Soft Skull Press
Soft Skull Press is an independent American book publisher known for literary, experimental, political, and culturally distinctive writing.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Soft Skull Press is an independent American book-publishing imprint founded in 1992 by Sander Hicks. The press developed a reputation for publishing literary and politically engaged work that could sit outside the commercial mainstream, including fiction, poetry, memoir, criticism, cultural writing, and books associated with experimental or countercultural communities. Its identity has been shaped less by a single genre than by an editorial preference for distinctive voices and projects with strong literary or cultural points of view. Richard Nash took over the press from Hicks in 2001 and expanded its profile within the independent publishing sector. Under Nash, Soft Skull became associated with an energetic, author-centered list and with the broader network of independent literary publishers. In 2007, Nash sold the publisher to Counterpoint, a company established by Perseus Books Group through the consolidation of Counterpoint Press, Shoemaker & Hoard, and Soft Skull Press. The acquisition placed Soft Skull within a larger publishing structure while retaining it as an imprint. Counterpoint closed Soft Skull's New York operation in 2010. Counterpoint later merged with Catapult in 2016. Following that corporate transition, Soft Skull reopened a New York office and resumed active publishing under the editorial leadership of Yuka Igarashi, who served as editor-in-chief from 2017 until 2022. The revived imprint combined new acquisitions with reissues of notable backlist titles, helping preserve books that had previously defined its list while introducing them to new readers. Among the reissued works were Jillian Weise's The Amputee's Guide to Sex, Maggie Nelson's Something Bright, Then Holes, and Wayne Koestenbaum's 2004 novel Moira Orfei in Aigues-Mortes, reissued under the title Circus. These projects illustrate the imprint's continuing interest in formally adventurous writing, literary nonfiction, poetry, and books that resist straightforward commercial categorization. Soft Skull has subsequently continued acquiring and publishing new work within the Catapult publishing group. Soft Skull's market position is that of a selective independent literary imprint rather than a mass-market publisher. Its books are generally distributed through established publishing channels but are differentiated by editorial ambition, unconventional subject matter, and authorial individuality. The imprint's history also reflects the changing structure of independent publishing: it began as a small press, passed through ownership by a larger publishing group, became part of the Counterpoint operation, and ultimately continued under the Catapult umbrella while retaining its own name and editorial identity.
History
Soft Skull Press was established in 1992 by Sander Hicks as an independent book publisher in the United States. From its early years, the press developed a profile around literary work with an unconventional, politically alert, or countercultural sensibility. Its publishing program encompassed fiction, poetry, memoir, criticism, and other forms of literary and cultural writing. Rather than concentrating on a narrow commercial category, Soft Skull built its identity around writers and projects that offered unusual formal approaches, strong personal voices, or subjects insufficiently served by larger houses. Richard Nash assumed control of Soft Skull in 2001. His tenure increased the press's visibility within the independent publishing world and helped establish it as a notable literary imprint. The period also coincided with broader changes in American publishing, as independent presses sought ways to preserve editorial autonomy while gaining access to larger-scale distribution and marketing infrastructure. In 2007, Nash sold Soft Skull to Counterpoint. Counterpoint had been created by Perseus Books Group through the consolidation of several publishing operations, including Counterpoint Press, Shoemaker & Hoard, and Soft Skull Press. The resulting company published books under both the Counterpoint and Soft Skull names. Soft Skull therefore became part of a multi-imprint structure rather than remaining a standalone small press. Counterpoint's publishing activities included literary books and selected partnerships, while Soft Skull retained its own imprint identity. Counterpoint closed Soft Skull's New York operation in 2010. The closure marked a contraction in the imprint's direct operations, although the name and backlist continued to exist within the wider publishing arrangement. In 2016, Counterpoint merged with Catapult, another literary publishing organization. After that transition, Soft Skull was reestablished in New York. Yuka Igarashi became editor-in-chief in 2017 and directed a renewed publishing program through 2022. The revived imprint placed emphasis on both new acquisitions and the recovery of important earlier books. Reissues included Jillian Weise's The Amputee's Guide to Sex, Maggie Nelson's Something Bright, Then Holes, and Wayne Koestenbaum's novel Moira Orfei in Aigues-Mortes, which was republished under the title Circus. The reissue program demonstrated how Soft Skull used its historical identity and catalog as a foundation for continued publishing, while also bringing works from its backlist to new audiences. Igarashi left Soft Skull for Graywolf Press in 2022. Soft Skull's subsequent history remains connected to Catapult, the larger publishing group with which the imprint is associated. Across its different ownership and operating phases, the press has maintained a recognizable editorial position: it publishes literary and culturally ambitious books, often by writers whose work is formally innovative, politically engaged, or difficult to classify within mainstream commercial publishing. Its history is consequently both that of an individual independent press and of an imprint adapting to consolidation in the book industry.
