In 2012, Coffee House Press books won the Minnesota Book Award for Poetry, the PEN Center USA Literary Award, and the Believer Book Award, CHP books were also finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award, and the LA Times Book Award; received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly; and were featured in the New York Times, the New Yorker, and on National Public Radio.

These achievements, and so many more, were made possible by our authors’ talent and vision, by our staff’s experience and hard work, and by the generosity of donors like you. These achievements helped put our books into the hands of more students, teachers, and readers than ever before, where they sparked conversations, inspired art-making, and spurred positive social change.

Innovation is part of Coffee House’s identity, and every day we work hard to bring readers new ideas in unique ways. This year, we hosted Biblio Bash, a fresh, fun benefit that connected arts organization around the Twin Cities; we published Read This! Handpicked Favorites from America’s Indie Bookstores, a book that has excited thousands of readers, and has reminded us all about the importance of booksellers; and we even collaborated on a panel about video games and narrative with the Loft Literary Center. We do these things because we aren’t satisfied with our books merely being read: we want them to be used as tools for imagining and creating a different, richer world.

The mission of Coffee House Press is to publish exciting, vital, and enduring authors of our time; to delight and inspire readers; to contribute to the cultural life of our community; and to enrich our literary heritage. By building on the best traditions of publishing and the book arts, we produce books that celebrate imagination, innovation in the craft of writing, and the many authentic voices of the American experience.

Funds raised by Coffee House Press are used for royalty advances to our authors; for costs involved in editing, designing, and printing our titles; for audience development; and for personnel and administrative costs. We also use contributed funds to bring the work of our writers to the attention of reviewers, award panels, booksellers, teachers, and most importantly, to readers everywhere. We hope you will partner with us as we make new voices available to readers, and give them a chance to join the vast choir of contemporary literature.