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Rotating GIF of different spreads from inside of the book, Playing Authors: An Anthology.

About the Book

Who gets to tell stories, how are they told, and just what does it mean to play author? Inspired by the vintage game of Authors, this collection of 19 works written by 18 authors surrenders the rules and plays in surprising ways with the question of authorship. If you love literary mashups, personal essays, alternative history, and other disobedient forms, Playing Authors: An Anthology belongs on your shelves.

The Authors

A question mark set in a funky typeface.
Flor Aguilera
Girls at Play:
3 Voices Echoing
from 3 Points of North America
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Devon Balwit
Notes on Mann’s
Tonio Kröger

Nassau County: “Where Everyone’s a Winner”
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Joyce Brinkman
Girls at Play:
3 Voices Echoing
from 3 Points of North America
A question mark set in a funky typeface.
Frances Cannon
Author at Work
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Traci Cumbay
That’s How It Is[n’t] on This Bitch of an Earth
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Corey Michael Dalton
Lightning Strikes
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Mary Christine Delea
Marianne Moore Tries To Solve a Dilemma: 
A Haibun Chain

Guide for the Uninitiated

How to Be a Poet
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Daphne Fauber
Writing by Committee
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Tova Greene
academic discourse (or, a poet in the after hours)

i mourn you, darling, as shakespeare did (by giving sorrow words)
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Amy Halloran
The Author of Nature
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Vinnie Hansen
Killing Poe
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Chris Huntington
from My Best Acquaintances
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Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda
Girls at Play:
3 Voices Echoing
from 3 Points of North America
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Hank Krutulis
Writing by Committee
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Jay lesandrini
Going to Church
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Robyn Ryle
Hemingway Goes on Book Tour
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Barbara Shoup
Author, Author
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Elle Cee Wallace
Cinderella

Read

No game of Authors is complete without the reader taking their turn. Are you ready to play? Order your copy today and join in the fun.

Host

Want to host an event with our authors at your bookstore, book club, or library? We can help! Get in touch to get started.

Share

If you’re a book reviewer, journalist, or blogger and would like to write about the anthology or interview our authors, reach out below!

Faqs

Where will my order ship from?

Indianapolis, Indiana.

How long will it take to receive my copy?

On October 30, we will begin shipping Playing Authors: An Anthology using USPS Media Mail®. Media Mail ships in 2-8 business days. Our other projects, which are printed on demand, are shipped accordingly. To learn more about our policies, please visit Customer Care. At certain times of the year, particularly around holidays, we will update any changes in our shipment schedule to our website and Instagram.

Why do you print in limited quantities?

Our goal is to create objects that champion our community and mission, using a blend of limited run and print-on-demand options. It's important to us to attempt this process thoughtfully, weighing the costs of each project while being mindful of the opportunities offered by limited run and on-demand manufacturing. To that end, we're taking it one step at a time. Along the way, we'll let you know where every object comes from and our reasoning behind the particularities of its manufacture.

We hope that by using print-on-demand and limited-run manufacturing, we can create objects that deserve their place in your life.

Who printed Playing Authors: An Anthology?

Playing Authors: An Anthology was printed by our partners, Bookmobile, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

If I’m one of the first twenty-five orders, what will I receive?

If you are one of the first twenty-five orders, in addition to Playing Authors: An Anthology, you will receive a custom Old Iron Press playing card and a special embroidered patch created with our partners, United State Print Co. (one patch/card per order).

How will I know if I’m one of the first twenty-five orders?

We will personally notify you if you’ve placed one of the first twenty-five orders to let you know you’ll be receiving some extra goodies. We will also post updates on social media once the first twenty-five orders have been placed.

I can’t afford a book right now, but would love to read what you publish. Are there other ways that I can engage?

Make sure to follow us on Instagram and sign up for our seasonal newsletter, , where we host giveaways and further opportunities to get involved with Old Iron Press.

How can I help?

Thank you so much for asking! Unlike major book publishers, we don't have a budget for promotions. All of our efforts rely on community support and DIY verve. Supporting our authors, keeping our books affordable, and offering giveaways and free content is part of our ethos of care and inclusion, but all of that takes time and resources. Getting the word out, telling folks about OIP and our authors is such a help. Thank you! Subscribing to our newsletter, , and following us on Instagram also helps as well. We are always open to ideas. Send us your suggestions! We love help.

Still have questions?