With easy access to technology, every other person has a blog or writes poetry and calls themselves a writer, but the testament to a true writer is their capability to become a published author.
Finding the right publisher has never been as crucial as it is in this age of overload of information and readers being spoilt for choice.
Writers need to think, focus and choose the right publisher if they want to excel in the literary field.
North Carolina has an interesting history in publishing with a late start due to its agricultural economy and then a boom in printing books because of high costs involved in transporting books from other states.
Now, North Carolina is a burgeoning market for all kinds of publishing companies.
Writers here can take their pick without being overwhelmed and come out a winner if they choose any of our 21 top book publishing companies in North Carolina.
1. Warren Publishing
An award-winning author of children’s books, Cathy Brophy founded Warren Publishing in 1988. Mindy Kuhn is the current owner. An all-women agency that employs a 5-step publishing process, Warren Publishing has won awards for its unique approach to getting books published. They also have an annual writing contest for women military veterans and women military family members. Writers can expect to work in close collaboration with the Warren Publishing team to give their book every chance it deserves to succeed. The Charlotte-based company is currently looking for manuscripts in trade fiction, suspense, romance, children’s books, health and fitness, cooking, travel, motivational books, memoirs, poetry, and self-help. You can find their submission guidelines on this page. Please note that Warren Publishing charges a small submission fee, but in exchange, they do provide feedback on each submission.
2. Chapel Hill Press
Edwina Woodbury took over Chapel Hill Press in 1999 and has turned it into a profitable self-publishing company. Since then, the press has helped many writers achieve their dreams of becoming published authors. Chapel Hill offers editing, proofreading, designing, planning, and marketing services for writers. Fiction, biographies, self-help, mystery, coffee table books, children’s books, and memoirs are just some of the genres they usually publish. They are not accepting new manuscripts at the moment, but you can check back with them in the future. You can also get in touch with them via email should you have any general inquiries.
3. Wisdom House Books
Ted Ruybal and Clara Jackson started Wisdom House Books to use their publishing experience to help guide writers through the complicated literary world. This boutique publisher offers various services such as editing, indexing, ghostwriting, designing, layout, photography, publicity, marketing, social media, illustration, branding, and digitizing. They are interested in publishing children’s books, fiction, memoirs, non-fiction, coffee table books, and graphic novels. You can inquire about their services and get a free 10-page manuscript evaluation by filling out their online inquiry form.
4. Franklin/Kerr Press
Franklin/Kerr Press a full-service publishing house based in Concord. They specialize in works of fiction, particularly in the horror, thriller, and science fiction genres, but they are also open to other genres and subgenres such as fantasy and young adult fiction. Franklin/Kerr is currently closed for submissions, but you may periodically visit the submissions page on their website for updates. Should you have any general questions, you can reach Franklin/Kerr Press via email.
5. Black Mountain Press
Originally launched in 1994 as a publisher of books on outdoor sports and nature, Black Mountain Press has since shifted its focus to publishing the works of outstanding emerging writers. Headquartered in a renovated farmhouse in Asheville, Black Mountain is currently seeking memoirs, novels, short story collections, and poetry books. Authors who are interested in submitting their work may do so via snail mail or through Black Mountain’s Submittable page. Do note that they charge a small submission fee for online submissions. You can find their submission guidelines and contact information on this page.
6. McFarland Books
One of North Carolina’s most prolific publishing companies, McFarland is rooted in the state’s rich heritage. Robert McFarland Franklin established McFarland Books in 1979, calling it a ‘library-oriented publisher’ because of its focus on academic and non-fiction books. They now have almost 7000 titles in print, and they publish more than 350 new titles annually. Reference books, guides, and monographs on topics like academia, sports, education, literature, cinema, and the arts are just some of the genres they cover. They are currently accepting non-fiction manuscripts on topics such as sports, health, history, war, film, art, women’s studies, and literature. Interested in submitting? Read their submission guidelines here and send them your manuscript via email.
7. Backbone Press
A small press offering opportunities to aspiring writers and poets, Backbone is based in Durham. They primarily publish poetry and are most interested in publishing the works of poets of color. They are open for submissions at the moment, and they are currently looking for poetry that is gritty, poignant, and invocative. Should you be interested in submitting your work, you can do so through the submission form on their website. For more information, you can check out their submission guidelines here. You can also contact them via email for any general inquiries.
8. Press 53
Since October 2005, Press 53 has been publishing the best writing from the North Carolina region and beyond. Located in Winston-Salem, the press discovers new talent mainly through writing contests, such as the Press 53 Award for Short Fiction, the Press 53 Award for Poetry, and the Prime Number Magazine Awards for Poetry and Short Fiction. They do not accept submissions, but authors who join their contests stand the chance to get their work published. Press 53 only publishes a limited number of books annually, and they are only interested in short fiction and poetry. You can learn more about their annual writing contests here. You can also contact them via email for any additional questions.
9. The University of North Carolina Press
Founded in 1922, UNC Press was one of the first university presses in the United States. With a strong emphasis on creating and developing a regional publishing program, UNC Press has published nearly 5,400 titles, many of which are Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners. While the press maybe regional, it is also involved in producing books about local, regional, national, and international issues. It only publishes non-fiction in areas like history, law, media, culture, business, science, economy, sociology, and politics. Interested authors can read the submission requirements on this page. For general inquiries, you can reach UNC Press through their online contact form.
10. Gryphon House
Located in Lewisville, Gryphon House was originally founded in the 1970s as a distributor of children’s books and teaching resources. In 1981, they started publishing their own books. They now have nearly 200 titles on their list, including books by Jackie Silberg, Pam Schiller, and MaryAnn Kohl, among others. They are currently open for submissions, and they are looking for quality books for teachers, parents, and anyone who works with children. They are not interested in children’s books at the moment. For detailed instructions on submitting a proposal, you can check out their guidelines here. If you have any general inquiries, you can reach the Gryphon House team through their online contact form.
