Are you an author based in Australia?
Have you just written a book and are looking for a publisher?
Continue reading to find out about 10 top book publishing in Sydney.
1. Ventura Press
A fairly new but already well-established publishing, the Sydney-based Ventura Press has been releasing engaging titles by local authors known worldwide since 2002. Their goal is simple – to excite Australian readers with their fiction and non-fiction offering. The founder Jane Curry is a name so established in the Australian publishing industry, any author would be lucky to use over 25 years of her expertise to their benefit.
The main areas of publishing at Ventura are fiction, history, true stories, business, wellbeing and parenting. One of the more recognised titles in the lifestyle genre is “Midlife Manifesto” by Jane Mathews, offering guidance through humour and inspiration.
Proposals in all of the above categories are currently welcomed for submission at Ventura. At the moment, only authors from Australia and New Zealand will be considered. Each submission needs to include a short bio and synopsis, as well as a target readership and marketing analysis and naturally also a sample of your writing. You can find out more details here. Ventura guarantees each book submission will at least be discussed with the team – could you be their new hidden gem?
2. Bloomsbury Australia
J.K Rowling, Neil Gaiman and Margaret Atwood all have one thing in common – they’ve been published by no other than Bloomsbury publishing. Do you see your novel sitting on shelves next to the world’s most famous young wizard story? Keep reading.
Bloomsbury was established independently in 1986, and has built a publishing empire over the years, with offices in Sydney, London, Oxford, New York and New Delhi. They were the original publisher of the Harry Potter series, which is still a separate category in their extremely vast catalogue.
The five main Bloomsbury divisions are fiction, non-fiction, children’s, academic and education, with special interest imprints, sub-categories and every possible genre under the sun. The authors, who have published with Bloomsbury, have gone to win prestigious literary awards, such as the Nobel, Pulitzer and Booker prizes. One of their latest releases in fiction – “The Pisces” by Melissa Broder – is already listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction this year.
Although Bloomsbury does not accept unsolicited manuscripts and submissions for fiction and non-fiction, you can submit a proposal to their young adult imprint for debut authors Bloomsbury Spark. You can also find more general information in Writing for Bloomsbury.
3. Hachette Australia
Another expert publisher that’s recognised by both budding and experienced authors worldwide is Hachette. This global book group was founded in 1826 in France and is now one of the biggest publishing companies in the world, together with HarperCollins and Penguin Random House.
The Australia team of Hachette is dedicated to making the page-to-shelf process as fulfilling and meticulous as possible, creating a book that will satisfy Australian readers and bring the author the gratitude and popularity they deserve. The initial selection is also performed very thoroughly, so if you get published with Hachette, you can be sure you’re the crème de la crème of the literary universe.
The variety of genres is as broad as they come, from commercial fiction to memoirs, children’s books and lifestyle, coffee table reads. Hachette editors enjoy discovering and nurturing new talent – after all, even the most established companies benefit from the so-called breath of fresh air.
Unfortunately for those interested, due to the high volume of applications received, submissions are currently closed. Any updates and guidelines will however be posted here, so keep your eyes peeled.
4. HarperCollins Publishers Australia
Another publishing company, which history goes back decades, is of course HarperCollins – the oldest publisher in Australia. The years of experience they boast make it possible to merge tradition with the digital age, which is what readers value most of all these days.
HarperCollins works in a collaborative way, joining together writers’ unique ideas and creativity with their infallible knowledge of the market and commitment to bringing out the best books possible. They were one of the first in Australia to introduce and fully maximise the potential of e-books, instantly giving old and new titles a broader readership.
HarperCollins publishes an array of different genres and subjects, such as fiction, memoir, cookbooks, sci-fi, thriller and self-improvement. One of their award-winning titles, “Annihilation,” was later turned into a major motion picture for Netflix, with Natalie Portman playing the main character.
As of now, HarperCollins Publishers Australia, through its division Harlequin Books, has two imprints that are accepting submissions. HQ is looking for compelling Australian fiction written for women and nonfiction about Australians undertaking challenging feats, while MIRA is seeking Australian stories for women that have romantic elements in them. Take a look at this page to understand specifically what these two imprints are interested in.
5. Pan Macmillan Australia
Pan Macmillan is joining the list of well-known literary factories of talent, publishing award-winning, bestselling books from Australia and beyond. With a reputation that goes back to over 176 years ago, the London-founded Macmillan is now recognised worldwide and ready to support Australian authors in the journey towards achieving their dreams.
The list of genres published by Pan Macmillan is endless, creating opportunities for literary fiction and biography writers, authors of children’s and young adult books, as well as all things sport, cooking, lifestyle and more. New titles from all of those subject areas are currently sought after!
Pan Macmillan is devoted to making their publishing program available to locals, and have invented an unusual initiative that gives new writers a chance to shine and not end up on “the pile.”
Manuscript Monday is a submissions policy created by Pan Macmillan, where for four hours on the first Monday of each month authors are allowed to send through electronic proposals for their books. Make sure to familiarise yourself with the project’s guidelines and start working on your manuscript – one of the beautiful Pan Macmillan covers may have your name embossed on it soon.
