About Kelson Books

Kelson Books publishes prose and poetry that respond to the contemporary world with creativity, truthtelling, and fierce kindness. We are interested in nature, politics, personal narrative. We publish voices that sound human, that are well-informed and crafty, and that help us all to be responsive to the paradox, humor, and wild pain and beauty of our shared life on this planet.

We are a small press. We seek projects we strongly believe in and which we can fully support (no author-subsidy publishing). I’m David Oates, writer and also founder and General Editor of Kelson Books (more about me at davidoates.info).

To prospective authors:

We are highly selective: do not send us your manuscript! Look over our books. Buy one or two – make my day! If you see a kinship there, send a one-paragraph query to the appropriate editor at our email ([email protected]). Put the words “Poetry Project Inquiry” or “Nonfiction Project Inquiry” in the subject line. Our Nonfiction Editor Scott Parker will respond to NF queries, and our Poetry Editor John Sibley Williams to poetry queries.

David Oates, General Editor
2033 SE Lincoln
Portland, OR 97214