If you are an author who wants to publish your book, then you might face a serious dilemma in your choice for picking the right publisher. That’s simply because there are various factors involved including the reputation of a publisher, its history, quality, other authors associated it and obviously its influence in the market.
In order to help you find a publisher, we’ve compiled the following list of 16 top book publishing companies in Illinois:
1. Agate Publishing
Founded in 2002 by Doug Seibold and based in Evanston, Illinois, initially it was limited to the publication of only African-American literature, but since then it has expanded considerably to include genres ranging from business related nonfiction books to nutrition and entertainment. It is considered as one of the most progressive and dynamic publishing houses operating in the country. Notable authors associated with the house include names like Leonard Pitts and Tadd Waddington. Do note that Agate primarily accepts submissions for your non-fiction titles. They are open to submissions in the areas of health, nutrition, cooking and food for their Surrey imprint; non-fiction titles focusing on business interest for their B2 imprint, and non-fiction titles focusing on Midwestern issues for their Midway imprint. They are, however, open to submissions in both fiction and non-fiction by African American authors for their Bolden imprint. For submitting your work, take a look at this page.
2. University of Chicago Press
Considered as one of the oldest and largest printing presses of the country, University of Chicago Press is controlled and operated by University of Chicago, publishing both scholarly and non-scholarly works. It was formed in 1891 and has since published well-known works such as: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn (1962), A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean (1976) and The Road to Serfdom (1944) by F.A Hayek. Currently, Garrett P. Kiely serves as its 15th director. University of Chicago is open to accepting manuscripts spanning across a wide range of topics including (but not limited to) sociology, biology, life sciences, literature, literary studies, media studies, art, architecture ancient history, classics, philosophy, environmental studies, conservation, American history, music, rhetoric and communication. If you are looking for information on submitting your manuscript, click here.
3. Loyola Press
This organization was established in 1912 as Loyola University Press, but became a separate non-profit entity in 1940, further changing its name to Loyola Press in the year 1995. It churns out 25-30 books per annum with a special focus on Catholic traditions and spiritual matters. If you have something you want to publish, take a look at Loyola Press’s submission guidelines. Do note that Loyola Press is particularly interested in titles focusing on Ignatian spirituality.
4. University of Illinois Press
Established in 1918, University of Illinois Press is one of the top publishing houses for non-fiction and scholarly titles. Over the last few decades, this Champaign based publisher has published several award-winning works on communications, film studies, African American studies, and women studies. They are always willing to add more genres by accepting new works from talented authors. Some of their top titles include Against Citizenship: The Violence of the Normative by Amy L. Brandzel, To Turn the Whole World Over: Black Women and Internationalism by Keisha N. Blain and Tiffany M. Gill, and Palestine on the Air by Karma R. Chavez. University of Illinois Press is currently accepting new submissions in the lines of African American music, Asian American experience, and disability histories to name a few. You can find a full list of accepted genres on this page. If interested, you can submit your manuscript here.
5. Haymarket Books
Established in 2001, Haymarket Books is a Chicago-based publisher of non-fiction titles. They also, however, publish some selected fiction titles from time to time. In non-fiction, the company is fond of works with an emphasis on socialism and socialist issues. Over the years, they have published best-selling titles like Everything Must Go by Kevin Coval, The Politics of Precariat by Ruy Braga, and Missing Daddy by Mariame Kaba. Haymarket is currently open for submissions in non-fiction. You can contact them here.
6. Cozy Cat Press
Established in 2010 by talented editor Patricia Rockwell, Cozy Cat Press specializes in publishing light mysteries with little or no bloodshed. Over the last 9 years, the company has already published 200 titles. Most of these works involve quirky characters, gripping plotlines, and bold narrative structures. While the press primarily publishes works for adults; teens and young adults would also love reading them. Their best-selling titles include Memories of Malice by R. J. Rein, Fatal Fall by Teresa LaRue, and Maiming of the Shrew: A Snarky Mom Mystery by Jacqueline Corcoran. Cozy Cat Press is currently accepting light mysteries. To know more about their submission guidelines, visit this page.
7. Dramatic Publishing Company
Established in 1885 by talented journalist Charles Sergel, Dramatic Publishing Company is an independent publishing house based in Chicago. The company has been operating for five generations and during this time, they have consistently produced quality titles in the line of theatre. Their catalog comprises of musicals, full-length dramas, one-act plays, and other non-fiction titles tailored for both children and theatre professionals. Some of the best works published by the company include Back Story by Joan Ackermann, Happily Ever After by Mary Ahl, and Txt U Later by Jennifer Addesso. Dramatic Publishing Company is currently accepting new titles. You can find the detailed submission process here.
8. Tyndale House Publishers
Currently based in Carol Stream, Tyndale House Publishers was established by Ken and Margaret Taylor in 1962. At that point, the company started out by printing 2,000 copies of Living Letters. A year later, it was endorsed by Billy Grahams and Tyndale House Publishers received their much-needed popularity. Since then, the company has published hundreds of best-selling Biblical titles, and with time, they also started publishing quality work in both fiction and non-fiction. Some of their notable works are The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges, The Holiness of God by R.C Sproul, and Flash by Rachel Anne Ridge. Tyndale House accepts submissions only if it comes from a reputed literary agent. To know more about their submission guidelines, visit this page.