6. NewSouth Publishing
Does a huge, multi-level publishing scare you? Do you fear anonymity and lack of personal attention? You’ve come to the right place. NewSouth – the publishing arm of the independent UNSW Press – is a small yet mighty publisher that won’t overwhelm debut authors.
NewSouth Publishing specialises in literary and illustrated non-fiction, with around 50 new books published annually. The publishing has been awarded Small Publisher of the Year twice in a row, marking their approach to forming close relationships with authors as admirable.
Although they’re not a big company, NewSouth staff are always available to offer guidance on the best possible book promotion strategy and anything else that could make the writer’s work truly splendid. “Books that change people’s minds” – that’s what you can find at NewSouth, and that’s what they can help you publish too. Naturally, since 2010 NewSouth also releases titles in digital form.
New authors with innovative ideas are welcome to submit their proposal to NewSouth. At the moment, the most desired material is of course non-fiction, as long as it’s compliant with the company’s current (and very diverse!) publishing program. Work based on PhD theses will not be accepted. Please familiarise yourself with the Submissions Guidelines for further details.
7. Murdoch Books
Striking photography and design that Murdoch Books presents to their readers with every new title, as well as such a broad lifestyle catalogue, have given us an appetite to dig deeper and unpack this leading independent publishing.
Murdoch Books was founded in the 1990’s and has represented a high level in quality of content and design, as well as keeping up with the latest kitchen trends and coffee table reads. The books published by Murdoch all have one thing in common – they’re hard to miss in the bookshop, and even harder to put down when you open them at home.
Murdoch Books lifestyle sub-categories include healthy body and mind, conversation starters, new ways of living, as well as eating trends. The team that works closely with authors are full of energy and ideas on how to make a debut shine and change lives – after all, every writer wishes to inspire. Some of the Murdoch’s bestsellers include a motivation book “Make It Happen,” a ketogenic diet cookbook, as well as a helpful guide to modern home renovations.
In a similar fashion to Pan Macmillan, Murdoch Books has introduced The Friday Pitch – a fair and well-organised system, which allows new voices to be heard. You can learn more about the submissions program, as well as the desired proposal itself, here.
8. Halstead Press
An established publishing, which embraces traditional values, is a proposition particularly to writers specialising in preserving history and heritage through words. Originally founded in 1929, Halstead was “the” literary press of its time and still continues to support writers in their journey to getting published.
Apart from the genres mentioned above, Halstead Press also produces illustrated fiction, scholarly titles and works that reflect on current affairs. With offices not only in Sydney, but also Canberra, it’s easily accessible and offers a wider reach from the get-go. Although the publishing remains proud and devoted to tradition, their books can be purchased both in stores and online, which increases the reach even further.
As a writer at Halstead, you can expect nothing but professionalism and quality through the entire process. Every detail matters when putting together a book, and they will see to even the smallest ones.
If you have an idea for Halstead’s consideration, you’ll be happy to hear the submissions are open. Necessary details and guidelines you may require when putting together a solid proposal can be found here.
9. Pantera Press
A team of literary visionaries that keeps growing and moving forward, Pantera Press is more than a publishing, and their goals are unique and impressive. Established in 2008, they strive to reduce illiteracy, spark debate and lift both writers and readers higher in their endeavours to make the written word matter in the twenty-first century.
Pantera Press was born out of pure passion for great stories written by Australian authors, and that’s the primary reason why they still publish today – they simply love good books! With their new innovative Lost the Plot imprint, they target millennials with titles encapsulating enough to take them away from their iPhone screens.
As oppose to other publishing companies, which fear “the pile,” Pantera Press welcomes unsolicited manuscripts with open arms. Instead of treating it as a burden, they’d rather see what’s not yet been read as a endless mine of fresh, often brilliant ideas. So if your remarkable proposal is dropped into this landfill, fear not, as talent seekers at Pantera may dig it out sooner rather than later.
Pantera Press accepts only digital submissions, which can be made here. Well-written fiction and non-fiction with subject matters that may appeal to readers globally are currently sought after. To learn more about submissions and company’s guidelines, click here.
10. Rockpool Publishing
Niche writers, who specialise in literature for the mind, body and spirit, will most likely be interested in Rockpool Publishing – a company that works with psychics, spirit mediums and other experts, whose work may not be appreciated elsewhere.
To illustrate, some of the latest releases include a spiritual guide to Chakras, a detailed herbology book, as well as an authentic modern witchcraft handbook. Sounds like your cup of tea? Keep reading.
Rockpool is fully independent and privately owned, which means plenty of freedom throughout the whole process of publishing, as well as nothing but personal attention and expert guidance. The owners, Lisa and Paul, are both experienced publishers, who wish to help readers and create a bond with them through their books.
Rockpool Publishing accepts unsolicited manuscripts, currently with most interest in the fields of spirituality, wellness, self-help and recreation. Only hard copy submissions will be considered. The extensive guidelines for submissions can be found here – please read them carefully before you send your proposal.
Are you aware of any other book publishing companies in Sydney? 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.