If you’re looking for a selection of the best indie publishers accepting submissions, below we’ve featured 19 for your perusal.
1. 11:11 Press
Based in Minneapolis, MN, 11:11 Press is an independent literary publisher specializing in all genres, forms, and varieties of literature. The company believes in the freedom of artistic expression and the incredible power of good storytelling. Over the years, they have published some bold, unique, and truly experimental titles that have been widely lauded by critics and readers alike.
As a publisher, 11:11 has always taken art very seriously and have consistently shared their authors’ vision with the rest of the world. Some of their notable works include Evan Isoline’s Philosophy of the Sky, Louise Armand’s The Garden, and Elisa Taber’s An Archipelago in a Landlocked Country.
The company is currently open to submissions and they are accepting novel-length fiction, poetry collections, short story collections, and long hybrid works. They aren’t, however, publishing individual short stories, poems, or essays at the moment. Submissions can be emailed here with SUBMISSION – [YOUR LAST NAME] – [MANUSCRIPT TITLE] in the subject line. Note that since 11:11 press has currently reached the capacity for their 2020 and 2021 rosters, your manuscript (if selected) will be up for release in 2022 and beyond. For detailed submission guidelines, check this page.
2. Conscious & Responsible Press
Conscious & Responsible Press is yet another independent publisher that is always looking to publish quality works in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The company is especially fond of works that are both informative and imaginative, illuminating truths that most of us are still unaware of. They accept titles from both new and experienced authors as long as their titles have a unique storyline, bold characters, and a fitting narrative technique.
Conscious & Responsible Press is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and since 2006 they’ve published best-selling titles like Two Californias by Robert Glick, Selling the Farm by Debra Di Blasi, and Between the Earth and Sky by Eleanor Kedney. As of now, the company is open to submissions in all genres for their 2021 and 2022 catalogs. In addition, they are also hosting a couple of contests for poetry, fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. Check this page for complete details about their submission guidelines.
3. Feral House
One of the oldest publishing houses on our list, Feral House was established in 1989 to disseminate quality works in non-fiction. Headquartered in Port Townsend, Washington, the company has since then published numerous titles that have influenced cultural trends, exposed political crimes, and inspired moviemakers across the globe. Of late, Feral House publisher Adam Parfrey has co-founded a new imprint, Process Media to publish eBooks, memoirs, and self-help titles.
Some remarkable titles from Feral House include 15 to Life: How I Painted My Way to Freedom by Anthony Papa, with Jennifer Wynn & Jennifer Wynn, Anne Bonny: The Infamous Female Pirate by Phillip Thomas Tucker, and Cholo Style: Homies, Homegirls and La Raza by Reynaldo Berrios. Feral House is currently open to submissions, and you can send a book proposal for your non-fiction title here. Your proposal should include a brief overview of the book, a table of contents, the total word count, a sample chapter, a chapter outline, and a short author bio. For more details about the submission process, scroll to the middle of this page.
4. Tupelo Press
Tupelo Press is an independent, non-profit publisher based in Massachusetts. While they publish works in both fiction and non-fiction, the company doesn’t accept children’s books, inspirational titles, graphic novels, and religious works. Tupelo Press is keen to work with talented writers whose works are distinctive, imaginative, inherently creative. To champion this cause, they follow an open submissions policy (for selected genres) and host multiple writing contests every year. Some of the notable titles published from this press include Took House by Lauren Camp, boysgirls by Katie Farris, and Exclusions by Noah Falck. Tupelo Press is currently open to submissions in non-fiction, and you can find the detailed submission guidelines here. You can also check this page for details about their current and upcoming writing contests.
5. Graywolf Press
Graywolf Press is a leading independent publishing house that is driven to explore quality twenty-first century American and global literature. The company is based in Minneapolis, MN, and they have time and again assisted writers at different stages of their careers. Graywolf Press also champions the cause of publishing and marketing the works of underrepresented and marginalized writers in a competitive literary marketplace.
The company supports its authors by backing their works with meticulous editing, striking designs, and unique promotional campaigns. Some of the notable works from Graywolf Press include To the Lake by Kapka Kassabova, Telephone by Percival Everett, and Lanny by Max Porter. While Graywolf Press accepts submissions for poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, as of now, they are only accepting submissions for poetry through the Walt Whitman Contest. Submissions for this contest will be accepted between September 1 and November 1 every year, and more details about the submission process can be found here.
6. Ig Publishing
If you’re fond of writing literary fiction and political non-fiction titles, Ig Press might just be the right publishing house for you. A New York-based independent press, Ig Publishing has collaborated with outstanding authors to produce unique and truly ground-breaking titles in both fiction and non-fiction. Some of their popular titles include One Simple Thing by Warren Read, A Short Move by Katherine Hill, and Womanish by Kim McLarin. While Ig Publishing does not accept unsolicited manuscripts from authors, they do consider book proposals addressed to their Editor-in-Chief, Robert Lasner. Book proposals can be sent at this email address. For more details about their submissions policy, check this page.
