Waywiser Books

a nonprofit, trend-defying
poetry press

2025 donations info deck

History & GROWTH

Established in 2001. Reimagined in 2025.

Since 2001, the Waywiser Press - founded in England by Phillip Hoy, who then joined forces with Joseph Harrison to launch the annual Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize - has been publishing striking and intelligent books, with a reputation for identifying overlooked masterpieces and championing poetry that is simultaneously innovative and formally adept. With his retirement at the end of 2025, Hoy is handing the press’ mission and the Hecht Prize catalogue over to Waywiser Books, a nonprofit successor in the United States.

The Waywiser Books editorial team intends to sustain and strengthen Waywiser’s legacy by continuing to promote both emerging and established writers, to publish memorable books in elegant physical form, and to facilitate the Hecht prize, now in its 21st year.

Waywiser titles include…

COLLECTIONS

by Richard Wilbur, B.H. Fairchild, and Mark Strand.
DEBUTS

from Deborah Warren, Clive Watkins, and Joseph Harrison.
PULITZER PRIZE-NOMINATED

Sleep of Reason by Morri Creech

Waywiser Books exists entirely thanks to donations.

In 2023-2024, our editors, board members and a few champions gave a total of $7k to commence the metamorphasis of the press. 2025-2026 is a critical period as a newly-established 501(c)3 carrying the legacy and catalogue of Waywiser Press into the future. To succeed in this transition, the press is entirely dependent on financial contributions from donors who understand the value of independent presses and want to support the unique mission of Waywiser.

Independent poetry presses are vital for the health of contemporary literature, and there aren’t enough of them.

This is a chance to help.

What We’re Asking for

An anonymous donor has already contributed $20,000 to this project - more than half of what we need to complete the transition from Waywiser Press to Waywiser Books and cover operating costs for the first year. Any donation is welcome (of course!) and amounts like these will help us to make meaningful strides toward our goal.

Ways to give

Donate online

Waywiser Books is a Kansas-based 501(c)3 that is fiscally sponsored by the Allied Arts Foundation. AAF is a 501(c)3 and all donations made to us via our fiscal sponsor and tax deductible.

DONATE