MSU Pact Revives New Rivers Press

After several months in limbo, the fortunes of Minnesota independent publisher New Rivers Press appear to be once again on the upswing with the announcement that the press has reached an agreement to resume operations through a proposed alliance with the Minnesota State University at Moorhead.

This winter, New Rivers had announced that it was suspending regular publishing operations because of financial and other difficulties and was actively seeking a partnership that would allow it to carry on its mission of publishing new and emerging writers (News, Feb. 26). C.W. "Bill" Truesdale, who founded the press in 1968, died in February after a long illness.

Under the terms of the agreement, the New Rivers board of directors agreed to relocate the press to the Moorhead campus, with MSUM providing staff, facilities and operational support. MSUM has also agreed to honor the contracts for NRP's forthcoming titles. Further details are being worked out between New Rivers and MSUM, and both parties anticipate a resumption of publishing activities sometime in 2002.

"Folks have shown an enthusiasm for the Moorhead proposal and have started to step forward to help make the transition a reality," stated New Rivers' interim executive director Lisa Bullard in announcing the alliance. "New Rivers has always depended on generous support from the many writers, readers and foundations who believe in the importance of new voices. With no new publications for several months, the press will have to rely in part on donated revenue for the coming year."

New Rivers has published more than 300 titles, including early works by such acclaimed writers as Charles Simic, David Haynes and Charles Baxter. Its signature series, the Minnesota Voices Project, has published nearly 100 books by Midwestern writers and is one of the oldest ongoing literary competitions in the country.