I’ve always been fascinated by the work manga artists achieve in a week alone. Imaging having to create a whole new story every seven days?

In sci-fi, it can be easy to get caught up in the new jargon or futuristic technology without noticing the fact that a character, who previously had an important role in a scene, has seemingly disappeared out of nowhere while the action continued without them. It is important to be mindful of every element within an active scene and how it connects to everything else. Where did that character go?

While the increase in print book sales is encouraging, it doesn’t necessarily correlate to less time spent on our phones. However, I’m encouraged by the fact that online platforms, while still…

On the marketing and publicity side, book subscriptions can increase book sales as well as visibility. Readers get to discover books and genres they normally wouldn’t pick up at the bookstore. In return, authors, especially new and up-and-coming authors, are able to get their books into the hands of their target audience.

A lot of kids love comics, even the ones who don't think of themselves as readers. I've seen students absolutely inhale beat-up library copies of Bone, Smile, or Dragonball Z in their free time while they simultaneously struggled to even comprehend the texts I assigned in class, let alone be interested in or enjoy them. Stories told in visuals, with minimal written language, pull in readers who otherwise have a hard time reading.

Reading the classics seems like a great idea until you hit a passage that is particularly hard to decipher. Many classics are published using old translations, meaning that the writing can feel unfamiliar and almost foreign. Now, imagine that, like me, you’re dyslexic, or have a learning disability that makes reading more challenging.

Just how accurate would it be to claim that there are now more publishing opportunities for people of color and other marginalized persons if only one side of the coin is polished? The publishing industry doesn’t just need to diversify its writers, but the people who help and support those writers too.

With the rise of the internet and social media, combined with the ever-shifting digital landscape, it can be hard to sit down in the peace and quiet and actually get some reading done. Often, it feels like a chore to read, especially with the allure of content platforms like Instagram or TikTok singing a siren song, begging to steal you away from your books. But in recent years, an alternative way to read has come into the forefront of the public eye: audiobooks.

If you have ADHD, you’ve heard it before. Just use a timer. Make detailed lists. Try this app. As if the problem is not knowing these tools exist, rather than how to adapt them for ADHD. Building a sustainable editing practice isn't about finding the right system. It’s about building one around how your brain actually works.

These days, the printed word faces a six-headed hydra. Artificial intelligence subsists off of human ingenuity and threatens education, entertainment, and the publishing sector.

Most readers don’t have a favorite imprint—most probably couldn’t even name more than a handful. But it’s possible you could have a favorite—or a few favorites—without even realizing it.

“Last year, my voracious appetite was awakened as I realized what kinds of characters and storylines I was craving, and it was not sated—not by a long shot—as there are not nearly the number of romances featuring transmasculine protagonists as my heart strains to read. The market has yet to catch up, and I am excited to see it do so, but in the meantime, here are some of my favorite queer reads of last year and four trends in book cover design I have noticed across them in my quest to read as many queer romances as I can find.”

Are you a fan of manga? Are you someone who would rather scroll through Webtoon than your Instagram feed? Are you a webcomic creator with a dream to publish? You’re in luck because in recent years, there’s been a growth of imprints tailored towards manga, manhwas, manhua, webcomics, graphic novels, and light novels.

Historically, bookstore communities have risen spectacularly to the occasion in times of crisis, and they continue to do so. This is especially true in bookstores that focus on specific minority identities, such as the Black and queer communities. These communities have faced, and continue to confront, threats from a prejudiced world that targets them.

At the end of the day, it can be intimidating to use what little energy you have left to get out of your comfort zone and connect with a wider community. Many indie bookstores have taken on the burden of organizing events and services that address a wide range of patron needs—everything from social engagement to meaningful activism.

At the end of the day, it can be intimidating to use what little energy you have left to get out of your comfort zone and connect with a wider community. Many indie bookstores have taken on the burden of organizing events and services that address a wide range of patron needs—everything from social engagement to meaningful activism.

What defines a story as “young adult”: the protagonist’s age, the reading level, the story’s contents, the specific themes, or the intended audience? More concerning, how might the presence of a marginalized identity (e.g., BIPOC, feminine, LGBTQ+, disabled) color one’s perception of what is considered—and acceptable—“YA” fiction?

I’ve had the opportunity to work on the back cover copy for several fiction and nonfiction Ooligan titles. There are principles that will be true on any back cover regardless of genre, but the conventions of fiction and nonfiction will necessarily diverge at points.

Portland has long been considered a literary city and bustling hub for writers and readers alike. As a city, state, and region of the United States, we have a long and diverse history that needs to be told by the people that helped build it.

Interactive fiction is a nebulous term. After all, isn't all fiction interactive? "Interactive fiction" specifically refers to text-based games where you get to choose what path the narrative takes.

At Ooligan Press, we have two main stages in the publishing process that involve creating interior layouts for print books (not EPUBs): the galley and the final book interior. For our title Cekpa (launched in November of 2025), I had the opportunity to design both versions of the interior, and they were different processes. I wanted to take a moment to demystify what goes into each.

Now that the initial work of developmental edits, cover design, and putting together the book’s marketing plan has been completed, the book is moving on to the next steps in the process: contact lists, blurb requests, and review requests. While this may sound tedious, these tasks make up much of the backbone of a book’s publicity.