7. Feminist Press
As you’d probably guess from the name, Feminist Press specializes in quality female-centric titles that shatters the conventional literary tropes and leaves a bold and lasting message for readers. Based in New York, the company was created in 1970 to offer underrepresented female authors an opportunity to voice their deepest and darkest concerns about society and societal norms. Over time, they have evolved as an independent press specializing in titles across multiple genres like fiction, activist non-fiction, literature in translation, hybrid memoirs, children’s books, and probably everything in between.
Some of their recent releases include Apsara Engine by Bishakh Som, Fiebre Tropical: A Novel by Juli Delgado Lopera, and Parenting for Liberation by Trina Greene Brown. The company is currently open to submissions and you can send your manuscript queries with a short synopsis, three sample chapters, a brief author bio, and a short marketing plan to this email address. More details about the submission guidelines can be found here.
8. Quirk Books
Publishing only 25 books every year, Quirk Books is a leading American independent press based in Philadelphia. The company understands that every title is a labor of love stemming from the deepest passions of an author, and so, despite their stringent submission policies, they are looking to give every new author an opportunity to get their work reviewed. Quirk Books publishes works in almost all genres including (but not limited to) home and gardening, graphic novels, food and drinks, humor, horror, lifestyle, and sports. Notable titles include Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida, The Fangirl’s Journal for Leveling Up by Sam Maggs, and Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer. The company accepts digital queries and you can check their submissions page to understand the specific requirements of their editors.
9. Tachyon Publications
Established in 1995, Tachyon Publications, LLC, is a publisher of science fiction, mysteries, memoirs, fantasy titles, young adult fiction, and literary fiction. The company supports good storytelling and is always looking to work with authors who inspire them through their stunning plots and unique characters. This California based company takes immense pride in publishing unique, thought-provoking titles that are also entertaining.
Some of the best works from Tachyon Publications include A Fine & Private Place by Peter S. Beagle, Apocalypse Nyx by Kameron Hurley, and Bigfoot and the Bodhisattva by James Morrow. The company is currently open to submissions in all genres of speculative fiction, adult fiction, young adult fiction, and middle-grade fiction. However, unlike most publishers on this list, Tachyon Publications only accepts manuscripts represented by literary agents. For more details about their submission process, check this page.
10. 7.13 books
Established by Leland Cheuk, 7.13 Books is was created to give first-time authors a much-needed opportunity to showcase their literary merit. This independent publishing house is based in Brooklyn, and since inception, they have consistently offered a respectful and enjoyable publishing experience to authors across the globe.
7.13 is extremely passionate about keeping good literature alive and they have achieved this mission by publishing excellent titles like Kanastan by Farooq Ahmed, The Light Source by Kim Magowan, and Everyone is Special by Josh Denslow.
The company is currently open to submissions for publications in 2022 and beyond and they are especially looking for female and LGBTQ voices. Preferred categories include short stories and novels between 45,000 to 100,000 words. While sending the manuscript, you also need to send a brief cover letter, an author bio, and a synopsis of your manuscript. Detailed submission guidelines can be found here.
11. Permanent Press
Based in Sag Harbor, NY, the Permanent Press was established by Martin and Judith Shephard in 1978. The publishing house has consistently published works of social and literary merit, and over years, they’ve established their reputation as one of the leading American small presses. Permanent Press primarily publishes fiction, and some of their notable works include Belle Isle by Howard Owen, The Snow Raven by Connie Dial, and The Now and Then Detective: A Jack Starkey Mystery by William Wells. The company is currently open to submissions for fiction and you can send the first 25 pages of your work to their postal address. Detailed submission guidelines can be found on this page.
12. Unnamed Press
Unnamed Press is an award-winning publisher of fiction and non-fiction titles. This Los Angeles based company was established in 2014, and their titles are distributed by the Publishers Group West. Over the years, this publishing house has worked with a diverse range of authors whose works have challenged conventions while also appealing to the general audience.
Unnamed Press is known to nurture emerging talent and they also collaborate with established authors to expand their audience base. The works published by Unnamed Press have been featured in leading dailies like the New York Times, Los Angeles Chronicles, and San Francisco Chronicle to name a few. Notable works include A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers, Like A Bird by Fariha Róisín, and The Wanting Life by Mark Rader. The company is currently open to submissions in fiction and non-fiction. To get your work considered, send a manuscript query to this email address. More details about the submissions process can be found here.
13. Verso Books
Publishing up to 100 titles a year, Verso Books is a leading independent publisher based in New York. The company was launched as a paperback imprint of the iconic New Left Books in the late seventies and over the last couple of decades, they have collaborated with talented authors across the globe. Verso publishes titles across multiple categories like art, economics, ecology, fiction, international politics, labor and work, geography, and history to name a few. Some of the best-selling titles from the company are The Case for the Green New Deal by Ann Pettifor, Why You Should Be A Trade Unionist by Len McCluskey, and Red State Revolt by Eric Blanc.
