How Does the Rust Belt Matter?

A Sneak Peek

Best of the Rust Belt publishes in a few weeks! The book showcases the most memorable and timely essays from the 20-some anthologies Belt has published over the past decade.

To select the pieces, we worked to balance showing off the sheer writing prowess of those living in the region with the strange pressure to “represent” a place that is often misunderstood, while also becoming the focus of the nation’s attention every presidential election cycle. We focused on fashioning a book people could read either as an introduction to a place they do not know well or as a distillation of great writing from a place they know intimately.

We accomplished both seemingly at-odds tasks. I am super proud, and to the many contributors: so, so grateful. You should stop reading now and go place pre-order, or ask your library to get copy, or request it from your fave indie (because preorders to really matter ;) As I always say: it’s not reading the book that’s important, it’s ordering ten copies ;) …