Have you written a magical realism novel? Are you now looking for a publisher? We’re here to help. Below we’ve featured 19 Top publishers of magical realism.
1. Tor Books
Whether you’re a fan of sci-fi and fantasy or spine-tingling horror, you’ll enjoy the acclaimed and huge fiction portfolio of Tor Books. As the publishing venture of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, this company from New York City, New York, has also expanded to genres such as speculative fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and novels that expand various TV and video game properties.
In the specific field of magical realism, Tor Books has the best-selling The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, which earned rave reviews from not only legendary fantasy writer Neil Gaiman but also from CNN and The Washington Post. Similarly, Tor Books has the beloved The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, a recipient of the 2021 Alex Award.
To send a proposal or manuscript, you must wait for the COVID-19 situation to improve. Once it does, Tor Books will resume accepting unsolicited manuscripts. For more details, visit the FAQs page and read the part about submission guidelines.
2. Bloomsbury
For storytellers of magical realism in London, UK, you can always rely on the publisher who put the Harry Potter franchise on the British map. Founded back in 1986, the print house now has huge offices around the world (including in India and Australia) and continues to inspire and entertain both young and adult readers.
One of the most recent hits from Bloomsbury is none other than Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi. Appearing as a bestseller at the New York Times and garnering the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the book is consistently hilarious as it is a top example of literary fiction. Then there’s Manju’s Magic Puddle, a kid’s story from Chitra Soundar that features a genie who’s a little under the weather.
Bloomsbury accepts proposals, but you need to submit them through a literary agent. Unsolicited proposals will no longer be considered. Check the submissions page for the complete information.
3. Beacon Press
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, and established in 1874, Beacon Press is known for its quality taste in non-fiction, varying in topics from feminism and race to religion and politics. Yet this indie company also has a few fiction titles up its sleeves, all of which enrich readers the way their more abundant nonfiction books do.
As an irreplaceable part of the Association of American University Presses, Beacon Press always upholds and espouses the virtues of truth, justice, and democracy through the written word. So if you read Gayl Jones’s Palmares, you’ll find a wholly satisfying mix of sharp-witted storytelling and honoring of history — complete with distinct magical realism.
Unfortunately, Beacon Press isn’t currently accepting fiction manuscripts. We recommend revisiting the submission guidelines section in the future for any positive updates regarding the matter.
4. Viking
Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheimer knew they struck gold the moment they launched this publishing company in 1925. Located in New York, New York, Viking has always been home to the most respected names in fiction and nonfiction such as D. H. Lawrence, William Vollmann, and Steven Pinker.
Recently, the publisher under Penguin Books USA released Ruth Ozeki’s The Book of Form and Emptiness, a colorful coming-of-age piece of literary fiction with meaningful Asian-American representation. And for young readers, Viking also has Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Warrior, which is part of the Nsibidi Scripts Series.
As of writing, Viking is only open to agented proposals and manuscripts. If you have a literary agent but they lack experience in submitting queries, they can browse the manuscripts and agents section of the FAQs page to get a better idea.
5. Orbit
Home to Hugo-award-winning novels, Orbit is a publisher of sci-fi and fantasy books that you can find in the US, UK, and even Australia. Orbit US was founded in 2007 and it’s part of the Hachette Book Group, headquartered in New York, New York.
To understand this company’s preferences in magical realism, look for some of N. K. Jemisin’s writings. These include the best-selling The City We Became from The Great Cities Trilogy and The Fifth Season from The Broken Earth Series.
Orbit requires interested authors to submit their works through a literary agent. The publisher knows getting one can be tedious, so the FAQ entry about the manuscript submission policy offers some help.
6. Pandamoon Publishing
With a fantastical name as Pandamoon Publishing, this indie company is unsurprisingly welcoming of magical realism titles. Located in Austin, Texas, it was established by Zara Kramer and has professionals from different fields. Together, these wonderful individuals ensure that Pandamoon Publishing can take great care of its authors.
Speaking of authors, Elgon Williams is one of Pandamoon Publishing’s most accomplished fiction writers. His Thuperman Trilogy Series, which begins with Becoming Thuperman, is a good read for kids and teens looking for magical realism.
