LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 19, 2026) — The University Press of Kentucky is now accepting submissions for Screen Door Press, an imprint created in partnership with the Thomas D. Clark Foundation. Submissions will be accepted through April 20. Each manuscript selected will receive a $5,000 advance and a publishing contract.
Curated and edited by award‑winning author, Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame inductee and former Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson, Ph.D., Screen Door Press seeks exceptional, distinctive and wide‑ranging voices rooted in Black literary traditions. The imprint showcases outstanding fiction, including short stories, novellas and novels, across a broad spectrum of genres and styles. Its mission is to publish thought‑provoking books featuring compelling characters, resonant narratives and beautifully crafted language that reflects the diverse experiences of the Black diaspora.
Wilkinson’s own awards include an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Poetry, the O. Henry Prize, USA Artists Fellowship and an Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence. She currently teaches creative writing in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, where she is a Bush-Holbrook Endowed Professor. She is also co-editor of the University Press of Kentucky series “Appalachian Futures: Black, Native, and Queer Voices.”
Each year, submissions are chosen for publication. Writers must submit a full manuscript, cover letter, author biography or resume/CV, and complete contact information. Selected projects will move through the University Press of Kentucky’s full publication process, including peer review, editorial board approval, copyediting, production and marketing. Submissions from writers of all backgrounds are welcome.
The imprint’s first titles, “Belonging to the Air: A Novel” by Avery Irons and “But Where’s Home?: A Novella and Stories” by Toni Ann Johnson were released in Spring 2026 to critical acclaim.