About Us

Hawthorne Books is an independent literary press based in Portland, Oregon, with a national scope and deep regional roots. For more than twenty years, our focus has been on literary fiction and nonfiction with innovative and varied approaches to the relationships between essay, memoir, and narrative. If we specialize in anything, it’s in finding superb writing and giving it the attention it deserves.

That attention manifests itself in careful, collaborative editing and a fierce commitment to the dignity of the book and its reader. Hawthorne titles are original paperbacks. Our books offer qualities such as meticulous design and typography, acid-free papers, sewn bindings, nonscuff matte lamination, and double-scored cover flaps that are engineered to function as bookmarks. The writing is meant to last; so is the book.

Since 2001, Hawthorne titles have been consistently shortlisted for respected literary awards. And we’ve won more than a few of them. Hawthorne is a go-to independent small press for the playful and deeply literary. More importantly, we have developed a loyal community of readers and writers.

Mailing Address:
Hawthorne Books
c/o Catapult
20 Jay St. #704
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Distribution:
Hawthorne Books is distributed by Penguin Random House. For orders, please contact your Penguin Random House sales representative, should you have one, or contact their customer service team at customerservice@penguinrandomhouse.com.

Submissions

Due to the massive quantity of submissions Hawthorne Books is not accepting unsolicited manuscripts. As a small press we cannot respond to all inquires, emails, and telephone calls. If you have contacted us and did not receive a response, we apologize, but it means we cannot publish your work. We wish you the best in finding a home for your manuscript, and thank you for thinking of Hawthorne.

Editorial & Staff

Rhonda Hughes
Publisher Emeritus / Contributing Editor
rhughes@hawthornebooks.com