Orison Books

Orison Books Orison Books is a non-profit literary press focused on the life of the spirit from a broad and inclu

“Orison” [awr-uh-zuhn] is an archaic word that means “prayer.” We at Orison Books believe that the best spiritual art and literature call us to meditate and contemplate, rather than asking us to adopt any ideology or set of propositions. As Simone Weil wrote, “The mysteries of faith are degraded if they are made into an object of affirmation and negation, when in reality they should be an object o

f contemplation” (Gravity and Grace). This type of art evokes the human experience of transcendence and explores the mysteries of being, and in so doing opens our minds and hearts to the divine and the possibility of becoming the fullest humans we can be. In our view, spiritual writing has little to do with subject matter. Rather, the kind of work we seek to publish has a transcendent aesthetic effect on the reader, and reading it can itself be a spiritual experience. Such work is not merely about spiritual contemplation, but itself leads the reader into profound contemplation. It is not merely about the sublime, but itself has a sublime effect on the reader. It is not merely about the mystery of being, but itself heightens the reader’s sense of the mystery underlying the fabric of our daily lives. We seek to be broad, inclusive, and open to perspectives spanning the spectrum of spiritual and religious thought, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Orison Books serves as a home for writers and readers of all backgrounds, religious and non-religious. In addition to publishing spiritually-engaged poetry, fiction, and non-fiction books of exceptional literary merit, each year we will publish The Orison Anthology—a collection of the best spiritual writing in all genres published in periodicals the preceding year. Our titles are released in beautifully-designed print formats, and many are also released as e-books. Additionally, Orison Books aims to contribute to the cultural conversations around spirituality and literature by hosting classes, readings, symposia, and other public events. We cannot succeed without the contributions of those who support our mission of publishing exceptional literature that engages the life of the spirit, and of fostering cultural conversation around spirituality and literature. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today by visiting our Indiegogo campaign page.

01/10/2025

Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew and Vishwas R. Gaitonde in conversation

Happy publication day to Amit Majmudar! THREE METAMORPHOSES recasts and transforms foundational stories from Islam, Chri...
01/10/2025

Happy publication day to Amit Majmudar! THREE METAMORPHOSES recasts and transforms foundational stories from Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism in verse and poetic prose.

"[A] difficult yet vibrant work"
—Publishers Weekly

"You have to go back to W. H. Auden to find a writer with Amit Majmudar’s range, intelligence, prolificacy, and ambition."
—Christian Wiman

"Amit Majmudar relives our foundational narratives with a wild brilliance."
—D. Nurkse

Order THREE METAMORPHOSES at https://www.orisonbooks.com/product-page/three-metamorphoses-novellas-in-verse-prose-by-amit-majmudar

And if you're in the Asheville area, please join us ⭐️this Friday⭐️ for a collaborative poetry and dance performance by Amit and his wife, Ami Buch Majmudar, in celebration of Orison Books' 10th anniversary! Get your tickets at https://secure.givelively.org/event/orison-books-inc/orison-books-10th-anniversary-celebration

Congratulations to M. C. Benner Dixon on an excellent review of her novel THE HEIGHT OF LAND in the latest issue of Rain...
27/09/2025

Congratulations to M. C. Benner Dixon on an excellent review of her novel THE HEIGHT OF LAND in the latest issue of Rain Taxi!🎉🎉

"Reminiscent of great storytellers like Botswanan author Bessie Head or Nobel Laureate J.M. Coetzee, THE HEIGHT OF LAND strips away the toxic vestiges of religious certainty and restores the poetic work of interpretation as a playing with language, form, and meaning. From this excellent coming-of-age novel, readers may gain a deeper appreciation for the hallowed process of seeking while reading, a seeking that rests upon the magical—even spiritual—power of storytelling to craft new narratives for ourselves and the world around us."
—Rain Taxi

Order THE HEIGHT OF LAND at https://www.orisonbooks.com/product-page/the-height-of-land-a-novel-by-m-c-benner-dixon

Benner Dixon is also leading a virtual class entitled "The Holy Mundane" in October. Find complete details at https://www.orisonbooks.com/product-page/the-holy-mundane-a-class-with-m-c-benner-dixon

📣Join us next Friday!!📣 On Oct. 3, we'll celebrate 10 years of publishing exceptional literary work that engages the lif...
26/09/2025

📣Join us next Friday!!📣 On Oct. 3, we'll celebrate 10 years of publishing exceptional literary work that engages the life of the spirit from a broad and inclusive range of perspectives. Don't miss this special evening of literature and dance at NC Stage Co. in Asheville with Orison Books author Amit Majmudar in a collaborative performance with his wife, classical Indian dancer Ami Buch Majmudar!

