Islandport Press
Islandport Press, an independent publisher founded in 1999, published its first book in 2000.[1]. The Yarmouth, Maine-based company celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2020, and passed the 200-books-published mark the same year.[2]. The company focuses on stories that are rooted in the essence of New England, and the state of Maine in particular[3].
Publisher and editor-in-chief Dean Lunt started the company in his Maine basement after producing and publishing his first book, “Hauling by Hand: The Life and Times of a Maine Island,” in February of 2000[4]. He shipped early book orders from his garage, at times in temperatures so cold he had to plug in spot heaters so the tape would stick to the cardboard boxes. Today Islandport has published more than 200 titles including both original books and out-of-print books that the independent press has revived. The press seeks out out-of-print New England titles to fill gaps in its niche[5].
As of 2020, Islandport has a full-time staff of five: Dean, Holly, Shannon, Teresa, and Piper. The company also works with several contributing editors and freelance professionals[2].
Islandport Press's books are available in gift shops and bookstores around Maine, including Bull Moose, Sherman's Maine Coast Bookshop, Blue Hill Books, Devaney, Doak and Garrett, and Book Review Maine[6]. Islandport books can also be purchased or ordered at any Barnes and Noble bookstore. Outside of Maine, their books are distributed by Bookmasters, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor [7]
Adult titles are primarily non-fiction, but also include some fiction, gift, and other trade titles, including food, art, humor, and novelty. Children's picture books, story books, middle grade chapter books, and young adult titles are also published[8]
Ruth Moore
In 2020, the press acquired the rights to the works of Maine literary giant Ruth Moore [9]. Editor-in-chief Dean Lunt took on the republication and distribution of her catalog, and also plans to edit an anthology of her writing entitled “Voices off the Ocean,” featuring Moore’s ballads and poetry[10]. Her first novel The Weir, originally published in 1943 and reprinted by Islandport in 2020, began with the prophetic line "Maine was the place you were homesick for, even when you were there.” [11]. Her second book, Spoonhandle, another “realistic, regional writing of a Maine backwater [12]” topped the New York Times bestseller list for 14 weeks,[13] was adapted into the 1948 film Deep Waters,and was republished by Islandport in 2020. Between then and 1979 Ruth Moore published 14 novels and three books of poetry and ballads. She was frequently listed on the New York Times Bestseller list and compared favorably to EB White and William Faulkner [14]. Her home in Bass Harbor, Maine is now on the National Register of Historic Places [15]
Awards and Accolades
In the fall of 2009 Islandport Press received the Barnes & Noble 2009 Focus on New England award for Outstanding Regional Literature. The award is voted on annually by Barnes & Nobles stores in six states and given to an author or publisher who makes significant contributions to the promotion of New England literature [16]. Presented by Barnes & Noble Inc.’s Regional Community Relations Manager at the time, Maddie Hjulstrom, the award recognized the publisher’s approach to book selection, focus, design, and distribution [17].
Islandport Magazine
In 2016 publisher and editor-in-chief Dean Lunt launched Islandport Magazine, a 72-page glossy magazine. The quarterly publication, inspired by "the wonderful [print] magazines of old that featured interesting, well-written stories as well as brilliant images[18]," ran from 2016 to 2020. Published in partnership with Maine Today Media, which managed advertising and distribution, the magazine included articles based on Islandport books and authors, as well as new, original content. In a 2016 interview with Publisher's Weekly, Lunt said "I would hope to have 35% of the editorial not be directly tied to our authors.”[19] The magazine was distributed to every subscriber of the Maine Sunday Telegram four times a year and was available for purchase at bookstores, gift shops, and online [20]
The magazine's first edition included an interview with Dahlov Ipcar, a story explaining the link between Maine and Disney's Bambi [18], an essay by award-winning Aroostook County novelist Cathie Pelletier, and an excerpt from Josh Pahigian’s Strangers on the Beach, an Islandport book first published in 2012[8]. The magazine's final edition was mailed to subscribers in the winter of 2020.
References
- ↑ "Collections: Islandport Press". Archipelago the Island Institute Store. Archipelago the Island Institute Store. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Islandport Press https://www.islandportpress.com/aboutislandport. Retrieved 18 December 2020. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "https://www.mainetourism.com/listing/islandport-press-inc/1367/". Maine Tourism. Maine Tourism Association. Retrieved 13 January 2021. External link in
|title=(help) - ↑ Anderson, Amy. "Self-made Yarmouth Book Publisher Named Best in Region". Portland Press Herald. Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Rosen, Judith. "It's Mainly Maine at Islandport". Publishers Weekly. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ "Maine Booksellers". Islandport Press. Islandport Press. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Graff, Keir. "Small-Press Lineup: Islandport Press". The Booklist Reader. Booklist Publications. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Flaherty, Kate. "Indie Spotlight: Islandport Press". Ploughshares at Emerson College. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ↑ Contributor. "Publisher to discuss Moore and Frenchboro". Bangor Daily News. Bangor Publishing Company. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Contributor. "Publisher to discuss Moore and Frenchboro". Bangor Daily News. Bangor Publishing Company. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Mitchell, Christina. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form". National Park Services Gallery. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Morrow. "Spoonhandle". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Contributor. "Publisher to discuss Moore and Frenchboro". Bangor Daily News. Bangor Publishing Company. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Grunewald, Will. "Does Anyone Remember Ruth Moore?". DownEast. Down East Magazine. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Mitchell, Christina. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form". National Park Services Gallery. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Anderson, Amy. "Posted October 28, 2009 Updated August 7, 2015INCREASE FONT SIZEResize Font Self-made Yarmouth book publisher named best in region". The Forecaster. Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Lunt, Dean. "We win! 2009 Barnes & Noble Focus on New England Award for Outstanding Regional Literature". Islandport Press. Islandport Press. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Rosen, Judith. "Islandport Launches Magazine to Showcase Its List". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ↑ Rosen, Judith. "Islandport Launches Magazine to Showcase Its List". Publishers Weekly. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Contributor. "UMF student wins Islandport Magazine writing contest". Daily Bulldog. Daily Bulldog.
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