Closed Temporarily
Unfortunately, the Black Mountain Press (located inside the Flood Gallery Fine Art Center) has been destroyed by Hurricane Helene. The Swannanoa river completely consumed it, causing the walls to collapse. While we work to rebuild this wonderful literary resource, you can support our efforts by donating at the link below, and sharing with everyone you know!
About
The Black Mountain Press is located near the community of Black Mountain, once the home of the famous Black Mountain College that produced visionary artists, writers, and musicians such as John Cage, Buckminster Fuller, Merce Cunningham, Anni Albers, Jacob Lawrence and many others.
The Black Mountain Press’ first publications were done in collaboration with other publishers and focused on design and the then new digital technology. Established in 1994, the Black Mountain Press began independent book publishing with a focus on books in the outdoor industry, how-to guides and destinations. The Press has since redirected its efforts toward poetry, creative novels, and short story collections by emerging writers.
As cinema, art and storytelling has plummeted in literary quality to appeal to the lowest common denominator in recent years, the Black Mountain Press strives to find and publish works that aspire to a higher ideal, many times written by unknown, first-time authors, without agents representing them. All too often their works are ignored by the corporate publishers who are more interested in serving up their chain store consumables for a public lost in our mass produced, fast-food induced art world.
The Black Mountain Press is part of the Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, dedicated to promoting the arts in Asheville through the exhibition of established and emerging artists from all over the world. Through artist-residency programs, public events and workshops, and educational activities, Flood Gallery seeks to make art a vital and important part of life in Asheville. Flood Gallery Fine Art Center programming is made possible through the generous support of the Dan Lucas Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.
Submit
Black Mountain Press is a literary press for outstanding emerging writers publishing several different genres of books annually. For the next ten years from 2018 through the end of 2028 our focus will be in collections of poetry, memoir, novels and collections of short stories. Our editors are looking for the highest quality literary fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry that combines a distinct voice and vision.
Submit complete manuscripts, double spaced for Novel, Poetry Books, Creative Non-Fiction, Memoirs, or other creative literary writing. All submissions must be completed manuscripts and at least 64 pages.
Reading Period: We will accept submissions through December 2028.
Submission Procedure: We accept manuscripts through Submittable only. Submit complete manuscripts, double spaced for Novel, Poetry Books, Creative Non-Fiction, Memoirs, or other creative literary writing. All submissions must be completed manuscripts, at least 64 pages, double spaced with a 12pt font, along with a cover letter containing contact information, and relevant biographical information.
We do not accept query letters, sample chapters, or proposals to the editors. We also do not publish stand-alone poems or stories, except in our literary magazines, HerWords & JanusWords. We do not publish romance, science fiction, thrillers, detective fiction, horror stories, westerns, unless written in a unique, literary, never seen before, style. How-to guides will continue to be accepted on a limited basis.
Response Time: We have a small editorial staff, and we respond to submissions within six to ten months. Because of the volume of submissions, we simply cannot take phone calls or respond to emails inquiring about the status of manuscripts. If you haven’t heard from us in six months, please send an e-mail.
Tips: Black Mountain Press is happy to receive unsolicited manuscripts from authors previously published or not. We just ask you to read the guidelines and submit work that fits our needs.
Contact
Feel free to reach out to Carlos Steward at:
Phone – (828) 273-3332
Email – carlos(at)theblackmountainpress.com
Black Mountain Press is currently based in the Flood Gallery Fine Art Center at 850 Blue Ridge Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711.
Writers, musicians, and artists of all kinds are encouraged to attend our weekly open mic every Thursday from 6:30–9PM.