Once upon a time, Laura Stanfill lived in a New Jersey house filled with music boxes, street organs, and books. She grew up to become the publisher of Forest Avenue Press and the author of Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary. Her short-form work has appeared in Shondaland, The Rumpus, Catapult, The Vincent Brothers Review, Santa Fe Writers Project, and several print anthologies. She believes in indie bookstores and wishes on them like stars from her home in Portland, Oregon, where she resides with her family and Waffles the dog.
Testimonials
“Laura has shown fantastic support as a person who goes above and beyond to lift voices, especially of those often marginalized. As a writer of color, I can speak from personal experience when I say that I have felt heard and seen by her; her dedication to spreading voices that contribute in a positive way to literature of today is reflected in her sincere, constructive feedback for writers and selfless promotion of excellent work. I am grateful to know her.”
—Zaji Cox, author of The Gresham House
“Laura Stanfill . . . wears more hats than an eight-headed monster and has more smarts and dedication and vision than an evil scientist. And way, way more heart.”
—Gigi Little, editor of City of Weird: 30 Otherworldly Portland Tales
“Since planting its roots in 2012, Stanfill has grown Forest Avenue Press into the woodland of critically praised fiction it’s known as today.”
—Morgan Nicholson, Eleven PDX
“She is a lighthouse, a porch light, always showing the way. Always ready for you to come home. She makes me want to be here, even if it’s just in spirit. Without her, there’s just a bunch of shitty condos around a bookstore.”
—Tabitha Blankenbiller, author of Eats of Eden: A Year of Food and Fiction
"At a time when I was unsure if there was room for a story about Muslims outside of those stereotypically focused on immigration or terrorism, Laura saw straight to the heart of the story. She has also been the most thoughtful and insightful editor that I have ever worked with."
—Ramiza Shamoun Koya, author of The Royal Abduls
Awards
Winner, Regional Arts and Culture Council grant, $5000, spring 2023
Shortlisted, May Sarton Book Award, 2022
Best Fiction of 2022, Powell’s Books
Best Book of 2022, Independent Book Review
A Reedsy Best Small Press, 2020-present
Oregon Literary Fellowship for Publishing, Literary Arts, 2021
Distinguished Service Award, 2021 runner-up, Publishing Professionals Network
Brian Booth Emergency Fund, 2020
Mineral School Residency, winner, Mineral, Washington, September 2018
Yale Publishing Course, 2018 scholarship winner, Independent Book Publishers Association
Publishers Weekly Star Watch Awards, honoree, 2017
Oregon Literary Fellowship for Publishing, Literary Arts, 2014
Powell’s Staff Top 5s, Brave on the Page, 2012
Powell’s On Oregon Blog’s Book of the Year, 2012, Brave on the Page
Awards for headline writing, educational coverage, editorial writing, best writing, inside page design, and target audience from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Awards for general excellence, front page design, and editorial writing from the Society of Professional Journalists
Consumer Issues Reporting Award, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2003
Employee of the Year, Community Newspapers, 2003
Knighted for community involvement, Robin Hood Festival Association, 2003
Association of School Business Offices’ Meritorious Budget Award for excellence in preparation, Loudoun County Public Schools’ FY01-02
Jane Dealy Wirsig Memorial Prize for excellence in journalism, Vassar College, 1998