Are you looking for book publishers in Northern Ireland?
Below we’ve featured 5 book publishing houses in Northern Ireland who are currently accepting submissions.
1. Ambassador International
A Belfast-based publishing company, Ambassador International was founded in 1980 by Dr. Samuel Lowry. After gaining experience, he decided to establish an office in Greenville, South Carolina as well. The company has six full-time employees at the moment, but it also has dozens of freelance contributors and more than 35 returning authors.
Once you access their Book section, you will find a broad range of topics – bible study and devotionals, biography, fiction, grief, history, ministry, mission, theology, and cooking are just a few of the categories from which you can choose. However, you should keep in mind that their main aim is that of spreading their love for Christ and of sharing the Gospel. Since their activity is motivated by religion, it is crucial to contact them only if you feel like your manuscript would be suitable for such a purpose. To get an idea, their titles include “Romance and Redemption”, by Timothy Cross, “Son of the Father”, by Andrew Stone, and “The Gates to Recovery”, by Cathy Sweat.
If you are interested in a collaboration, they are currently looking for manuscripts for their 2021-2022 catalogue, so feel free to submit your work after reading their Guidelines here.
2. The Blackstaff Press
One of the most renowned publishers in Northern Ireland, the Blackstaff Press was founded in 1971 and has promoted authors such as Glenn Patterson, Patricia Craig, and John Hewitt. In time, they managed to publish more than 900 titles, and they are receiving assistance from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, in order to be able to support Irish writers and their literature. Even more, they also work with public and private bodies, such as BBC Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, and the Belfast City Council.
In terms of preferred genres, they feature fiction, general non-fiction, humor, history and politics, memoir, poetry, photographic, and others on their website. They also have Colourpoint books available, as they are a member of Colourpoint Creative Ltd.
They do not publish poetry, erotica, drama, and children’s books at the moment, and chances to be chosen for publication are higher if your work fits the standards of non-fiction. If you would like to find out more, you can check their Submission Guidelines here. Also, if you have a company that you work for and you need publishing services, they have a list available on their website.
3. No Alibis Press
A small independent publisher from Northern Ireland, No Alibis Press features a bookstore for David Torrans and his team to sell their books in. Their main goal is simple: to find works that are fierce and worth sharing with the public, and to improve them through every stage of the publishing process. In 2017, the company collaborated with Angela McMahon of Flow Communications in order to set up the Noireland International Crime Festival Belfast, which is a celebration of crime writing.
Although they did not categorize their titles on the website, you can still become familiar with their style once you see the books they published. They include “The Lammisters”, by Declan Burke, “December Stories 1”, by Ian Sansom, and “Disorder”, by Gerard Brennan.
If you would like to collaborate with them, you should know that they do not accept children’s books, collections of poetry, young adult fiction, and non-fiction. However, if you have high-quality fiction manuscripts which you would like to publish, they will most likely be interested in them. They usually respond in around 8 weeks, but it can take longer if it’s a busy period.
Before reaching them, make sure to read the Submission Guidelines available here.
4. Shanway Press
Founded in the 1970s, Shanway Press is a publishing and printing company situated in Northern Belfast. A family-run business, the press has produced hundreds of books written by a wide range of Irish writers, thus becoming one of the most renowned publishers in Ireland. Having promoted several materials, from small leaflets to books, it is clear that Shanway Press takes on a broad range of projects.
Their published genres vary widely, as they feature titles like “The Poor Clares in Belfast (1924-2012)”, by Martin J. Magill, “The Edge: Walking the Ulster Way with my Angels & Demons”, by Dermot Breen, and “Counselling the Abused”, by Eamon McCreave.
If you want to work with them, you should first read their Publishing section. They are open to producing any books, from thrillers to personal experiences, as long as you agree to discuss your project beforehand.
5. Appletree Press
Based in Northern Ireland, Appletree Press is a top publisher of giftbooks and guidebooks for the international market. They produce works in eight distinct languages, including Spanish, Greek, Japanese, and Russian. In terms of co-publishers, we can name, among their North American partners, Chronicle Books, HarperCollins, and Macmillan. Besides their regular productions, Appletree Press also publishes 2 fine art yearbooks regarding renowned art collections in Ireland.
Their catalogue consists of the following genres: biography, Celtic, drink, food, genealogy, humor, music, nature, pocket guides, religion, Scotland, travel & tourism, sport, and many others. The Northern Ireland category has a broad range of books from which you can choose, and you can find it here. Also, since they are constantly working, they also have a Future Projects section, in which you can see their current activity.
In case you want to work with them, you ought to read their Submission Guidelines first. They prefer receiving their manuscripts via email, as they are much easier to store online. However, even if they welcome submissions from potential authors, keep in mind that there can be a delay of several months in their feedback.
Are there any other book publishers in Northern Ireland what should be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
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