Are you an author in South East Asia who has written a book and want to get it published?
Do you need some help in finding a book publishing house?
This post is especially for you.
Below you’ll find 17 top book publishers in Singapore.
1. Asiapac
Founded in 1983, Asiapac Books is one of Singapore’s most well-known and leading publisher of children, young adult, and adult trade fiction. The publish books in both English and Chinese languages, and prefer works that center around Asian culture, history, philosophy, health practices, art and literature. Some of their titles include “Hua Mulan: Legendary Woman Warrior” by Jiang Wei and Xu Deyuan.
They are currently accepting submissions via email only. They ask that you include an excerpt of your manuscript, a one-page synopsis, any sample artwork (if applicable), as well as your CV and portfolio so that they may get to know you better. Due to the high volume of submissions that they receive, they state that it can take them up to six months to respond to your proposal.
2. Balestier Press
Balestier Press has offices both in London, England and Singapore. They are primarily a publisher of adult trade fiction. Some of their titles include “Unrest” by Yeng Pway Ngon and “The Chili Bean Paste Clan” by Yan Ge. The team at Balestier Press are especially interested in works with original narrative voices and like to see topics about contemporary world literature, humanities, and social sciences.
If you’re an author who believes that Balestier Press would be the ideal publishing company to produce your book, they highly encourage you send a query letter to them via email. The editorial team strongly encourages you to take a look at their catalogue to see if your book would be a good fit with the company. Be sure to include a brief author bio, your contact information, an estimated word count, information on your book’s genre, and a short synopsis.
3. Candid Creation
Candid Creation Publishing was founded in 1999 in Singapore and produces books in both English and Chinese. Candid Creation Publishing is primarily focused on producing books for adult trade fiction. They’ve worked with authors like Angeline Chan, Jacky Chua, and Abdul Rasheed Doad. They are always on the lookout for new talent and highly encourage new authors to get in contact with their editorial team. You can get in contact with Candid Creation either phone, email, or through their website’s online contact form.
4. Epigram
Epigram is an independent publishing company based out of Singapore that was founded as recently as 2011. While they prefer to publishing adult trade fiction, they also have a wide assortment of children, young adult, and nonfiction books in their catalogue. They’ve produced books like “The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye” by Sonny Liew and “Lion City” by Ng Yi-Sheng.
Epigram is currently looking for new submissions from Singaporean authors and are actively seeking proposals. If you’re interested in working with Epigram to publish your book, you can make your submission through their online submissions form, found here. Due to the high volume of manuscripts that they receive for review, they state that it can take up to six months to hear back from them. Be sure to check out their submission guidelines before going any further.
5. Ethos Books
Ethos Books is an independent publishing company based out of Singapore that specializes in adult trade fiction, nonfiction, and poetry collections. Founded in 1997, they’ve produced an impressive amount of bestsellers, including “This is What Inequality Looks Like” by Teo You Yenn and “Me Migrant” by Md Mukul Hossine.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscript via email, but highly encourage you to take a look at their previously published works to see if your book would be a good fit with the company. They ask that you refer to their formatting guidelines before you send your manuscript for consideration. Be sure to include a brief resume and cover letter that touches upon your interests, any past or ongoing writing projects, and your contact information.
6. Kitaab Publishing
Founded in 2005 by Singaporean journalist and writer Zafar Anjum, Kitaab is a publishing company that produces books in English, Hindi, and Urdu. They produce works of fiction, poetry collections, short story collections, and even essays that focus on Asian topics and culture. As a publishing company, Kitaab is ready and willing to help you through the publishing process.
They can publish your book in paperback, hardcover, print on demand, and ebook formats. They even have an in-house team of designers and illustrators who can help you with cover designs. They are currently accepting submissions, but highly encourage that you check out their submission guidelines before proceeding.
7. Landmark Books
Landmark Books is a small independent publishing company that specializes in producing books about Asian subjects. Some of their most recent titles include “Finders & Keepers” by Adam Tie and “Robert Kuok: A Memoir” by Robert Kuok and Andrew Tanzer. Since they are an incredibly small team, and can take a number of months to hear back from them. The best way to get in contact with Landmark Books is through their Facebook page, found here. Be sure to mention that you’re interested in their publishing capabilities and give a brief synopsis of your book, along with your contact information and sample chapters for their consideration.
8. Lingzi Media
Lingzi Media is another small independent publishing company based in Singapore. They only produce books in Chinese, and prefer adult trade fiction. They do, however, occasionally consider children’s picture books, nonfiction books, and poetry collections. Some of their titles include “Five Lessons of Youth” by Wang Deyuan. If you have a Chinese language manuscript and are interested in working with Lingzi, the best way to get in contact with their editorial team is either through email or through their Facebook page, found here. Be sure to send a proper query letter that includes your contact information, a synopsis of your book, an explanation as to why you’re interested in working with this publishing company, and a few sample chapters of your manuscript for review.
