Islandport Press
Islandport Press is a 25-year old award-winning, regional, independent book publisher based in Yarmouth, Maine. They publish exceptional books by the region's finest writers and artists that celebrate New England's culture, preserve its rich history for future generations, and share authentic stories that connect readers of all ages to our region's enduring spirit. They publish Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, and Children's Books.
Publisher KJ Grow responded to the following questions:
What stories are you most interested in telling and representing?
We value diversity in our catalog and feel a strong sense of responsibility to publish voices from all across the state of Maine and larger New England. We are especially interested in stories that have been underrepresented in traditional publishing, including Indigenous stories, stories by immigrants/New Mainers, queer stories, etc. Fundamentally, we are looking for stories and voices that feel fresh and defy stereotypes.
Islandport Press has gone through many changes in the past few months. Can you tell us about the new direction that you are hoping to grow into?
In 2024, Islandport Press was sold to Islandport Media, a group in Camden that owns a suite of companies including The Midcoast Villager and Villager Cafe. Their emphasis is strongly in localism and community, and we are very much committed to those values as well. In terms of new direction, I think you'll see more diversity in the forthcoming catalog of titles, but also more creative and participatory events that go beyond just the standard book readings.
Your focus on such caring and empathetic core values and tenets is remarkable. How do these inform your day to day work and engagement with authors and the community?
Thank you for reading those! They are very important to us. The core tenets and values inform everything from how we write rejection letters, how we communicate with authors, who we use as our printing partners, how we choose where to invest our time and energy. I want everyone who interacts with Islandport Press to have an uplifted experience and feel that there is a distinct ethic of kindness and care. I believe it truly matters and creates good karma for the press. And I feel it in return from the literary community — there are so many writers, booksellers, and readers rooting for the sustained success of Islandport.
Is there an event, publication, or any kind of change happening in the next year that you are particularly excited about and would like to share?
We are SO excited about the launch of our 2026 list and beyond. It would be impossible to pick a favorite. But I think you'll see it's a rich and diverse collection representing multiple genres, forms, and perspectives. One thing I've been most proud to participate in this year has been the Immigrant Solidarity Project, a series of panel events inspired by our book Dear Maine: The Trials and Triumphs of Maine's 21st Century Immigrants. These kinds of community events are exactly the values-aligned gatherings that we hope to do more of. We want our books to be conversation starters.
Islandport Press
247 Portland St, Building C
Yarmouth, ME 04096
(207) 846-3344
info@islandportpress.com
Submissions: https://www.islandportpress.com/submissions