Our summer roadtrip to meet our authors concludes, as Playing Authors does, with the legendary Barbara Shoup! Barbara is the author of eight novels for adults and young adults, most recently An American Tune and Looking for Jack Kerouac, and two books about writing, A Commotion in Your Heart: Notes about Writing and Life and Novel Ideas: Contemporary Authors Share the Creative Process. Her creative nonfiction has been recently published in Atticus, Ocotillo Review, and Another Chicago Magazine. She is the Writer-in-Residence at the Indiana Writers Center, a faculty member at Art Workshop International, and hosts the substack, Book Pilgrim. It’s our honor to publish her “Author, Author” this fall. Everyone, Barbara Shoup.

It's our honor to publish Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Joyce Brinkman, and Flor Aguilera's "Girls at Play: 3 Voices Echoing from 3 Points of North America" this fall. Joyce Brinkman served as Indiana’s first poet laureate from 2002-2008. She believes in poetry as public art and conceives of public poetry projects involving her work and that of others. Flor Aguilera has published seven poetry books, including AS THE AUDIENCE BEGS FOR A FEROCIOUS TANGO, THE SACRIFICE OF THE LILIES, and BUTOH. She lives in Mexico City in the nostalgic Roman Quarter. Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Virginia Poet Laureate Emerita, has co-edited three anthologies, a poem/play, and published nine books of poetry, including The Embrace: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, winner of the Art in Literature: Mary Lynn Kotz Award. Everyone, Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Joyce Brinkman, and Flor Aguilera!

Meet tova greene! tova greene (they/them) is a non-binary, queer, jewish poet whose work has been featured or is upcoming in West Trade Review, Metatron Press, Voicemail Poems, The Eunoia Review, and Midway Journal, among others. Their debut collection, lilac on the damned's breath, was published by Bottlecap Press. They are currently working on their second book of poetry, ohso, with Indie Earth Publishing. They are also the programs director of the Poetry Society of New York. In this capacity, they serve as Creative Director of the New York City Poetry Festival, and they are the host/producer of the fantastic HAVING A COKE WITH YOU. We are so excited to be publishing tova’s “academic discourse (or, a poet in the after hours)” and “i mourn you, darling, as shakespeare did (by giving sorrow words)” this fall in Playing Authors. 

We’re in Indy, meeting up with the incredible Chris Huntington! Chris Huntington’s book, Mike Tyson Slept Here, won the Fabri Literary Prize and was described as “a throttingly beautiful little novel” (Tom Bissell). His non-fiction has been featured in The New York Times Modern Love column as well as The Millions, The Rumpus, and numerous anthologies. His prose poetry has appeared in RATTLE, Frontera, River Teeth, Singapore Poetry, Peatsmoke, The Musuem of Americana, and elsewhere. We're so excited to be publishing an excerpt from his "My Best Acquaintances" this fall! Friends, Chris Huntington.

Gutenborg is in West Lafayette, Indiana to meet up with Daphne Fauber and Hank Krutulis...Huzzah! We’re excited to publish Daphne and Hank’s, “Writing by Committee,” in Playing Authors this fall, and we can’t wait for you to play along. Daphne Fauber (she/her) is a writer, artist, and microbiologist. When not reading books or agar plates, she can be found playing games and writing horror reviews. Hank Krutulis (he/him) is a software engineer and game master with a penchant for silliness. Daphne and Hank are also the hosts of Procedural Veneration, an untrue crime podcast where they watch and rate crime procedurals. Get ready for awesome recommendations and a wonderful finish! Without further ado...Meet Daphne Fauber and Hank Krutulis!

