NEW YORK, May 20, 2024—Today, Atria Books announced the relaunch of Washington Square Press for spring 2025 as a frontlist hardcover imprint focused on publishing literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Under the guidance of Atria’s editorial director Lindsay Sagnette, the current editorial staff of Atria Books will have the opportunity to acquire new titles for the Washington Square Press list. With a goal of publishing four to six books a season, the imprint will continue in its tradition of championing outstanding, timely novels, story collections, literary memoirs, essay collections, and poetry collections.

“We are excited to breathe new life into the storied Washington Square Press imprint, which will now shift its focus from backlist to become an active frontlist publisher,” said Lindsay Sagnette, VP, Editorial Director. “The reinvigorated Washington Square Press will champion exceptional works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry that are essential to the conversations of today. Having a dedicated home for these talented authors is vital as we grow in our mission as a publisher: to publish the best books for every reader.”

Titles on the spring 2025 WSP list include a sharply-observed debut novel by Warona Jay titled, The Grand Scheme of Things, in February 2025; a reissue of bell hooks’s astonishingly iconic and timely treatise on how patriarchy and toxic masculinity hurts us all, The Will to Change, with a new introduction by Ross Gay; There’s No Turning Back by Alba de Céspedes, banned by the Fascist regime when it was first published in 1938 and now translated by Ann Goldstein, in February 2025; acclaimed poet Tiana Clark’s sophomore collection, Scorched Earth, on institutional and historic pains, millennial divorce, and queer, Black joy in March 2025; and Heather McGowan’s highly anticipated new novel, Friends of the Museum, her first since 2007, in April 2025. Forthcoming titles will include works by Saeed Jones, Tareq Baconi, Amber Husain, Katie Prout, Elissa Washuta, and Pria Anand.

Since its founding in 1959, the Washington Square Press (WSP) name has been synonymous with the finest in classic and contemporary writing, and has been a home for important thinkers and authors such as Pearl S. Buck, Toni Cade-Bambara, Carlos Castaneda, Maryse Conde, Pauline Hopkins, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Alice Walker. Going forward, Washington Square Press (WSP) will be a thoughtfully curated list of books devoted to exceptional writing; bold, innovative ideas; and under-published voices.

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About Atria Books: Atria Books (AY · tree · uh) is an imprint of Simon and Schuster. Atria fosters an open environment where ideas flourish, bestselling authors soar to new heights, and tomorrow’s finest voices are discovered and nurtured. Since its launch in 2002, Atria has published hundreds of bestsellers including commercial and literary fiction, mysteries and thrillers, narrative nonfiction, politics and popular culture, science, personal development, and spirituality. Atria is a place where great books come to light. For more information, visit our website at https://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/atria

About Simon & Schuster: Simon & Schuster, a global leader in general interest publishing, is dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world’s most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Adams Media, Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio and international companies in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com

CONTACT:
Lisa Sciambra
Vice President, Director of Publicity, Atria Books
Lisa.Sciambra@simonandschuster.com

For rights Information:
Nicole Bond
Vice President, Executive Director Subsidiary Rights
Nicole.Bond@simonandschuster.com