If you’re an author in Manitoba and you want to publish a book you’ve written, below we’ve featured 13 top book publishers in Winnipeg.
1. Great Plains Publications
Founded in 1992, Great Plains Publications is an independent publisher located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They publish non-fiction books for and about the Prairies, particularly biography and history books, as well as creative non-fiction that brings the diverse stories and voices of the region to a wider audience. They also publish fiction under the imprints Yellow Dog and Enfield & Wizenty. Yellow Dog focuses on historical and contemporary fiction for middle grade and young adult readers, while Enfield & Wizenty publishes novels and collections of short stories.
If you have a manuscript you’d like to submit to any of Great Plains’ imprints, you can fill out their submission form and upload the necessary documents. All submissions must include a cover letter, a short author’s bio with a list of past publication credits, a one-page outline or synopsis, and a few sample chapters. Be sure to check out their submission guidelines to learn more. Should you have any additional questions, you can reach Great Plains Publications via email.
2. Turnstone Press
Also located in Winnipeg, Turnstone Press is a Canadian publisher that was established in 1976. They publish the work of Canadian authors, with a significant focus on books about Manitoba and/or written by Manitoba authors. They have an open submissions policy, and they encourage submissions from new writers, indigenous writers, writers from the LGBTQ community, writers of color, and writers with disabilities. Turnstone Press primarily publishes literary fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, but they also publish urban fantasy, noir fiction, speculative fiction, and thrillers under their Ravenstone imprint.
Prospective authors need to create an account on Turnstone’s website in order to access their online submission form. Once you have completed the form, upload the entire manuscript you’d like them to consider. Make sure you format your manuscript according to their guidelines. Only one manuscript may be submitted per form. If you have any additional questions, you can get in touch with Turnstone Press through their online contact form.
3. ARP Books
Founded in downtown Winnipeg in 1996, ARP Press is an independent publisher that specializes in progressive fiction, non-fiction, and poetry about contemporary social, cultural, and political issues. They publish the works of Canadian authors from various backgrounds, and over the years, they have collaborated with many community activists, respected academics, established authors, and first-time novelists. Some of their most recent titles include Stolen City: Racial Capitalism and the Making of Winnipeg, BlackLife: Post-BLM and the Struggle for Freedom, and Radical Medicine: The International Origins of Socialized Health Care in Canada.
ARP Books is currently open for submissions. They welcome non-fiction, fiction, and poetry, and they are particularly interested in works that deal with issues not typically covered by the mainstream media. They do not accept genre fiction, speculative fiction, children’s fiction, books for young adults, travel books, family histories, or self-help books. If you are interested in submitting, you can check out their submission guidelines here. All submissions must be sent via email.
4. J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing
Gordon Shillingford Publishing is another Canadian publisher based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They publish an average of 14 new titles each year under several imprints. Their main imprint focuses on politics, true crime, biography, and religion. Their Watson & Dwyer imprint publishes books on Canada’s social history. Their other imprints, Scirocco Drama and The Muses’ Company, specialize in theater and poetry, respectively. Their most recent releases include Mark Crawford’s Boys, Girls, & Other Mythological Creatures, Corey Payette’s Children of God, Andrea Scott’s Better Angels, and Beverley Cooper’s Janet Wilson Meets the Queen.
Gordon Shillingford Publishing is currently accepting submissions for all their imprints, but each imprint has a different set of submission instructions. Find more information about their guidelines here. For general inquiries, you can reach J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing through the contact form on their website.
5. Pemmican Publications
Located in Winnipeg, Pemmican Publications is the only dedicated Metis publishing house in the country. They were founded by the Manitoba Metis Federation in 1980, and since then, they have published 150 different titles across various genres, including poetry, fiction, picture books, history books, biographies, and books on Canadian cultural studies. As a publisher, their main goal is to promote the works of Canadian Metis authors and artists.
Pemmican Publications is currently open for submissions. They are looking for adult fiction, young adult fiction, children’s fiction, and non-fiction books that reflect the Metis experience. They also welcome submissions in aboriginal languages, such as Cree and Michif, with English translations. All submissions must be sent by mail and must include a cover letter, a brief synopsis, the intended audience, the manuscript’s total word count, and three sample chapters. Learn more about their submission guidelines here. Additional questions may be sent to Pemmican Publications via email.
6. Portage & Main Press
Portage & Main Press is a Canadian publishing company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They specialize in indigenous literature, regional history, and educational materials. Their books are written by expert educators and are designed to help teachers change the lives of their students. They publish books across a range of subjects, including mathematics, art, geography, science, history, reading, professional learning, inclusive education, ESL, social studies, and more. They also have another imprint, Highwater Press, which publishes fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature written by indigenous authors.
Portage & Main is currently accepting submissions, and they are most interested in books that are inclusive and curriculum based, as well as books that feature indigenous knowledge and perspectives. For more information on submitting a proposal, you can check out Portage & Main’s submission guidelines here. If you have any additional questions or concerns, you can reach the Portage & Main team here.
