Indie Press Month 2026 Interviews on EveryLibrary Live!
In March 2026, EveryLibrary Live! marked Indie Press Month with a wide-ranging series of conversations, panels, and live events celebrating independent publishing, creative risk-taking, and the essential role libraries play in supporting a diverse literary ecosystem. Across in-person programs in Brooklyn and national livestream interviews, this series brought together publishers, authors, and industry leaders to explore how independent presses shape culture, challenge power, and expand access to ideas.
All of our Indie Press Month 2026 programs featured on EveryLibrary Live! are available as free, on-demand recordings on EveryLibrary’s Facebook Live and YouTube Live channels. These archived conversations ensure that readers, library advocates, and publishing professionals can engage with the ideas, insights, and stories from this series at any time, extending the reach and impact of Indie Press Month well beyond March.
Live from Brooklyn: Indie Publishing in Community
In partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library and the Independent Publishers Caucus, EveryLibrary hosted two in-person events that highlighted the deep connections between place, publishing, and community.
A Brooklyn Indie Story
Brooklyn has long been a center for independent publishing and literary experimentation. In this conversation, Tim McLoughlin and Johnny Temple of Akashic Books explored how the borough’s neighborhoods, histories, and voices have shaped the evolution of indie publishing.
Drawing on projects like the Brooklyn Noir series and Akashic’s influential catalog, the discussion highlighted how independent presses elevate local storytelling while connecting it to national and global audiences. The program also underscored the ongoing role of libraries in sustaining literary communities and ensuring access to emerging voices.
Recorded March 5 at the Red Hook Interim Library, Brooklyn Public Library
Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/979604384731950
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVaw7YHEeVE
Publishing the Collective: Radix Co-op and Ugly Duckling Presse
We welcome Nicholas Hurd and Dennis Madamba from Radix Co-op Printing & Publishing and Keri Kelly and Milo Wippermann from Ugly Duckling Presse to discuss social justice-oriented, collective publishing models.
Radix is a worker-owned and operated union print shop and publisher based in Brooklyn, blending craftsmanship, community, and creativity. From thought-provoking essays to captivating novels, they publish works that challenge norms and inspire change.
Ugly Duckling Presse is a collectively-run, nonprofit publisher of poetry, translation, experimental prose, performance texts, and books by artists. Through the efforts of a volunteer editorial collective and small part-time staff, UDP has published more than 400 titles to date and produced countless prints and ephemera.
Recorded March 24 at the Dekalb Library, Brooklyn Public Library
Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1715153546315608
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQa5ZsK9udU
EveryLibrary Live! Conversations with Indie Press Leaders
Throughout the month, EveryLibrary Live! hosted a series of virtual conversations with leading voices in independent publishing, focusing on entrepreneurship, creativity, and cultural impact.
Zibby Owens - Building Indie from the Ground Up: Publishing, Community, and Independent Voices
In celebration of Indie Month, this panel features Zibby Owens, founder of Zibby Publishing and Zibby Media, in a lively conversation about what it takes to build a thriving independent publishing ecosystem. From launching a boutique press and owning independent bookstores to hosting one of the most influential book podcasts in the industry, Owens offers a behind-the-scenes look at how indie publishing can amplify diverse voices and foster deep reader engagement.
This discussion explores the intersection of authorship, entrepreneurship, and community-building, highlighting the essential role independent publishers and bookstores play in supporting creativity, access, and literary culture. Smart, energetic, and deeply bookish, the panel celebrates the innovation and resilience at the heart of the indie publishing movement.
Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/100080278273688/videos/1873959173310852
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV-4XUu9-CA
Orna Ross - When in Doubt, Go Creative: Indie Authors and the Power to Publish
Orna Ross, co-founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), led a conversation on the growing influence of self-publishing and hybrid publishing models.
This session focused on how authors are building sustainable careers outside traditional systems, using digital tools, direct distribution, and community networks. It also addressed how libraries can better discover, evaluate, and support independently published works as part of a broader commitment to access and inclusion.
Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/100080278273688/videos/1263701125256300
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt8i6Dh1pYE
Gayatri Patnail - Publishing That Challenges Power: Indie Books That Matter
Gayatri Patnaik, Director of Beacon Press, joined EveryLibrary Live! to explore independent publishing as a force for social change.
Drawing on Beacon’s long history of publishing in areas such as race, history, and social justice, the discussion examined how independent presses shape public discourse and elevate critical perspectives. The session also reinforced the shared role of publishers, bookstores, and libraries in ensuring that challenging and transformative ideas remain accessible to readers.
Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/100080278273688/videos/1267677558089530
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNRv20eO9IM
Keith Riegert - The Future of Indie Publishing: Scale, Data, and Innovation
Keith Riegert, President of The Stable Book Group, brings a unique perspective from leading a portfolio that includes Ulysses Press, She Writes Press, VeloPress, Trafalgar Square Books, and Skybox Press, as well as Stable Distribution.
In this conversation, Riegert discusses how independent publishers can grow sustainably by using data, digital marketing, print-on-demand, and global distribution while preserving the creativity and flexibility that define the indie sector. Drawing on his work in publishing education and emerging technology, this panel offers a forward-looking look at how indies can strengthen backlists, launch frontlists, and compete at scale.
Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=973687425315908
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M1yeLFUVcg
Indie Publishing in Practice: Strategy, Innovation, and Impact
In partnership with the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), this series of interviews, hosted by Lee Wind, focused on the operational, strategic, and mission-driven dimensions of independent publishing.
Joe Biel - Punk Ethics and Community Values Publishing
Joe Biel of Microcosm Publishing shared how a values-driven approach rooted in punk culture has shaped one of the fastest-growing independent publishers in the United States.
A self-taught, autistic publisher who built a multimillion-book business rooted in punk ethics and community values, Biel shares how Microcosm became one of Publishers Weekly’s fastest-growing publishers—and how his platform WorkingLit is reshaping operations for indie presses. From A People’s Guide to Publishing to scaling sustainably, this discussion explores what it takes to build an enduring, values-driven independent press.
Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/100080278273688/videos/2380192635817434
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCE2A3ORVcM
Salem West - Queer Stories, Indie Power: Bywater Books
Salem West, publisher of Bywater Books, spoke about the importance of independent presses in amplifying LGBTQ+ voices.
The conversation focused on publishing as both cultural expression and advocacy, particularly in a time of increased censorship. West discussed how Bywater Books supports authors, builds readership, and contributes to a broader ecosystem of queer storytelling.
Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/100080278273688/videos/1688225819003550
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRirjELuO6Q
Carol Hinz - Indie Press at the Frontlines of Reading Freedom
Carol Hinz of Lerner Publishing Group examined how independent publishers for young readers are advancing diverse storytelling and defending the freedom to read.
Hinz shares how independent publishers champion diverse voices, take creative risks, and bring important stories to young readers, often leading where larger houses cannot. The conversation also highlights the role of libraries, community, and collaboration in defending the freedom to read in a challenging moment.
Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/100080278273688/videos/4330202447246360
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orOJ8m4gw-A
Why Indie Press Month Matters
Indie Press Month is a celebration of independent publishing that recognizes the essential role that smaller, mission-driven publishers play in a healthy literary and civic ecosystem.
Across these programs, a consistent theme emerged: independent presses expand what is possible in publishing. They take risks, elevate new voices, challenge dominant narratives, and create pathways for ideas that might otherwise go unheard.
Libraries are central to this ecosystem. By collecting, curating, and connecting readers to independent works, libraries ensure that the full diversity of publishing remains visible, accessible, and part of the public conversation.
EveryLibrary is proud to support Indie Press Month and to continue working alongside publishers, authors, and advocates to defend the freedom to read and strengthen the culture of books in every community.