ABOUT

Open Letter—the University of Rochester's nonprofit, literary translation press—is one of only a handful of publishing houses dedicated to increasing access to world literature for English readers. Publishing ten titles in translation each year and running an online literary website called Three Percent, Open Letter searches for works that are extraordinary and influential, works that we hope will become the classics of tomorrow.

Making world literature available in English is crucial to opening our cultural borders, and its availability plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy and vibrant book culture. Open Letter strives to cultivate an audience for these works by helping readers discover imaginative, stunning works of fiction and poetry and by creating a constellation of international writing that is engaging, stimulating, and enduring.

CONTACT

Open Letter
University of Rochester
Dewey Hall 1-219, Box 278968
Rochester, NY 14627
tel: 585.319.0823
fax: 585.273.1097
contact@openletterbooks.org

STAFF

Anastasia Nikolis,
Poetry Editor
Chad W. Post, Publisher
Kaija Straumanis, Editorial Director

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jennifer Grotz, Associate Professor, Department of English, Univ. of Rochester
John Michael, Chair, Department of English, Univ. of Rochester
Claudia Schaefer, Rush Rhees Professor of Spanish, Univ. of Rochester
Joanna Scott, Roswell S. Burrows Professor of English, Univ. of Rochester
Stephen Sparks, Bookseller, Green Apple Books
Declan Spring, Senior Editor, New Directions

SUPPORTERS

Along with generous support from individuals everywhere, Open Letter is grateful for the past and present support from the following organizations, foundations, agencies, and programs:

National Endowment for the Arts   |   New York State Council on the Arts   |   University of Rochester   |   Amazon.com   |   America for Bulgaria Foundation   |   Bókmenntasjóður: The Icelandic Literature Fund   |   Book Institute: The ©POLAND Translation Program   |   Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States   |   Dutch Foundation for Literature   |   Elizabeth Kostova Foundation   |   FACE (French American Cultural Exchange)   |   French Ministry of Foreign Affairs   |   Goethe-Institut (Germany)   |   Institute for Literary Translation (Russia)   |   Institut Ramon Llull: Catalan Language & Culture   |   Latvian Literature Centre   |   Ministry of Culture, Media & Informatic Society (Serbia)   |   Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia   |   State Cultural Capital Foundation

BOOKSTORE/TRADE ORDERS

Open Letter titles are sold and distributed throughout North America by:

Consortium Book Sales & Distribution
www.cbsd.com
1-800-283-3572

Sales.Orders@cbsd.com

For bookstores in Europe:
Turnaround Distribution
Unit 3, Olympia Trading Estate
Coburg Road, Wood Green
London N22 6TZ
UNITED KINGDOM
tel: 020 8829 3000
fax: 020 8881 5088
orders@turnaround-uk.com
teleordering mnemonic: TURN

INDIVIDUAL ORDERS

Individuals can purchase Open Letter titles through our online store, literary bookstores everywhere, and all major online retailers.

Organizations, such as libraries, who are interested in purchasing our First 25/50 collections should also order directly through Open Letter. 

Please note that international shipping is only available for subscriptions.

Send any questions regarding individual orders to contact@openletterbooks.org.

PRESS & MARKETING INQUIRIES

Chad Post, Publisher
chad.post@rochester.edu
585.319.0823

DESK/EXAM COPY REQUESTS

To apply, please send an email with the following information:

Name, position, school, department, mailing address, the book you'd like to receive, course title, and course starting date.

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Open Letter is a literary press that publishes ten books annuallymostly novels, but also collections of short stories, poetry, and literary essays. We only publish books in translation and do not publish children's or young adult literature, plays, self-help books, or how-to guides, etc.

Our editors are looking for contemporary literary fiction from around the world that is unique, distinctive, and that will have a significant impact on world literary conversation. It is strongly recommended that persons who intend to submit a query should familiarize themselves with Open Letter's publications before submitting.

Please submit using our Submittable page HERE.

Translators and authors wishing to submit a fiction query should include:

  • a one-page cover letter containing relevant autobiographical information about the author and the translator and a short description of the manuscript
  • a sample translation of approximately 20 pages (more is appreciated)
  • a list of the author's published works, if available
  • a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) for reply, if submitted in hard copy

Our poetry editor is looking for contemporary poetry from around the world that is unique, distinctive, and that will have a significant impact on world literary conversations. The poetry should engage with contemporary formalist poetic concerns (line, syntax, sound, etc.) while also pushing thematic boundaries. 

Please take a look at our poetry catalog. We are especially interested in publishing perspectives and languages that haven't appeared before in our *poetry* backlist.

Translators and poets wishing to submit should include:

  • a one-page cover letter that includes a brief biography of the poet and the translator; a description of the manuscript; a description of translation difficulties posed by the particular poetry text; a list of the author's published works, if available.
  • a sample translation of at least 20 pages (more complete manuscripts are preferred, but not required)
  • The reading period (and response period) is May and June, but you may submit any time throughout the year.

Because of the volume of submissions, we simply cannot respond to phone, fax, or email inquiries about the status of queries or manuscripts.

The status of your submission can be seen by logging in to your Submittable account.

Hard-copies of queries or submissions may be mailed to:
Editorial Department
Open Letter
University of Rochester
Dewey Hall 1-219, Box 278968
Rochester, NY 14627