Unsolicited Press

What Unsolicited Press does

Unsolicited Press is an independent, for-profit publisher founded in 2012 and based in Portland, Oregon, that publishes trade paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook editions of literary fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and hybrid work by emerging and established authors, with an explicit curatorial focus on unsung, underrepresented voices (BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, womxn, fringe genres, and rebellious authors). Its catalog spans 200+ titles and is sold through a Squarespace direct-to-consumer storefront, the Asterism Books distribution channel (designated as the preferred channel for independent, college, and mobile bookshops), and Ingram as a secondary channel, with subscription book boxes, curated bundles, and merchandise generating supplementary revenue. The press is entirely volunteer-run across editorial, marketing, production, sales, PR, social media, and acquisitions, reports FY2025 gross revenue of $116,411 (up roughly 95% YoY from $59,649 in FY2024) and $13,791 net profit, and extends beyond publishing into community programs including the Small Press Publishing Collective, the Small Press Big Mouth Book Club, Literary Nights reading series hosted by Rosalia Scalia, and the December 2025 "Publish Without Burning Out" guide. Customer segments are individual literary readers, independent bookstores, college bookstores, authors/writers, and academic adopters, with no named institutional anchor customers and no venture capital backing.

Name

Unsolicited Press

Legal name

Unsolicited Press

Website

https://unsolicitedpress.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Unsolicited Press is a volunteer-run independent publisher in Portland, Oregon that publishes literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction from underrepresented voices via direct-to-consumer sales, Asterism and Ingram distribution, and subscription book boxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Politics, Current Affairs & Social Commentary Publishing (MPAJAAAM)

Keywords

• Independent book publishing
• Literary fiction publishing
• Poetry collections publishing
• Small press distribution
• Subscription book boxes

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Primary revenue from direct website sales of physical books (paperback, hardcover), ebooks, and audiobooks across fiction, poetry, and nonfiction genres. Direct sales yield higher margins than distribution channels.
2. Book Boxes and Subscriptions: Monthly subscription boxes featuring curated titles, merchandise, and bookish items. Also available as one-time purchase gift boxes.
3. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel (sweatshirts, crop tops), mugs, stickers, and other bookish items.
4. Community Fundraising and Donations: Fundraising campaigns to support publishing operations, including author incentives (free submissions, signed books for donors) and community donations.
5. Wholesale Distribution: Revenue from bookstore and retailer orders through Asterism Books (40% discount) and Ingram distribution channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Unsolicited Press is an independent small-press publisher that commissions, produces, and sells literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction books in trade paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats. Beyond individual titles, the press sells curated multi-title book bundles, monthly subscription book boxes with handpicked reads and merchandise, and branded bookish merchandise including apparel, mugs, and stickers. The press also operates community programs including the Small Press, Big Mouth Book Club and the Small Press Publishing Collective membership, plus the Literary Nights reading series and the Publish Without Burning Out author guide.

