Have you written a scholarly book and want to get it published?
Below you’ll find 19 top publishers of academic books.
1. Apple Academic Press
Based out of Palm Bay, Florida, Apple Academic Press is an independent publisher of academic and professional books geared toward STEM and other fields. Founded in 2008, Apple Academic Press has published nearly 600 different titles in both print and ebook formats. From agriculture to women and gender studies, Apple Academic Press is dedicated to publishing some of the highest quality and informative books out on the market today.
They are currently accepting book proposals in all academic fields and would love to hear from you. If you’re interested in working with Apple Academic Press, be sure to review and complete their Book Proposal Questionnaire and send it in via email. Be sure to review their submission guidelines for more information. For general inquiries, you can reach out to the team at Apple Academic Press via email, use their online contact form, or call 732-998-5302.
3. Edward Elgar Publishing
Edward Elgar Publishing is a British publishing company based out of Gloucestershire, UK. They specialize in publishing academic and professional texts that focus primarily on social sciences and legal studies. With over 5500 books in their catalogue, Edward Elgar produces 350 new titles every year. A few of their latest titles include “Advanced Macroeconomics” by Patrick Minford and David Peel, “The State of Creativity” by James Griffin, and “Research Handbook on Patent Law and Theory” edited by Toshiko Takenaka.
The team at Edward Elgar Publishing is actively seeking book proposals, and are happy to consider projects for monograph books, textbooks, professional law books, and academic journals in any stage of the writing process. You’re strongly encouraged to review the company’s submission guidelines to select the correct book proposal form to fill out and submit. You’re also encouraged to send your book proposal via email to the appropriate editor. For general inquiries, you can reach out to the team via email.
4. Gorgia Press
Gorgia Press is an independent academic book publisher based out of Piscataway, New Jersey. Founded in 2001, they specialize in the publication of books and journals dealing with history, languages, religious studies, and more. Some of their latest releases include books like “Daughter Zion’s Trauma: A Trauma Informed Reading of Lamentations” by James W.S. Yansen, and “Hidden Treasure: Doublet Catchwords in the Leningrad Codex” by David Marcus.
They are currently accepting book proposals via email, and are eagerly hoping to work with fellow authors scholars of nonfiction, academic monographs, pedagogical works, collections of papers, reference works, and translated works. You’re asked to include a cover letter, an abstract of your book, a proposed table of contents, a few sample chapters (or all chapters if manuscript is complete), a copy of your professional CV, and a list of two or three references (preferably scholarly) who are familiar with your work. For more details, please review Gorgias Press’ submission guidelines.
5. Mary Ann Libert, Inc.
Established in 1980, Mary Ann Libert, Inc. is an independent publisher of scientific, technical, and medical peer-reviewed journals, books, and trad publications. Based out of New Rochelle, New York, the company produces works about biomedical research, nursing, environmental research and policy, integrative medicine, and more. Some of their titles include “Doctor of the Heart: My Life in Medicine” by Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D. and “Internet Gaming Law” edited by I. Nelson Rose and Martin D. Owens, Jr. While not actively seeking submissions at this time, you’re still welcome to submit a query through their website’s online contact form. Alternatively, you can call 914 740-2100 for more information.
6. McGraw-Hill
McGraw-Hill is one of the leading names in the academic book market. Founded over 100 years ago in 1917, McGraw-Hill publishes a wide assortment of academic texts geared toward students. Over the years, they’ve won numerous awards, including the 2017 PROSE Award: Physical Sciences & Mathematics from Data Vis Material Properties and the 2019 Digital Edge 50 Award from IDG.
They are currently accepting book proposals, but you’re strongly encouraged to review their submission guidelines before proceeding. All book proposals are submitted through a rigorous review process, so it’s imperative that your submission meets all minimum requirements for full consideration. You should include information on your intended market, the type of competition your book will face, details about your project’s content, pedagogy, any supplemental material, and its scheduled completion. You must complete and submit their proposal form, along with your contact information, which will be forwarded to the appropriate editor.
7. Oxford University Press
Dating back as far as 1478, Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford that publishes academic books about the arts and humanities, law, medicine and health, science and mathematics, social sciences, and dictionaries and reference books. Some of their recent releases include books like “Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny” by Kate Manne, “Sand and Steel” by Peter Caddick-Adams, and “Infinite Baseball” by Alva Noë.
They are currently accepting book proposals both via email or through regular post (although the former is preferred). They ask that you include a synopsis, an outlined table of contents, a draft preface no longer than 500 words, a cover letter that provides your contact information, your propose audience, an estimated completion date, your professional CV, and any other support material you feel is necessary. For more information, be sure to review their submission guidelines before proceeding. For general inquiries, you can reach out to the team at Oxford University press via email or you can call +44 0 1865 556767.