As of writing, submissions are closed — but fret not! Pandamoon Publishing will accept new submissions starting in October 2021. Go here for the complete guidelines.
7. Picador
From bestsellers to Pulitzer Prize winners, Picador has been the publisher of legendary authors since it was founded in 1995. It’s the principal imprint of Macmillan for literary works — and this is why you’ll find books from Susan Sontag and Paul Beatty in its portfolio.
Headquartered in New York, New York, Picador’s hold in magical realism got stronger with the release of Kawai Strong Washburn’s Shark in the Time of Saviors. It’s the recipient of the PEN/Hemingway Award in 2020 and is heralded as an astonishing work of contemporary literary fiction.
Currently, Picador only accepts agented submissions. For more details about queries and literary agents, check the FAQs page and scroll down to the entry for manuscript submissions.
8. Counterpoint
Counterpoint is one of the two remarkable imprints of Counterpoint LLC, which was founded in 2007. As a publisher of fiction and nonfiction alike, this company from Berkeley, California, never fails to discover the most promising and innovative storytellers.
While its collection of poetry and literary biographies are difficult to ignore, Counterpoint also has Joy of Man’s Desiring, which was first published in 1936. More importantly, it’s written by Jean Giorno, who is considered as one of the forerunners of magical realism.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Counterpoint has temporarily stopped accepting physical manuscripts. Furthermore, the publisher is only looking for agented submissions as of writing. Read the submission guidelines to know more.
9. Atria
Atria was established in 2002 and has several imprints like Atria Books, One Signal, and Howard Books. Similarly, the Atria Publishing Group itself is part of Simon & Schuster, which is headquartered in New York, New York.
One of Atria’s editors, Loan Le, is searching for high-quality literary fiction, especially those that utilize elements like horror and magical realism. Given the allure of novels like Anita Kopacz’s Shallow Waters and Zoraida Córdova’s The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, it’s no wonder that the publisher is looking for more.
As of writing, Atria and Simon & Schuster do not accept unagented submissions. Browse the manuscript submission page for more details.
10. Sourcebooks
Based in Naperville, Illinois, Sourcebooks was launched in 1987 by Dominique Raccah. A little more than a decade later, it had its first New York Times bestseller — and it was one of the top publishers in the US in 2016. Today, it’s still an independent and woman-owned company that breaks ground in the industry.
Like Leah Weiss’s historical fiction titled All the Little Hopes, the novels in Sourcebooks have the power to inspire and entertain in unique ways. So if you want to have your work printed by Sourcebooks, read the submission guidelines and see whether the appropriate imprint for your fiction project is open or closed to unsolicited proposals.
11. Hanover Square Press
Hanover Square Press was founded in 2017 and operates in New York, New York. It prints fiction and nonfiction alike, but the publisher won’t easily accept any project. Whether it’s a journalistic opus on sociopolitical issues or a one-of-a-kind work of speculative fiction, the storytelling must be spellbinding.
For a better idea of what the press is looking for, see Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold. It’s an international bestseller that combines humor with time travel sci-fi and the hallmarks of literary fiction.
To submit your work, you’ll need a literary agent to vouch for it. Otherwise, Hanover Square Press will reject your proposal as it’s only open for solicited or agented submissions.
12. Coffee House Press
In 1972, Allan Kornblum established Coffee House Press as a humble printing press. Despite its limited resources at the time, it yearned to do business the way bigger organizations did. Now, the publisher is one of the most respected non-profit entities in the international scene as it introduces more literary wonders to the world.
Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Coffee House Press understands that not all books fit in just one specific category. Tropic of Orange by award-winning author Karen Tei Yamashita, for example, blends everything from hip-hop culture to magical realism.
The publisher doesn’t accept any manuscript submissions as of writing. Still, Coffee House Press asks that authors visit the submissions page for updates.
13. Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company is one of the big divisions of the Hachette Book Group, which is situated in New York, New York. One of the top figures in the team is Bruce Nichols, who’s the senior vice president and publisher for not only Little, Brown but also its imprints like Voracious and Mulholland Books.
