Are you an Australian author who writes fiction?
Have you written a book and are looking for publishing houses who might be interested in your manuscript?
Continue reading to learn about 19 top fiction book publishers in Australia.
1. DoctorZed Publishing
Established in the year 2006 in Adelaide, South Australia, DoctorZed Publishing is an independent press that produces a wide range of fiction and nonfiction print, ebook, and audiobooks. From action and adventure to young adult fiction, DoctorZed Publishing has produced titles like “Lure the Tiger” by Leonie McKeon, “Bowling Green Bay” by C.R. Cummings, and “The Girl With the Cardboard Port” by Judith McNeil. As a full-service publisher, they can assist their authors with the editing and marketing stages of their book’s publication.
They are currently accepting query letters via email. They ask that you fill out and use their inquiry to submit form so that they can better organize their submissions and more easily determine which projects are the right fit for their press. Due to a high volume of submissions, it can take anywhere between two to three weeks to receive a reply. Only successful applicants will be contacted to arrange for the delivery of their manuscript for further consideration.
2. Big Sky Publishing
Big Sky Publishing is an independent Australian publisher based out of Newport. While this press does specialize in non-fiction, they have an impressive selection of fiction titles, as well. They’ve produced titles like “Hadamar: The House of Shudders” by Jason K. Foster, “Dancing with Deception” by Catherine McCullagh, and “Until the Little Birds Sing” by Charles Granquist. The team at Big Sky Publishing loves to work with their authors who have fantastic Australian stories to share with the world.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts, and are currently interested in the genre of children’s books to help young readers learn and grow. You can submit your manuscript along with a cover letter via email. You should include a one-page synopsis of your manuscript, the first four chapters for consideration, the full manuscript if you’re submitting a children’s book, and a brief overview concerning your target audience, any applicable reviews of your book, your publication history, key selling points, and any relevant contacts. For more information, be sure to review their submission guidelines. Due to the high volume of submissions that they’ve received, it can take anywhere between four to six months to receive a response.
3. New South Publishing
New South Publishing was the Small Publisher of the Year winner in both 2016 and 2017. Based out of Sydney, Australia, New South Publishing produces works of general, literary, and illustrated non-fiction, as well as a select number of scholarly titles. Some of their most recent books include “The Shining Wall” by Melissa Ferguson, “Sky in the Deep” by Adrienne Young, and “Little Bird’s Day” by Sally Morgan.
The team at New South Publishing loves to work with new authors, but they are currently not accepting submissions for fiction at this time. For more information, you’re welcome to review their submission guidelines. For general inquiries, you can reach out via email or call +61289361400.
4. Recent Work Press
Recent Work Press is a small independent publishing company based in ACT, Australia. They publish works of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and other short-form works. Some of their latest releases include titles like “A Coat of Ashes” by Jackson, “Summer Haiku” by Owen Bullock, and “Acting Like A Girl” by Sandra Renew.
They unfortunately are not accepting unsolicited material at this time. If you’re an author with literary representation, it’s highly recommended that you have your literary agent submit a query letter or book proposal on your behalf. If interested in your project, a member of Recent Work Press’ editorial team will reach out promptly. For general inquiries, you can contact them via email.
5. University of Queens Press
The University of Queens Press (UQP) was founded in 1948 as a traditional university press, but has since expanded from academic publications to the areas of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, Indigenous writing, and youth literature. Some of their fiction titles include “The Trespassers” by Meg Mundell, “The White Girl” by Tony Birch, and “Little Stone” by Elizabeth Kuiper.
Due to a high volume of submissions, they are currently not accepting manuscript for fiction projects. However, if you’re an author with literary representation, it’s strongly recommended that you have your literary agent submit a query letter or book proposal on your behalf. In the meantime, you can review UQP’s submission guidelines to prepare your project for consideration. All submissions can be submitted via email.
6. University of Western Australia Press
Founded in 1935 in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, the University of Western Australia Press (UWAP) is a publisher of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and natural history, as well as select scholarly publications. Some of their featured fiction titles include books like “Elemental” by Amanda Curtin, “All the Way Home” by Kristin Henry, and “Arrhythmia” by Richard Rossiter.
They are unfortunately closed to submissions at this time, but you’re strongly encouraged to check back at a later date when this status may change. In the meantime, you can browse their current catalogue to make sure that your project will be a good fit with the press. For more information or general inquiries, you can contact the team at UWAP via email, through their website’s online contact form, or call +61864883670.
7. Wild Dingo Press
Wild Dingo Press is a small independent Australian press that was established in 2010. They publish a wide range of fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoirs, and investigative journalistic nonfiction. They’re particularly interested in titles with unique perspectives and distinct narrative voices. Some of their fiction titles include “Blood Sisters” by Caroline de Costa, “Choose Somebody Else” by Yvonne Fein, and “The Assassin on the Bangkok Express” by Roland Perry.
