Orison Books is a 501(c)(3) non-profit literary press focused on the life of the spirit from a broad and inclusive range of perspectives. We seek to publish spiritually-engaged poetry, fiction, and nonfiction of exceptional literary merit. In our view, spiritual writing has little to do with subject matter. Rather, the kind of work we seek to publish has a transcendent aesthetic effect on the reader, and reading it can itself be a spiritual experience. Such work is not merely about spiritual contemplation, but itself leads the reader into profound contemplation. It is not merely about the sublime, but itself has a sublime effect on the reader. It is not merely about the mystery of being, but itself heightens the reader’s sense of the mystery underlying the fabric of our daily lives.



We seek to be broad, inclusive, and open to perspectives spanning the spectrums of spiritual and religious thought, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.



Anthology Proposals* are accepted year-round.

*(Note: An anthology is a collection of work by multiple authors, compiled by an editor. Do not submit a single-author manuscript in this category. It will not be considered.)





General Fiction and Nonfiction submissions are open during the month of October only.





We do not consider self-help, how-to, or "inspirational" manuscripts.





We hold three annual contests:



-The Orison Prizes in Poetry & Fiction for book-length manuscripts. Submission period: December 1 - April 1. The 2020 judges will be Katie Ford (poetry) and Samrat Upadhyay (fiction).

-The Orison Chapbook Prize (NEW!) for manuscripts of 20-45 pages, in any genre (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid). Submission period: April 1 - July 1. Judged by Orison Books founder and editor, Luke Hankins.

-The Orison Anthology Awards for single works in 3 genres (poetry, fiction, & nonfiction). Submission period: May 1 - August 1. The 2020 judges are Joy Ladin (poetry), Blair Hurley (fiction), and E. J. Koh (nonfiction).

Orison Books is committed to running ethical and transparent contests. Current or former students of a judge, or anyone with a close personal relationship with that judge, are not eligible to submit in the category in question. Judges also never see author names until after they have made their selections. Furthermore, Orison Books undertakes never to extend contest deadlines, except in the case of technical problems or other events that would prevent submitters from entering the contest by the original deadline.



Orison Books releases all titles in print, and fiction titles in both print and e-book formats. When possible, we offer a small advance against royalties for books accepted for publication through our open submission periods. We offer a cash prize as well as a standard royalties contract for manuscripts selected as contest winners.

Orison Books publishes The Orison Anthology every year, a collection of the finest spiritually engaged writing published in periodicals in the preceding year. Editors of periodicals may submit work for consideration from August 1 - October 1.

To submit, select the appropriate category from our list and follow the guidelines there. (Categories will only appear during their respective submission periods.)