Are you a writer in Canada who has just written a book and are now looking for a Canadian book publisher?
Do you want to send in your manuscript directly to the publishing house, rather than through a book agent?
If so, take a look at our list of 21 top Canadian publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts below!
1. Talon Books
With more than 600 books in print and over 300 awards, Talon is one of the most diverse publishers in Canada. They publish more drama than anyone in the nation and their translations from Quebec are equally noteworthy.
Over the last 10 years, Talon has expanded its literary non-fiction titles to include international works on the Balkans, the Middle East, Aboriginal rights and history, and on Canadian political issues. While they do accept unsolicited submissions for drama, fiction, and non-fiction, they do not accept unsolicited manuscripts for poetry. They do not accept submissions for self-help, Young Adult books, children’s books, cookbooks, memoirs, short story collections, how-to books, or genre work. You can find their submission guidelines here.
2. Turnstone Press
A literary publisher dedicated to providing Canadian authors with the deserved visibility, Turnstone Press is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are particularly interested in working with new authors and with writers from underrepresented communities (such as LGBTQ+ members), as well as with immigrants living in Canada.
Poetry, literary fiction, and literary non-fiction are their genres of choice. If you want to get an idea about what they like, you should look up “King Jerry”, by David Arnason, “The Family Romance”, by Eli Mandel, and “Dancers in a Web”, by Andrew Parkin.
To learn about their submission guidelines, click here. However, keep in mind that Turnstone Press does not publish cookbooks, self-help, business, children’s books, romance, horror, YA/young reader, personal memoirs, or family histories.
3. Douglas & McIntyre
Located in Madeira Park, British Columbia, this publisher was founded in 1970 and reorganized in 2013 under the name of Douglas and McIntyre Ltd. Their books have won numerous prizes, such as the Governor General’s Literary Award or the Scotiabank Giller Prize, thus managing to become one of the top Canadian publishers of our time.
Fiction, non-fiction, cooking, history, young adult, and art/photography are just a few of their favorite genres. If you’re looking for their most successful titles, you might want to check out “Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder: A Memoir”, by Julia Zarankin, “Embers: One Ojibway’s Meditations”, by Richard Wagamese, and “The Lesser Blessed”, by Richard Van Camp.
They are interested in working mostly with Canadian authors, especially when it comes to people of color, LGBTQ+ members, or any other members of underrepresented communities. To send a manuscript, keep in mind that only those received via Submittable will be considered – any questions you may have should be sent at submissions@douglas-mcintyre.com.
4. At Bay Press
At Bay Press is an independent publishing house located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The company was established over 10 years ago, and since their very inception, they’ve been driven to represent the new works of undiscovered authors. Over the last decade, At Bay Press has published original, thought-provoking, and exceptionally crafted titles in fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, science fiction, fantasy, and in many other genres. Some of their titles are “What Fox Knew”, by Mary Barnes, “Place Into Being”, by Robert Pasternak, and “Put on the Armour of Light”, by Catherine Macdonald. If you’re looking to join their growing list of authors, check out their submission guidelines on this page.
5. Coach House Books
Innovation is the undercurrent of new growth. Coach House strives to be a beacon of innovation in Canada by publishing high-quality poetry, fiction, drama & film, and select non-fiction. They are not interested in average works, as they are looking to move past the margins and to pioneer new paths. Coach House Books was established in 1965 by Stan Bevington and is based in Toronto, Ontario. To learn more about what they like, you should check out “Neighbourhood Watch”, by Anais Barbeau-Lavalette, “Swivelmount”, by Ken Babstock, and “Word Problems”, by Ian Williams.. Are you a Canadian writer that pushes through the boundaries of tradition? Find out how to submit your work to Coach House here.
6. Orca Book Publishers
If you’re fond of writing children’s titles, Orca Book Publishers is one of the best options for you. Based in Victoria, this publishing house has been operating for almost four decades. During this time, Orca has rolled out thousands of exceptionally written children’s fiction, picture books, and educational titles, to name a few genres. ‘Nightwalker’ by K.V Johansen and ‘Drawn Away’ by Holly Bennet are just two of their best-selling titles. Right now, Orca is open for submissions, but they’ll only accept your work if it meets their submission guidelines. For more details about the submission process, visit this page.