Today, we’re in Indiana talking vinyl, Ray Liotta, cop shows, and lost typewriters with Jay Lesandrini. Jay Lesandrini has published creative non-fiction in various literary journals, including Bluestem, Booth, Caesura, Punchnel’s, and Sport Literate. His essay “Waiting on Deck” was named a notable in The Best American Sports Writing 2011 anthology. In addition to non-fiction, Jay published a short story in the fiction anthology Mythic Indy. He is the Director of Communications and Marketing for Indiana University’s Columbus campus, where he also teaches writing. His story “Going to Church” is adapted from a chapter in a novel he is currently writing...and we can’t wait for you to read it! Meet Jay Lesandrini.

It’s State Fair time...but what year is it? Time travel awaits! Gutenborg is in Troy, New York to meet up with Amy Halloran. Amy Halloran is the author of The New Bread Basket (Chelsea Green Publishing), a book about the revival of regional grain production, and is currently working on a lyrical history of Troy, New York and bread in America. She also hosts the Substack “Dear Bread,” and we’re thrilled to be publishing her piece, “The Author of Nature,” in Playing Authors this fall. Friends, please meet Amy Halloran.

An August balm of "endless summer" and a speech to revive souls...Gutenborg is on an island in Washington State to meet up with Playing Authors contributor, Elle Cee Wallace, and we are grateful for her offerings of compassion, lightness, and animal delight. Elle’s poems have been featured in Free State Review, Cold Mountain Review, Amsterdam Quarterly, San Juan Preservation Trust, SMEOP (URBAN), and we're honored to be publishing her “Cinderella” in Playing Authors this fall. Meet Elle Cee Wallace.

Today, we’re in Indy meeting up with Old Iron Press author Corey Michael Dalton. We’re pumped to publish Corey’s “Lightning Flashes” this fall in Playing Authors. Corey’s writing has appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, So It Goes, Jack and Jill, Punchnel's, Humpty Dumpty, and Mythic Indy (a fiction anthology that he also edited). Hark! The creator of the perfect writing reward system has arrived...Meet Corey Michael Dalton.

“...I crave a Fleabag-Godot mashup.” Preach! You’re in for a treat. Gutenborg’s back in Indy, and today we’re meeting up with Old Iron Press author, Traci Cumbay. We are so excited to publish Traci’s "That's How It Is[n't] on This Bitch of an Earth" this fall. Get ready for Samuel Beckett and the one-and-only Traci Cumbay!

We’re in Oregon to meet up with Old Iron Press author, Mary Christine Delea. Christine is the author of The Skeleton Holding Up the Sky (Main Street Rag), three chapbooks, and numerous journal and anthology publications. She has a Ph.D. in English/Creative Writing and is a former professor who, since leaving academia, has volunteered for various nonprofit organizations. This avid maker and baker also hosts a weekly project where she posts poems she loves twice a week, and a writing prompt every Sunday. In addition to all that, Christine’s giving us Marianne Moore, the Marx Brothers, and an epic party for the ages in a fantasy Las Vegas mansion! You're going to want to meet Mary Christine Delea...

Today, we’re in southern Indiana to meet up with Old Iron Press author, Robyn Ryle. Robyn is the author of two award-winning nonfiction books She/He/They Me and Throw Like a Girl, Cheer Like a Boy, as well as a new YA novel, Fair Game. She teaches sociology and gender studies to college students, and hosts the substack, You Think Too Much. In addition to all that, Robyn is giving us Hemingway, Jacqueline Susann truths, seasonal SweetTarts, and an amazing party. Meet Robyn Ryle! 

We’re heading to the California coast to meet up with Old Iron Press author, Vinnie Hansen. A two-time Claymore Award finalist, Vinnie is the author of the Carol Sabala mysteries, the novels Lostart Street and One Gun (Misterio Press), as well as over forty short works. Vinnie taught high school English for twenty-seven years and has been known to tickle the ivories with ukulele bands. We're so excited to be publishing her work this fall! Get ready for mystery, mayhem, and Edgar Allan Poe. Without further ado, meet Vinnie Hansen.

