— OUR STORY
Since its founding in 1976, Boa has published more than 300 books of American poetry, poetry-in-translation, and short fiction. Over that time, the press has published dozens of poets and authors whose books have been awarded or named finalists for more than 100 awards by such organizations as the Academy of American Poets, Poetry Society of America, PEN Center, National Book Critics Circle, The Publishing Triangle, Great Lakes Colleges Association, and the Jewish Book Council. Boa books are also regularly reviewed in national newspapers, magazines, and literary journals. On a regional level, Boa publications have won the Northern California Book Award for Poetry Translation, Minnesota Book Award, Maine Literary Award Winner for Poetry, The Colorado Book Award for Poetry, Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards, the Israel Prize in Literature, and the California Book Award among others.
And we’re just getting started! Below, you will find a timeline of some Boa highlights. However, the press’s real success lies with the countless readers whose lives have been touched by Boa books.
"We publish the books that need to exist."
Joe McElveney: Chair
Kathleen Holcombe: Secretary
Joe Klein: Treasurer
Ralph Black
Jonathan Everitt
Bonnie Garner
Charles Hertrick
Carly Logan
William Waddell
Bernadette Catalana, Esq., New York, NY
Christopher Dahl, Ann Arbor, MI
Gina Dinato
Stuart Dybek, Evanston, IL
Cornelius Eady, New York, NY
Carolyn Forche, Bethesda, MD
Jonathan Galassi, New York, NY
Leonard Goldberg, Harrisburg, PA
Paul LaFerriere, Belmont, MA
Aimee Nezhukumathatil, Oxford, MS
Dorrie Parini, Belmont, MA
David St. John, Venice, CA
Morrie Warshawski, Napa, CA
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Join us for readings, workshops, and conversations with our authors throughout the year.
Poet, translator and SUNY Brockport professor A. Poulin, Jr. (1938-1996) founds Boa. One year later, Boa’s first book, The Fuhrer Bunker: A Cycle of Poems in Progress by Pulitzer Prize winner W. D. Snodgrass, is published to great acclaim.
Yin by Carolyn Kizer wins the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The collection is Boa’s 10th book to be published in its American Poets Continuum Series.
The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University purchases the first batch of Boa Editions publishing archives.
Lucille Clifton wins the National Book Award for her collection Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems 1988-2000, her 5th book published by Boa Editions. To date, Boa has published 10 poetry collections by Lucille Clifton.
The Boa Audiobook Series is established with the release of Kendra DeColo’s I Am Not Trying to Hide My Hungers from the World. More than 20 audiobooks are now available.
PUBLISHING
Interested in publishing, poetry, and bringing books to life? Apply for an internship with Boa Editions, an independent nonprofit press in Rochester, NY. Interns gain hands-on experience across book production, marketing, publicity, and development—working closely with new titles from leading authors.
Internships are in-person (no remote option) and typically run ~15 hours/week across 2–3 days. While unpaid, interns receive complimentary books and valuable industry experience. College credit may be available; local students are encouraged to apply.
Please Note: Applications sent outside of the current application window will not be reviewed.
Craig Morgan Teicher is the author of four books of poems: Welcome to Sonnetville, New Jersey (BOA, 2021), winner of the Paterson Poetry Prize;…
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With this one-time purchase you will receive a box of 5 best-selling titles from Boa with a few goodies from the publisher (broadsides, bookmarks,…
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Subscribe & save on all forthcoming Boa titles within the calendar year! At the start of each season (every 6 months), subscribers will receive…
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Gruesome scenarios take a tender turn; beautiful moments become sources of derision. Winner of the BOA Short Fiction Prize, The Museum of Future Mistakes…
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In these richly textured poems—crafted with taut clarity and consummate skill—Waters confronts the immutable presence of death by reveling in sensual pleasure and spiritual…
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The Complete Writings of Art Smith, the Bird Boy of Fort Wayne, Edited by Michael Martone is a Midwestern mythology that celebrates facts, fiction,…
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In these richly textured poems—crafted with taut clarity and consummate skill—Waters confronts the immutable presence of death by reveling in sensual pleasure and spiritual…
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Winner of the 2026 PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Longlisted for the 2026 Griffin Poetry Prize Written over the span of a decade, GREEN…
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