7. Signature Editions
Signature Editions is a Canadian literary press that has been publishing quality non-fiction, fiction, drama, and poetry since 1986. Originally founded in Montreal as Nuage Editions, the press moved to Winnipeg in 1997 and changed its name to Signature Editions in 2000. Their mission is to discover and develop new Canadian writing, and they have proudly published many first-time authors. They are also responsible for publishing many award-winning titles, such as The Last Chance Ladies’ Book Club, The Spanish Boy, Finding Home in the Promised Land, The Girl in the Wall, and From Fire to Flood: A History of Theatre in Manitoba.
Signature Editions currently welcomes submissions from Canadian authors. They are interested in books with literary merit, and they do not accept self-help books, romance novels, or children’s books. If you are interested in submitting your work for their consideration, you can check out their submission guidelines here. All submissions must be sent by mail. For general inquiries, you can send Signature Editions an email.
8. University of Manitoba Press
Founded in 1967, University of Manitoba Press is the publishing arm of the University of Manitoba and the first university press in Western Canada. They publish at least five books a year, specializing in Canadian literature, Canadian history, indigenous studies, and indigenous history. They also publish books on the environment and land use. Some of their recent titles include Honouring the Strength of Indian Women, Inuit Stories of Being and Rebirth, Czech Refugees in Cold War Canada, and Rooster Town: The History of an Urban Metis Community.
University of Manitoba Press welcomes submissions in the form of book proposals. Your proposal should include an abstract, an annotated table of contents, a description of the book’s potential audience, and your curriculum vitae. Once you are ready, you can send your proposal to the acquisitions editor via email. Check out their submission guidelines for more detailed information. If you have any questions or clarifications, feel free to contact University of Manitoba Press here.
9. At Bay Press
Established in 2008, At Bay Press is an award-winning independent publisher based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are a member of the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, the Association of Canadian Publishers, the Fine Press Book Association, and the Literary Press Group. They are committed to publishing thoughtful literary books by both established and undiscovered authors. As a literary press, they specialize in literary fiction and non-fiction, including poetry, literary thrillers, noir, and graphic novels.
If you would like to submit your work to At Bay Press, you can send them a proposal by mail. Your proposal must include a cover letter and a one-page synopsis of your manuscript. If you have previous publication credits, make sure you include them in your cover letter. Your proposal must also be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. For more information on submitting a proposal, you can check out their submission guidelines here. You can contact At Bay Press via email should you have any additional questions.
10. Fernwood Publishing
Founded in 1991, Fernwood Publishing is an independent Canadian publisher with offices in Manitoba and Nova Scotia. When they were first established, they primarily published books intended for an academic audience, but they have since expanded their focus and now publish non-fiction books for general readers. They specialize in books that deal with social justice and other issues that are socially, politically, and economically significant. They also have a fiction imprint, Roseway Publishing. Together, Fernwood and Roseway have published more than 900 titles to date.
Fernwood Publishing currently accepts submissions. They are looking for non-fiction books in the following areas: indigenous resistance and decolonization, activism and social change, social work, economics, international development, women and feminism, politics, and more. Feel free to browse Fernwood’s current list to see the kinds of books they usually publish. If you have a manuscript or book idea you think meets Fernwood’s criteria, you can submit a proposal via email. For more information about what to include in your proposal, check out their submission guidelines here.
11. Peanut Butter Press
Peanut Butter Press is a Winnipeg-based publisher that has been producing beautifully illustrated picture books since 2004. In addition to engaging illustrations, their books also feature interesting content that enrich children’s lives. They publish various kinds of picture books, from wordless graphic novels to illustrated chapter books. And it’s not just children who enjoy their content. Many of their books are accompanied by teaching guides for parents and educators. Their titles include Benny’s Dream Horse by Harriet Zaidman, Fabulous Feathers in Her Hair by Laura Langston, Hi! I’m the New Baby by Tina Powell, and I Know My Grandma Loves Me by Kathy Ward.
Peanut Butter Press is not accepting unsolicited submissions at the moment. But if you have any questions for the Peanut Butter Press team, you can contact them via email.
12. Bedside Press
Based in Winnipeg, Bedside Press is an Eisner-nominated book publisher specializing in graphic novels in print and digital formats. They also publish a small number of prose projects. They are a member of the Association of Canadian Publishers and the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers. They publish books for readers of all ages, and their books span various genres including horror, science fiction, fiction, and more. In addition to publishing quality books, Bedside Press also offers free pitch feedback and publication advice to Canadian authors.
If you are interested in submitting your work to Bedside Press, you can check out their submission guidelines here. If you have any additional questions, you can reach the Bedside Press team through their online contact form.
13. Canadian Mennonite University Press
Established in 1974, Canadian Mennonite University Press is an academic publisher that produces reference, scholarly, and general interest books, with a focus on theology, Mennonite studies, and church-oriented content. They also publish biographies, children’s books, novels, and literary criticism. Some of their recent titles include Still Daring to Hope, To and From Nowhere: A Biological Novel, Business Ethics Rooted in the Church, and The Challenge is in the Naming: A Theological Journey.
CMU Press is currently closed for submissions. But if you are interested in collaborating with them in the future, you can find information on their publishing process and submission guidelines here. You can also contact CMU Press via email.
Are there any other book publishers in Winnipeg that you know of? Please tell us about them in the comments box below.
Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of Writing Tips Oasis.