Blair (publisher)


Blair is a literary small press publisher based in Durham, North Carolina, founded in 1976 as Carolina Wren Press by Judy Hogan. The press mainly publishes poetry, but also publishes fiction and nonfiction, biography, autobiography, literary nonfiction by and/or about people of color, women, gay/lesbian issues, health and mental health topics in children's literature.
In 2018, then Carolina Wren Press acquired the name and titles of John F. Blair, which included the works of Charles H. Whedbee, at which time they changed their name to Blair Publishing.
Each year, Blair honors one writer with the Doris Bakwin Award. As a literary small-press publisher, many members of the Board of Directors, as well as many previous judges for various contests, are volunteers from across the country.
WWW blairpub.com𝕏 BlairPublisherFB blairpub

Mission

As a small press, the publisher is different from many mainstream publishers for several reasons. First, it is nonprofit organization whose mission is to publish quality writing by writers historically neglected by mainstream publishing. And second, it seeks to develop diverse and vital audiences not simply through publishing, but also through outreach and educational programs.

History

From Judy Hogan's personal essay:
In 2017, Carolina Wren acquired the trademarks and back catalog of the Winston-Salem–based publishing house John F. Blair, which had been founded in 1954. The publisher began doing business as Blair effective January 1, 2018.

Contests and awards

In odd-numbered years, with a postmark deadline of February 15, the publisher reads full-length poetry collections by emerging authors who haven't had more than one full-length book published.
In even-numbered years, with a postmark deadline of February 15, the publisher reads submissions to the Doris Bakwin Award for Writing by a Woman.

List of contest winners

Doris Bakwin Award
  • 2006: Jeanne M. Leiby, Downriver. Selected by Quinn Dalton.
  • 2008: Phoebe Hoss, All Eyes: A Mother's Struggle to Save Her Schizophrenic Son. Selected by Jeanne Leiby.
  • 2010: Margaret Hermes, Relative Strangers. Selected by Jill McCorkle.
Poetry Series