Hello! It seems as though you have stumbled upon our little secret. Unsolicited Press is a no-frills, kick-ass small press.

Founded in 2012, Unsolicited Press (living the dream in Portland, Oregon) focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Heather Lang-Cassera, Douglas Cole, Francis Daulerio, Shann Ray, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Kris Amos, and John W. Bateman. Our authors have gone on to be nominated for and/or win awards such as the Push Cart Prize,  Ohioana Book Award, Pen/Faulkner Award, International Book Award, Eric Hoffer Book Award, LAMBDA, Independent Press Award, NYC Big Book Award, and many more.

The vibe at Unsolicited Press is rebellious, relentless, and philanthropic. All of the net profit is funneled back into the business to maintain operations. Additionally, we love supporting non-profits that are doing so much good by donating a portion of our proceeds to support their missions. We embrace being quirky and love helping authors launch and/or further their writing careers. ​We are open for submissions year-round. Our submissions rules may have changed since the last time you visited, so please read the Writer Guidelines.

The Team

Unsolicited Press believes in respecting one's privacy. With the advent of the internet, writers have begun to expect presses to list personal details of staff on their websites; prior to the digital age, mastheads were found on the copyright pages of books/magazines, and that's a tradition we continue to implement. Our team has decided to list limited information about our team online. We have extensive experience in the publishing industry; ​if you are selected by our press, we promise that you will get to know us (we're all on a first name basis here). We support our authors throughout the publication process with love and support. In fact, our publisher has the tendency to pass her cell phone number out to make sure everyone is taken care of pre- and post-publication. ​

  • SUMMER

    PUBLISHER

    Summer Stewart, a poet and editor based in the Pacific Northwest, brings a wealth of experience to her role as publisher at Unsolicited Press. With a background in print and digital journalism and a strong foundation in freelance copyediting, she co-founded the press to elevate the voices of unsung and underrepresented authors. Her poetry and journalism have appeared in esteemed publications such as Forth Magazine, Ampersand Lit, Two Cities Review, Beacon Magazine, Pear Drop Magazine, Euphony, The Davis Enterprise, PSU Vanguard, and Nameless Magazine. Stewart, who holds an MFA from Portland State University, is a recognized figure in the publishing industry, with accolades including a nomination for BookCAMP’s 40 Under 40 and the Wilma Morrison Award for Journalism. Her extensive work as a writer and editor is marked by a dedication to crafting and promoting narratives that both challenge and inspire. Stewart frequently speaks at festivals, conferences, and community events, discussing the evolving landscape of publishing. Her forthcoming book, Mother!, is set for release in December 2025. Stewart was recently interviewed by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) in February 2024 on adaptive strategies to engage readers, and by Hippocampus Magazine in October 2024 about her approach to managing the press.

  • ESME

    PRODUCTION EDITOR

    ​Esme holds a degree in publishing (Kingston Univiersity) and considers layout the end-all-be-all of bookmaking. Her introduction to the book production world began in NYC via internships with both big and small publishers. Since then she's gained experience working for academic publishers in the Midwest and Southern California. Esme prefers to work behind-the-scenes where she can make books shine without stepping into the light authors deserve.

  • ANDY

    SENIOR EDITOR

    Andy is a salt-of-the-earth Midwesterner with a no bullshit perspective. He earned his MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the Solstice Creative Writing Program at Lasell University, where he was a Michael Steinberg Fellow. Andy’s essays have appeared in Salamander, Sleet Magazine, and Moon City Review as well the anthologies Show Me All Your Scars (In Fact Books) and Come Shining: Essays and Poems on Writing in a Dark Time (Kelson Books). His poetry has appeared in Lily Poetry Review, The American Journal of Poetry, and elsewhere. Andy was a 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee. His first chapbook of hybrid poetry, Blue Horse Suite, is available from Kattywompus Press. His most recent book, The More You Hate Me, a memoir-in-essays, was released in 2022.

  • KRISTEN

    SENIOR EDITOR

    Kristen lives in the Midwest and has a special talent for uncovering all the little errors in a book while simultaneously strengthening a story's core.  She has extensive editing experience having worked for Paradigm Communications Group, Professional Pilots of Tomorrow, and eNotes.com. Kristen also has experience writing for lifestyle publications such as Oklahoma Magazine and Springs Magazine​.n goes here

  • KATHRYN

    ​Graphic Design 
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    Kathryn, better known as Katie by the team, balances her time between designing covers and crafting ads for the press. Katie earned a degree in graphic design and art history at Arizona State. She has a collaborative spirit and eclectic aesthetic. In addition to designing book covers, she teaches art to budding artists online.

  • ROSALIA

    LITERARY READING HOST

    Rosalia is an award-winning short story writer who graciously hosts our bi-monthly reading series, Literary Nights with Unsolicited Press, live on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook.

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