Brewing the magic potion for a successful book is by no means an easy task.
It demands more than just an eloquent writing expression: finding the right publishing house is an equally important ingredient.
If you’re a writer, here are 21 top book publishing companies in Southern California that you should consider:
1. Silver Dolphin Books
This one’s for the children. Based in San Diego, CA, Silver Dolphin Books has been operating for nearly two decades with a desire to create and promote books that inspire children to learn more about the world they live in. They have made a name for themselves in the market by publishing innovative books that engage children and develop a zeal for empiricism. With a long history of publishing titles that are appreciated by both, children and parents, they have over 500 publications ranging from beautifully illustrated board books for pre-schoolers to award-winning non-fiction books for 12 year olds. Silver Dolphin Books has amassed numerous accolades over the years, including the prestigious 2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year and the 2013 NAPPA Honours Award. The company is currently accepting submissions from Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators members. You can contact them on this page.
2. Thunder Bay Press
This publishing house makes no attempt to segment its reading audience: it offers something for everyone. Thunder Bay Press is based in San Diego and published its first title almost three decades ago, back in 1990. It has since published across difference formats and categories, such as activity titles and kits on topics including cooking, games, crafts, and art, along with reference books about pets, art, fitness, travel, culture, history, nature and even sports. ‘A Crash Course in Stopping Diabetes’ and ‘Fifty States: Every Question Answered’ are two of their most popular works that have graced people’s bookshelves. Thunder Bay Press is currently not accepting unsolicited manuscripts. You can check this link for more updates about the submission process.
3. Portable Press
Portable Press is a top publisher of trivia books and the home of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader, the longest running and most popular trivia series of its kind that has over 15 million books in print around the globe. Portable Press has its headquarters on Barnes Canyon Road in San Diego, CA. They have been publishing anthologies of history, fads, humor, quotes, puzzles, and children’s books for almost 30 years now. Here’s how you can contact them for any queries and suggestions. Do note that Portable Press is not open for submissions at the moment.
4. Unnamed Press
Based in Los Angeles, Unnamed Press is driven to publish literature from across the globe. They publish both fiction and non-fiction titles, as long as they are gripping and beautifully written. The company is especially fond of titles exploring unique protagonists, unchartered territories and bold narrative voices. Some of their best works are ‘Vagablonde’, ‘The Wanting Life’ and ‘From Hell to Breakfast’. If interested, you can send your submission queries to Unnamed Press on this page.
5. Brown Paper Press
This is a small publishing company founded by Jennifer M. Volland and Wendy Thomas Russell in Long Beach, CA. The organization works with a relatively small but highly qualified and competitive team of marketers, designers and editors. They have published authors like Peter Gaidics and Tim Grobaty and with books like ‘The Inheritance of Shame’ and ‘I’m Dyin Here’, Brown Paper Press proudly boasts some extremely influential published works out there. They publish writings pertaining to a range of different genres, namely narrative non-fiction, philosophy, parenting, memoirs, sociology, pop culture and humor. They have a complete set of guidelines regarding submissions that you can read here. Currently, Brown Paper Press is only accepting submissions in non-fiction. You can send your memoirs and other titles focusing on humor, parenting, philosophy, politics, pop culture and sociology.
6. ProStar Publications
ProStar Publications is an established book publisher that has produced and published over 1000 new editions since its inception in 1991. It is the largest publisher and distributor of U.S. Nautical publications worldwide. All of its titles including ‘U.S. Sailing Directions’ and ‘Navigation Rules (International and Inland) are US Coast Guard approved. They have a branch in Annapolis, MD and another one in Inglewood, CA. Here’s how you can contact them.
7. Waterton Publishing Company
This company celebrates book in all its forms and genres. Originating from Los Angeles, CA, Waterton Publishing is a relatively new publishing company that aims to promote quality literature encompassing various fiction and non-fiction genres for children, young adults and adults. The international thriller ‘Illusion of Splendor’ by J.D. Easley, is perhaps their most notable publication yet. For more information and queries regarding submissions, you can contact them via their website.
