Nii Ayikwei Parkes, founder of flipped eye publishing

flipped eye publishing celebrates its 20th anniversary this year!

Founded in 2001 by writer and editor Nii Ayikwei Parkes, this independent press publishes poetry and prose by diverse and emerging voices on the literary scene. As its website states, “flipped eye publishing is a lean, reader-focused, writer-loving, boat-rocking support system for culture that matters. History is just a beginning for us.”

Notable writers published by the press include Inua Ellams and Martin Egblewogbe whose most recent works were featured in Brittle Paper’s 50 Notable African Books of 2020.

According to The Bookseller, flipped eye publishing will celebrate this milestone with “a nationwide search for a young editorial intern” and a digital bookshop tour in May.

Parkes shared his reflection about the past 20 years and plans for the future:

The 20 years have come so fast that it’s hard to believe, but I realize how big a deal it is for a small press to survive this long. However, more than survival, I am proud that we’ve managed to keep true to the things that inspired our beginnings—a commitment to produce affordable books… We might not be as small as we’ve been, but we will remain a powerful advocate for true representation in the publishing industry, from the boardroom to the very nature of the stories we allow the world to experience.

Exciting new titles to expect from flipped eye publishing in 2021 include:

Congratulations to Nii Ayikwei Parkes and the flipped eye publishing team!