfiction list includes literary and culturally oriented works. Milkweed’s nonfiction publishing sits alongside its fiction and poetry programs and reflects the press’s broader interest in books with enduring literary and intellectual value.

• Poetry

  Poetry

  Poetry is a central part of Milkweed’s catalog and institutional identity. The press publishes individual collections and supports poets through regional prizes, the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize, the Jake Adam York Prize, and participation in the National Poetry Series.

• Translation

  Translated literature

  Milkweed has placed increasing editorial emphasis on literature translated into English. This work broadens the press’s international reach while remaining consistent with its focus on literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

• Bookstore · 2016

  Milkweed Books

  Opened in Minneapolis in 2016, Milkweed Books is the organization’s independent bookstore operation. It extends the press’s role from producing books to selling books and participating directly in local literary culture.

• 2016

  Expansion into independent booksellingStrategy

  Background

  Milkweed wanted a more direct public presence within the literary community it served.

  Action taken

  The organization opened Milkweed Books, an independent bookstore in Minneapolis.

  Aftermath

  Milkweed added retail bookselling and a venue for reader and author engagement to its publishing activities.

  Source

• 1999

  Participation in the Open Book facilityOther

  Background

  Milkweed sought to strengthen its connection with Minneapolis’s literary and book-arts institutions.

  Action taken

  The press joined the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the Loft Literary Center in purchasing and adapting a downtown warehouse as Open Book.

  Aftermath

  Open Book provided a shared home for publishing, book arts, literary education, and related cultural activities.

  Source

• 1985

  Transition from journal publishing to booksStrategy

  Background

  After Milkweed Chronicle ceased publication during the 1980s, the organization needed a new publishing model.

  Action taken

  Milkweed shifted its activity toward book publishing and released its first book under the Milkweed Editions identity.

  Aftermath

  The transition created the independent literary press that later published more than 350 titles across fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

  Source

1. 1Milkweed Editionsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Milkweed Editions official websitemilkweed.org