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.
SUBMISSION SCHEDULE FOR 2025
March 14-16: Novels
July 11-13: Single-narrative nonfiction books
October 17-19: Second novels
What to know
Writers without agent representation may send to our open submission calls. Please refer to the schedule above.
For all our open calls, Hub City Press is eager to engage with work by writers from historically underrepresented communities, including—but not limited to—those who are Black; Indigenous; Latino, Asian, and Arab American; from immigrant backgrounds; disabled; neurodivergent; trans and LGBTQ+; debuting after 40; and without an MFA.
Please review our guidelines before submitting. We ask that writers provide their full manuscript and a brief query letter. Because of the small size of our staff and the volume of queries we receive, you might not hear back from us directly. Timeline for query response is usually within six months of the close of the submission period.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with our catalog before submitting. We cannot accept unagented queries via email, calls, or snail mail. Please do not call regarding submissions or submission status. Voicemails will not be returned.
Dos and don'ts
In your query, please tell us all standard info about your manuscript (title, word count, genre specifics) and a brief synopsis. If you have specific expertise on your subject, please let us know. If you are simultaneously submitting to other presses or querying agents, indicate this in your letter.
Please do not submit more than one manuscript. Please do not submit books that have already been self-published. Manuscripts that do not comply with the submission period guidelines will be removed unread.
What to expect from us once you have submitted
Due to the size of our staff and the volume of queries we receive, you might not hear back from us directly. 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
Description: We are looking for a new part-time general bookseller to join our staff. This position will be 8-10 hours per week, all in-store, with the opportunity for more during the holiday season and busy seasons. This position reports to the bookshop manager and involves general customer service as well as opening or closing the store. This job will entail weekend and evening work. This position will require Saturday hours year-round. Shifts will fall between 3pm-7pm on weekdays, with a Saturday shift every other weekend. Willingness to work some Sundays seasonally. 10-15 hours per pay period. Expect to work some holidays (except Thanksgiving & Christmas) and major shopping days (i.e. Independent Bookstore Day, Black Friday).
Duties:
- Greet customers and provide customer service to store patrons, including placing special orders
- Fulfill online and phone orders for pickup and shipping, as well as in-store pickup orders
- Perform store cleaning procedures
- Have an understanding of Booklog functions including register function, special orders, inventory search, and selling/redeeming gift cards
- Perform tasks as assigned, including shelving books, checking inventory, etc. Process incoming and outgoing shipments, including new merchandise, returns and damages. Alphabetize and organize sections and conduct inventory as directed
- Help to curate the selection of items sold in the store
- Open / close the store, including general store clean-up, and cash register management. Light pet care of bookstore cat, Zora, required
- Attend off-site events to sell books and assist with other Hub City Writers Project programming
Qualifications:
- 18 years of age and legally authorized to work in the US.
- Ability to stay calm under pressure and in difficult scenarios, including interacting with a wide variety of individuals that may come through our door.
- Strong attention to detail and communication skills
- Physical demands include: Ability to stand for long periods, lift up to 30 lbs., stand on stepladders.
- Computer proficiency (Windows), including Microsoft Office.
- Passion for reading and books
Benefits:
- Competitive hourly pay rate
- 30% employee discount on all items
- Access to dollar-for-dollar matching SIMPLE 401K savings plan and financial advisors
The Hub City Writers Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.