Hub City Press, the publishing arm of the Hub City Writers Project, publishes books of literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, regional nonfiction, nature, and art. We are seeking new and extraordinary voices from the American South who have written well-crafted, high-quality works. We are committed to spotlighting lesser-heard Southern voices including: people of color, members of LGBTQ and gender diverse communities, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, as well as ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. Hub City is a small press, publishing eight to ten titles per year. In general, our publication schedule operates at least 12-18 months in advance of release.
Hub City publishes writers living in or from the South. What's the South? A complicated issue, to say the least, but the short answer for our purposes: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
HOW TO SUBMIT:
We accept books in the following categories.
Rolling Agent Submissions:
Literary agents may email directly to submit queries at any time.
Open Submission Periods:
Hub City Press opens for unagented manuscript submissions in March, June, September, and December. Sign up for our newsletter to be alerted to upcoming submission periods. Due to the size of our staff and the volume of queries we receive, we are unable to respond to every query.
South Carolina Novel Series:
This juried series opens biennially from November-February and is open to all novelists who are residents of the state of South Carolina. Writers are awarded $1,500 and book publication. Co-sponsored by the South Carolina Arts Commission, the South Carolina State Library and South Carolina Humanities.
C. Michael Curtis Short Story Book Prize:
This prize is judged by a chosen short story author and opens biennially from September-December. The Curtis Prize includes $5,000 and book publication, and is open to emerging writers in the above Southern states. Submitters must currently reside in the South and must have no more than one previously published book.
New Southern Voices Poetry Book Prize:
This prize is judged by a chosen poetry author and opens biennially from January-April. The New Southern Voices Prize includes an advance of $1000 and publication, and is open to emerging writers in the above Southern states. The prize may be awarded for a first or second book of poetry.
Hub City Press BIPOC Poetry Series:
One finalist will be selected by an Editor-at-Large, for the BIPOC Poetry series, which opens from March-April. The series advance award is $3000.
What to expect from us once you have submitted:
Due to the size of our staff and the volume of queries we receive, we are unable to respond to every query. We will be in touch with you if we have interest in your work. If you have not heard back within six months of your query or your manuscript submission if we have asked for it, assume your manuscript was not a good fit for us.
All open submission opportunities are below.
The Hub City Writers Project seeks a Bookshop Manager for its award-winning Hub City Bookshop. This is a wonderful opportunity to play a central role in the operations of this downtown community nonprofit bookstore, which has twice been named one of the “South’s Best Bookstores” by Southern Living magazine and was named Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance “Bookstore of the Year” in 2019.
The Hub City Writers Project is a dynamic literary arts organization whose mission is to “Cultivate readers and nurture writers.” In addition to the bookshop, the organization boasts an award-winning independent press, conducts educational programming for writers, and community outreach to readers. The Bookshop Manager supports this mission under the direction of the Executive Director.
PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Oversees all facets of store operations including selecting, merchandising, and managing inventory, creating staff schedules to ensure coverage, hosting events, and maintaining social media presence
- Acts as primary book buyer for the Bookshop, which includes frontlist, backlist, and stationery ordering
- Assists in interviewing, hiring, training, and evaluating bookshop staff
- Sets daily staff priorities and ensures that sales and productivity goals are met
- Oversees Events: including managing Events Coordinator, event book ordering/returning, and marketing and planning of Bookshop, off-site, and partner events
- Plans and manages maintenance of bookstore accounting records and processes as well as a familiarity with POS systems, preferably Booklog, and Quickbooks
- Helps plan special events like Independent Bookstore Day and fundraisers like Delicious Reads
- Creates and maintains partnerships with organizations for community events and outreach
- Develops relationships to grow corporate, institutional, and other bulk sales
- Encourages ideas, participation, and a culture of openness in the bookshop
- We have a shop cat (Zora) so ability and willingness to care for a cat required
DESIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in retail management, independent bookstore, and/or publishing is required
- Ability to work independently or as part of a team with interpersonal and customer service skills that display a positive attitude and cultural sensitivity
- Familiarity with basic accounting principles and a high level of organization, including time management skills and the ability to manage calendars and prioritize time-sensitive tasks
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and social media
- Ability to empathize, have difficult conversations, and maintain a level-headed response to stress
- Knowledge of Local First issues and ability to talk about and advocate for independent bookstores
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite
- Familiarity with Slack, Dropbox, social media platforms, and other office and productivity tools
- Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle
BENEFITS
- 12 days of vacation and 5 days of sick leave per year
- Annual non-taxable $3,600 healthcare stipend
- Access to a SIMPLE 401(k) savings plan with dollar-for-dollar matching
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. These include remaining in a stationary position for an extended period of time, moving about the office to access files and office equipment, operating a computer and other office equipment, and moving boxes weighing up to 25 pounds for shipping and off-site events.
Hiring range: $40,000 to $42,000 commensurate with experience and according to Hub City’s staff salary schedule.
This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) in Spartanburg, SC. The expected workday will be 9 am to 5 pm. Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to attend occasional events scheduled on evenings, weekends, and some holidays. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, or disabled.
TO APPLY: Submit cover letter and resume via Submittable. Applications will be accepted and interviews conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Expected start date in January 2025. No phone calls, please. In your cover letter, please address:
- Why you are interested in working for Hub City Writers Project and in this job in particular
- What about your experience makes you an ideal candidate for this position?
- This job requires a candidate who is comfortable both directing their own work and collaborating closely with a team on org projects. Explain how your experience makes you suitable for both styles of work.