7. Broadview Press
Are you a writer for academic humanities? Do you need a respected publisher to put you toe-to-toe with some of the world’s greatest minds today? In either case, Broadview Press can help you. Operating as an independent publisher since 1985, the company is looking to acquire publications on the subjects of philosophy, English studies, politics, writing & composition, and more. They are also interested in academic works on environmental and feminist issues. They have an outstanding list of respected authors, such as Margaret Cavendish or Julius Bailey, and are large enough to distribute their books around the world. You can find out how to submit your manuscript or proposal here.
8. Boulder Publications
Boulder Publications is a leading publisher of field guides, fiction, and historical works. They are home to award-winning books such as “Newfoundland in the First World War” and “Perished: The 1914 Newfoundland Sealing Disaster”, both by Jenny Higgins, as well as to “Birds of Newfoundland: Field Guide” by Ian Warkentin and Sandy Newton. Boulder maintains a high standard for editing and book design. They publish on subjects such as children’s books, cooking, fiction, hobbies & crafts, history, nature, photography, plays, and trivia. You can send your submissions to Boulder on this page.
9. Between the Lines Books
If you are looking for a publisher of non-fiction titles, Between the Lines Books may be just the right platform for you. An independent publisher for over 40 years, the company published their own history book called “Books without Bosses: 40 Years of Reading Between the Lines”. Over the last few decades, the company has also represented authors like Christopher Samuel, Ian McKay, Lesley J. Wood, and Michael Riordon, to name a few. The company is interested in publishing authors who focus on social justice and in being a voice for those who are often silenced. They are looking for books on politics, public policy, law, media, social work, development studies, environment, criminology, technology, and on many other topics. You can find the full submission guidelines here.
10. Red Deer Press
Red Deer Press is one of the leading Canadian publishers of children’s fiction. Starting out as an affiliate of Red Deer College, the publishing house became an independent publisher of children’s titles in 1985. Over the past couple of decades, they’ve published several fiction titles for kids and young adults. Now, their backlist includes adult titles as well – humor, poetry, drama, and fiction are just a few of their preferred genres. Owing to their significant contributions in the literary sphere, they and their authors have also won more than 300 awards. Luckily enough, Red Deer Press is currently open for submissions. You can reach out to them on this page.
11. Second Story Press
If you’re looking to publish your upcoming feminist title, Second Story Press is one of your top options. Established in 1988 by Margie Wolfe along with three other women, this publishing house has been focused in rolling out feminist-inspired titles for both young people and adults. Their books are sold throughout the globe and are also translated in multiple languages. What’s more, this publishing house has also won several awards for their outstanding contribution in feminist literature. If you would like to be published by them, take a close look at their submission guidelines here.
12. Arsenal Pulp Press
Arsenal Pulp Press is a five-time finalist of the Small Press Publisher of the Year Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association and a past winner of the Jim Douglas Publisher of the Year Award. They are interested in literary fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, gender studies, regional history, alternative crafts, cooking, and more. . Over the last few years, the company has worked with authors like Joshua Whitehead of “Johnny Appleseed” and Kevin Chong of “The Plague”. Arsenal Pulp Press publishes their titles on a wide range of subjects, including humor, LGBTQ+ fiction & non-fiction, political studies, youth culture, biography & memoir, and social issues, to give some examples. Are you willing to push the boundaries? In case you are, check out their submission guidelines here.
13. Invisible Publishing
Tired of being unseen and unheard? Looking for creative diversity? In either case, ‘Invisible Publishing’ is a great option for you. This publisher is looking for non-genre fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. They are also committed to bringing more diversity to the publishing industry and to breaking traditional barriers. Unlike many other publishing platforms, Invisible Publishing encourages LGBTQ+ members, writers of color, and Indigenous writers to send in their work. So, if you are interested, check out their submission information here.
14. Dundurn Press
Dundurn Press is an independent Canadian publisher that focuses on a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. The company was established in 1972 by Kirk Howard, and since then they rolled out over 2,500 titles in print and around 1,700 eBooks. Their genres of choice are business & economics, young adult, literary fiction, paranormal, true crime, health & well-being, arts & culture, and memoir, to give some examples. They only accept email submissions at present – to learn more about the guidelines, click here.