They are currently accepting submissions for both fiction and nonfiction projects via email. They ask that you include the first three chapters of your manuscript, along with a one-page synopsis for initial consideration. You should also include a cover letter that provides your contact information, your manuscript’s approximate word count, a short author bio, as well as information on your target audience, and any marketing plans you may have. Due to the high volume of submissions they receive, it can take several weeks to receive a response. For more information or general inquiries, you can reach out via email, through their website’s online contact form, or call +610499555226.
8. Text Publishing
Text Publishing is a three-time winner of the Small Publisher of the Year award. Based out of Melbourne, Text is a publisher of literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction. Some of their featured fiction titles include books like “The Master of Petersburg” by J.M. Coetzee, “The Golden State” by Lydia Kiesling, and “The Labyrinth of the Spirits” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
They are currently accepting manuscript submissions via regular post. They note that they are currently in the middle of their reading period, so they ask for your patience as they work to respond to all manuscript submissions. You should include a one-page synopsis and the first three chapters of your manuscript for consideration. Also be sure to include a cover letter that provides your contact information so that a member of their editorial team can reach out to you. For more information, please be sure to review their submission guidelines. For general inquiries, you can contact the team at Text Publishing through their website’s online contact form, or call +61386104500.
9. Giramondo Publishing
Founded in 1995, Giramondo Publishing is an independent Australian press based out of Artarmon. They pride themselves on their ability to produce high-quality works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Some of their featured fiction books include “Imminence” by Mariana Dimópulos, “Coach Fitz” by Tom Lee, and “The Last Days of Jeanne d’Arc” by Ali Alizadeh.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts through their online submission’s form. If you’re submitting your fiction project, they ask that you include a brief synopsis of your work, as well as your author’s CV. You should include the first three chapters for consideration. For more information, please review their submission guidelines before proceeding. For general inquiries, you can reach out via email or call +612977265350.
10. Spinifex Press
Spinifex Press is an award-winning independent Australian press that champions works of feminist fiction and nonfiction. Founded in 1991 in North Geelong, they’ve produced titles like “The Floating Garden” by Emma Ashmere, “Wire Dancing” by Patricia Sykes, and “A Gap in the Records” by Jan McKemmish.
They are unfortunately closed to unsolicited submissions at this time. However, if you’re an author with literary representation, it’s strongly encouraged that you have your literary agent submit a query letter or book proposal on your behalf. For more information or general inquiries, you can reach out to the editorial team at Spinifex Press through their website’s online contact form or call +614905151560.
11. Ginninderra Press
Originally founded in 1996 in Canberra before relocating to Port Adelaide in 2008, Ginninderra Press is an award-winning independent publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Some of their recent titles include “Flowers for the Protestants” by Janis Sephr, “Prime Cuts” by Angus Gaunt, and “No One Was Watching” by Annie Horner. The team at Ginninderra Press is passionate about promoting and distributing unique tales told by Australia authors, so they unfortunately do not accept manuscripts from residents outside of Australia at this time.
They are currently accepting manuscript submissions for fiction projects under 100k words in length. All submissions should be sent via regular post, as emailed submissions will not be considered. Due to the high volume of submissions that they receive, it can take up to eight weeks before receiving a response. For more information, please review their submission guidelines prior to sending in your material. For general inquiries, you can reach out to the team via email.
12. Hachette Australia
As a division of the global publishing house Hachette Libre, Hachette Australia strives to discover, nurture, and share exciting and refreshing new stories by Australian authors. With over 100 years of publishing experience, Hachette Australia has produced titles like “The Girl Before” by JP Delaney, “A Spanner in the Works” by Loretta Smith, “Memoirs of the Future” by Siri Hustvedt, and “The Oceans Between Us” by Gill Thompson.
They are currently accepting manuscript submissions via email. They are currently not interested in science fiction and fantasy, children’s books, illustrated books, cookbooks, self-help, screenplays or academic texts. They will only accept submissions from Australiana or New Zealand residents. You should include a synopsis and a word count, a brief author biography, any previous publication history, a short cover letter detailing your intended audience and a few authors you believe you’re comparable to, your contact information, and your complete manuscript for consideration. All manuscripts should be attached as a Word document. For more information, please review their submission guidelines before proceeding.
13. Freemantle Press
Founded in 1976, Freemantle Press is a small independent press that strives to produce quality works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s literature. Based out of North Fremantle, they’ve published books like “Boy on a Wire” by Jon Doust, “Driving into the Sun” by Marcella Polain, and “Out of Time” by Steve Hawke.
The team at Freemantle Press is currently accepting unsolicited submissions from authors of Western Australian origin, or who are currently residing in Western Australia. All submissions can be made through their online submissions form. You should attach your entire completed manuscript for consideration. For general inquiries, you can contact the team through their website’s online contact form, via email, or call +61894306331.