11. Taylor Made Publishing
Based in Greenville, Taylor Made Publishing is a full-service self-publishing company that specializes in non-fiction and children’s books. They offer various services, including editing, designing, proofreading, formatting, promotional materials, and media kits. They also offer all-inclusive publishing packages. Should you be interested in Taylor Made Publishing’s services, you can fill out the submission form on their website.
12. Carolina Academic Press
Carolina Academic Press is a Durham-based publisher specializing in academic and non-fiction books. For more than 40 years, they have been producing reference books and academic journals in various fields, like including law, history, sociology, political analysis, management, anthropology, education, and crime. CAP welcomes submissions by mail or through their submission form. If you have any other questions or concerns, you can find CAP’s contact information here.
13. Alabaster Book Publishing
Established in 2004, Alabaster Book Publishing is a publishing company located in Kernersville. They provide a range of self-publishing services that give authors greater control over the creative process, and they are open to publishing everything from novels and poetry collections to memoirs and how-to books. If you are interested in Alabaster Book Publishing’s services, you can find their submission guidelines and contact details on this page.
14. Intellect Books
Headquartered in the UK with an office in Wilmington, Intellect Books is an independent academic publisher best known for their work in the media, art, and creative industries. Their areas of interest include film studies, performing arts, visual arts, cultural studies, fashion, communication, and music. They are currently open for submissions. If you are interested in submitting your work for their consideration, you can check out their submission guidelines here. You can also reach the Intellect Books team via email.
15. Duke University Press
Durham-based Duke University Press is an academic press and the publishing arm of Duke University. They primarily publish scholarly, academic, and educational books on a wide range of subjects, including anthropology, cultural studies, gender and sexuality, politics, philosophy, history, religion, law, current affairs, and more. Duke University Press welcomes submissions in the form of book proposals. Proposals must include a cover letter, detailed chapter outlines, the author’s resume, and a couple of sample chapters. For more information, check out their submission guidelines here. For general inquiries, you can contact them via email.
16. Regal House Publishing
Based in Raleigh, Regal House Publishing is a small traditional publisher that specializes in historical fiction, literary fiction, and contemporary fiction. They also have two other imprints: Fitzroy Books, which specializes in middle grade and young adult fiction, and Pact Press, which publishes books that celebrate diversity and inclusion. They are currently accepting submissions via their Submittable page. Regal House also holds different writing contests throughout the year. For more information, you can check out their submission guidelines here. Contact them via email for any additional questions.
17. Lulu
One of the biggest self-publishing companies in the country, Lulu was founded by Bob Young in Morrisville in 2002. It made a huge impact on the self-publishing industry and made it possible for anybody out there to publish a book. They publish all kinds of books, including fiction, mystery, crime, thriller, romance, action, murder, humor, family, love, and children’s books. Their website is very user friendly, making it easy to create and sell your book. They also have tons of great resources teaching you how to self-publish. If you have a manuscript you’ve always wanted to publish, you can get started here. Should you have any questions about their services, you can find their contact information here.
18. Author’s Boutique
Founded by Sherrie Wilkolaski, Author’s Boutique is a publishing consulting firm based in Raleigh. Using her skills as a bestselling author and self-publishing expert, Sherrie helps authors by providing them with all the necessary tools to succeed. They can evaluate your manuscript and help you determine where you stand from a publishing point of view. They can also edit, proofread, and market your book for you. You can contact them here to learn more about services.
19. Baen Books
Founded by Jim Baen in 1983, Baen Books science fiction, speculative fiction, adventure, space operas, and fantasy. Jim was an innovator who understood the potential of e-books and became one of the pioneers of e-book production. Baen Books has published the works of many eminent authors, many of whom have won awards in science fiction, speculative fiction, and fantasy. Located in Wake Forest, they welcome submissions of full manuscripts through their online submission form. For more information, you can find their submission guidelines here. You can also reach them here for any other inquires.
20. Alonquin Books
Founded in Chapel Hill in 1983, Alonquin Books is an imprint of Workman Publishing. They have published a number of bestselling fiction and non-fiction books, including Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro, The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart, and Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, among others. Alonquin Books is closed for submissions at the moment, but you can sign up for their free email newsletter to get notified about any calls for submissions. Should you have any questions or concerns, you can get in touch with them via email.
21. Supposed Crimes
Supposed Crimes is a Matthews-based publisher that specializes in LGBTQ fiction. Unlike other LGBTQ publishers that focus on romance, Supposed Crimes mainly publishes genre fiction, including science fiction, action, horror, and similar genres. They are currently closed for submissions, but you can visit their submissions page for updates. For general inquiries, you can reach the Supposed Crimes team via email.
Those were our 21 top book publishing companies in North Carolina.
There has been a recent increase in the number of self-publishing companies which is thanks to the success of authors venturing on their own. While everyone’s story is subjective and what works for someone may not necessarily work for you, you can always draw parallels and use the success of others as an inspiration and motivation to start this journey.
It is also heartening to notice that the genres accepted by publishers are expanding and it comes as a relief to writers of every gender, race and class that there is something for them to write and share.
Publishers are acknowledging that the readers are keen on exploring new genres. It is not about traditional publishing or self-publishing, but the best way to reach your goal of being published and the means to that is a publisher that knows what they are doing without ignoring you in process.
The idea is to work on your dream without compromising your ideals and goals on the way.
Are you a book publisher in North Carolina? Please introduce yourself in the comments box below and leave a link to your website!
21 Top Book Publishing Companies in North Carolina is an article from Writing Tips Oasis.
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Shikha Pandey is a creative, content and script writer based in Mumbai, India.