West Virginia University Press

John Warner wrote in the Chicago Tribune, "If you are wondering what the odds are of a university press book winning three major awards, being a finalist for a fourth, and going to a series on a premium network, please know that this is the only example." In 2021, another of WVU Press's works of fiction, Jim Lewis's Ghosts of New York, was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. WVU Press also collaborates on digital publications, notably West Virginia History: An Open Access Reader. In The Chronicle of Higher Education, Rachel Toor described the press as "a new publishing heavyweight." The press has also been described as "a small but intellectually ambitious press that prides itself on placing regional issues in dialogue with global concerns." Writing in the New York Times, Margaret Renkl cited two titles from West Virginia University Press as evidence that "University Presses Are Keeping American Literature Alive." West Virginia University Press is part of the Association of University Presses. Press maintains Booktimist, a blog about books and culture, at https: booktimist.com/.

• Name — West Virginia University Press • Parent — West Virginia University • Country — United States • Headquarters — Morgantown, West Virginia • Distribution — Chicago Distribution Center • Publications — Books, academic journals, digital media • Url — http: www.wvupressonline.com

West Virginia University Press was founded in the mid-1960s by Dean of Libraries Dr. Robert Munn. It focused on publishing bibliographies and histories of the coal industry. In 1999, the press was relocated to within the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences under the direction of Dr. Patrick Conner. In 2008, Carrie Mullen took over leadership of the press as director. In 2014, Derek Krissoff, previously editor in chief at the University of Nebraska Press, began his tenure as director. In a forum on the future of the university press in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Krissoff said "The book is necessary and important—and, while it's hardly a static artifact, it's proved remarkably durable. Books are also expensive, especially in terms of the skilled labor necessary to acquire and market them. But they're worth it." Krissoff resigned in May, 2023. Sarah Munroe became interim director, and resigned in September, 2023.

The press publishes books in fiction and nonfiction, as well as in the following scholarly areas: • African American literature • Appalachian studies • art • digital writing & literature • energy and environment • geography • history • medieval studies • music • natural history • sociology • sports • West Virginia

The press publishes series in the following areas: • Central Appalachian Natural History • Energy and Society • Histories of Capitalism and the Environment • In Place • Radical Natures • Regenerations • Rural Studies • Sounding Appalachia • Teaching and Learning in Higher Education • West Virginia and Appalachia • West Virginia Classics

In January 2016, WVU Press and WVU Libraries launched West Virginia History: An Open Access Reader as a free, online collection of previously published essays drawn from the journal West Virginia History and other WVU Press publications.

West Virginia Press publishes the following peer-reviewed journals in the humanities and education. • Essays in Medieval Studies • Tolkien Studies: An Annual Scholarly Review • Victorian Poetry • West Virginia History: A Journal of Regional Studies