9. Marshall Cavendish
Marshall Cavendish International Asia publishes books in both English and Chinese. They have a number of different departments including Marshall Cavendish Business, Marshall Cavendish Cuisine, and Marshall Cavendish Children. They are currently on the lookout for new and original adult trade fiction. Some of their recent published titles include “The People’s Victory: How Malaysians Saved Their Country” by Kee Thuan Chye and “The Bonsaid Tree” by Meira Chand.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts via email. They ask that you include the date and title of your submission, a brief synopsis and outline, an estimated word count, your work’s genre and a brief description of your intended audience, your contact information, a brief author bio, and any marketing plans that you may have for your book. For more information, feel free to check out their submission guidelines.
10. Pustaka Nasional
Pustaka Nasional is a Singaporean independent publisher that produces books in Malay. The company first began publishing books in 1963 and focus on books about Malay language, culture, and history. They produce a wide variety of genres, including adult fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. If you’ve got a Malay manuscript and are interested in working with Pustaka Nasional, the best way to contact their editorial team is via email or telephone. Be sure to send them a query letter first to see if your book would be a good fit for their expertise.
11. Straits Times Press
Specializing in nonfiction books, specifically memoirs, history, politics, finance, and current affairs, Strait Times Press has been publishing for nearly twenty years. They work closely with The Straits Times, the English national daily newspaper in Singapore. They produce books in both English and Chinese language.
With an impressive amount of titles under their belt, including “99 Rules for New Dads” by Shan Wee and “SAM: A mother’s journey of faith” by Lim Soo Hoon, they have a fantastic in-house editorial team that can help with manuscript editing, design and layout, and marketing consultancy. If you’re interested in working with this publishing company, they recommend that you first send a query letter via their website’s online contact form.
12. Talisman Publishing
With over 35 years of experience, Talisman Publishing is an independent publishing company in Singapore that publishes books in both English and Malay languages. They primarily specialize in trade nonfiction, including history, culture, economics, politics, self-help, and travel. Talisman Publishing believes that their authors should have a hands-on approach to the publishing process, allowing their writers to make major decisions when it comes to branding and marketing. If your believe your book would be a good fit with the company, you can send them a query letter and proposal via email.
13. Armour Publishing
Founded in 1991, Armour Publishing is an independent publishing company based out of Singapore that specializes in books for Christians and the general market. They also have a healthy amount of nonfiction and children’s books in their catalogue! Some of their latest titles include “In Spirit and In Truth: Thoughts on Worship” by Robert M. Solomon and “The Great Big Lion” by Chryseis Knight.
They are currently accepting submissions via email. If you believe your manuscript would be a good fit with this publishing company, they ask that you include a cover letter with a brief author bio and manuscript synopsis, along with two or three sample chapters for review. They are more than happy to work with first-time authors, as well!
14. Pan Asia Publishing
Pan Asia Publishing is an independent publishing company that produces books in for the Chinese-speaking population of Singapore. Established in 1984, they primarily produce children’s stories and picture books, with specific interest in educational material. If you’re interested in working with Pan Asia, the best way to get in contact with their editorial team is by telephone or though their website’s online contact form.
In your enquiry, be sure to mention that you’re interested in proposing a book. Provide your contact information, estimated word count, and a brief summary of your material for their consideration. If they’re interested in your work, they will contact you with instructions on how to submit your full manuscript.
15. Bee Publishing Ltd
Bee Publishing Ltd is a member of the Singapore Book Publisher Association. They focus primarily on educational books and children’s stories that help young readers develop their literacy. They publish books in both English and Chinese. If you’re interested in working with this company, the best way to get in contact with them is actually via their Facebook page, found here. If you have any questions, you can also check out their website.
16. Editions Didier Millet
Editions Didier Millet was founded in 1989 in Paris, France by Didier Millet, with the Singapore branch being opened in 1990. They primarily produce nonfiction trade titles, and have a specific interest in books about Asian topics: including Singaporean history, culture, and politics. This publishing company helps its authors through every step of the publishing process. From conceptualization to manuscript editing and formatting to distribution, Editions Didier Millet makes sure they take care of their writers.
The best way to get in contact with this publishing company is via email. They are currently accepting submissions, but ask that you refer to their catalogue of books first to make sure that your work will be a good fit with the company.
17. ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute
Founded in 1968 by the Act of Parliament, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute aims to produce nonfiction books that promote discourse about socio-political issues, security, economics, and development in Southeast Asia. They’ve published titles like “Myanmar Transformed? People, Places and Politics” by Justine Chambres, Gerard McCarthy, Nicholas Farrelly, and Chit Win.
They are openly accepting submission of manuscripts with a particular interest in works of politics and international studies, economic development, and social change. If you’re interested in working with ISEAS, you can use their website’s online submissions form to send your manuscript for consideration or via email. Be sure to include a book abstract, information on your intended audience, an approximate word length, and any marketing plans that you may have for your book.
Are there any book publishers in Singapore that need to be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.