New Nonprofit Publishing Company for Jewish, Israeli, Zionist Writers Welcomes Submissions

Shiryn Ghermezian

A group of people reading. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A new nonprofit press that will focus on publishing adult fiction and nonfiction by Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist writers launched on Wednesday and is now taking submissions.

Canary Publishing welcomes writers who feel their work has been dropped, canceled, rejected, or ignored simply being of its Jewish, Zionist, or Israel-related subject matter since the Hamas-led terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Canary Publishing is the “home for authentic Jewish voices,” and is looking for submissions that “reflect the breadth of Jewish thought and experience,” as stated on its website. “Like the canary in the coal mine, how a society treats its Jews is the warning sign: When our voices go quiet, the air has turned dangerous for everyone. We consider it our duty to fill the world with fiction and nonfiction that reflect the breadth of Jewish thought and creativity. We especially favor work that has been canceled by the mainstream literary world. We can say yes when they say no.”

Canary Publishing editor-in-chief Howard Lovy has worked as an editor in journalism and book publishing for 40 years and has written extensively about Jewish voices in literature being sidelined following the Oct. 7 massacre. During his experiences editing Jewish authors, Lovy said he met writers who have been marginalized but also grassroots Jewish groups — such as book clubs and reader communities — that rallied in response to support those who feel like they’ve been cast aside. Canary Publishing was created to support those writers who need a press, and the community who wants to read their work.

“The mainstream publishing industry has decided that some Jewish stories are too inconvenient to publish,” Lovy said. “We believe now is exactly the time. There is a growing grassroots movement of Jewish readers, writers, and communities that refuses to be silenced — and Canary Publishing is its press.”

Guidelines for submissions are explained on the Canary Publishing website. The publishing company operates as a traditional publisher by offering advances and royalties to writers.