Are you an author who lives in the state of Victoria in Australia?
Have you just written a book and want to get it published by a publisher who is based in state?
Continue reading to find out about 5 top book publishing companies in Melbourne.
1. Melbourne Books
Are you on the lookout for an independent publisher that is capable of bringing your literary dream to life? Melbourne Books may be the one for you.
Melbourne Books was founded in 2000 by David Tenenbaum, an experienced publisher, who believes good stories need to be told – regardless of the form or genre. Over the years, Melbourne Books has published memoirs, cookbooks, academic books, novels, personal development guides and many more unique titles, therefore it’s a great publishing for authors, whose work cannot really be labelled. As long as it’s a brilliant story, it should be heard!
Melbourne Books is committed to collecting top-notch writing from all over the country each year, which can be found in their annual Award Winning Australian Writing anthology. It’s a collection of short stories and poetry that have been entered into both established and small competitions in Australia, giving the unknown winners a chance for their big break and national publicity.
The manuscript submission at Melbourne Books process begins with a suitability assessment. Should you wish to know if your work fits their catalogue, download and fill the Submission Form and send it to info@melbournebooks.com.au. If you wish to submit a piece for the next edition of Award Winning Australian Writing, you can find more information here.
2. Text Publishing
Have you always dreamed of publishing a book readers can get lost in? A story that will stay with them forever? You’re in luck, as that’s the type of books Text Publishing likes to see in their catalogue.
Text Publishing was established independently in 1990 and is now lead by Michael Heyward, publishing non-fiction and both literary and commercial fiction for adults and young adults. A three-times winner of the ABIA Small Publisher of the Year, they believe in books that trigger the imagination and spark a conversation in society.
If you’re to publish with Text, you can be sure every element of bringing your book to life will be of the same, highest quality. Writing, editing, design, production, promotion – all will be taken care of thoroughly to turn a raw manuscript into a finished product. A national bestseller is not good enough for you? Don’t worry, Text will get you to whatever place on Earth you wish your book to be read.
Text Publishing only accepts manuscripts sent via post. You can find submissions guidelines here. Best of luck!
3. Thames & Hudson Australia & New Zealand
Thames & Hudson was first founded in London in 1940 by a couple of passionate publishers. 30 years later, it became Thames & Hudson Australia – a Melbourne-established publishing with a local and international program for producing books on visual arts.
This family-owned, independent publishing business is still expanding, with offices and distribution sites in Europe, Asia and the U.S. They were awarded the ABIA Small Publisher of the Year prize last year, and are currently publishing 30 Australian titles annually while stocking over 7000 titles already and still bringing new ones in for the domestic market.
Apart from the traditional arts, the Thames & Hudson’s catalogue includes different niches such as architecture, design, photography, gardening, as well as cooking. One of their recently published titles is a striking Yves Saint Laurent photography album, which gives fashion enthusiasts a thorough overview of their collections from the past and the present.
Thames & Hudson is currently seeking book proposals in all areas of visual arts, as well as lifestyle and children’s stories. Please submit a proposal with some sample writing to submissions@thameshudson.com.au. Bear in mind feedback will not be provided unless applications are solicited/successful.
4. Melbourne University Press
What started out as a student books and stationery shop in 1922, is now the oldest university press in Australia, publishing books and journals within their three separate imprints.
With such a long, rich history, all publications that carry the MUP mark are bound to be high quality and extremely reputable, especially the beautifully illustrated landmark books from the Miegunyah imprint. Apart from those, the MUP publishes a diverse range of subjects, which include science, sport, history, politics, academic, arts and many more.
Although it’s an old publishing, the MUP is most certainly moving with the times to promote and sell more books, while also reaching a wider audience. In 2017, they had a major update done to their website and online bookshop, giving an access to purchasing both e-books and physical copies via the Internet. The MUP has a long catalogue of older titles, which they add to every year with around 50 new books – yours can soon be one of them!
Before you submit a proposal, familiarise yourself with the styles of non-fiction published by MUP’s imprints and choose the best fit for your submission. Submissions should be made electronically, hard copies will not be considered. You can find a list of things to include in a proposal here.
5. Scribe Publications
With two locations in Melbourne and London, a scout in New York City, as well as over 40 years of publishing history and experience, Scribe Publications really has the ability to open doors for first-time authors.
The publishing was founded in 1976 and has been running independently ever since. They’re a multi-award winning company, with over 65 titles published yearly just through the Australian division! Generally speaking, Scribe is a non-fiction and fiction publishing, with so many sub-categories and genres it’s impossible to name them all; medicine, science, history, memoirs, literature, true crime – you name it, they publish it.
As the publishing is not only Melbourne-based, both local and international writers are considered. Important topics and top-notch fiction will get you there, regardless of where you’re from and how many books you have or haven’t published before.
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications, Scribe editors will not be accepting or assessing any new unsolicited work till the end of 2019. It’s worth checking this page for any updates as we move into 2020. Children’s book authors, however, may wish to submit a proposal to Scribe’s kids imprint Scribble – here’s how!
Are there any other book publishing companies in Melbourne that should be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
Zofia Filipowicz is a freelance journalist living in Poland. She has graduated from De Montfort University in Britain, with a first class degree in Journalism and English Literature. Since then, she’s worked with different print and digital publications. Currently open for commission.