The weather may be turning cold and the days darker, but things have never been brighter at WVU Press.
The state’s largest book publisher has celebrated a number of accolades in recent years and invites WVU community members to peruse its wide range of award-winning titles and upcoming spring launches.
“WVU Press has been on quite a trajectory lately,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed said. “From a National Book Award finalist to being highlighted in The New York Times, our own University press has been attracting the attention of some of the biggest influencers in American literature. We are so proud of how far they’ve come and excited to see what’s next.”
The not-for-profit press, which is well known for its Appalachian studies list, publishes 20-22 books each year. Its creative works include fiction, creative nonfiction and memoir — all of which undergo the same rigorous peer review by its WVU faculty editorial board as do scholarly publications. Beyond Appalachia, topics range from higher education to social sciences, history and energy.
Stories of race, community, love and identity can be found in recent notable titles, including “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” “The Harlan Renaissance” and “Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place.”
Additionally, “Inclusive Teaching: Strategies for Promoting Equity in the College Classroom” from the Press’ higher education series provides tips and advice on making students feel welcomed and included in the classroom.
An equally compelling story, though, is the one that is being told about WVU Press itself.
Referred to as a "new publishing heavyweight” by the Chronicle of Higher Education, WVU Press has been lauded for its ability to build collaborative networks and help launch exceptional authors onto major scenes – including the National Book Award finalist list, the Story Prize and even HBO. A recent essay in The New York Times said WVU Press is helping to keep “American literature alive.”
“Through the authors we celebrate and the stories we share, West Virginia University Press is becoming synonymous with independence, social justice and a strong sense of place,” WVU Press Director Derek Krissoff said. “When NBC News Online referred to us as a ‘small-yet-fierce’ press, we immediately identified with that. We stay ‘small’ so we can serve our authors and the land-grant mission of the University. But we are ‘fierce’ in our commitment to projecting outward the strength and diversity of West Virginia and of WVU.”
That “small-yet-fierce” phrase has become something of a mantra for WVU Press and headlines its spring 2023 catalog, which includes highly anticipated life-writing by Davon Loeb and Kelley Shinn, plus short fiction by Courtney Sender that has been described as “impossibly strange and mercifully familiar.” The latest book in the Press’ successful higher education series is about the timely topic of student mental health, and a new series, Borderless (coedited by WVU professor and associate dean Lupe Davidson), includes a collection of artistic and creative responses to COVID-19.
New titles in Appalachian studies and studies of the Black Atlantic roll out alongside two new books with humanities perspectives on energy, climate and environment.
“Our cohort of spring authors comes from seven U.S. states plus Puerto Rico, and two continents,” Krissoff said. “They are teachers, scholars, social workers, and activists — but also, of course, writers. We’re excited to share their books in the coming year, and we’re grateful for the support of our many readers.”
These and many other titles are available on the WVU Press website and can be ordered online or by phone, email or postal mail. Many are also available from independent bookstores like Taylor Books, Four Seasons Books and White Whale Bookstore.
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