Publishers of international
prose, poetry, art,
and literary hybrids.

THE HISTORY OF SERVING HOUSE BOOKS

Serving House Books was founded by Thomas E. Kennedy and Walter Cummins in 2009. They were finding many books by reputable authors who could not find a press to give them a home, as well as many books that had lived honorable lives and received rave reviews only to go out-of-print. Kennedy and Cummins decided to change that. Serving House Books, was born as an homage to the main character in Tom’s novel, Kerrigan in Copenhagen—to his vibrant excursions to Danish bars, taverns, and other serving houses.

Thomas Kennedy passed away on May 26, 2021, leaving a significant mark on world literature through his publication of many books, stories, essays, translations, reviews, and interviews, as well has his support of many writers in the U.S., Denmark, and other countries. When Tom retired from an active role with the imprint, he left with more than one hundred SHB titles in circulation, a number of which have been honored as winners or finalists for a variety of awards, including Kirkus independent press books of the year.

In 2024, Dr. William K. Lawrence assumed the role of publisher. Walter Cummins remains as a close advisor and editor. SHB will continue to publish important writers and unique books that are both intimate and universal, blending the sophisticated with the unexpected.