8. Palgrave Macmillan
Based out of Hampshire, UK, Palgrave Macmillan is an independent academic publisher that produces a wide range of textbooks, journals, monographs, professional, trade, and reference titles for general readers and scholars alike. They’ve published books like “Postmodern Vampires: Film, Fiction, and Popular Culture” by Sorcha Ní Fhlainn, “Neoliberal Urbanism, Contested Cities and Housing in Asia” edited by Yi-Ling Chen and Hyun Bang Shin, and “Communicating Europe: Technologies, Information, Events” by Andreas Fickers and Pascal Griset.
They are actively seeking book proposals via email. They ask that you download and complete their proposal form and carefully select the appropriate member of their editorial team to submit it to. All proposals should be accompanied with supporting sample material and your professional CV. Once submitted, book proposals are peer reviewed. If interested in your project, a member of the editorial team will reach out to you promptly to discuss the remaining publishing process. For general inquiries, you can also reach out to the team at Palgrave Macmillan through their website’s online contact form.
9. Paragon House
Paragon House is an independent academic publisher based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota. They prefer to publish academic texts about history, philosophy, psychology, religion, spiritual health, political science, economics, international relations, and reference works. Some of their recent titles include “Blood on the Snow: Eyewitness Accounts of the Russian Revolution” by Elisabeth Heresch, “Truth Prayer Identity and the Spiritual Journey” by James P. Danaher, and “Plague in Paradise: The Black Death in Los Angeles, 1924” by Jeffrey S. Copeland.
They are currently accepting manuscript submissions via email. They ask that you include an abstract of your project (which provides a summary of your premise, main arguments, and conclusions), a table of contents, a sample chapter for review, your CV, an estimate of how many diagrams, figures, drawings, or pictures you may wish to include, an estimated number of pages, an estimated completion date, any reviews you may have received, as well as a list of competing comparative titles. For more information, please review their submission guidelines before proceeding.
10. Princeton University Press
In 1910, Princeton University Press was setup to operate as a nonprofit company with the aim of publishing high-quality academic texts. In its first 25 years of operation, Princeton University Press published nearly 400 new titles, exploring topics like antiques and collectibles to true crime, and everything in between. Their latest titles include “Adaptive Markets: Financial Evolution at the Speed of Thought” by Andrew W. Lo, “Chinese Architecture: A History” by Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt, and “Megaphone Bureaucracy: Speaking Truth to Power in the Age of the New Normal” by Dennis C. Grube.
They are currently accepting book proposals via regular post. You’re strongly encouraged to select the appropriate editor so that they can review your work. For more information, be sure to review their detailed proposal guidelines here. The team at Princeton University Press receive a high volume of submissions, so it’s imperative that you meet all of their editorial minimum requirements. If you have general inquiries, you can reach out to the team via email.
11. Rowman & Littlefield
Based out Washington, DC, Rowman & Littlefield is an independent publisher of high-quality academic, professional, and general interest books. They strive to produce books about the humanities and social sciences, and are even partnered with world-leading authorities like the Smithsonian Institution, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the American Foreign Policy Council (to name a few). Some of their new releases include “Multimedia Learning Theory” edited by Patrick M. Jenlink, “The Evening Star: The Rise and Fall of a Great Washington Newspaper” by Faye Haskins, and “The Forest in Medieval German Literature” by Albrecht Classen.
They are currently accepting book proposals via email. They ask that you include a prospectus that details a description of your book, your intended audience, whether your work has been previously published elsewhere, the approximate length of your manuscript, and an estimated time of completion (if not already finished). You should also include an outline, a CV, one or two sample chapters, peer reviews, and a brief overview of your social media platform. You can find more information here.
12. University of Queensland Press
The University of Queensland Press was founded in 1948 in Queensland, Australia, with the express goal of publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, Indigenous writing, and youth literature for general readers. They publish titles in both print and ebook formats to provide their readers with high-quality content regardless of their preferred reading medium. Some of their academic titles include “Time for Peace: The Essential Role of Time in Conflict and Peace Processes” by Luc Reychler, “The Mind of a Thief” by Patti Miller, “The Black War: Fear, Sex, and Resistance in Tasmania” by Nicholas Clements.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts for their academic series: New Approaches to Peace and Conflict and Creative Economy and Innovation Culture. They note that they do not publish technical or scientific textbooks. They are currently accepting manuscripts via email, and you should include the title of your book, a brief description, and approximate word count in the body of your email. For more information, please review their submission guidelines.
13. Athabasca University Press
Athabasca University Press is a Canadian publishing company based out of Edmonton, Alberta. Founded in 2007, the press hopes to provide their readers with advanced material to increase access to scholarship. Some of their newest releases include “Canada’s Labour Market Training System” by Bob Barnetson, “Amma’s Daughters: A Memoir” by Meenal Shrivastava, and “Small Cities, Big Issues: Reconceiving Community in a Neoliberal Era” edited by Christopher Walmsley and Terry Kading.
The team at Athabasca University Press is currently interested in receiving manuscript submissions about the subjects of distance education, labour studies, Métis and Indigenous studies, gender studies, and the environment. If you believe your project would be a good fit for the press, you’re strongly encouraged to review their prospectus form and publication guide. All submissions can be sent via email.
14. Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press has a long and rich history. As a global publisher and well-known name in academic circles, Cambridge University Press has published over 50,000 titles from authors all over the world. They publish a wide range of academic books, journals, educational texts, bibles, and reference works. Some of their titles include books like “White Identity Politics” by Ashley Jardina, “Fighting the People’s War” by Jonathan Fennel, and “There Is No Planet B” by Mike Berners-Lee.
They are currently accepting book proposals for projects about the humanities and social sciences, science, technology, and medicine. If you’re interested in working with Cambridge University Press to publish your work, you’re strongly encouraged to speak with one of their editors for more information. For more information, you can also download their publishing brochure.
15. Inanna Publications
Inanna Publications is an independent Canadian press based out of Toronto, Ontario, that specializes in publishing fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction through a feminist lens. Founded in 1978, their primary aim is to assist in open conversation and progressive development. Some of their latest titles include “Climate Chaos: Econfeminism and the Land Question” edited by Ana Isla, “The Maternal Roots of the Gift Economy” edited by Genvieve Vaughan, and “Krambambuli: A Memoir” by Syr Ruus.
They are currently accepting book proposals and submissions for completed manuscripts via email. Alternatively, you can submit a hard copy of your manuscript through regular post. For academic manuscripts, they ask that you include a synopsis, a project outline, author information such as your name and contact info, referees, and any supporting material you feel is necessary for consideration. For more details, be sure to review their submission guidelines before proceeding.
16. Vernon Press
Based out of Wilmington, Delaware, Vernon Press is an independent publisher of scholarly books with specific focus on the social sciences and humanities. Their books are primarily targeted toward academic and professional scholars in order to promote and spread new ideas and information. Some of their featured titles include “Forget Me Not: The Neuroethical Case Against Memory Manipulation” by Peter A. DePergola II, and “Thinking Through Badgers” by Stephan Price.
They are currently accepting book proposals via email. Proposals should be no longer than 5 pages in length and should include a summary, a brief author bio, details on your intended market, and one or two sample chapters and a preliminary table of contents for consideration. For more information, be sure to review Vernon Press’ book proposal submission guidelines.
17. Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University Press is a Canadian publisher of academic books based out of Waterloo, Ontario. They publish titles about art history, literary criticism, performing arts, political science, sociology, travel, and more. Some of their new releases include books like “Children’s Literature and Imaginative Geography” edited by Aïda Hudson, “Avant Canada: Poets, Prophets, Revolutionaries” edited by Gregory Betts and Christian Bök, and “A Township at War” by Jonathan F. Vance.
They are actively seeking book proposals with regards to projects about the humanities and social sciences. You can send in your proposal via email or through regular post. Be sure to include an abstract and chapter descriptions, sample chapters (ideally the introduction and one body chapter), a schedule for completion for peer review, your CVB, a list of competing titles, and potential academic reviewers. For more details, you can find their submission guidelines here.
18. Fordham University Press
Working in conjunction with Fordham University in New York City, Fordham University Press publishes academic titles geared toward academics and general interest readers alike. They’ve published an impressive handful of award-winning books, including “The Philosopher’s Gift: Reexamining Reciprocity” by Marcel Hénaff, “The Unconstructable Earth: AN Ecology of Separation” by Frédéric Neyrat and Drew S. Burk, and “Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility” by Corey McEleney.
They are currently accepting manuscript submissions through regular post. You’re asked to include a cover letter outlining the book’s argument, its contribution to scholarship, why you believe your project would be a good fit with the press, your CV, a brief prospectus, and a sample chapter. If interested in your project, a member of their editorial team will reach out to you promptly to arrange for the delivery of your full manuscript. Due to the high volume of submissions that they receive, it can take up to eight weeks to receive a response.
19. University of Toronto Press
Founded in 1901, the University of Toronto Pres sis one of Canada’s leading academic publishers, and is one of North America’s largest university presses. Their current catalogue boasts over 6500 different titles, over half of which is still in print. They publish books anthropology, criminology, Indigenous Studies, psychology, theatre and drama, urban studies, and more. Some of their featured titles include “Bureaucratic Manoeuvres: The Contested Administration of the Unemployed” by John Grundy, “Public Security in Federal Polities” edited by Christian Leuprecht, Mario Kolling, and Todd Hataley, and “Talking Back to the Indian Act: Critical Readings in Settler Colonial Histories” by Mary-Ellen Kelm and Keth D. Smith.
They are currently accepting book proposals via regular post, addressed to the relevant editor. They ask that you include a working title, an overview of your book, information about your intended audience, an anticipated word count and estimated completion date, a table of contents and a brief synopsis of each chapter, your CV, and a sample chapter for consideration. For more details, be sure to review their submission guidelines to ensure you meet all minimum requirements.
Are there any other publishers of academic books 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.