8. Rare Bird Books
Los Angeles, California houses Rare Bird Books, an organization that has published numerous celebrated authors and entertainers such as Greg Anton, Isaac Fitzgerald, Jeffrey Deaver and Gary Phillips. It was founded by former independent book sellers in 2009, and it has since published 50+ titles every year. ‘Black Sheep Boy’ by Martin Pousson is one of their featured titles that was recently awarded the 2017 Pen Center USA Award for Fiction. The company can be contacted via their website and the e-mail addresses provided here. Do note that they aren’t accepting unsolicited submissions at the moment.
9. Prospect Park Books
Prospect Park Books is one publisher that values quality over quantity. Based in Altadena, CA, this organization will go an extra mile to ensure that they meet all your requirements with precision. In their ten years of active service, Prospect Park Books have served many ‘big names’ such as the Holy Family Church, St. Andrews Church and Alere Health; so it’s no surprise that several books they published have won editorial and design awards. It has several acclaimed titles under its belt, such as the ‘Righteous Rebels’ and ‘Non Essential Mnemonics’. Prospect Park Books offer a wide array of value added services including creative development, writing, editorial, photography, printing, art direction, marketing consultancy, and distribution consultancy. The company specializes in cookbooks, art/gift books, humor, regional titles and fiction, but they do not publish general non-fiction (biography, business, self-help, how-to etc.), fiction other than mystery, creative non-fiction, and poetry. You can find out more about their submissions guidelines on this page. The company is not accepting new titles and will only accept agented submissions when they open for submissions again. They do, however, offer custom publishing services via their imprint Raymond Press. For more details, visit this page.
10. Kaya Press
Established in 1994 Kaya is an independent publishing house located in Los Angeles. Since their inception, the company has been driven to publishing challenging and thoughtful titles touching the diverse diasporas of Asian countries and the Pacific Islands. Some of their bestselling titles include ‘Readymade Bodhisattva’, ‘Last of Her Name’, and ‘I Even Regret Night’. The company follows an open submissions approach. You can familiarize yourself with the submission guidelines on this page.
11. Pauline Books And Media
This is the publishing branch of Daughters of St. Paul, an apostolic mission that aims ‘to reach out to real people struggling to live the real faith today’. It was founded in 1915 by Mother Thecla Merlo and it has since developed a vast network of Catholic bookstores, producing and distributing books, e-books, smartphone apps, music and movies. Based in Culver City CA, the organization only publishes resources that attempt to rejuvenate and resurrect the Catholic identity. With books like ‘Awakening Love’ and ‘Treasury of Catholic Prayers’, Pauline Books and Media is one of the most trusted Catholic Publishers in the U.S. It is open to submissions from the general public. You can go through all their submission guidelines and policies here.
12. The New World African Press
Originally founded as Elsie Mae Enterprises in Northbridge, CA back in the 1990s, The New World African Enterprises has undergone several evolutionary phases over the years. The organization primarily associates itself with publishing manuscripts that focus on the Diasporic World – a major void left by many publishing houses. However, that’s not all that this press is concerned with: it also welcomes non-Diasporic manuscripts and literature. ‘The African American Odyssey’ and ‘Growth of the Liberian State’ are two of its widely recognized publications. Think this is the company you’ve been looking for? Go ahead and mail your submissions to the company at the address provided on their website.
13. Plural Publishing
Based in San Diego, Plural Publishing is one of the leading publishers for academic, scientific, clinical, and other scholarly titles. They primarily focus on the field of special education, speech pathology, audiology, and singing. The company is currently open for new submissions and is accepting titles in the fields of communication science, audiology, speech-language pathology, singing and vocal pedagogy, American Sign Language and deaf education, special education, and medicine. For more details about the submission process, visit this page.
