Etruscan Press

Etruscan Press is an American literary publishing house founded in 2001 by writers and educators Philip Brady and Robert Mooney. The press is associated with Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and operates in partnership with Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. Its publishing program focuses on serious literary work rather than mass-market categories, with a catalog spanning poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, criticism, translation, and anthologies. The press's poetry list is a particularly visible part of its identity. Etruscan has published books that received substantial recognition in the literary community, including works that became finalists for the National Book Award and another title that appeared on the award's poetry longlist. Other books in its catalog have received or been associated with honors including the Poetry Society of America's First Book Award, the Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award, and PEN Oakland's Josephine Miles Award. Poems appearing through Etruscan have also been selected for inclusion in Best American Poetry. Beyond poetry, the press publishes novels, short-story collections, essays, literary criticism, translations, and edited anthologies. This breadth places it within the small and independent literary-press sector, where publishers often provide a platform for emerging writers, formally ambitious work, and authors whose books may not fit the commercial priorities of larger houses. Etruscan Press is a member of the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses, connecting it with a broader network of nonprofit and independent literary publishing organizations. The press was named one of five finalists for the 2015 AWP Small Press Publisher Award, an indication of recognition within the independent publishing community. Its books have continued to appear among finalists, longlisted works, and nominees for literary prizes, including the Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize, Mass Book Award, Hurston/Wright Legacy Award in Poetry, Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award, Housatonic Book Award, Helen Smith Memorial Prize for Best Book of Poetry, and the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. Etruscan Press therefore occupies a specialized position: it is a university-associated literary press with an editorial emphasis on poetry and other forms of high-quality literary writing. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate commercial parent company, a public listing, a standalone corporate headquarters beyond its Wilkes University association, or a current executive roster beyond the press's founders.

Etruscan Press was established in 2001 by Philip Brady and Robert Mooney. From its beginning, it developed as a literary press connected with Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, while also working in partnership with Youngstown State University in Ohio. This institutional setting distinguishes the press from large commercial publishing groups and places it within the university-linked and independent literary-press tradition. The press built its catalog around poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, later encompassing related forms such as criticism, translation, and anthologies. Its publishing program has supported both individual-author books and broader literary projects. Poetry has remained especially central to the press's public profile, with several books receiving attention from major literary award organizations. Etruscan-published poetry titles have included three National Book Award finalists and another title that reached the award's poetry longlist. Additional recognition has included the Poetry Society of America's First Book Award, the Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award, and PEN Oakland's Josephine Miles Award. Three poems published by Etruscan were selected for Best American Poetry, further associating the press with nationally visible literary work. The press's recognition continued through awards and nominations for books in multiple genres. Its titles have been associated with the Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize, Mass Book Award, Hurston/Wright Legacy Award in Poetry, Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award, Housatonic Book Award, Helen Smith Memorial Prize for Best Book of Poetry, and the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. These distinctions reflect the breadth of its list beyond poetry alone. In 2015, Etruscan Press was selected as one of five finalists for the AWP Small Press Publisher Award. The nomination placed it among a limited group of independent literary publishers recognized by the leading professional organization for writers and writing programs in the United States. Etruscan Press is also a member of the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses. That membership situates it within an organized community of independent literary publishers and reinforces its role as a specialist press rather than a general-interest commercial house. Available reference material describes the press as an operating literary publisher but does not provide a detailed account of later ownership changes, annual output, revenue, or current management.

• 2015

  AWP Small Press Publisher Award finalist

  [1]Etruscan Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Etruscan Press was named one of five finalists for the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Small Press Publisher Award.

• 2001

  Etruscan Press is founded

  [1]Etruscan Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Philip Brady and Robert Mooney founded Etruscan Press as a literary publishing venture associated with Wilkes University.

An independent, university-associated literary press focused on poetry and other high-quality forms of contemporary literary writing, including fiction, creative nonfiction, criticism, translation, and anthologies.

• Poetry books

  Poetry

  Poetry is the press's most prominently recognized publishing area. Its poetry list includes collections that have reached National Book Award finalist or longlist status and books associated with major poetry prizes. The catalog also includes work by poets whose individual poems have been selected for Best American Poetry.

• Literary fiction

  Fiction

  Etruscan Press publishes literary fiction in forms including novels and short-story collections. These works sit within the press's broader commitment to distinctive and critically oriented writing rather than genre publishing or mass-market entertainment.

• Creative nonfiction and essays

  Creative Nonfiction

  The creative nonfiction program includes literary essays and related works of nonfiction. The press's catalog has also been connected with recognition for the art of the essay, indicating an editorial interest in formally developed, author-driven nonfiction.

• Literary criticism and translated literature

  Criticism and Translation

  The press publishes literary criticism and translations alongside original English-language writing. These categories extend its role from an author-focused poetry and fiction publisher to a literary house concerned with interpretation, cross-cultural writing, and the circulation of texts across languages.

• Edited literary collections

  Anthologies

  Etruscan also publishes anthologies, allowing it to present themed, collective, or editorially curated bodies of literary work. Anthologies complement the press's individual-author books and its broader engagement with literary communities.

1. 1Etruscan Pressen.wikipedia.org