- 2022
Yuka Igarashi departs
[1]Igarashi leaves Soft Skull Press to join Graywolf Press.
- 2017
Soft Skull reopens in New York
[1]The imprint reopens a New York office and begins rebuilding its list under Yuka Igarashi.
- 2016
Counterpoint merges with Catapult
[2]Counterpoint becomes part of Catapult through a merger, placing Soft Skull within the Catapult publishing group.
- 2010
New York operation closes
[1]Counterpoint closes Soft Skull's New York office.
- 2007
Soft Skull joins Counterpoint
[1]Nash sells Soft Skull Press to Counterpoint, the Perseus-associated publishing company formed from multiple independent presses.
- 2001
Richard Nash takes over the press
[1]Richard Nash assumes control of Soft Skull Press and develops its presence in independent literary publishing.
- 1992
Soft Skull Press is founded
[1]Sander Hicks establishes Soft Skull Press as an independent American book publisher.
Products and positioning
An independent literary imprint focused on distinctive, experimental, politically aware, and culturally significant books that may fall outside conventional commercial categories.
Fiction
Literary fiction
Soft Skull publishes literary fiction characterized by distinctive voices, unusual structures, and subjects that may not fit conventional commercial categories. The imprint's fiction list forms part of its broader commitment to formally adventurous and culturally engaged writing.
Poetry
Poetry
Poetry is part of Soft Skull's independent literary publishing program. Its poetry-related output aligns with the press's interest in experimental language, unconventional perspectives, and writers working beyond mainstream literary formats.
Nonfiction
Literary nonfiction and cultural criticism
The imprint publishes memoir, criticism, cultural writing, and other forms of literary nonfiction. These books often combine personal, political, and artistic concerns and extend Soft Skull's identity beyond a conventional fiction list.
Reprints · 2017
Backlist reissues
Following its operational revival, Soft Skull reissued selected books from its backlist, including works by Jillian Weise, Maggie Nelson, and Wayne Koestenbaum. The program reconnects historically important titles with contemporary readers while maintaining continuity with the press's earlier editorial identity.
Brand decisions
2017
Reopening and editorial relaunchStrategyBackground
After Counterpoint merged with Catapult in 2016, the Soft Skull imprint was positioned for renewed activity.
Action taken
Soft Skull reopened a New York office under editor-in-chief Yuka Igarashi and combined new acquisitions with selected backlist reissues.
Aftermath
The relaunch restored Soft Skull as an active literary imprint and reintroduced earlier titles to new readers.
2010
Closure of the New York officeStrategyBackground
Soft Skull was operating within Counterpoint after its 2007 acquisition.
Action taken
Counterpoint closed Soft Skull Press's New York operation.
Aftermath
The imprint's direct New York presence ended temporarily, although its name and catalog continued within the broader publishing structure.
2007
Sale of Soft Skull Press to CounterpointM&ABackground
Soft Skull had operated as an independent press under Richard Nash, while Counterpoint was consolidating several literary publishing operations associated with Perseus Books Group.
Action taken
Nash sold Soft Skull Press to Counterpoint, which continued publishing books under the Soft Skull imprint.
Aftermath
The acquisition moved Soft Skull into a larger multi-imprint structure. Counterpoint later closed the imprint's New York operation and ultimately merged with Catapult.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/soft-skull-press · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled