2020 marks 50 years that University Press of Mississippi has been in business, and we have spent the past year planning a series of celebrations.

Unfortunately, as life does on occasion, we were thrown a curve ball in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic. Like many of you, we suddenly found ourselves scrambling to work remotely, learning to use new software, and ransacking our offices for any physical items we might need over the next few weeks.

We’ve adapted to these times as best we could. We are overhauling our procedures and moving as quickly as possible towards a digital office. We’re still holding meetings, only now gently reminding each other to use the mute button when not speaking. We have group chats where we share pictures of our new office mates (guitars included), the bread we’ve baked, and, most importantly, our pets.


As we have begun adjusting to working together apart, we talk often of our authors, who have worked for years on their books and have suddenly found themselves unable to attend signings, presentations, or have their book launches. We are actively brainstorming ways to promote their books virtually and connect with the community online.
And, of course, we are thinking of our partners—the booksellers, many of which have faced hardships. Several stores are offering curbside and delivery specials, so please be sure to check out  Bookshop.org ,  Indiebound.org , and your favorite independent bookstore's website. A great  list of independent bookstores  can be found courtesy of our friends at New York University Press. We encourage you to support local—your friends and neighbors—as much as possible. Regarding our 50 th  anniversary, we’ve sadly had to cancel or postpone many of the events we’ve planned, but in the interim we have launched a website sale to include 30% off all titles sitewide with free domestic shipping and no minimum purchase required.
We will be working over the next few weeks to connect with you in other meaningful ways. Please tag us in your posts so we can stay connected—we miss all of you and can’t wait to celebrate with you as soon as it is safe to do so.

During these dark times, continue to look for the light. Stay safe and well, friends.
Remember to check our website for the latest
UPM Covid-19 updates.
University Press of Mississippi |  www.upress.state.ms.us |  601.432.6205 | Orders 800.737.7788