Walking through The Hound Books, you'll notice something different about our new releases table. Half of everything we stock comes from independent publishers most readers have never heard of. That's not an accident.
While corporate publishing houses chase bestseller lists and celebrity memoirs, small presses are doing the real work: publishing translated literature that changes how you see the world, amplifying voices that may get lost if not published, and taking risks on experimental work that pushes boundaries.
Giving our Publishers some Love
Take The Feminist Press, one of our favorites. Since 1970, they've been rescuing underrepresented writers from obscurity and publishing contemporary voices that challenge everything. When you buy a Feminist Press book, you're not just getting a great read—you're supporting a mission.
Or consider Tilted Axis, who specializes in contemporary Asian literature in translation. Their books don't just tell stories; they transport you to places and perspectives you never knew existed. These are the publishers introducing Western readers to the next generation of essential voices.
Here's what we love about independent publishers: they publish books because they believe in them, not because market research says they'll sell. They take chances. They champion difficult, important work. They pay attention to beautiful design and quality production.
So next time you're browsing, look for those small press spines. Night Boat Books. June Road Press. Coffee House Press. These aren't just publishers—they're literary rebels, and their books will change how you think about what literature can be.
Currently reading: "I'm With Pulp. Are You?" by Mark Webber (Hat & Beard Press)—having been obsessed with the band since 1994 and just seen them in Forest Hills, NY, we're enjoying this collection of ephemera. The lavishly illustrated pages combine images with Webber’s reminiscences to chronicle a history of the band told from the inside. It includes photographs, flyers, record covers, set lists, stickers, posters, press clippings, merchandise, and masses of promotional material. I'm With Pulp, Are You? also features a foreword by Jarvis Cocker, and newly commissioned essays by music writers Simon Reynolds and Luke Turner.
