Mission Statement
The leaves of ginkgo trees that line the streets of Washington, DC turn a bright yellow in the autumn, then fall in one brilliant rush overnight. Like these trees, Night Gingko Press curates vibrant works before dropping them in the hands of the reader. We collect essential writing from the DMV literary scene with attention to storytelling, craft, and honesty. We are a movement.
Our first of many book projects is Beltway: An Anthology of Writers from the Washington, DC Metro Area, will collect works from writers within about a 30 mile radius of Washington, DC in order to expand our literary scene and acknowledge the great work coming out of this area.
Where?
The Outer Beltway was first conceived in the 1950s and it was an active proposal until about 1980. Much of it would have been at about twice the radius of the Capital Beltway, although it would have passed just south of Rockville. It would have formed a complete circumferential freeway around Washington, D.C.
The geographical scope of Beltway: An Anthology, includes those who currently live within roughly a 30 mile radius of the heart of Washington, DC. As DC residents, we understand that the vibrant literary culture of this region depends quite a bit on those who chose not to live or work in the city. While we want to keep this anthology of writers specific to the emergent scene we see developing here, we don’t want to leave anyone out. We are all making this happen and we’re glad to be a part of this expanding community.
Why?
We’re a literary press rooted in Washington, DC, committed to publishing original and beautiful books that celebrate language at its finest—every line earned, every voice distinct. Born out of a belief that big publishing often overlooks the most vital work, we champion writing that’s experimental, fearless, or simply too original to fit the mold. Each book we publish is a force of its own—driven by a love for language and guided by an unwavering commitment to the writers behind the work.
How?
We are deeply grateful to the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities for providing grant funding to support the creation of Night Ginkgo.
