Website
Type Of Organization
Press
Mission Statement / Editorial Focus
Perugia Press, founded in 1997, is a nonprofit press that publishes one beautifully designed book each year: the winner of the Perugia Press Prize, our annual national contest for first or second books of poetry by women. Our mission is to support and promote women’s voices in print, and we aim to expand the audience for poetry by making books that welcome longtime readers of poetry and those new to poetry. We celebrate and promote our poets, and poetry, whenever we can, through social media, and at local, regional, and national book fairs, readings, and events. We also maintain resources for educators who would like to incorporate our books into their curricula. At Perugia Press, we are doing our part to tip the scales of gender inequity in poetry into balance.
Social Media Platforms Used
Facebook; Twitter; Instagram
Is Your Group Affiliated With A University, Portal Or Other Agency?
no
Primary Editor/Contact Person
Rebecca Olander
Contact Title
Editor/Director
Publishes
poetry
Recent Awards Received
James Laughlin Award, Publishing Triangle/Audre Lorde Poetry Prize, PEN Center USA Award, Housatonic Book Award, and others.
Representative Authors
Jennifer K. Sweeney, Lynne Thompson, Diane Gilliam
Submissions Policy
Women and women-identified poets can submit first or second book mss. to our annual Perugia Press Prize. Guidelines are available online.
Accepts Unsolicited Submissions
Yes
Submission Guidelines URL
Simultaneous Submissions Accepted
yes
Reading Period
From 8 / 1 - 11 / 15
Reporting Time
3 - 6 months
Author Payments
cash, copies
Contests
See website for contest guidelines for the Perugia Press Prize.
Number Of Paid Staff
1
Number Of Unpaid Staff
40
Year Founded
1997
Distributors
We distribute our own books through our website.
ISBN Number
9780997807646
Number Of Books Published Per Year
1
Titles In Print
25
Paperback
100
Average Price Per Book
$18
Name
Rebecca Olander
Title
Editor/Director
How Did You Arrive At Your Current Position?
After serving as a volunteer reader, judge, and board member with Perugia Press for about seven years, I stepped into the role of editor/director in 2016 when the founding director stepped down after running the press for its first twenty years.
What Is The Staff Structure At Your Magazine/press?
We are a micro press, publishing just one book per year. I am the only paid staff member, which is a part-time position. We also have a volunteer board and a large group of volunteer readers and judges, without whom the press would not function.
Do You Have Any Cover Letter Advice?
Cover letters are not necessary. We read anonymously, and so we don't consider the identity of submitters until the end of the contest. In a cover letter, you can include a bio or acknowledgments, but these can also be added or amended later.
How Are Submissions Processed In Your Magazine/press?
Each submission is viewed by at least two different readers, anonymously, at each stage. We gradually winnow down our submissions to a group of semi-finalists, and then to a group of finalists, and, ultimately, we choose one winner collaboratively.
What Do You Look For In A Submission?
We publish women poets, but beyond that what we look for is expansive. We love to read what we haven't before. Perugia welcomes diversity of expression in content, form & language. Our books invite in longtime readers of poetry & those new to poetry.
What Advice Do You Have For First-time Submitters?
A manuscript should start and remain strong. It can overwhelm when the beginning is full of front matter. Beware of using too many epigraphs & letting others speak for you. Remember humans are reading & appreciating your work when you send it to us.
Who Is Your Ideal Reader?
As said previously, the audience for our books is varied and vast. We print books that matter, and we hope readers will be as moved by them as we are. When that happens, it's great when readers share that with others. Poetry relies on community.
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