Lookout is more than a name—it’s our publishing philosophy.

Founded in 2009 by publisher Emily Louise Smith and editor emeritus Ben George as the literary book imprint of the Department of Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Lookout seeks out emerging and historically underrepresented voices, as well as overlooked gems by established writers. In a publishing landscape increasingly indifferent to literary innovation, Lookout offers a haven for books that matter.

In concert with our award-winning sister magazine, Ecotone, we partner with authors over the long term through significant editorial relationships, attractive design of our paperback originals, quality production, and sophisticated national publicity. We’re particularly proud of our work discovering and nurturing authors in the promising early stages of their careers. We offer our authors 50-50 profit sharing, rather than the usual royalty structure, and reinvest profits in future titles.

Lookout’s boutique model allows for devoted focus on a single book a season, rotating between fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The magazine and imprint are the centerpieces of The Publishing Laboratory at The University of North Carolina Wilmington, and offer students engaged learning experiences in the art and craft of publishing.