Independent Publishing

June 9, 2026

Turns Out It’s Audiobook Month

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Against the Current, Book Publishing, Marketing Insight, Tyler Bieber Against the Current, audiobook month, audiobook production, audiobooks, book news, Independent Publishing, indie publishing, Kickstarter campaign, Libby app, libro.fm, small press life, summer reading, Unencumbered Press

It turns out it’s Audiobook Month—something my inbox has been very eager to tell me. Luckily, the timing lines up with our first audiobook Kickstarter, launching July 5. A little planning, a little birthday magic, and here we are.

Graphic featuring four cover options with centered text that says "VOTE."

May 20, 2026

Vote on the Cover for “Even Then, Even Now” by Jen Kindbom

Unencumbered Press Book Design, EVEN THEN, EVEN NOW, Jen Kindbom, Marketing Insight, Poetry chapbook design vote, contemporary poetry, contemporary poetry chapbook, cover color poll, digital art chapbook, illustrated poetry collection, Independent Publishing, indie publishing, Jen Kindbom poems, poems of persistence, resilience poetry, small press poetry, sneak peek title poem, vote on book cover

Help us choose the cover color for Jen Kindbom’s forthcoming chapbook Even Then, Even Now. Vote for your favorite and receive an exclusive preview of the title poem.

Illustrated graphic featuring an open book surrounded by small figures reading, writing, and interacting with books and lightbulbs. Bold text above the book reads “Publisher’s Picks: 7 Indie Presses You Should Know About,” with “Unencumbered Press” below.

April 15, 2026

Publisher’s Picks: 7 Indie Presses You Should Know About

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Book Publishing, Publisher's Picks abolitionist books, Beacon Press, book lists, book recommendations, creative ecosystems, feminist presses, Haymarket Books, independent bookstore day, Independent Publishing, indie bookshops, indie presses, literary culture, Milkweed Editions, PM Press, publishing industry, radical publishing, small presses, social justice publishing, Tin House, Zando

Independent publishers keep our literary ecosystem alive—taking risks, championing marginalized voices, and shaping the culture. Here are seven presses I love, plus dozens more to explore ahead of Independent Bookstore Day.

April 14, 2026

A New Review of “Against the Current” Asks the Right Questions

Unencumbered Press Against the Current, Biography, Book Publishing, Media Appearances, Nonfiction, Tyler Bieber America Media, biography review, book review, Catholic history, contemporary Catholicism, Independent Publishing, Jason Steidl Jack, LGBTQ Catholic history, LGBTQ ministry, Outreach magazine, queer Catholic scholarship, religious history, Tom Oddo

Jason Steidl Jack’s new review of Against the Current digs deep into Tom Oddo’s legacy and the histories that shaped him.

March 28, 2026

Did you catch Tyler Bieber on OPB’s Think Out Loud?

Unencumbered Press Against the Current, Biography, Media Appearances, Nonfiction, Tyler Bieber author interview, book news, DignityUSA, Father Tom Oddo, Geoff Norcross, Independent Publishing, LGBTQ Catholic history, OPB, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Portland media, queer history, radio interviews, Think Out Loud, Unencumbered Press

Author Tyler Bieber joins Geoff Norcross on OPB’s Think Out Loud to discuss Against the Current and the legacy of Father Tom Oddo. Listen to the full interview and learn more about the story behind the book.

Screenshot of a Washington Blade article titled “Gay priest credited with boosting church support for LGBTQ Catholics,” with an orange banner overlaid reading “Tyler Bieber featured in the Washington Blade,” labeled by Unencumbered Press.

March 26, 2026

Tyler Bieber featured in the Washington Blade

Unencumbered Press Against the Current, Biography, Media Appearances, Nonfiction, Tyler Bieber author news, book promotion, DignityUSA, Father Tom Oddo, Independent Publishing, LGBTQ Catholic history, LGBTQ journalism, queer history, Unencumbered Press, Washington Blade

Author Tyler Bieber is featured in the Washington Blade for his work on Against the Current, bringing renewed attention to Father Tom Oddo’s early advocacy for LGBTQ Catholics and the founding of DignityUSA.