“The cohesion of these dozens of disparate characters is testament to Chris Erickson’s ability to distill the essence of human quirk into one narrative that makes the heart ache and sing, all at the same time. Henrytown ushers in an exciting new voice in experimental literature."

—Jacinda Townsend, author of Trigger Warning

Calling all book influencers! We are very excited to announce the launch of our inaugural influencer program!

If you’re passionate about reading, reviewing, and sharing your favorite books online, this opportunity is for you. You’ll have the chance to read select titles from Dzanc’s forthcoming catalog before they’re published.

“The novel’s scenes are compact and eventful, and its sentences direct and percussive. The hardboiled depiction of extreme lawlessness invites comparisons to Graham Greene. And like Phil Klay’s outstanding novel “Missionaries” (2020), also about America’s interventions in Colombia’s civil unrest, the realistic story doubles as a kind of allegory of modern war, in which alliances and rationales are fluid, money is primary and violence generates more violence. ‘It was transgression to be alive,’ Orejas thinks in a particularly infernal scene, and there is a sense in this powerful novel that freedom from sin is only truly granted to the dead.” —Wall Street Journal

Another exciting announcement, Alan Grostephan is the winner of the Georgia Author of the Year Award in the novel category for his novel, The Banana Wars! Alan’s novel offers a nuanced look at a violent and fairly recent period of Colombian history and the ongoing consequences of colonization in the country.

Congratulations to Suzi Ehtesham-Zadeh on winning the Georgia Author of the Year Award in the short story category for her collection, Zan! Suzi’s collection is a brilliant short story collection about contemporary Iranian women as they navigate a crucial moment in their nation’s history.

We’re excited and honored to share that Lance Olsen’s novel ABSOLUTE AWAY was selected as the “Big Other” Book Award winner for the fiction category!

Very excited to announce that Emma Smith-Stevens’s novel THE AUSTRALIAN has been awarded the IPPY Silver Medal in the Best Regional Fiction: Asia/Australia/New Zealand-Aotearoa/Pacific Rim category!

The July/August 2025 Issue of Poets & Writers was published today, and we’re thrilled to share that Sarah Yahm was included in their First Fiction 2025 Series!

Dzanc Books is pleased to announce a new imprint in PalmArtPress, an independent press in Berlin.

Ann Marie Vanderveen at The Adriot Journal met with Sarah Yahm to discuss her recently released novel, Unfinished Acts of Wild Creation. Vanderveen asked Yahm to dive deeper into the themes of her book; they covered complex mother/daughter relationships, chronic illness, postpartum depression, grief, and agency.

Very pleased to announce that Lindsey Drager’s latest novel, THE AVIAN HOURGLASS, was named to the longlist for the 2025 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award! Congratulations to Lindsey and her fellow nominees!

"I longed to be friends with every character in these hilarious, charming, honest stories. Whenever I thought I had a story figured out, it suddenly opened into a moment of queer beauty. Crime has never been so sexy and gay." — Marie-Helene Bertino, author of BEAUTYLAND

Thrilled to share some very exciting news to start off pride month: Congratulations to Molly Llewellyn and Kristel Buckley on winning the IPPY Gold Medal in Anthologies for BE GAY, DO CRIME!

“Smith-Stevens' evocation of alienation is often profound and her prose is always beautiful."—Kirkus Review

"A mesmerizing debut... Readers are treated to a captivating and memorable journey." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"THE AUSTRALIAN is an astute, often satirical look at self-actualization and what it means to be a man, partner, father and son. Smith-Stevens writes in a marvelously voyeuristic style.... The nameless man, both hero and no-hoper, is a poignant and pointed reflection of the imperfections that vex us all."—Shelf Awareness

“An extraordinary novel about the inescapability of family patterns—some of which can be reversed, but all of which leave indelible marks—the story holds Louise and Leon’s love for their daughter, and her love for them, at its incandescent center…Devastating and unforgettable, UNFINISHED ACTS OF WILD CREATION is a celebration of unabashed family love.”

–Foreword Reviews, starred review

The Millions most anticipated spring 2025 book preview is here, and we’re honored that Molly Llewellyn and Kristel Buckley’s anthology Be Gay, Do Crime earned a spot among the other tremendous books selected.

“Fragments” is an illustrated excerpt from Unfinished Acts of Wild Creation (Dzanc, May 2025), a tragicomic novel about an eccentric Jewish family with an inherited genetic illness. Author Sarah Yahm sought out illustrator Jenni Belotserkovsky because she thought comics were a particularly effective way of representing intense bodily experiences without being voyeuristic or grotesque.

Michelle Dotter, Dzanc’s Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, was featured in an article by Sophia Sewart for Publishers Weekly called “How Women Keep Reinventing Independent Publishing”. Sophia interviewed Michelle and other women heading independent presses, including Carey Salerno, publisher of Alice James Books; Diane Goettel, executive editor of Black Lawrence Press; and Barbara Epler, president and publisher of New Directions, about why they believe so many small presses are led by women and the advantages and difficulties of working at an independent press.