Announcements

New Book in the Works by author Mary Leoson!

2025-06-16

MT Open Press is excited to announce its fourth book will soon be added to the catalog.

The work of fiction, Devil's Oak, is a short story collection that features strong female characters against a backdrop of ghosts, fairy tales, and urban legends. The thirteen stories subvert the historical narrative of women in need of rescue, positioning them as bold and willing to step into danger. They are flawed, real, and wholly beautiful. The collection exemplifies the author's journey as a writer, from works previously produced years ago to those written more recently. The stories are divided into three sections: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Each section symbolizes a phase of a woman’s life, exploring common overarching themes that reflect our collective unconsciousness. Some of these women mirror parts of the author, but most have emerged from the ethers of the universe, begging to be born onto the page. 

**The book will have a foreword written by fiction writer, Christopher Barzak, and will be externally reviewed and published as open access (free PDF) and print-on-demand later in summer 2025.**

Read more about New Book in the Works by author Mary Leoson!

MT Open Press is a new open publishing concept. We invite you to learn more.

DSI at Walker Library has extended its publishing services to include open textbooks and scholarly monographs. MT Open Press is a digital-first, hybrid press with a mission of providing open access publishing opportunities to the communities of middle Tennessee.

Readers can enjoy our books--free to read online, while offering some titles with a modest print-on-demand option for those that prefer a printed book.

Authors can enjoy a transparent publishing process, with editorial teams that take a values-based approach to publishing. This means authors retain the rights to their work and are not charged for publishing services.

MT Open Press has a different mission and focus than traditional publishers, and invites you to learn more about publishing possiblities. We also welcome support from the community, and invite you to donate, helping to enable open access publishing of books for the community. For donation instructions, contact the dean at Kathleen.Schmand@mtsu.edu.