Product overview

Unsolicited Press is an independent publisher based in Portland, Oregon, publishing bold, distinctive fiction, poetry, and hybrid work from emerging and established voices. The company operates as a unified catalog of individual book titles (trade paperbacks, hardcovers, ebooks) across genres including literary fiction, poetry collections, memoirs, short story collections, and genre fiction (mystery, horror, speculative). Beyond core publishing, the company offers curated book bundles (Starter Bundle, Stranger Than Fiction Bundle, Discovery Bundle), subscription programs (Small Press Big Mouth Book Club, Book Boxes), merchandise (mugs, apparel, stickers), community programs (Small Press Publishing Collective membership, Literary Nights reading series), and the Publish Without Burning Out author guide. Distribution is handled through Asterism Books and Ingram, with direct sales via the website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Book Titles (Paperback, Hardcover, Ebook, Audiobook) Trade paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook editions of literary fiction, poetry collections, nonfiction, memoirs, short story collections, hybrid works, and genre fiction including mystery, horror, and speculative fiction, sold direct and through distribution to readers, bookstores, libraries, and academic institutions.
• Curated Book Bundles Multi-title curated bundles including The Unsolicited Press Starter Bundle (3 books, $45.00), The Stranger Than Fiction Bundle for surreal/speculative fiction ($50.00), the Frontlist Discovery Bundle ($48.00), and the rotating Cabinet of Curiosities three-book selection under $40, targeted at readers seeking bundled discovery of small-press titles.
• Book Boxes (Subscription and One-Time Gift) Monthly subscription book boxes and one-time gift boxes containing handpicked reads, exclusive Unsolicited Press merchandise, and bookish surprises, sold direct to consumers as a recurring revenue channel and as gifts.
• Branded Bookish Merchandise Branded apparel (sweatshirts, crop tops), mugs ($10.50), vinyl stickers ($6.00), and other bookish merchandise carrying Unsolicited Press slogans and logos, sold direct via the website's merch page to readers and gift buyers.
• Small Press, Big Mouth Book Club Membership Monthly book club subscription featuring bold small-press titles, intimate author salons, and a community of readers celebrating unruliness and brilliance of small-press literature.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Asterism BookscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAsterism Books is a distributor owned and operated by independent presses, built to support direct relationships with bookstores. Unsolicited Press designates Asterism as the preferred ordering channel for brick-and-mortar bookstores, college bookstores, and mobile bookshops. Offers 40% retailer discount with optional prepayment for additional 8% discount and net 30 terms.
• IngramsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIngram serves as secondary distribution channel for retailers who cannot or prefer not to order through Asterism. Available through standard Ingram systems, though Unsolicited Press does not accept returns through Ingram due to fee structures.
• Rosalia ScaliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRosalia Scalia hosts Literary Nights with Unsolicited Press, the twice-monthly reading series. An acclaimed writer, she spotlights bold innovative authors whose work pushes past limits of mainstream publishing. The series creates intimate, unpretentious community-driven literary events.
• The Wildlife Center of the North CoastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnsolicited Press donates profits from CORMORANT poetry collection to The Wildlife Center of the North Coast to support wildlife conservation efforts.
• Nez Perce Wallowa HomelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFifty percent of proceeds from THIRSTY CREEK support the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland, a place-based nonprofit in Wallowa, Oregon supporting indigenous homeland preservation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catapult: Independent publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and essay, with an emphasis on distinctive literary voices and a robust book club and community program. Comparable in catalog mix and reader community focus, though with broader distribution and a magazine arm.
• Akashic Books: Independent Brooklyn-based literary press publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with a strong focus on diverse, urban, and counter-cultural voices. Highly comparable to Unsolicited Press in mission, catalog mix, and indie bookstore distribution model.
• Lanternfish Press: Small independent publisher of literary and genre fiction (including horror, mystery, and speculative), with a curated catalog of distinctive voices. Closely comparable in genre mix and small-press operational profile.
• Black Lawrence Press: Independent press publishing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from emerging and established authors, with a strong focus on literary craft. Similar in catalog mix (poetry-led), small-press scale, and bookstore distribution model.
• Two Dollar Radio: Small independent press publishing bold literary fiction and nonfiction, with a stated mission of resisting corporate publishing homogenization. Very directly comparable in scale, editorial stance, and author roster to Unsolicited Press.
• Bellevue Literary Press: Independent literary press publishing fiction and nonfiction at the intersection of arts and humanities. Similar in scale and editorial selectivity, with comparable hardcover/paperback trade publishing economics.
• Red Hen Press: Independent literary press publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with an explicit focus on diverse voices and literary excellence. Closely matches Unsolicited Press's editorial mission, catalog mix, and small-press operational profile.

Broad incumbents

• Milkweed Editions: Independent nonprofit literary press publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with a stated focus on 'diverse voices and perspectives' and sustainability themes. Overlaps with Unsolicited Press in mission-driven literary publishing, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• Graywolf Press: Established nonprofit literary press publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from both emerging and recognized authors. Larger and better-capitalized than Unsolicited Press, with overlapping editorial focus on literary fiction and poetry, but operating at materially greater scale.

Others

• Asterism Books: Distributor owned and operated by independent presses, serving as Unsolicited Press's preferred channel for indie bookstores. Relevant as the operational partner that defines the press's indie bookstore go-to-market, not a publishing peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@unsolicitedpress9716
• Xx.com/unsolicitedp
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unsolicited-press

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unsolicited Press