Have you written a humor book and want to get in published? Finding a list of appropriate publishing houses you could send your manuscript to can be a laborious task.
We’ve made things easier for you by featuring 19 top publishers of humor books below.
1. Cider Mill Press
If you are looking to work with a publishing house that lauds creativity and quirkiness; Cider Mill Press is your kind of publisher. Established in 2005 by John Mahlen, this Portland based company values creative, well-written and intelligent books. Their team of dedicated professionals; don’t merely follow the procedural guidelines, but they also offer full attention and proper coaching at every step of the publishing process. That being said, Cider Mill is extremely strict with quality and perhaps this is why they publish only a few books every year. Popular humor books include She Sells Sea Shells by Seymour Chwast, Milk and Honey by Rudi Boor, and The Avocado Toast Manifesto: A Millennial Survival Guide by Abigail F. Brown. Cider Mill Press is currently open to submissions and you can email your proposal with a brief cover letter, illustration/photograph samples, outline, introduction, and sample captions (wherever appropriate), a brief author bio and additional details. Complete submission guidelines can be found here.
2. Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing is ideal for authors who ace in satire and humor. With a history spanning back to almost four decades, the platform was founded by Jim Andrews and John McMeel with the sole aim of distributing quirky, unconventional, and creative tales in both fiction and non-fiction. Since the 1970s, this publishing house has distributed leading titles from award-winning authors. Notable humor books include Fangs by Sarah Andersen, Texts from Mittens: The Friends and Family Edition by Angie Bailey, and The Escape Manual for Introverts by Katie Vaz. Andrew McMeel Publishing publishes around 150 books annually and they are currently open to submissions for humor books. Submissions can be made by filling out this form.
3. Peter Pauper Press
Nestled in the White Plains, the commercial hub of New York, Peter Pauper Press was established with the collaborative efforts of Peter Beilenson and his wife, Edna Beilenson. They decided to create this platform to represent cookbooks and the much underrated humor books. And guess what? Ninety years down the line, their efforts proved to be a massive success. Over the last couple of decades, Peter Pauper Press increased their reach by collaborating with leading magazines and coming up with gift and stationery delivery services. They have worked with many leading authors and have been highly lauded for their excellent services. Cats @ Work by Kathy Weller is one of their popular humour titles. Peter Pauper Press is currently welcoming humor book submissions targeted to women. Authors can post their work with a brief cover letter, details about the potential market for their book, an author bio, and additional information. More details about the submission policies can be found here.
4. Quirk Books
Headquartered in the charming town of Philadelphia, Quirk Books is probably the best platform for anyone who is looking to publish unconventional humor books. Whether it’s slapstick comedy, a witty anecdote, a roast, parody or anything else; if it’s intelligent enough, Quirk Books will surely consider it. Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida, Manfried the Man by Caitlin Major and Kelly Bastow, My Lady’s Choosing by Larissa Zageris and Kitty Curran are some popular titles with humorous undertones. The company is currently accepting submissions for humor books and authors can email their works here. Literary agents can reach out to commissioning editors Rebecca Gyllenhaal and Alex Arnold for more information about the publishing process. Detailed submission guidelines can be found here.
5. Black And White Publishing
Established in 1999 by Campbell Brown and Alison McBride, Black and White Publishing is one of the biggest publishing companies of Scotland. With more than 300 books in print, this company has published books across every popular genre and sub-genre. Humor books are published in the non-fiction category and some popular titles include The Herald Diary 2019: A Quacking Good Read by Ken Smith, OMFG! Why Parents Should (Still) Never Text by Oscar Harris, F**k Up This Book (… And Not Your Life) by Fred Calhoun. Currently, Black and White Publishing is accepting humor books in their non-fiction category and you can send a one-page proposal here. More details about the submission policies can be found on this page.
6. BailiWick Press
Founded in 2009 by Karla Oceanak, Kendra Spanjer and Launie Parry, Bailiwick Press is one of the biggest connoisseurs of humorous fiction and non-fiction. Whether you’ve written yourself, or have co-authored a piece with an equally talented author- Bailiwick Press has a room for everyone. The company publishes humor books for adults and children and some of the popular titles in this category include Goodnight Brew: A Parody for Beer People by Anne E. Briated and Egghead by Karla Oceanak. Since Bailiwick Press accepts both agented and un-agented submissions, all you need to do is fill out this submission form. For more details about their submission policies scroll to the bottom of this page.
