About Us

In 2002, poet Henry Israeli wanted to provide an edgy alternative to traditional public narratives around poetry and visual art. Poets were pushing the boundaries of style and form, but they needed a publisher who was willing to balance the personal and political with the innovative and experimental. 

Thus, Saturnalia Books was born.

Our mission is to publish poetry of high merit, by new and established writers and to encourage the publication of literature of a non-commercial and challenging nature.

Since the beginning, Saturnalia Books has been an important independent voice in the poetry world, typically publishing five books a year.

Through our annual contest, we discover new and mid-career authors from a diversity of perspectives and welcome them into the Saturnalia Books family. We do not accept unsolicited submissions and do not review submissions outside of our annual contest. 

Saturnalia Books is a nonprofit 501(c)(3).