Gutenborg is hitting the road all summer to help us introduce our Playing Authors contributors. Today, we are heading to Oregon to meet Old Iron Press author, Devon Balwit. We're stoked to be publishing Devon's work this fall. Her most recent collections include Rubbing Shoulders with the Greats (Seven Kitchens Press, 2020), Dog-Walking in the Shadow of Pyongyang (Nixes Mate Books, 2021), and Spirit Spout (Nixes Mate Books, 2023). Get ready for some killer book recommendations...Here's Devon!

This summer, Gutenborg is hitting the road to help us introduce our Playing Authors contributors. First up, we're heading to Vermont to meet Old Iron Press author, Frances Cannon. We're excited to be publishing the work of this writer, artist, and educator...and sign us up for any Frances Cannon-hosted party. (Negronis and Scrabble with this bunch...yes, please!) Frances Cannon is the author of Walter Benjamin: Reimagined (MIT Press), The Highs and Lows of Shapeshift Ma and Big-Little Frank (Gold Wake Press), Tropicalia (Vagabond Press), Sagittaria (Bottlecap Press), Predator/Play (Ethel Press), Uranian Fruit (Honeybee Press), and Image Burn, a limited edition art book.

This month, we are honored to have an interview with Jane Henegar, the executive director of the ACLU in Indiana. In this role, Jane leads the state ACLU affiliate in its work to defend individual rights and enhance and preserve liberties that are guaranteed by the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions and civil rights laws.

This month we have a Q&A with an Indy original, Tim Harmon. A poet, artist, community organizer, publisher, and expert in architectural salvage, Tim Harmon is an Indianapolis Renaissance man. At age 70, he and his partners at Tim & Company’s Another Fine Mess are “still taking buildings apart by hand all over Indiana and selling the pieces.”

This month we have a Q&A with Sarah Layden. Her textbook, The Invisible Art of Literary Editing, co-authored with Bryan Furuness, came out this month from Bloomsbury Academic, and her short story collection, Imagine Your Life Like This, comes out in April from University of Wisconsin Press.

This month we have a Q&A with Angela Dubinger and Sam Knepprath of Newland Books. Angela and Sam have created something special with Newland Books. There is such a level of consideration and care in their work. That thoughtfulness and attention to detail is present in everything from the titles they choose, to the images they post, and in how they deliver their books.

This month we have a Q&A with singer/songwriter/author/artist, Amy Lashley. Amy has released three solo albums and published a children’s book, in which she illustrated her song, “Bedtime At Mackensie’s Farm.” She is currently focused on mixed media-painting–often small scale, "light-hearted celebrations of working folks, farms, and their animals."

I’m writing this missive while moving into OIP’s *almost completed* office. !!!!! It’s been a slow process that’s been a long time coming–which is kind of the theme of this post. Let’s be honest, it’s one of the themes for OIP. So, how do we enjoy the process more?

Hello, Friends! I don’t know about you, but I’m planning a late game reboot. Rest, repair, and fun are the must haves on this holiday wish list. And, lots of reading. To get started, we have a lovely book to add to your holiday stack, and a Q&A with one of its authors, Lorraine Tosiello.

Hope this finds you well. HTFYW. The greeting of our current age. Today, we have a very special Q&A with OIP Consulting Editor, Alex Mattingly. Get ready for the good stuff with the one and only, A. Mattingly!

In this edition of OIP news, we’re sipping cold drinks, crunching pellet ice, and resting between reality, folks. It’s Q&A time with our wonderful Production Designer, the immensely talented Drake Preston.

On May 1, we opened submissions for Playing Authors and officially launched Old Iron Press. Woot! We’ve been so excited to see submissions come in, and wanted to take a few minutes to answer some questions and share our brief manifesto. Come on, you knew OIP would have a manifesto!

We are a new female-led independent press based in Indianapolis, IN. At OIP, we champion irreverent underdogs, the handbuilt, and the hybrid. We love disobedient forms and books that risk something, are stylistically surprising, and embrace a philosophy of in-between.