What Is Black Lawrence Press?
Black Lawrence Press is an imprint of Dzanc Books. Located in northern New York state, Black Lawrence Press specializes in contemporary poetry and fiction. It is named for two great rivers that grace upstate New York, the Black River and the St. Lawrence river. The Press is also in the same region as the magnificent Lake Ontario.
Black Lawrence Press was established in 2003. In the relatively short period of time that the press has been in existence, it has published the work of many modern writers. I Can Only Go As Fast As The Guy In Front of Me by Frank Matagrano and My Window Seat for Arlena Twigg by James Reidel are examples of the poetry that has been published by Black Lawrence Press.
In addition to publishing quality literature and poetry, Black Lawrence Press also runs four literary contests per year. The St. Lawrence Book Award offers a cash prize and publication via Black Lawrence Press to one writer each year. This award is meant for writers who have not previously published a book-length volume of work. Winners of the press' two Black River Chapbook Competitions are awarded 25 bound copies of their work in addition to a cash prize. The Hudson Prize, formerly the Ontario Prize, honors previously unpublished volumes of short stories and poetry. Winners of this prize receive a cash award and publication through Black Lawrence Press.
Black Lawrence Press is also the publisher of the literary magazine, The Adirondack Review. This renowned magazine publishes quarterly issues of fiction, poetry, scholarly essays, artwork, book reviews, and film reviews. In fact, Black Lawrence Press often publishes work by authors who were previously published in one or more issues of The Adirondack Review.
Black Lawrence Press was purchased by Dzanc Books in 2008, which also owns another small press, OV Books. Around the same time, Dzanc purchased the online literary journal Monkeybicycle. For more information on Black Lawrence Press, visit their website. Publication lists for Black Lawrence Press books are updated regularly. Information on submitting work to any of their contests is also available on the Black Lawrence Press website.
Written by Diane Goettel
