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Rose Mary Salum expresses disappointment over the stagnation in societal attitudes since the establishment of her bilingual press, Literal Publishing, in Houston in 2015. “There was already a prevailing anti-immigrant sentiment at that time,” Salum reflects, noting that perceptions of immigrants are still heavily influenced by close-mindedness, a situation that has only intensified with the politicization of the issue.
The inception of Literal traces back to 2005, well before its official launch. In that year, Salum, a Mexican-born author and translator whose parents were Lebanese immigrants, initiated a quarterly magazine of the same name, dedicated to showcasing essays, fiction, poetry, and literary criticism. Her vision was clear: “to forge a connection between English and Spanish speakers in the U.S. while creating a platform for those whose primary language is Spanish,” she explains.
As the magazine transitioned to a digital format in 2015, contributors urged Salum to expand into book publishing, leading to the birth of Literal Publishing that same year. “I recognized a gap in the market for bilingual publications,” she recalls, noting that, initially, the idea of releasing books in both languages felt a bit unconventional, as if the time was not right. Nonetheless, the demand for these bilingual titles quickly became apparent.
Currently, Literal publishes up to five books annually, with distribution reaching both the U.S. and Latin America through Ingram. The press boasts a catalog of 37 titles, organized into three distinct series: Multiverse, which encompasses bilingual essays exploring cultural themes; Lateral, offering bilingual poetry and fiction; and Dislocados, a series of concise Spanish-language works by U.S.-based authors like Cristina Rivera Garza and Yuri Herrera. Through a collaboration with Rice University’s Digital Scholarship Archive, the Dislocados series is also available for free download online. Salum notes that the evolution of these series was a natural progression, stating, “One collection led us to another almost immediately.”
In its commitment to supporting emerging writers, Literal established a comprehensive awards program in 2013 and has conducted creative writing workshops since 2016 to help sustain its publishing efforts. In 2024, the press introduced its first International Prize, open to any genre of book written in Spanish in the U.S. and Canada. This honor was awarded to the story collection Lacandona Speed by Claudia Morales from Chiapas, Mexico, making her the first winner and ensuring her work’s publication by Literal in April of this year. Since its inception, Literal has also provided honors for first novels, poetry, and essays, addressing the notable absence of awards for Spanish-language authors in the U.S. “Recognizing Spanish-speaking writers in the U.S. and Canada through awards is truly groundbreaking,” Salum emphasizes.
Reflecting on the journey, Salum states, “It has been an enormous effort over the past two decades, yet I remain hopeful. With around 60 million Latinos in the U.S., many are eager to connect with their cultural roots through literature.” She believes that Literal is not just providing a voice for Latino authors but also helping to reshape how Latinos are perceived within the broader American narrative.
Adam Critchley is a Mexico-based journalist and translator.
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A version of this article appeared in the 04/07/2025 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: Literal Minded
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