14. Chimayo Press
Chimayo Press was originally set up as an independent educational publishing company in Los Angeles, CA that expanded in 2011 by adding fiction to its offered niches. It was founded by Janet Levine in 2005 when the company launched its first Advanced English as a Second Language title, ‘Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics’. The company recently added Dennis E. Hackin to its impressive list of published authors that already includes Erick Roth and Toni Aberson. You can use their contact page to make any queries about the submission process.
15. Chemical Publishing Company
Chemical Publishing Company has been disseminating quality literature for professionals such as doctors, scientists, engineers, and other highly skilled individuals from its headquarters in Palm Springs, CA since 1934. It’s a well reputed STM (Scientific Technical Medical) based industry chemical publisher that has distribution partners all around the world. They publish works related to Cement Technology, Applied Sciences, Chemical Formularies and a range of other diverse scientific fields. Here’s how you can submit your manuscript for publication.
16. Santa Monica Press
Established in 1994, Santa Monica Press is a small, independent publishing house based in Solana Beach. Over the last two decades, the company has published multiple critically acclaimed titles spanning across diverse genres like popular culture, humor, biography, film history, travel, and photography. Some of their best works include ‘Footsteps in the Fog’, ‘The Three Stooges’ and ‘Secret Walks’. The company also publishes reference books. Santa Monica Press is currently open to submissions from both authors and agents. You can contact them on this page.
17. Red Hen Press
Red Hen Press is an independent publishing house based in Los Angeles. The company was established by Kate Gale and Mark E. Cull in 1994 in a bid to preserve and disseminate creative literature. Over the years, they have pursued and achieved this goal by publishing excellent titles in poetry, literary fiction, and non-fiction. Some of their bestselling works are ‘A Fine Day for a Middle Class Marriage’, ‘A History too Much’ and ‘A Life Above Water’. The company is currently open for submissions and they accept both agented and unsolicited manuscripts. You can contact them here.
18. Phoneme Media
Established in 2014, Phoneme Media has been focused on publishing titles that encourages and fosters cross-cultural understanding. The company is an imprint of Deep Vellum Publishing and they connect ideas with individuals with their translated works. Despite being new in the industry, Phoneme has already published multiple bestselling titles like ‘ The Freedom Factory’, ‘Stormwarning’, and ‘The Wild Great Wall’. While the company is closed for submissions at this time, you can check this page for latest updates about their upcoming submission window.
19. Semiotext (E)
Semiotext (E) is one of those rare publishers who have introduced French theory amid Americans. Established more than three decades back, the company publishes theories, fiction, science fiction, and titles focusing on economics, satire, sexuality, and activism. Some of their recent titles are ‘Weight of Earth’, ‘Social Practices’, and ‘Seasonal Associate’. You can reach out to them with your submission queries on this page.
20. Taschen
This is a multinational art book publisher that has been publishing masterpieces since 1980. It was founded by Benedikt Taschen in his hometown of Cologne, Germany. Today, the company has numerous branches around the world, including one in Beverly Hills, CA. Taschen publishes art books of many different genres including fetishistic imagery, queer art, pornography, and historical art. You can learn all about the submission process in their FAQ section or contact them directly for any further information.
21. Gab Brands LLC
This Moreno Valley based publisher strives for excellence in all departments and warmly welcomes submissions from all genres. ‘Inspired Word’, ‘The Belly of a Woman’, and ‘Slow Down Baby Girl’ are three of its books that are an absolute delight to read. You can create a contact request here to enquire about submission guidelines.
Book publishing can be bit of a strenuous task, but if you’re fortunate enough to find the right people, nothing’s more rewarding for a writer.
And now that you know all about the best publishing companies in Southern California out there, what’s the wait?
Get working on your manuscripts and introduce yourself to the world!
Are you a book publisher in Southern California? Please tell us about your activities in the comments box below!
21 Top Book Publishing Companies in Southern California is an article from Writing Tips Oasis.
Copyright © 2014-2019 Writing Tips Oasis All Rights Reserved
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.