Sarabande Books

Sarabande Books is an independent American nonprofit literary press founded in 1994 and based in Louisville, Kentucky, with an additional office in New York City. The press specializes in contemporary poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, with an emphasis on distinctive literary voices and books that might not fit the commercial priorities of larger publishing houses. Its catalog includes work by established and emerging writers, and its authors have received major literary honors and fellowships. The organization was co-founded by Sarah Gorham and Jeffrey Skinner. Gorham is identified with the press as its president and editor-in-chief, while Skinner has served as chair. Sarabande’s stated purpose combines literary publishing with active circulation of writers’ work: the press seeks to distribute its authors’ books with care and creativity while also functioning as an educational resource for teachers, students, and participants in creative-writing communities. Sarabande acquires manuscripts through both general submissions and its national poetry and fiction competitions. These contests have helped establish the press as a route into publication for writers at earlier stages of their careers. Its named awards include the Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry and the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction. The press’s books have been reviewed by publications including The New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, The Nation, and American Book Review. The catalog encompasses poetry collections, short fiction, novels, essays, and other forms of literary nonfiction. Notable authors associated with Sarabande include Ralph Angel, Rick Barot, Frank Bidart, Sallie Bingham, Alice Fulton, Louise Glück, Mark Jarman, Karen An-hwei Lee, Cate Marvin, Cleopatra Mathis, Alyce Miller, Kyle Minor, Edith Pearlman, Kiki Petrosino, Lia Purpura, Joan Silber, Gerald Stern, Deborah Tall, Paul Yoon, and Ann Townsend. Authors published by the press have received distinctions such as Whiting Foundation recognition, the PEN USA Award in Poetry, the Norma Farber First Book Award, Pushcart Prizes, National Endowment for the Arts grants, and Guggenheim Fellowships. Sarabande’s nonprofit model has been supported by grants from the Kentucky Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and private foundations. Its books are distributed by Consortium Book Sales & Distribution. In 2013, the Association of Writers & Writing Programs selected Sarabande as the inaugural recipient of its Small Press Publisher Award, recognizing the press’s contribution to the literary ecosystem and its innovative work as a small publisher. Sarabande remains positioned as a mission-driven literary house connecting authors, readers, educators, and the broader independent-press community.

Sarabande Books was established in 1994 as an American nonprofit literary press by Sarah Gorham and Jeffrey Skinner. From its beginnings, the press developed around a focused literary mission rather than a broad commercial publishing program. It concentrated on contemporary poetry and related forms of serious literary writing, while also publishing fiction and nonfiction and seeking to make its authors’ work accessible to readers, teachers, and creative-writing students. The press’s editorial model combines direct manuscript acquisition with competitions intended to identify new work. Sarabande publishes winners of national poetry and fiction contests alongside manuscripts selected through general submissions. This structure gives the organization two complementary functions: it acts as an editor and publisher for a curated literary list, and it provides a formal discovery mechanism for emerging writers. Its principal competitions include the Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry and the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Sarabande also maintains an office in New York City. The geographic arrangement reflects the press’s Kentucky origins and its participation in the wider American publishing and literary network. Distribution is handled by Consortium Book Sales & Distribution, allowing a relatively small nonprofit press to place its books through established bookselling and library channels. Over time, Sarabande built a catalog that brought together recognized poets, fiction writers, essayists, and other nonfiction authors. Writers associated with the press include Ralph Angel, Rick Barot, Frank Bidart, Sallie Bingham, Alice Fulton, Louise Glück, Mark Jarman, Karen An-hwei Lee, Cate Marvin, Cleopatra Mathis, Alyce Miller, Kyle Minor, Edith Pearlman, Kiki Petrosino, Lia Purpura, Joan Silber, Gerald Stern, Deborah Tall, Paul Yoon, and Ann Townsend. The authors’ wider recognition includes Whiting Foundation honors, the PEN USA Award in Poetry, the Norma Farber First Book Award, Pushcart Prizes, National Endowment for the Arts grants, Guggenheim Fellowships, and other distinctions. Sarabande’s reputation has also been reinforced by coverage in major literary and book-review outlets, including The New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, The Nation, and American Book Review. Such attention has helped position the press as a significant independent outlet for contemporary literary writing. As a nonprofit organization, Sarabande has received support from the Kentucky Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and private foundations. This grant-supported structure enables the press to maintain a literary program whose cultural and educational value is not measured solely by commercial scale. In 2013, the Association of Writers & Writing Programs recognized Sarabande as the inaugural winner of its Small Press Publisher Award. The award acknowledged the press’s contribution to the American literary landscape and its creative, innovative work within independent publishing. Sarabande’s continuing identity is therefore defined by a combination of editorial selectivity, support for emerging and established writers, literary-prize publishing, nonprofit cultural activity, and engagement with educators and writing communities. Its principal output remains books of contemporary poetry, fiction, and nonfiction distributed through the American book market.

• 2013

  First AWP Small Press Publisher Award

  [1]Sarabande Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Sarabande becomes the inaugural recipient of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Small Press Publisher Award.

• 1994

  Sarabande Books is founded

  [1]Sarabande Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Sarah Gorham and Jeffrey Skinner establish Sarabande Books as a nonprofit American literary press.

A nonprofit, independent literary press focused on contemporary poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, combining selective editorial publishing with author development, literary competitions, and educational outreach.

• Poetry publishing · 1994

  Poetry

  Poetry is a central part of Sarabande’s publishing program. The press issues contemporary collections by both emerging and established poets, including writers whose work has received significant critical and institutional recognition. Its poetry list is complemented by the Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, which provides a competition-based route to publication for selected manuscripts.

• Literary fiction · 1994

  Fiction

  Sarabande publishes literary fiction, including short fiction and other contemporary narrative work. Fiction enters the list through general submissions as well as the press’s national competition program. The Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction is a prominent part of this publishing activity and supports the publication of selected short-fiction manuscripts.

• Literary nonfiction · 1994

  Nonfiction

  The nonfiction program includes literary essays and other forms of contemporary nonfiction. These books sit within Sarabande’s broader mission of publishing distinctive literary voices and serving readers, educators, and creative-writing communities. The press’s nonfiction list is distributed alongside its poetry and fiction titles through Consortium Book Sales & Distribution.

• Literary prize and book series

  Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry

  The Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry is Sarabande’s poetry competition and publication program. It identifies a selected poetry manuscript for publication, linking the press’s editorial mission with a national opportunity for writers seeking recognition and a first or early book.

• Literary prize and book series

  Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction

  The Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction is Sarabande’s competition and publication program for short fiction. It forms part of the press’s effort to discover and publish new literary work while maintaining a dedicated fiction list.

1. 1Sarabande Booksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sarabande Books official websitesarabandebooks.org