7. Blink
Blink is a London based publisher specializing in pop-culture and humor books. The company has a strong affinity for quirky books that can engage and entertain to an equal degree. They also have four different imprints for genre-specific books. Notable humor books include The Big Book of Trump by Walter Gate, The Ultimate Pranking Education by Ben Philips, and Go F*ck Yourself, Cian! By Cian Twomey. Unfortunately, Blink does not accept unsolicited submissions and your work will only be considered when it is represented by a literary agent. Details about the submission policies can be found here.
8. Santa Monica Publishing
Santa Monica Press embarked on their publishing journey almost two decades back. Since then, this California based publishing house have come up with hundreds of critically acclaimed titles in photography, humor, memoirs and travel. Their distribution spreads far and wide across North America, and you can always count on them for consistent, high-value marketing. The Bad Driver’s Handbook by Zack and Larry Arnstein, Life is Short. Eat Biscuits! by Amy Jordan Smith and The Butt Hero by Ted Meyer are some notable humor-focused titles from the company. The company accepts submissions from both authors and agents and your book proposal should include a cover letter, a table of contents, two sample chapters, a list of competitive titles, an author bio, and additional details you can find here. Proposals can be emailed here and you can check this page for more information about the submission guidelines.
9. Flanker Press
Flanker Press is a Canadian publishing house specializing in adult trade, regional non-fiction, historical fiction, and humor books. Over the years, the company has expanded to include many more genres and sub-genres celebrating life, literature, and everything in between. They also have an imprint, Pennywell Books that specializes in literary fiction, short stories, and children’s fiction. In humor, some of their remarkable titles include That Far Greater Bay by Ray Guy, A Doryful of Newfoundland by Derm Duggan, and Grandpa Pike’s Outhouse Reader: Newfoundland & Labrador by Grandpa Pike. Flanker Books is currently open to submissions and you can post your regional non-fiction humor book to their office address. Check this page to find out more details about their submission policies.
10. Kensington Press
Kensington Press is probably one of the oldest publishing houses on our list, and going by their sales, they also seem quite popular. Established in 1974, this NYC based publishing company covers a wide range of genres, where humor visibly stands at the forefront. Kensington Press comes with multiple imprints and some of their notable humor books include It Happened In Church: Stories of Humor From The Pulpit To The Pews by Patti Webster, The BBook of Geek: The Only Geek Humor Book You’ll Ever Need by Brian Briggs, and The Man Translator: Your Essential Guide to Manland by Alison Grambs. Kensington Press is currently open to submissions and you can send your manuscript query to the appropriate commissioning editor. More details about the submission policies can be found on this page.
11. Allen and Unwin
With offices in New Zealand and Australia, Allen and Unwin, is a publisher of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books. The company is keen to publish original ideas with just the right dose of creativity and they are always looking to add more talented storytellers to their author base. Popular humor and satire books include Bedtime Stories for Worried Liberals by Stuart Heritage, Where’s Dom? by Izzy Missing, and A Snowflake’s Guide to Christmas: How to Survive a Deeply Problematic Holiday by Dave Skinner. Although the company does not accept unsolicited submissions, they do consider non-fiction books through the iconic Friday Pitch. For more information about the submission guidelines, check out this page.
12. Polis Books
Having established their first office in 2013, Polis Books is publishing creative, witty, and rib-tickling humor titles. Founded by Jason Pinter, the company is always looking to acquire titles that are both unique and intelligent. Polis Books has time and again introduced fresh talent to its readers, and they are currently open to submissions in non-fiction humor. Manuscript queries can be sent with a brief query letter, three sample chapters, and a short author bio. Check out this page for more details about their submission policies.
13. Epicenter Press
The history of Epicenter Press dates back to 1988, when it was created with the sole aim of preserving stories about Alaska. Over time, this Anchorage based publishing house gained decent momentum and within the next three decades they managed to publish hundreds of titles focusing on humor, history, memoirs and biographies. Epicenter Press has multiple imprints; namely Coffee Town Press, Camel Press, Fanny Press, North West Corner Books. The company is currently open to unsolicited submissions in humor and multiple other categories. You can send your manuscript query by submitting a short book synopsis, three sample chapters, an author bio, and promotional ideas. Since the submission details for fiction and non-fiction titles vary, check this page for information about the process.
