Gimmick Press

20/09/2025

wondering who's going to be at the Book Fair? Gimmick Press is an independent micro publisher of pop culture inspired literature and art, founded by Josh Olsen and Katie MacDonald. Josh Olsen is a librarian and a columnist for SlamWrestling.net. His latest book, Things You Never Knew Existed: Essays, is available from Roadside Press. Katie MacDonald teaches art in Detroit, Michigan and is the layout editor and cover artist for Gimmick Press.

03/09/2025

are you ready? submissions open on Monday! https://theliteraryunderground.org/fugett/

13/03/2025

Without Brian, without Zygote in My Coffee, without Tainted Coffee Press, there would be no Gimmick Press. RIP Brian Fugett.

a fitting (edited) tribute from Aleathia Drehmer for our dear friend Brian W. Fugett. RIP ❤ 😭

photo of Brian by Casey Rearick. Danny's Big Banana by the Zygote dude himself

10/03/2025

The Gimmick Press store is officially out of stock. Josh Olsen's Things You Never Knew Existed is still available from Roadside Press, and Working Stiff will remain available on Amazon, but all other Gimmick Press titles are out of print, making them exceptionally rare and valuable. Thank you if you ever bought a book from us. If the spirit moves us, we might do it again some day.

27/11/2024

Ahead of the holidays, we cut the cost of all Gimmick Press books, and added free shipping on all domestic orders, no discount code needed. A few of these only have a couple copies left, and then they are SOLD OUT!

12/11/2024

Josh Olsen will be here with wrestling tapes, trading cards, and copies of Things You Never Knew Existed!

Step back into the world of retro media at Tape Mania! Hosted by VHS Detroit

01/11/2024

This Sunday, November 3, Josh Olsen will be signing copies of Things You Never Knew Existed at the Downtown Ann Arbor District Library!

01/10/2024

Josh Olsen will be signing his new book, Things You Never Knew Existed, at the 2024 A2 Community Bookfest on Sunday, November 3.

Save the Date! The 2024 A2 Community Bookfest is Sunday, November 3 at the Downtown Library. Join us for a day celebrating books at the A2 Community Bookfest! Formerly the Kerrytown Bookfest, the A2 Community Bookfest is thrilled to return to downtown Ann Arbor for 2024! Booksellers, publishers, au...

18/09/2024

Just a few signed copies left of Josh Olsen's new book of micro essays. Order now before it sells out!

few signed copies left at https://www.magicaljeep.com/product/existed/173

Josh Olsen’s third collection of nonfiction, Things You Never Knew Existed, was written during a period of transition, in a space of underemployment, familial challenges, and adult disillusionment, where trading cards, action figures, and pro wrestling aren’t mere reminders of a carefree youth, but function as lifelines to self-care. These essays reveal insight into the value of obscure, small pleasures, with an unyielding eye for detail, pervasive humor, and a profound sense of empathy.

Josh Olsen is a librarian, a columnist for SlamWrestling,net, and the co-creator of Gimmick Press, an independent micro publisher of pop culture inspired literature and art.

04/09/2024

Josh Olsen's Things You Never Knew Existed is now available from Roadside Press, Amazon, or direct from the author!

13/06/2024

"There are versions of ourselves most of us don’t let the world see. They’re the versions eating fast food burgers in the car, unclogging the work toilet, losing sleep remembering moments when we were most ashamed of our bodies. They’re maligned stepchildren and outsiders; adults who relish in nostalgia because trading cards, collectible stickers, and pro wrestling magazines aren’t so much reminders of a happy youth as old lifelines. Josh Olsen’s Things You Never Knew Existed takes up residence in this space of underemployment and adult disillusionment, yes, but its essays also reveal insight into the value of obscure, small pleasures with an unyielding eye for detail, pervasive humor, and a profound sense of empathy. One essay recalls watching an old wrestler nicknamed The Hammer search for an old action figure of himself, perhaps aware of how much he shares with an old doll—worn down, smudged, and cast aside by people younger than him, people grown up. Olsen nails this portrait of The Hammer like he nails so much else in this unforgettable collection."—Michael Chin, author of My Grandfather's an Immigrant, and So Is Yours and Stories Wrestling Can Tell

Reserve your signed copy here >> https://www.magicaljeep.com/product/existed/173

30/05/2024

The pre-order for Josh Olsen's new book, Things You Never Knew Existed, published by Roadside Press, is now live, so pre-order today and reserve your signed copy! https://www.magicaljeep.com/product/existed/173?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1tKj4qbAjFewblQfYX9TKtCt0ixtH3gNFpaeIEupt8FORQbDd7A_jjiA0_aem_AY9rLOWZEQWRw07gR8_J5sBLhba6umi-PEti7c4OeV-Ka8Xc-cnnc8ZNJG7HJo9zw1a_N3KdFF-cSlJzCO4-3OHL

RESERVE your SIGNED copy today. Books ship/release SEPTEMBER 2024.a book of essays by Josh OlsenJosh Olsen’s third collection of nonfiction, Things You Never Knew Existed, was written during a period of transition, in a space of underemployment, familial challenges, and adult disillusion...