Milkweed Editions is an independent nonprofit literary publisher that originated from the Milkweed Chronicle literary and arts journal established in Minneapolis in 1979. The journal ceased and the business transitioned to publishing. It releases eighteen to twenty new books each year in the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Milkweed Editions annually awards three prizes for poetry: the Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry,[1] the Jake Adam York Prize (in collaboration with Copper Nickel), and they are a partner publisher for the National Poetry Series. In 2016, Milkweed Editions opened an independent bookstore.[2]
| Founded | 1980 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Emilie Buchwald and R.W. Scholes |
| Successor | Daniel Slager |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | Minneapolis |
| Distribution | Publishers Group West |
| Publication types | Books |
| Fiction genres | fiction, nonfiction, poetry |
| Official website | www |
History
editMilkweed Chronicle was co-founded in 1979 as a literature and art journal by Emilie Buchwald and R.W. Scholes in Minneapolis. Milkweed Chronicle's first issue was published in 1980. Buchwald served as editor and Scholes as art director. The journal ran for 21 issues until 1987. It featured local and national writers and artists.
In the mid-1980s, the publication ceased and the business transitioned to publishing. Milkweed Editions published its first book and ceased publication of the journal.[3] Since this first publication, the press has published more than three hundred and fifty titles.[4]
In 1999, Milkweed combined forces with Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the Loft Literary Center to purchase an old warehouse in downtown Minneapolis to house each organization.[5] They named the warehouse, the Open Book.[6]
In 2007, Daniel Slager was named Publisher & CEO of Milkweed Editions. Since his arrival, Slager has focused the press on the publication of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and has focused on publishing more work in translation.[7] In 2016, the press opened a bookstore, Milkweed Books.[2][8][9][10]
Milkweed Prizes
editThe Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry was established in 2011 by Milkweed Editions and the Lindquist & Vennum Foundation.[11] Submissions for this regional prize are accepted only from poets residing in the states of the Upper Midwest. The winner receives a $10,000 cash prize and a publishing contract.[1][12] Previous winners have included Patricia Kirkpatrick,[13] Rebecca Dunham,[14] Michael Bazzett,[15] Jennifer Willoughby,[16] and Chris Santiago.[17]
In 2017, Milkweed Editions announced the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize, a US$10,000 award supported by the Alan B. Slifka Foundation.[18] Grady Chambers was the Inaugural winner award of this prize, announced December 2017.[19]
Awards and media recognition
editMilkweed Editions was the 2021 winner of the AWP Small Press Publisher Award given by the Association of Writers & Writing Programs which "acknowledges the hard work, creativity, and innovation of these presses and journals, and honors their contributions to the literary landscape through their publication of consistently excellent work."[20][21] The press has been further recognized by media attention in interviews and features, including Literary Hub[22] and Publishers Weekly.[23][24] Their 2013 title, Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass, landed on The New York Times Bestseller List.[25]
Notes
edit- ^ a b Hertzel, Laurie (2013-04-11). "Lindquist & Vennum Prize For Poetry". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
- ^ a b "Milkweed Editions to Open Indie Bookstore". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ "National Book Critics Circle: NBCC 2007 Sandrof Awardee Emilie Buchwald of Milkweed Editions - Critical Mass Blog". bookcritics.org. Archived from the original on September 29, 2010. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ "Milkweed Editions Raises $1.5 Million For Its 35th Anniversary". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ Chamberlain, Lisa (2008-04-30). "With Books as a Catalyst, Minneapolis Neighborhood Revives". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ Wood, Turner (2001-11-01). "The Mighty Pen". Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
- ^ "The Maturing of Milkweed". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ "Why Do Bookstores Matter?". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. 2016-08-29. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ "Milkweed Editions to open new chapter, bookshop in Open Book building". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ "Why Indie Presses Are Opening Bookstores | Literary Hub". lithub.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ "Milkweed Announces $10,000 Regional Poetry Prize". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "THE BOOKMARK: The latest from the local scene". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "Kirkpatrick wins Milkweed Edition's poetry prize". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "Second Milkweed poetry prize announced". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "Minneapolis poet wins Lindquist & Vennum Prize". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "Review: 'Beautiful Zero,' by Jennifer Willoughby, winner of the Lindquist & Vennum Prize from Milkweed". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "St. Paul poet Chris Santiago wins the 2016 Lindquist & Vennum Prize". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ "Max Ritvo Poetry Prize". Milkweed Editions. 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
- ^ "Grady Chambers Wins Inaugural Max Ritvo Poetry Prize". Milkweed Editions Staff. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
- ^ "AWP: Small Press Publisher Award". www.awpwriter.org.
- ^ "AWP: Small Press Publisher Award Winners". www.awpwriter.org.
- ^ "Interview with an Indie Press: Milkweed Editions". February 19, 2021.
- ^ Kirch, Claire. "Milkweed Editions Raises $1.5 Million For Its 35th Anniversary". PublishersWeekly.com.
- ^ Loeppky, John. "Milkweed Editions Announces Disability-Focused Literary Series". PublishersWeekly.com.
- ^ Egan, Elisabeth (November 5, 2020). "Timing, Patience and Wisdom Are the Secrets to Robin Wall Kimmerer's Success" – via NYTimes.com.
External links
edit- Milkweed Editions Homepage
- Independent Publisher Interview-Daniel Slager
- Editors of Writer's Digest. Writer's Digest University: Everything You Need to Write and Sell Your Work. F&W Media. pp. 435, 458, 468, 479. ISBN 9781599632568.
{{cite book}}:|last=has generic name (help) - Anderson, Byron (October 2006). Alternative Publishers of Books in North America (6th ed.). p. 95. ISBN 978-0-9778617-2-9.
- Minnesota: land of long-lasting small presses by Marianne Combs, Minnesota Public Radio October 8, 2004