Sonya Bonczek Reporting Live is back, baby 😅🎙️📚
@uncpress.bsky.social editor Andrew Winters, who tells us about a new book exploring The Trinity: the iconic trio of portraits of JFK, MLK Jr., and Jesus that graced the walls of Black American homes from the mid-20th century through the 1990s.
We’re pleased to announce the appointment of 29 Fellows for the 2026–27 academic year. Chosen from 453 applicants, the newly appointed Fellows will constitute the forty-ninth class of resident scholars to be admitted since the Center opened in 1978.
What's that? UNC Press content delivered straight to your inbox? Yep! We're officially on Substack 😎
uncpress.substack.com/p/your-favor...
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Been busy listening and thinking but some fantastic sessions today. Particularly “publishing in polarised times” and also “toxic perfectionism” with @jesherer.bsky.social this morning
#UPRedux2026
Before we break for lunch, @jesherer.bsky.social speaks on our “Toxic Perfectionism” in the UP world.
#UPRedux2026
I am biased, but this interview with @sonyabonczek.bsky.social from @uncpress.bsky.social on @draftingthepast.bsky.social about book publicity is soooo good. I've been doing this for much longer than her, but she taught me so much. Including to remain inspired. #readUP
In just five weeks, usage of the 100 Path to Open titles that are now open exceeded their usage in all of 2025. Imagine a world in which all HSS scholarly books are open to all. Can we make it happen? @acls1919.bsky.social @jstor.bsky.social networks.h-net.org/group/discus...
When monographs are made #OpenAccess #OA, their use skyrockets. According to @JSTOR, the increase is 500% in the first month. And in 252 countries worldwide. We never could have dreamed to distribute paywalled books that effectively. Thanks to the many libraries that are supporting this program.
We hear a lot in the univ press world about the declension narrative of the humanities monograph. Lower sales are interpreted as lower impact. But the Path to Open program from JSTOR (full disclosure—I helped design it) is showing that it’s the business model that is broken.
We're looking for an office coordinator!
This part‑time position is ideal for someone who’s detail‑oriented, people‑savvy, and eager to get their start in the publishing world by helping our office and facilities operate at their best.
Full description here👇
uncpress.org/now-hiring-o...
We're so proud that two of our authors are finalists for the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize 👏 🎉
OPIUM SLAVERY by @jonathansjones.bsky.social
CASSIUS MARCELLUS CLAY by Anne E. Marshall
www.gilderlehrman.org/book-prizes/...
Our books earned incredible recognition in 2025—take a look at all the award winners 🏆🙌
uncpressblog.com/2023/10/13/u...
“In Thy Will Be Done, John Marks paints a nuanced, three-dimensional picture of George Washington. He helps us understand him as both revolutionary and enslaver, as president and as captor, as a man who was troubled by the institution even as he continued to participate in it. Marks shows us that we must hold all these parts of Washington alongside one another. We cannot avoid these contradictions; we must lean into them. Thy Will Be Done is an exceptional book. This is how George Washington should be taught. This is how history should be done.”—Clint Smith, New York Times bestselling author of How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America
When @clintsmithiii.bsky.social agreed to blurb my book, I NEVER imagined he’d call it “exceptional” and certainly not “how history should be done.” Clint’s amazing work is read and respected by every public historian I know. Having kind words from him is a real honor. bookshop.org/p/books/thy-...
portrait photo of Brett Bobley
Congratulations to 2025 AUPresses Stand UP Award recipient Brett Bobley, former director @neh-odh.bsky.social. This award recognizes his decades-long leadership that empowered university presses to use digital technologies to experiment, collaborate & reach new audiences. https://bit.ly/3XJ3ydj
this will be important work, for sure. And a dream team of Co-PIs
We're excited to share that Andrew Kinney will join UNC Press as the new W. Hodding Carter III Executive Editor 🎉
"UNC Press has always led the way in the publication of American history . . . I’m so excited to be joining such a remarkable team." Read more on the blog 👇
bit.ly/4i7t3yb
I am THRILLED to get to work with Andrew again (we are pals from our Harvard UP days) and I am very excited for all that's to come with our new trade imprint uncpressblog.com/2025/11/18/u...
It's Timeeeeee 🗣️
Our Holiday Sale is here! Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list with 30% + FREE US shipping on orders over $75 🙌
Start shopping 👉 uncpress.org/holiday-sale/
I'll be trying to explain why a publishing industry that is still 80% print went through a digital revolution. You can join in person or by livestream.
you're surely referring to the three @uncpress.bsky.social titles there.
We're hiring! We're now accepting applications for the W. Hodding Carter III Senior/Executive Editor, an endowed position focused on acquiring trade and scholarly books in US history & related fields.
Interested in helping us shape this new imprint? Learn more & apply here ⬇️
bit.ly/3US7Ihq
No offense to all the other great editors, series, & presses out there in the history publishing game, but this is the best team doing #international #history 🗃️ #SHAFR @uncpress.bsky.social @renatakeller.bsky.social @juliairwin.bsky.social @dgershenowitz.bsky.social @drjsarkar.bsky.social
As a UNC graduate, I'm sad for the campus. As a @natlhumanities.bsky.social trustee, I'm over the moon.
There's also now this fun thing where she's on my board @uncpress.bsky.social and I'm on hers. Like a Hofstadter loop.
Publishers Lunch Daily Rundown People At the University of North Carolina Press: Sonya Bonczek has been promoted to Director of Publicity and Communications. Helen Kyriakoudes has been promoted to Publicist.
Today I officially join the 40 club--and get to celebrate not just my own promotion, but also the incredibly well-deserved promotion of the best teammate anyone could ask for, @hkyria.bsky.social 🎉 🎉 🎉
Rachel. It is imperative you post him regularly
Maybe
If I'm counting right, of the 6 books that were either winners or finalists for Pulitzers in history and general non-fiction, 4 were published by university presses. A fifth author had an early career UP work. Our work has never been harder. And never more relevant. #ReadUP!
Great choice to lead one of our vital partners. Congrats @editorkelley.bsky.social
