The solstice has passed, marking the arrival of an impressive small press publishing season. The highlighted titles showcase various imaginative fiction and emotionally resonant non-fiction. Authors distinguish themselves through inventive plots in fiction and profound emotional authenticity in non-fiction.

Despite varying narrative approaches, writers are committed to storytelling excellence and meticulous craft. The common thread among these remarkable authors is their dedication to delivering engaging and well-crafted narratives that captivate readers with imaginative plots or sincere emotional exploration.

Here are seven Small Press books you should dive into. 

Upcountry by Chin-Sun Lee

In a Catskills town, a middle-class couple clashes with a cash-strapped single mother over a property deal. The narrative unfolds with intricate relationships, dramatic marriages, and a young member of a religious community caught in the middle, exploring social class disparities and the impact of choices on intertwined lives. 

Other Minds and Other Stories by Bennett Sims

In "Other Minds and Other Stories," Bennett Sims crafts twelve cerebral and eerie tales, exploring human relationships' complexities and everyday horrors' haunting nature. From a phone loan triggering a series of unsettling Unknown calls to the paradoxes of overthinking, Sims' stories showcase his trademark virtuosity, innovation, and wit, pushing the boundaries of contemporary fiction. 

Barely Half in an Awkward Line by Jay Halsey

"Barely Half in an Awkward Line" combines evocative photographs of desolate landscapes, masked subjects, and abandoned homes with poignant writing on poverty, chemical abuse, homelessness, violence, and the struggles of finding humanity in an inhumane society, creating a genre-resistant, multimedia exploration of habitual traumas.

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All Things Edible, Random & Odd: Essays on Grief, Love & Food by Sheila Squillante

"All Things Edible, Random and Odd" is a collection of poignant and humorous personal essays by Sheila Squillante. It paints a portrait not only of her father's death but of the daughter's ongoing life. Through heartfelt stories, Squillante explores grief, nostalgia, and the intricate connections between family, food, and identity, offering a menu of memories and recipes that celebrate life's complexities and delights.

Nonfiction by Julie Myerson

Julie Myerson examines the nuanced relationships between a mother and her daughter in "Nonfiction." The novel explores the daughter's battles with addiction and self-destruction in great detail, as the mother writer herself writes her way out of her difficult past and the tense bond she always shared with her own mother. The narrative's shifting between the past and present provides this intense and eerie look at motherhood, trauma, recovery, and the blurred lines between fact and fiction. 

The Dirt in Our Skin by J. J. Anselmi

"The Dirt in Our Skin" follows Ryan and Jason's transformative journey into freestyle BMX. Using trail riding to escape from turbulent home lives, the boys navigate the East Coast BMX scene, facing challenges related to family, sexuality, and their deepening connection. The novel explores the intricacies of adolescence and the unique lifestyle of BMX culture, blurring the lines between friendship and love, humor and abuse, and art and sport.

The Last Bird of Paradise by Clifford Garstang

"The Last Birds of Paradise" is a story about how Aislinn Givens fled to Southeast Asia after 9/11, leaving her law practice in New York and joining her husband. The novel occurs in Singapore, where they face colonialism, power disparities, and terror. The character of Aislinn interweaves directly with Elizabeth Pennington, an English artist in the First World War, and this is a romantic story full of danger amidst breathtaking tropical scenery. Clifford Garstang examines geopolitical repercussions by masterfully mixing historical and contemporary drama.

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