Two Dollar Radio

On Feb. 9, 2019, Polaris, Ohio Northern University's literary magazine, went on a trip to visit the Two Dollar Radio Headquarters. Two Dollar Radio is an independent family-owned publisher based in Columbus, Ohio. The company was founded in 2005 and specializes in literary fiction. We were lucky enough to get to speak with one of the owners, Eric Obenauf, who gave us all some interesting insight into the publishing company. Eric talked to us about why they had originally founded Two Dollar Radio, one of the reasons being that Eric was struggling to find books that intrigued him and had bold voices. Eric explained to us that most of the larger publishing companies are looking for books that they think will make them lots of money. They want books that are marketable. They aren't necessarily looking for something new or bold. Eric told us that he liked reading quirky books with interesting stories or bold new ideas that haven't really been seen before. He noticed there wasn't really a huge market for this, so they started Two Dollar Radio to give these writers a voice.

Two Dollar Radio also has a small cafe at their headquarters in Columbus, Ohio where people can buy some of the books they've published or enjoy a nice vegan meal. They host numerous activities in their cafe every week. When asked why they decided to open the cafe, Eric explained that it was a way for them to further connect with their community. I really enjoyed Two Dollar Radio because of what the company stands for. They support writers that they feel are underrepresented by larger publishers, which I believe is something that is very important. I also think it's important to support these smaller publishing companies. If you're looking for a good book to read, check out their website and take a look at some of the writers they've published. There is something there for everyone!