If you’re an author in Utah who has completed the writing of your book and you want to publish it, ensure it has been professionally edited.
If your manuscript has been edited and the next step is to find a publishing house, take a look at the following 5 top book publishers in Utah.
1. WiDo Publishing
WiDo was established in 2007 in central Salt Lake City. It’s an independent publishing that has been a family-owned and operated business from the start. They might be a small literary press, but their passion for literature could surpass some of the major publishing houses. WiDo offer support to authors of variety of literary genres, from historical fiction, through young adult titles, all the way to contemporary female fiction and suspense. The writer’s nationality is of no importance – what matters is a gripping, well-written story! The caring approach that only small organizations can work with, is what can really help fish out rising talent and give a chance to those, who are not afraid to dream big. One of WiDo’s new releases is Joanell Serra’s debut – a beautifully edited family saga The Vines we Planted, set in the sun-drenched California.
If you want your work to be considered by WiDo, write a plan that you think is promising enough to deliver! To find out more about manuscript and chapter submissions, click here.
2. University of Utah Press
One of the oldest in the state, University of Utah Press was founded in 1949 and faced tough beginnings, as most academic publishers. Soon, however, the significance of scholarly books was on the rise, and who could possibly publish them better? With greater funding nowadays, the non-profit UU Press based in Salt Lake City publishes titles in varied subject areas, such as anthropology, archaeology, American culture and linguistics, but naturally also devotes a section to regional books concerning Utah. With over 500 titles in print and around 30 new ones published annually, the Press is certainly flourishing. Throughout the years, they’ve discovered authors, who later achieved great success on a national scale; a good example could be the novelist Mark Spragg, whose An Unfinished Life was later adapted into a film, starring Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman.
Currently, manuscripts and proposals in all subject areas that are of interest to the University Press will be considered. A full list of those, as well as guidelines and the start-to-finish publishing process can be found here.
3. Torrey House Press
This independent publishing, also located in SLC, is on a mission to change the world and the society through their books. Releasing both literary fiction and relevant non-fiction since 2010, Torrey House have built a portfolio of works that are not purely entertaining, but aim to educate and spark conversation on subjects that may often be overlooked – the environment, climate change, and political decisions that concern sustainability and the future of our planet. The main goal is to engage an audience that is willing to transform lives and make social change, influenced by what they’ve read. One of this year’s non-fiction releases is River of Lost Souls, a striking investigation of the 2015 Gold King Mine disaster in Colorado, written by an experienced environmental reporter.
With emphasis on environmental and political themes and issues mentioned above, Torrey House is currently accepting non-fiction submissions. If you feel as if you’ve got a compelling voice that needs to be heard, read the Submissions Guidelines.
4. Shadow Mountain Publishing
If you’re currently cooking up a recipe for a fantasy bestseller, Shadow Mountain is probably the first trade publishing you should consider. Salt Lake City-based, it’s a popular fiction imprint of Deseret Book Company, which history dates back to 1866! Shadow Mountain specialises in young adult and children’s fantasy, boasting bestselling series such as Fablehaven and its sequel Dragonwatch. Their catalogue is however much broader, including some ‘clean’, traditional romance, cookbooks, inspirational stories and general fiction. Authors, who are interested, should easily find a niche that suits them. One of Shadow Mountain’s New York Times Bestsellers is Christmas Jars, a moving tearjerker you should definitely reach for this season.
If you’re a middle grade fantasy or romance writer, Shadow Mountain might be looking for your work right now! Learn all about the manuscript submission process here.
5. Future House Publishing
As far as publishing content is concerned, Future House is certainly looking ahead. Founded in 2014 in Provo, they’re focused on producing next generation sci-fi, fantasy and young adult books. Their ways of distribution are also looking towards the future, with e-book and paper publications, which can be purchased online, or from both indie and major retailers. Up till this day, they’ve published over 40 titles, which is a massive achievement for such short history of running. The Evertaster series is probably the most recognised title from Future House. It was written by Adam Sidwell – a visual effects expert, who has worked on Hollywood blockbuster productions, such as I, Robot or Pirates of the Caribbean.
Future House is currently seeking submissions in science fiction, fantasy and middle grade adventure. Take a look at their submissions page for more details.
Do you know of any other book publishers in Utah? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
Zofia Filipowicz is a freelance journalist living in Poland. She has graduated from De Montfort University in Britain, with a first class degree in Journalism and English Literature. Since then, she’s worked with different print and digital publications. Currently open for commission.