15. Signature Editions
Signature Editions publishes 6-9 titles a year with a diverse list of poetry, drama, non-fiction, and fiction. Notable titles include “The Spanish Boy”, by C. S. Reardon, “Off the Ropes: My Story” by Roland Vandal, and “The Back Channels” by Jennifer House. They are based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and you can check out their submission guidelines here.
16. Flanker Press
Flanker Press is mainly interested in historical fiction and regional non-fiction trade books, with a focus on the burning issues of Newfoundland and Labrador. They have been in business since 1994, and also launched an imprint called Pennywell Books, in 2004. Pennywell publishes young adult fiction, short stories, literary fiction, and children’s books. Flanker Press, on the other hand, focuses on a wide range of subjects like architecture, crafts & hobbies, history, religion & spirituality, and even some more narrowly focused categories such as ghost stories, true crime, and sea stories. You can find their submission guidelines here.
17. Mansfield Press
Are you a poet who’s looking for a good publisher? In that case, Mansfield Press is one of the best options for you. While most publishers focus on fiction or non-fiction books, Mansfield Press changes this equation by mainly publishing the poetry titles of Canadian writers. Starting in 2000 with four books of poems, their catalogue now includes fiction and non-fiction works as well – “The Art of Sufficient Conclusions”, by Sarah Dearing and “Imagining Toronto”, by Amy Lavender Harris are just two titles worth looking up. Since they receive a large number of submissions, the chances of them working with unpublished writers are very low. You can click here for the full guidelines.
18. Ronsdale Press
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Ronsdale Press was established in 1988 with the purpose of providing Canadians with new information about their culture. They have about 270 titles on their backlist and are enthusiastic about working with both new and experienced authors. Children’s books/young reader, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry are the four main genres featured on their website. Some of their most recent releases are “Gold, Grit, Guns”, by Alexander Globe, “Pandemic Poems”, by Philip Resnick, and “Solidarity”, by David Spaner. Before sending them your manuscript, keep in mind that they are highly interested in biographies, history, and in writings with social and political themes. To access the full guidelines, click here.
19. ECW Press
Based in Toronto, Ontario, ECW Press already has more than 1,000 titles on their backlist. Pop culture, fiction, non-fiction, sports, and poetry are their genres of choice, and there are plenty of books you can check out to see if your style is similar to any of their previous publications – “The Unlocking Season”, by Gail Bowen, “’Membering”, by Austin Clarke, and “Smuggler’s Blues”, by Jay Carter Brown are just three examples. Before submitting your work, make sure to read their full guidelines.
20. Book*Hug
Formerly known as BookThug, Book*Hug is an independent publishing house that focuses on contemporary titles. Established in 2004, this company is driven by one goal: to publish innovative and thought-provoking titles in literary fiction and non-fiction, poetry and drama, as well as literature in translation. Book*Hug has represented both aspiring and established authors. Some of their titles include ‘Coconut Dreams’ by Derek Mascarenhas and ‘Before I was A Critic, I was a Human Being’ by Amy Fung. Currently, Book*Hug is actively seeking new titles. So, if you want your works to be published by them, check out their submission guidelines here.
21. Goose Lane Editions
Goose Lane Editions is the publisher of many diverse authors in literary fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. Many of their authors also have been published in journals, magazines, and newspapers such as Fiddlehead, New Quarterly, Globe and Mail, and Reader’s Digest. A few titles worth checking out are “Daughters of Silence”, by Rebecca Fisseha and “The Death and Life of Strother Purcell”, by Ian Weir. So, are you ready to take your writing up to the next level? Click here to find their submission guidelines.
Do you know of any other Canadian book publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts? Please tell is about them in the comments box below!
Need more publishers in Canada? Here are 17 in Alberta and 17 in Ontario.
Tony Franklin is a writer, pastor, and teacher from Illinois and Kentucky, United States, with a background in philosophy, psychology, and biblical studies. He is an advocate for and a student of multi-cultural ministries and has a passion for music of all types. He has been blogging inspirational reading for nearly ten years at www.myabishai.blog and www.myabishai.net and recently published a critical book at politics and religion called “Jesus Politics”.