14. Penguin Books Australia
With offices based out of both Melbourne and Sydney, Penguin Books Australia is a division of the globally-renowned Penguin Random House. They publish all sorts of fiction, ranging from the genres of romance to literary fiction to fantasy and science fiction. Some of their latest releases include books like “Machines Like Me” by Ian McEwan, “The Gift of Life” by Josephine Moon, and “Lilac Girls’ by Martha Hall Kelly.
The team at Penguin Books Australia is currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts for adult fiction via email only. They ask that you include the first fifty to one hundred pages of your manuscript in Word or PDF format, state the title of your work, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, as well as the genre, and include in the body of your email your contact information, an approximate word count, a brief summary, a short author bio, any publishing history, details about comparative titles, similar authors, and your intended audience, as well as an indication as to whether you’ve submitted to other publishers. Please be sure to review their submission guidelines to make sure you meet all minimum requirements for consideration.
15. Backroom Press
Backroom Press is an independent publishing house based out of Broome, North Western Australia. Established in 2006, this micro-publisher aims to produce high-quality and representative works of children’s and adult’s fiction. Some of their most recent releases include “Mrs Millar’s Frogs” by Annette Millar, “Storm Pearl” by Kerry Anne Jordinson, and “The Art of Fire” by Jimmy Pike.
They are currently accepting unsolicited submissions via email or regular post. You should include a cover letter detailing your contact information, the type of story and genre you’ve written, details as to your intended audience, and whether you’ve had any feedback prior to publication. For more information, please review Backroom Press’ submission guidelines. For general inquiries, you can reach out to the team via email, or call +61891922283.
16. Elephant Tree Publishing
As the sister company to Missing Pages Books, Elephant Tree Publishing is a small independent publisher based out of Canberra, Australia. They produce works of both fiction and nonfiction intended for a wider, popular audience. They’ve worked with authors like Kathryn Spurling, Skye Davidson, and Lucy Marrett. Some of their latest titles include “Some Days: A Memoir” by Lucy Moffat, “Archibald: The Naughtiest Elf in the World Visits Santa” by Skye Davidson, an d “What Lies Beneath Us” by Kirsty Ferguson.
Due to a high volume of submissions, they are unfortunately closed to submissions at this time. You’re strongly encouraged to check back at a later date when this status is subject to change. For more information, you can still review their submission guidelines to prepare your project for consideration. If you have general questions, you can reach out to the team at Elephant Tree Publishing through their website’s online contact form.
17. Hot Tree Publishing
Are you a romance author looking to get your work published? Hot Tree Publishing is an Australian independent publisher based out of Kandanga that specializes in all things romantic fiction. From contemporary romance to fantasy romance, they believe that there’s a love story for everyone! A few of their most popular releases include “Healing Him” by Laura N. Andrews, “Boost” by Krissy V, and “At War with a Broken Heart” by Dahlia Donovan.
They are currently accepting submissions, and are especially interested in new adult and adult romances in the subgenres of suspense/thriller, motorcycle club, LGBT, reverse harems, urban fantasy, and shifters. You can submit your manuscript for consideration through their online submissions form. Be sure to include your contact information, an approximate word count, indicate your project’s genre, the first three chapters of your manuscript, and a brief synopsis. For more information, you can reach out to the team through their website’s online contact form.
18. Lacuna Publishing
Lacuna Publishing is a small independent imprint of The Small Press Network based out of Armidale, Australia. They publish works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, and are specifically interested in works that challenge the status quo and explore new ideas and share untold stories with fresh and unique perspectives. They’ve produced titles like “Melt” by Lisa Walker, “The Dragon’s Skin” by Ross Gray, and “Sweeties” by Leon Silver.
They are unfortunately closed for fiction and poetry submissions at this time, but you’re strongly encouraged to check back at a later date. In the meantime, you can review their submission guidelines to prepare your manuscript for consideration. For general inquiries, you can reach out to the publishing via email or call +61417041744.
19. Stormbird Press
Stormbird Press is an independent publisher of literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction that explore environmental themes. Based out of Parndana, South Australia, Stormbird Press has produced titles like “To Follow Elephants” by Rick Hodges, “Happiness Is Green” by Donna Mulvenna, and “The Suicide Season” by Jeremy Gadd. Due to the high volume of submissions that they’ve received, the team at Stormbird Press is unfortunately closed to unsolicited manuscripts for the remainder of 2019. However, they will reopen again in 2020, and strongly encourage you to check back at a later date. In the meantime, you can review their submission guidelines to prepare your manuscript for review. Should you have any questions, you can reach out to their team via email, through their website’s online contact form, or call +61881215841.
Are there any other fiction publishers in Australia that should be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.