Publishing Quality Books in a Quality Way for 25 Years

When Council Oak Books issued our first two titles in 1985, our aim was to bring out great writing in beautifully designed books and to keep our titles in print for a long time. That we have succeeded in that mission is shown by the fact that one of those two first books, Cleora’s Kitchens, is still in print in the same kind of rich hardcover format that wowed the cookbook world all those years ago. After our fifth year in business, one of the nation’s premier book reviewers, Jonathan Yardley, wrote of us in the Washington Post, “Council Oak is in all respects a remarkable operation, committed to publishing good books in the best way possible.”

We are certainly grateful for all who are part of the Council Oak Books story, the authors who have trusted us with their work, the reviewers who have enthusiastically encouraged us, the booksellers who have hand-sold our books to their customers and, especially, for the readers who have loved our books and made it possible for us to keep them in print and bring out new work, year after year. As we celebrate our first quarter century, Council Oak Books continues its mission to present quality fiction and nonfiction in the best way possible, bringing new ideas and new energy to our shared literary culture.