The Oldest Literary Press in Maryland
For nearly six decades, Brickhouse has championed poetry and prose across genres, making space for small voices, outside voices, and voices locked away. Founded in 1970, Brickhouse has occasionally gained national recognition, but mostly it’s remained quietly essential, a bedrock of Maryland’s literary legacy, a bricks-worth of words at a time.
Co-founded in 1970 by poets Clarinda Harriss and Michael Egan, Brickhouse is known for publishing material of all genres — from poetry to artistic nonfiction — with a focus on creating space for new authors or authors of alternative inclinations, Brickhouse has given them a voice of printed words.
A former chair of Towson University’s English department, the Clarinda Harriss Poetry Prize was named in her honor by Baltimore’s City Lit Project.
Clarinda Harriss, President Emerita
Photo by Eva Quinos Tennant
Current Staff
Tyson wears several well-inked hats at Brickhouse Books, including editor and author. He met his literary mentor, Clarinda Harriss, as an awestruck undergraduate in the early 1990s at Towson University where he’s also taught in the Philosophy and Computer Science departments.
As president of the Brickhouse Board of Directors, Tyson works to strengthen connections among Baltimore’s literary community, emerging writers, and the legacy he inherited from Ms. Harriss: the belief that vibrant, fearless poetry and prose can still shake the walls and light the way toward happy unknowns.
Contact: Ty@Brickhousebooks.com
Tyson Koska, Executive Editor
Tyson Koska
Patrick is a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and American University. He has worked in education for nearly 20 years. A fervent reader and a lifelong book lover, he cultivates his love of literature by seeking out new and burgeoning authors.
Patrick is eager to continue the rich tradition of Brickhouse Books by lending a platform and voice to the authors and poets, narrators and novelists of Baltimore, a city full of enthralling tales and storytellers ready to be read, heard, and loved.
Contact: Patrick@Brickhousebooks.com
Patrick Douville, Managing Editor
Patrick Douville
The son of a Baltimore tugboat man, Rafael Alvarez has been writing about his hometown since the Carter Administration.
Along the way he has published a dozen books, both fiction (the Orlo and Leini tales) and non-fiction (a history of the Archdiocese of Baltimore) and interviewed thousands, including Frank Zappa, Muddy Waters and the lady sweeping the sidewalk in front of her rowhouse.
Contact: orlo.leini@gmail.com or @johnnywinterisgod
Rafael Alvarez, Director
Alvarez at Poe's Grave / 12.31.25
Charles Rammelkamp is a Prose Editor for Brickhouse Books in Baltimore. A collection of persona poems and dramatic monologues involving burlesque stars, The Trapeze of Your Flesh, was recently published by BlazeVOX Books.
His collection, The Tao According to Calvin Coolidge, has just been published by Kelsay Books.
Charles Rammelkamp, Prose Editor
Charles Rammelkamp
Jennifer Keith’s poems have appeared in The Nebraska Review, Sewanee Theological Review, The Free State Review, Unsplendid, Smartish Pace, Best American Poetry 2015 and elsewhere.
Keith was a finalist for the 2021 Erskine J. Poetry Prize from Smartish Pace and her first full-length poetry book, Terminarch, was selected by David Yezzi for the 2023 Able Muse Book Award.
Jennifer Keith, Poetry Editor
Jennifer Keith
Ricky Ruszin is a copy editor with Brickhouse Books. He is also a novelist, film writer, and interview producer. His debut novel, Showtime, was published in 2022, and his nonfiction work has appeared on Collider and Wicked Horror.
He earned his bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from Stevenson University, where he focused on creative fiction. When he's not living in his imagination, he enjoys traveling, watching and writing about movies, and drinking copious amounts of coffee. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland, where he played in cemeteries as a kid and thought it was completely normal.
Contact: Admin@Brickhousebooks.com
Ricky Ruszin, Copy Editor
Ricky Ruszin
Belle Martire serves as Social Media Manager for Brickhouse Books. She also works as a government consultant and a club lacrosse coach. Belle graduated from William & Mary with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, and from Clemson with a Master's degree in Public Administration. She played Division I lacrosse at both schools.
On an ideal day, you can find Belle with a book in one hand, a steaming mug of black coffee in the other, and her french bulldog, Moose sitting in her lap. Belle hosts a monthly book podcast on Spotify called, A to Z with A&B. She lives in Washington, D.C. and is thrilled to work for an organization located in her hometown of Baltimore.
Contact: Admin@Brickhousebooks.com
Belle Martire, Social Media Manager
Belle Martire
Dean Smith has over 30 years of experience across scholarly, university press, and trade publishing. Since 2019, he has served as the Director of Duke University Press, where he leads digital innovation, strategic planning, and global initiatives.
An accomplished author and poet, Smith has published works including the poetry collections Baltimore Sons (2021) and American Boy (2000), as well as the non-fiction title Never Easy, Never Pretty: A Fan, A City, A Championship Season. In addition to his leadership roles, he is an adjunct professor of publishing at George Washington University.
Dean Smith, Director
Dean Smith