The company is currently open to unsolicited non-fiction submissions. To get your work reviewed, you need to send a brief book proposal ( up to 15 pages) with a short book overview, chapter outline, an author bio, your intended writing timetable, details about competing titles, and a short paragraph on what you perceive as the primary markets for your book. Submissions from North American authors can be emailed here. Submissions from the UK and other parts of the globe can be emailed to this address. For more details about the submission guidelines, check this page.
14. Text Publishing
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Text Publishing is a leading independent publisher of literary fiction, commercial fiction, and non-fiction. The company has been awarded the ABIA Small Publisher of the Year thrice and they also won the Leading Edge Books Small Publisher of the Year award in 2018 and 2019 consecutively. Since their earliest days, Text Publishing has been focused on publishing gripping and page-turning titles that make a true difference in the lives of people.
Text Publishing believes that reading is one of the best experiences and they are constantly looking to enhance this experience by publishing evocative, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining titles. The company has collaborated with many best-selling authors like Amanda Lohrey for The Labyrinth, Robbie Arnot for The Rain Heron, and Barbara Demick for Eat the Buddha. As of now, they are open to submissions in fiction and non-fiction, for adults, upper primary, and young adults. Submissions can be emailed with a cover letter, a brief book synopsis, and the first three chapters of your book. For more information about the submission policies, refer to this page.
15. Windy Hollow Books
Based in East Kew Victoria 3102, Australia, Windy Hollow Books is an independent publisher for children’s picture books. The company publishes books aimed at kids to foster curiosity and love for reading. Their focus is on strong stories and thought-provoking illustrations from both newbie and established authors. Windy Hollow Books is distributed by New South Books through Alliance Distribution Services (ADS). Some of their recent releases include Not So Quiet Mouse by Ruth Waters, Ivy Bird by Tania McCartney, and Jess Racklyeft and Beauty by Sandra Kendell. The company is currently open to submissions for children’s picture books and submissions can be emailed here. For more details about the submission process, check this page.
16. Headpress
Established in 1991, Headpress is a UK based publishing house specializing in non-fiction titles. While they publish non-fiction titles in almost all genres, preferred categories include music, strangeness, and film. Some notable titles from Headpress are Wisdom Of Stupidity by Roy Devon, I Am The Dark Tourist: Travels to the Darkest Sites on Earth by H.E. Sawyer, and My Favorite Dictators by Chris Mikul. Headpress is currently open to submissions in non-fiction and you can pitch your title by filling out this contact form. For more details about the submission policies, check this page.
17. Oneworld
Based in London, UK, Oneworld was founded by husband-wife duo Juliet Mabey and Novin Doostdar for publishing ground-breaking non-fiction titles. Currently publishing more than 100 titles annually, Oneworld has expanded their accepted categories to include intelligent, quirky, and emotionally engaging works in fiction.
The company is especially fond of thought-provoking titles that genuinely moves the reader. Some of their popular books include Notre Dame: The Soul of France by Agnes Porier, War and Peacekeeping by Martin Bell, and A History of the World in 21 Women by Jenni Murray. While Oneworld is currently open to submissions, they are not accepting fiction submissions. If you’ve written an excellent non-fiction title that you believe will impress the editors, check this page for detailed submission guidelines.
18. At Bay Press
At Bay Press is a leading Canadian publisher of literary fiction and non-fiction. This Manitoba based company seeks diverse voices and are always willing to give new Canadian authors an opportunity to bring their talent to light. Some of the best titles from this publishing house include Status Update by Cliff Eyland, George Toles, and Thomas Toles, Walking on the Beaches of Temporal Candy by Christian McPherson, and Tree Talk by Ariel Gordon and Natalie Baird.
The company is currently open to submissions for literary fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels. They are also interested in literary mysteries, thrillers, noir, science fiction, fantasy, and poetry. To get your work reviewed, send a brief cover letter with a short author bio, a description of why you want At bay Press to consider your work, and a list of relevant publication credits. Check this page for more details about the submission guidelines.
19. Book*ug Press
Established in 2004, Book*ug Press is an independent publisher specializing in commercial literary fiction and non-fiction titles. The company also publishes translated works and poetry by emerging and established authors. Book*ug is deeply passionate about publishing titles that have a meaningful contribution to our society as we see it today. They, therefore, seek works that transcend the realms of cultural and societal expectations.
Some of the best titles from the publishing house include Where Things Touch: A Meditation on Beauty by Bahar Orang, Talking Animals by Joni Murphy, and Polar Vortex by Shani Mootoo. Currently, Book*ug Press is accepting submissions in fiction and non-fiction. They aren’t, however, accepting poetry at the moment. Authors can send a brief manuscript query with a short project synopsis, and two to three sample chapters. Submission queries can be emailed here. For more details about the submission process, check this page.
I am Ruposhree, a regular happy-go-lucky girl with not-so-regular (read extraordinary) dreams. I love reading, obsessing over random TV series, dreaming of unrealistic vacations, and most importantly, trying my hand at writing. I want to believe that I somehow have a way with words and maybe one day I’ll manage to see and be everything that I ever dreamt of!