One bestselling and award-winning novel in its portfolio is Eleanor Catton’s The Luminaries. Receiving the Man Book Prize and tons of praise, it’s a well-written satire and ghost fiction that’s hard to drop even if it has over 800 pages.
If you want Little, Brown and Company to consider your work, look for a literary agent to represent your manuscript. For more details about queries and proposals, scroll down to the manuscript submissions section of the FAQs page.
14. Soft Skull Press
Since Sander Hicks planted its seeds in 1992, Soft Skull Press has operated in New York, New York. More than 25 years later, it’s captivated readers with the help of renowned authors and their award-winning titles — all while remaining to be an independent publisher.
Soft Skull Press has no restrictions when it comes to genres. Titles featuring magical realism like Marisa Matarazzo’s Drenched: Stories of Love and Other Deliriums and Hiromi Kawakami’s upcoming Japanese fiction People from My Neighborhood fit well into the catalog.
But if you want to send your work, you’ll have to wait a while if you don’t have a literary agent. Soft Skull Press currently doesn’t allow unsolicited proposals. Still, check this page for any news about proposals.
15. Tinder Press
Are you looking for literary fiction and nonfiction? Then consider Tinder Press. Situated in London, UK, it’s an imprint for readers who want nothing else but the most quick-witted and elegant writing.
With authors like Sue Monk Kidd and Maggie O’Farrell, Tinder Press has no problems delivering great titles consistently. One such novel is Sarah Winman’s A Year of Marvellous Ways. Released in 2017, the acclaimed piece of fiction proves why magical realism is here to stay.
Tinder Press accepts agented or solicited submissions. Read the submission details if you need help in finding a literary agent.
16. Arcade Publishing
Jeanette Seaver and her husband, the late Dick Seaver, founded Arcade Publishing in 1998. At the time, they were warned about the obstacles in the publishing industry. But thanks to their perseverance and strategic approach to sourcing titles, the company managed to print works by hundreds of authors from around the world.
In 2010, Arcade Publishing became an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, which is based in New York, New York. Even with this change, it operates with the philosophy it’s always had. Thus, its magical realism titles like Tad Crawford’s A Floating Life and Katherine Forbes Riley’s The Bobcat are always a joy to read.
Arcade Publishing accepts unsolicited proposals in fiction, literary nonfiction, and other categories. Read the submission guidelines to ensure that the publisher sees your proposal.
17. The University of Chicago Press
The University of Chicago Press in Chicago, Illinois, isn’t all about academic and nonfiction titles. With its history dating back to 1890, this printing press understands that perspective and priceless knowledge are grasped in both real and fictional stories.
Journals and scholarly works about economics, philosophy, and anthropology are bountiful. But once in a while, you’ll also find a beguiling novel like Rómulo Gallegos’s Doña Bárbara, first released in 1929 and is still one of the most respected Latin American stories to this day.
The University of Chicago Press isn’t currently keen on accepting original fiction, but classics and fiction in translation are welcome. Browse the FAQs page for manuscript submissions. Similarly, you can go to the book submissions page for more information.
18. Soho Press
Soho Press was established in 1986 as an indie publisher. Located in Manhattan, New York, it launches up to 90 titles annually, serving both adult and teen readers across its three imprints.
From crime fiction to coming-of-age fiction, Soho Press is the go-to publisher for many. In particular, one unforgettable book from its catalog is Matt Bell’s A Tree or a Person, a compelling set of short stories that combines psychological elements, art, and magical realism.
As of writing, Soho Press isn’t open to unsolicited proposals. The publisher recommends checking back if unagented submissions will be accepted again.
19. Park Row Books
Last but not least, Park Row Books is one of the two youngest publishers on the list since it was created only in 2017. Yet in such a short time, it’s caught the attention of readers, authors, and other companies in the publishing industry.
Located in New York, New York, its editors like Laura Brown and Natalie Hallak are searching for writers who can tell a story unlike anyone else. For example, Park Row Books released Sarah Penner’s The Lost Apothecary earlier in 2021. Soon enough, it became a best-selling title and was praised by Kate Quinn and Fiona Davis.
Park Row Books is only looking for agented submissions. Visit the website and scroll down for contact information if you already have a literary agent.