
Cosmographia
Books
A small press with a big map.
News
September 2025 - Call for submissions: 🔥 Campfire Stories: Abjection ($50 prize)
August 2025 - You can now support Cosmographia through Patreon or a one-time donation.
June 2025 - Call for Submissions: The Cosmographia Prize for Spiritual Fiction
May 2025 - After Color by Malaika Favorite published
FEB 2025 - Call for Submissions: Famous Orphan Series
Cosmographia Books, established in 2015 by Nina Alvarez, is a small press that embraces the spirit of multidimensional mapping, much like its namesake—a historical atlas and gazetteer detailing the geographical, social, and physical features of regions. Our mission is to publish works that explore the intricate landscapes of human experience, delving into the relationships between self, soul, love, work, society, and history.
We pride ourselves on offering a diverse array of titles across genres such as poetry, fiction, hybrid works, anthologies, and memoirs. Our catalog includes historically significant works like Lesbian Love by Eve Adams, one of the earliest examples of American lesbian literature, as well as contemporary voices that challenge and inspire.
Welcome to Our Online Bookstore. Browse the aisles.
Fiction
Poetry
Hybrid
Anthology
Memoir
Available for Purchase only on Amazon
Make a One-Time Donation to Cosmographia Books

BECOME A PATRON!
As we celebrate our 10 year anniversary this autumn, we’re also looking toward the future. We’ve just launched a new Patreon, where readers and friends can join the crew who help make our books possible.
Patreon supporters are thanked in every book we publish, receive Patron-only letters and behind-the-scenes glimpses, get discounts in our online store, and—at higher tiers—can choose a project to support, and are invited to private Zoom meetings with Cosmographia editors and sometimes authors.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE COSMOGRAPHIA CODEX
Cosmographia Books' newsletter and living literary record—part historical archive, part map of ideas, part ongoing discovery.
Here, we chart the journey of our small press with a big map.
Cosmographia Books
est. 2015
In 2015, inspired by the symbolism of the cosmographia, writer and editor Nina Alvarez founded a press that would seek to embody that spirit of multidimensional mapping. Carolyn Birrittella, Megan Downing, and Linnea Schaefer have given much-needed marketing, outreach and event support over the years.
Cosmographia has also received visibility, encouragement, and kindness from so many people in its community, including Rhonda and Victor Alvarez, Daniel Herd and Chris Fanning of Writers & Books and "The Last Word" on WAYO.fm, Lindsay Herko, Kenneth Kelbaugh of Before Your Quiet Eyes Bookstore, Al Abonado of "Flour City Yawp," friends and family, and all those who have reviewed our books, set up events for our authors, interviewed our authors, purchased our books and merch, and generally made us feel seen, loved, and heard. Thank you. It all matters.
Where you can purchase our books
All our books are available on Amazon, some can be purchased on BarnesandNoble.com or other online sellers. And most of our books can be purchased at Before Your Quiet Eyes or Ampersand books in Rochester, New York, and other brick-and-mortar bookstores.
For booksellers, some of our titles can be purchased through Ingram Spark.
Questions?
Contact Publisher Nina Alvarez at editor@cosmographiabooks.com
MASTHEAD
Publisher
Nina Alvarez is the founder and publisher of Cosmographia Books (est. 2015), a small press dedicated to publishing "soulful books" that explore the intricate landscapes of human experience across multiple genres, with 16 titles to date including historically significant works like Lesbian Love by Eve Adams. She is also the creator of Dream Your Book author services (est. 2009), through which she has guided numerous writers through the publishing process while providing comprehensive editing, mentoring, and creative development services.
With nearly 25 years of publishing industry experience, Alvarez has overseen the publication of over 50 books and literary journal issues, including founding and running the nationally-recognized Canvas Teen Literary Journal, while maintaining a holistic approach that combines traditional publishing expertise with innovative spiritual and creative approaches to author development.
Series Editor
Daniel Herd curates the “Famous Orphans” short book series and has been an integral part of the literary community in Rochester, NY, for over a decade. As a literary arts administrator, event producer, and advocate for boundary-pushing storytelling, he brings a wealth of experience in programming, editing, and fostering literary talent.
From 2010 to 2023, Daniel worked at Writers & Books Literary Center, where he developed and managed over 430 literary workshops and 250 events, including the Taking Care in Writing, Publishing, and Building Community Online Literary Conference (2022). He also played a key role in launching programs such as the Visiting Authors Series and Meet BOA Authors. Daniel served as Assistant Producer for the Rochester Fringe Festival (2016-2019), where he coordinated large-scale performing arts events and worked with international artists.
A graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a BA in English, Daniel is a voracious reader with a deep appreciation for experimental, genre-defying narratives. He serves on the Books Sandwiched In Selection Committee for the Rochester Public Library and remains committed to championing bold, unconventional voices in literature.