Chicago Review Press Inc. acquired Council Oak Books in a deal that closed January 2.
Founded in 1987, Council Oak has focused on publishing books by indigenous books as well as the works of advocates of women’s issues, plus body, mind and spirit titles. Among its most popular books have been Beyond Fear: A Toltec Guide to Freedom & Joy, the Cherokee Feast of Days multi-volume series, and Native New Yorkers by Evan Pritchard. In the early 2000s, Council Oak added Wildcat Canyon Press whose top selling title is Girlfriends. In all, Chicago Review Press acquired 141 titles from Council Oak,where James Connolly has served as publisher.
Going forward, Council Oak will continue to publish new books under its existing name as part of Chicago Review Press. Wildcat Canyon Press will become a series under the Council Oak Books imprint. IPG, Chicago Review’s sister company and longtime distributor of Council Oak, will continue to distribute all new and backlist COB titles.
“I am really looking forward to this new collaboration between two established independent presses with many shared interests,” said Cynthia Sherry, publisher of Chicago Review Press, who will oversee Council Oak.