Amit Majmudar's new book Three Metamorphoses: Novellas in Verse & Prose retells, in its third and climactic section, ancient Indian tales of transformation in constantly shifting verse forms. Publishers Weekly says, "Imbuing myth with echoes of Milton, Shakespeare, Eliot’s The Waste Land, and the Beatles, Majmudar teases the reader with comic-book action, witty asides, and erotic coupling.... Readers who are up for the challenge will find this a worthy collection."

Come witness these mythological stories come to life onstage through the linguistic dance of poetry and the physical poetry of dance!

https://secure.givelively.org/event/orison-books-inc/orison-books-10th-anniversary-celebration

We had a great time at Punch Bucket Literary Festival Asheville today with Vishwas R. Gaitonde! He’ll be reading from hi...
20/09/2025

We had a great time at Punch Bucket Literary Festival Asheville today with Vishwas R. Gaitonde! He’ll be reading from his Orison Fiction Prize-winning story collection ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN tomorrow (Sun.) at the Great Smokies Writing Program Writers at Home series at Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe. Free event; register at malaprops.com/events

Join us this coming Sunday! https://malaprops.com/event/2025-09-21/writers-at-home-vishwas-r-gaitonde
15/09/2025

Join us this coming Sunday! https://malaprops.com/event/2025-09-21/writers-at-home-vishwas-r-gaitonde

Join us on Sunday, September 21, in person at Malaprop's for the September installment of Writers at Home: Vishwas R. Gaitonde launches On Earth as It Is in Heaven. This event is co-sponsored by Orison Books and The Great Smokies Writing Program. More info at the link in our bio.

We're celebrating 10 years! Please join us in Asheville on October 3 for a special evening of literature and dance with ...
10/09/2025

We're celebrating 10 years! Please join us in Asheville on October 3 for a special evening of literature and dance with Orison Books author Amit Majmudar in a collaborative performance with his wife, classical Indian dancer Ami Buch Majmudar.

Amit Majmudar's new book Three Metamorphoses: Novellas in Verse & Prose retells, in its third and climactic section, ancient Indian tales of transformation in constantly shifting verse forms. Publishers Weekly says, "Imbuing myth with echoes of Milton, Shakespeare, Eliot’s The Waste Land, and the Beatles, Majmudar teases the reader with comic-book action, witty asides, and erotic coupling.... Readers who are up for the challenge will find this a worthy collection."

Come witness these mythological stories come to life onstage through the linguistic dance of poetry and the physical poetry of dance!

https://secure.givelively.org/event/orison-books-inc/orison-books-10th-anniversary-celebration

Congratulations to Amit Majmudar, whose shortly forthcoming THREE METAMORPHOSES has been reviewed by Publishers Weekly!"...
06/09/2025

Congratulations to Amit Majmudar, whose shortly forthcoming THREE METAMORPHOSES has been reviewed by Publishers Weekly!

"This difficult yet vibrant work...weaves Muslim, Hindu, Old and New Testament, historical, and literary narratives into a three-part multicultural epic. […] Imbuing myth with echoes of Milton, Shakespeare, Eliot’s The Waste Land, and the Beatles, Majmudar teases the reader with comic-book action, witty asides, and erotic coupling.... Readers who are up for the challenge will find this a worthy collection."
—Publishers Weekly
https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781949039627

Greensboro-area folks, don't miss Vishwas R. Gaitonde's book launch this Friday at Scuppernong Books! https://scuppernon...
03/09/2025

Greensboro-area folks, don't miss Vishwas R. Gaitonde's book launch this Friday at Scuppernong Books! https://scuppernongbooks.com/event/2025-09-05/vishwas-r-gaitonde-earth-it-heaven

"It is indeed a pleasure to welcome this fantastic new voice in world literature."
—David Heska Wanbli Weiden, author of Winter Counts

"On Earth as It Is in Heaven is an absorbing and deeply pleasurable collection."
—Margot Livesey, author of The Road from Belhaven

"Vishwas R. Gaitonde is a precise, patient writer, meticulously and beautifully exploring the lives that populate On Earth as It Is in Heaven with care. In his hands, the characters are given what we all need: grace."
—Sameer Pandya, author of Our Beautiful Boys

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