14. Islandport Press
Established in 2000, Islandport Press is small Maine based publishing house that focuses on anthologies, essays, cookbooks, and humor-focused titles. Over the last two decades, the company has published almost 200 original and out-of-print books. From their earliest days, Islandport Press has been driven to publish stories that are gritty, creative, intelligent and most importantly, told from the heart. Ida: Woman Who Runs With the Moose by Susan Poulin, Headin’ for the Rhubarb: A New Hampshire Dictionary (well, kinda) by Rebecca Rule, and Not too Awful Bad by Leon Thompson are some of their top rated humor books. The company is currently accepting humor book submissions and you can send your book proposal/manuscript with a cover letter, an author bio, marketing details, and appropriate social media contacts. More details about their submission policies can be found here.
15. Biteback Publishing
A connoisseur of quality non-fiction, Biteback Publishing is one of the best publishing houses for your humor books. Although they primarily publish books focusing on political events and current affairs, dark comedy and satire is one of their specialties. Popular humor titles include Modern Manners: The Essential Guide to Correct Behaviour and Etiquette by Philip Howard, Royalty Revealed: A Majestic Miscellany by Brian Hoey, and Stand by Your Manhood: An Essential Guide for Modern Men by Peter Loyd. Unfortunately, Biteback Publishing is not accepting unsolicited submissions at the moment. However, you can keep checking this page for the latest details about their upcoming open reading periods.
16. Summersdale
Located in Chichester, England, Summersdale is a publisher of non-fiction books. The company publishes titles in multiple genres like mind, body, and spirit, travel, lifestyle, food, spirituality, hobbies, and humor to name a few. In humor, they are especially interested in funny anthologies, jokes, quirky tips, and similar other topics. Outrageous Fibs We Tell The Kids: The Best Lies Grown Ups Tell Children by Summersdale Publishers, The World’s Best Jokes (That You’ll Remember): Unforgettable Jokes and Gags for All the Family by James Briggs, F in Exams: Even More in the Best Test Paper Blunders by Richard Benson are some of their recent and upcoming humor books. Summersdale is currently open to submissions and you can send your humor book manuscripts with a covering letter, the first two chapters, and additional details, which you can find at the submissions guidelines page.
17. Farrago Books
If writing funny fiction is your specialty, Farrago Books might just be your answer. Based in Richmond, London, the company publishes fiction that makes you laugh. Perhaps that is why, almost all their books are tinged with humor and satire. Top genres include humorous mysteries and crime, romantic comedies, satirical comedies, and science fiction. Being an independent press, Farrago Books only publishes a few titles every year and some of their best-selling works in humor include Fountain Inn by Victor Canning, The Ice Maid’s Tail by Mandy Morton, and Cherry Slice by Jennifer Stone. Farrago Books follows an open submission policy and you can reach out to them any time with a short book synopsis, up to three sample chapters, and your CV. More details about the submission process can be found here.
18. Penguin Random House
Established in 2013, Penguin Random House is a leading NYC based publishing house specializing in all genres. The company operates in more than 20+ countries and is comprised of 300+ independent imprints. Since inception, Penguin Random House has been known to support new, creatively inspired ideas and give an opportunity to underrepresented voices. The company believes in the power of literature and they are especially interested in books that can truly touch readers and transform lives. In non-fiction humor, they publish everything from witty anecdotes, to inspiring and rib-tickling memoirs. Popular titles in this category include Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby, The Odd 1s Out: The First Sequel by James Rallison, and Gmorning, Gnight by Lin-Manuel Miranda. As with many leading publishing houses, Penguin Random House only accepts manuscripts represented by a literary agent. For more information about their submission policies, check this page.
19. Bloomsbury Publishing
One of the oldest publishing houses to be featured on our list, Bloomsbury Publishing was established in 1986. The company currently has offices in London, New York, New Delhi, Oxford, and Sydney, and they publish several hundreds of titles annually. Over the years, Bloomsbury Publishing has published the works of Nobel, Pulitzer, and Booker Prize winning authors and they are always keen to collaborate with fresh talent. The company specializes in both fiction and non-fiction and humor books are published in the non-fiction category. Popular humor titles include Going Into Town: A Love Letter to New York by Roz Chast, Winging It: Chicks With Zero Clucks to Give by Sloane Tanen, and Where’s My Jetpack by Daniel H. Wilson. Unfortunately, Bloomsbury Publishing only accepts non-fiction manuscripts represented by a literary agent. For more details about their submission policies, check this page.
Do you know of any publishers of humor books? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
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!