Have you written a book about coping with the loss of a loved one that you want to publish?
Below we’ve featured 17 top publishers of books about grief.
1. Paraclete Press
Based in Massachusetts, Paraclete Press is an ecumenical publisher that produces Christian books, sheet music, videos, and recordings. They have a wide selection of books on grief, loss, and recovery, including titles such as When It Feels Impossible to Pray, Grieving the Sudden Death of a Loved One, The End of Suffering, and Footprints on Our Hearts. Through these books, Paraclete Press aims to offer hope, guidance, and encouragement to those who are grieving or on the path towards recovery.
Paraclete Press currently welcomes submissions in the form of book proposals. Should you be interested in submitting your work, check out their submission guidelines here. If you have any additional questions, you can reach Paraclete Press here.
2. New Horizon Press
New Horizon Press is a non-fiction publisher that specializes in true crime, self-help and recovery, current issues, and stories about uncommon heroes. Originally founded as an imprint of Horizon Press in 1982, NHP became its own entity in 1983. They are currently accepting submissions in the following areas: true crime stories, survivor stories, grief and recovery, children’s self-help, and stories about people dismantling barriers and exploring new frontiers. They do not accept fiction novels.
If you would like to get published by New Horizon Press, you can visit the submissions page on their website. While they do accept queries via email, manuscripts must be sent by mail. For general inquiries, contact New Horizon Press here.
3. Akashic Books
Founded in 1997, Akashic Books is an independent publisher based in Brooklyn. They focus on publishing works by authors who have been ignored by mainstream publishing companies. Although they primarily publish political non-fiction and urban literary fiction, they recently launched a new imprint specializing in books on grief, loss, and recovery. Their grief imprint’s first release was Catharine Murray’s Now You See the Sky, a memoir about the author’s son, who battled cancer at the age of five.
Akashic Books is currently closed for submissions. However, you can check out the submissions page on their website to keep an eye out for publishing opportunities. If you would like to reach out to Akashic Books, you can do so through their online contact form.
4. New Harbinger Publications
Based in California, New Harbinger Publications is a independent publisher specializing in health, spirituality, psychology, and personal growth. Since 1973, they have been publishing evidence-based books that have helped countless readers make positive changes in their lives. New Harbinger Publications is currently accepting submissions in the following areas: memoirs, psychology books, professional books, and self-help books—particularly books on trauma, stress, grief, mental health, and building self-esteem.
Interested authors can find more information about New Harbinger Publications’ submission guidelines here. Submissions may be sent via email or post, and all submissions must include a prospectus, table of contents, sample chapters, and author background. If you have any other questions, you can reach New Harbinger via email.
5. Hay House
Also headquartered in California, Hay House is a media and publishing company founded by Louise Hay in 1984. Louise Hay was a motivational author who wrote several self-help books, including the international bestseller You Can Heal Your Life, which has sold more than 35 million copies. Today, Hay House continues to publish inspirational books on spirituality, self-improvement, health and healing, astrology, and more. They also produce audiobooks, DVDs, calendars, and gift items.
At the moment, Hay House only accepts submissions through a literary agent. That said, they do welcome unsolicited submissions from authors who have attended one of their Writer’s Workshops. For more information, you can check out their submission guidelines here. You can also contact Hay House if you have any additional questions or concerns.
6. The Experiment Publishing
Founded in New York in 2008, The Experiment Publishing is an independent publisher that specializes in non-fiction. As their name implies, they are motivated by wonder and curiosity, and they are most interested in publishing books that entertain, empower, and enlighten. Some of the areas they publish in are current affairs, health and wellness, self-help and relationships, parenting, science and nature, sports and fitness, home and garden, and creativity. They do not publish fiction.
The Experiment Publishing currently accepts unsolicited submissions. If you are interested in submitting your work, make sure you check out their submissions here. Once you’ve prepared your book proposal, you can send it to them via email or post.
7. Boulden Publishing
Boulden Publishing is a California-based publisher that has been producing resources and materials for educators and counselors for more than three decades. Through their books, videos, and other counseling support systems, Boulden helps children address real world issues, such as bullying and teasing, anger management, conflict resolution, grief and loss, peer pressure, parental divorce, and traumatic events. Some of their grief-related titles include Saying Goodbye, 65 Interactive Healing Activities, When Death Happens, Honoring the Memory, and The Last Goodbye.
If you have a manuscript that you feel fits Boulden Publishing’s catalog, feel free to submit it to them. Get more information on where to send your submission here. You can also contact Boulden Publishing for additional inquiries.
8. Graywolf Press
Graywolf Press is a non-profit independent publisher located in Minnesota. They are committed to publishing outstanding works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry written by talented writers of all career levels. Each year, Graywolf Press publishes around 30 new titles, mostly memoirs, poetry collections, novels, essays, short stories, and translations. In 2016, they published the US paperback edition of Max Porter’s award-winning book Grief is the Thing With Feathers.
Graywolf Press has annual reading periods, during which they welcome unsolicited submissions. If you are interested in submitting, you can learn more about their reading periods and submission guidelines here. If you have any other questions for the Graywolf Press team, you can get in touch with them here.
9. Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Jessica Kingsley Publishers is an independent publisher that was founded in London in 1987. They publish books for both general readers and professionals, specializing in books on social work, psychology, the autism spectrum, mental health, practical theology, and gender diversity. They have also published many books on grief and loss. JKP currently welcomes submissions in all the areas they publish, and prospective authors may browse JKP’s website to get an idea of the kind of work they are interested in.
Once you’re ready to submit your book proposal, you can do so by visiting JKP’s Submittable page. While they prefer online submissions, they also accept submissions via post. You can find their address here. If you have any questions about their submission process, you can reach out to their team via email.
10. Palgrave Macmillan
Palgrave MacMillan is an international trade and academic publisher with offices in New York, London, and Shanghai, as well as sales teams in more than 50 countries around the globe. They publish books across a wide range of subjects, including psychology, linguistics, sociology, gender studies, education, and anthropology. Over the years, they have published many books on grief, such as Memory, Grief, and Agency, The Public and Private Management of Grief, Grief in Wartime, and Living and Dying in a Virtual World.
If you would like to submit your work for Palgrave MacMillan’s consideration, start by filling out their proposal form. Once you’ve filled out the form, you can send it to the appropriate editor. If you would like to learn more about Palgrave MacMillan’s submission process, you can visit their submissions page here. For inquiries and general questions, you can reach them through their online contact form.
11. Faber & Faber
Faber & Faber, often shortened to just Faber, is a distinguished publisher based in the UK. They are known for publishing the works of some of the greatest writers of all time, including William Golding, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath, T.S. Eliot, Tom Stoppard, Robert Lowell, and many others. They specialize in publishing the best in poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction, and have been doing so for nine decades. And over those decades, they have published many books that deal with the emotions of loss and grief.
Right now, Faber & Faber only accepts poetry submissions. Check out their submission guidelines for more details. For general inquiries and other concerns, you can reach them here.
12. Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers is an independent Canadian publisher that specializes in children’s books. They currently have more than 1000 titles in print, and around 80 titles are added to their catalog each year. Orca Books takes pride in publishing books that highlight the diversity of the world we live in. As such, they are particularly interested in books that feature or are written by people of all ethnicities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. The books they publish help children deal with issues they might encounter both inside and outside the classroom, such as bullying, grief, the environment, and more.
Orca Book Publishers is open to submissions from Canadian authors and illustrators. Before sending your submission, you can get familiar with their guidelines here.
13. Strong Nations
Strong Nations first opened as a bookstore in the founders’ basement in 2010. Soon, they moved to a more accessible location in Nanaimo, Canada and quickly grew into one of the largest indigenous bookstores in North America. In 2012, they began publishing books for children, teens, and adults. Today, they have published more than 150 titles and are looking forward to expanding their list. They publish books in the following areas: indigenous studies and cultural studies, graphic novels, non-fiction, and children’s books—including those that deal with grief and loss, social skills, family and community, healing, and other sensitive themes.
Strong Nations currently accepts manuscript submissions in all their areas of interest. If you would like to submit, you can check out their submission guidelines here. Their selection process may take up to six months.
14. Dundurn Press
Dundurn Press is a Canadian publishing company that was founded in 1972. Since then, they have published more than 3000 titles, both digitally and in print. They publish fiction and non-fiction across a variety of subjects, such as true crime, biography, reference and trivia, fiction, history, poetry, and more. They have also published many books on grief, including Oceans of Grief and Healing Waters, Highway of Heroes, and A Man in a Distant Field.
If you are interested in submitting your work to Dundurn Press, you can send them a book proposal via email. For detailed instructions on what to include in your proposal, check out their submission guidelines here. If you have additional questions for the Dundurn Press team, feel free to reach them here.
15. Allen & Unwin
Founded in 1976, Allen & Unwin is one of Australia’s leading independent publishers. They release 250 new titles per year and primarily publish academic books, professional books, literary fiction, and general non-fiction. Their non-fiction list includes books on health, current affairs, lifestyle, cooking, history, and many other topics. They also publish books on grief and loss.
Allen & Unwin is currently open for submissions. If you have a manuscript that you’re interested in submitting, you can send a proposal via email. Learn more about what they are looking for by reviewing their submission guidelines here.
16. Fremantle Press
Fremantle Press is a non-profit publisher that was founded in 1976. Their main goal as a press is to identify new and emerging talents from Western Australia and to distribute their work to as many people as possible. Fremantle publishes fiction, poetry, non-fiction, children’s literature, short stories, biographies, and other genres. Their grief-related titles include Marcella Polain’s Driving into the Sun, Sally Morgan’s Remembered by Heart, and more.
Fremantle Press currently accepts submissions in the genres of poetry, narrative non-fiction, fiction, and children’s literature written by Western Australian writers. Visit Fremantle’s Submittable page to submit your work and learn more about their guidelines. Their average response time is 10 weeks.
17. Black Inc.
Established in 2000, Black Inc. is an Australian publishing company that specializes in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Their diverse catalog spans various subjects, such as family and relationships, health and fitness, self-help and personal development, philosophy and religion, foreign affairs, science, society and culture, children’s books, and more. Their selection also includes a number of books on grief and recovery.
Black Inc. is currently open for submissions, but they only accept submissions from Australian writers. Check out their submission guidelines to find out everything you need to know about preparing your proposal. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach Black Inc. here.
Are there any other publishers of books on grief that you know of? Where are they based? Please tell us more in the comments box below!
Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of Writing Tips Oasis.