9. Chicago Review Press
Founded in 1973, Chicago Review Press works as an independent publishing house specializing in diverse genres. It has grown into a dynamic entity with more than 900 titles in print. It publishes general non-fiction on subjects ranging from music, science, film, history, geography and travel. Moreover, if you are looking to inculcate a reading habit in young ones, then this house also stands out by publishing quality children books. Chicago Review Press is currently closed to fiction submissions and is only accepting non-fiction works focusing on African American issues, Midwestern themes, women’s issues, food, drinks, parenting, politics, popular culture, sports, nature, true crime, and social science. If you’re interested in submitting your manuscript to this publisher, take a look at the guidelines on this page.
10. Joshua Tree Publishing
With a history spanning back to more than three decades, Joshua Tree Publishing is one of the oldest evangelical publishers to be featured on our list. Based in Chicago, the company specializes in titles that inspire the human spirit, motivates individuals to achieve greater goals, and leaves a lasting impact on readers. Some of their remarkable works include Everything Is God by Marvin O’Neal, Meet Victoria by Vesna Dimoska, and Another Outlaw in the West by Joshua M. Turk. Joshua Tree Publishing is currently open for submissions. You can find more details about the process on this page.
11. Southern Illinois University Press
With an ideology to publish diverse authorship for a universal readership, this house was formulated in 1956. Publishing almost 50 titles per annum, topics range from political history, science, literature, fiction and poetry. It works to create a better understanding of myriad political and cultural problems of the world and suggests their possible solutions. The notable works published by this press include: The Early, Middle and Later Works of John Dewey and The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant. Southern Illinois University Press is currently open to submissions for your non-fiction titles. If you want to publish with them, take a look here to find out how to prepare a book proposal.
12. Crossway Books
Crossway Books was established in 1979 in a bid to disseminate quality titles focusing on Christian faith. With time, the company turned out to be massively successful under the leadership of Dr. Lane Dennis who is also incidentally the son of the founders, Clyde and Muriel Davis. Located in the quaint corners of Wheaton, Crossway Books has published more than 1,500 titles evangelical Christian titles. Some of the best-selling works include Sing a New Song by Lydia Brownback, The Whole Armor of God by Iain M. Duguid, and Transformed by Truth by Katherine Forster. Crossway is currently open to new submissions on the lines of Christian life, Christian worldview, and academic titles focusing on theological studies, biblical studies, and the history of Churches. The company is especially fond of works that discuss the key issues faced by Christians in the current age. You can share your book ideas to Crossway on this page.
13. Lake Claremont Press
Lake Claremont Press was established in 1994 by Sharon Woodhouse to publish works celebrating life in Chicago. Since then, the company has published several non-fiction titles and guidebooks exploring the warmth of Chicago’s history, geography, people, and lore. The company is especially interested in representing authors with a passion for the city’s culture and extensive knowledge of its local organizations. Over the last few years, the company has published 60+ titles, most of which have been featured in leading magazines and newspapers. Some of the notable include Draining Chicago: The Early City and the North Area by Richard Lanyon, Chicago Eternal by Larry Broutman, Good Old Neon: Signs You’re in Chicago by Nick Freeman. The company is currently open to new submissions and can be contacted here.
14. ACTA Publications
Established in 1957, ACTA Publications is a Chicago based publisher of spiritual, religious, and educational titles. With time, it has expanded its editorial scope to include diverse genres like sports, social justice, and fiction. The company publishes around 8 to 10 new titles every year and they already have a backlist of 400+ books and CDs. Some of their top titles include Under Pain of Mortal Sin by Donald Cozzens, The Alzheimer’s Spouse by Mary K. Doyle, and Wayward Tracks by Mark Collins. ACTA Publications is currently open to manuscript submissions. You can find more details about their submission process on this page.
15. Sourcebooks
For those claiming to be voracious and eclectic readers, Sourcebooks, based in Naperville, Illinois, provides a wide variety in their list ranging from non-fiction, romance, commercial fiction, literary fiction and gift books. With a slogan of “illuminate, inspire and enlighten” it aims to diversify its readership by providing quality reading material to its readership. If you’re an author who has written something on the lines of romance and adult non-fiction, take a look at the submission details at this page.
16. Dalkey Archive Press
Founded in 1984 and named after a novel “The Dalkey Archive” by an Irish author Flann O’Brien, this publishing press is known for its publications of poetry, literary criticism, and fiction, and often going for lesser-known or what are termed as “avant-garde” works. With headquarters in Champaign, Illinois, it is well-known for its endorsement of modernist and post-modernist work of literature. The house has a formidable reputation as it has various accolades to its name including the most prestigious Nobel Prize, the Vondel Prize and Premio Valle Inclán Award. Competition to get published by this publisher is fierce, with it receiving around 12,000 unsolicited manuscripts. Dalkey Archive Press is currently open for submissions in literary fiction. They are especially interested in works that follow the experimental style of Sterne, Joyce, and Beckett. Do note that they do not accept poetry or non-fiction. Take a look at this page to find out its submission requirements.
Though publishing a book is a lengthy and often a tiring process, and finding the exact right publisher for your book demands a lot of research, this list of 16 top book publishing companies in Illinois hopefully make things easier for you.
Go through the list, identify the right publisher and contact them without any further delay.
Even if you are not an author and are looking for some good reads to pass your time, this list serves your purpose by providing you with an opportunity to check out the works of your interest.
16 Top Book Publishing Companies in Illinois is an article from Writing Tips Oasis.
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My name is Adil Khan and I’m a student of English Literature and Linguistics. Writing is much more than a profession for me. It’s a hobby, a passion, and a purpose. For the past 5 years, my days have been following the cycle of: read, write, sleep, repeat.