This is a listing of publishers currently accepting direct, unsolicited submissions, no agent required. We will update this list as we find more, every couple of months.
New Meridian Arts
New Meridian Arts is looking for literary and poetry submissions with a tilt towards innovation and global concerns. They encourage authors to check their back catalog before submitting a query letter.
Skyhorse Publishing
Since its inception in 2006, Skyhorse Publishing has released more than nine thousand titles to become one of the larger “small presses” out there. Skyhorse is looking for nonfiction across a dozen-odd categories, and requests authors send proposals only for finished books.
Etruscan Press
For a $20 reading fee, Etruscan Press considers book-length manuscripts for books of poetry, novels, creative nonfiction, short story collections, literary criticism, anthologies, and translations. They “seek to nurture a colloquy of voices: writers and readers engaged in enlivening the discourse between individuals and across communities.”
Kensington Publishing Corp.
The largest independent firm in the paperback field, Kensington Publishing Corp. is a full-range independent commercial publishing house of dozens of New York Times bestselling authors since 1974. They publish over five hundred titles a year but remain a family business.
Something or Other Publishing
This one does things a little bit differently. Something or Other Publishing first publishes Book Ideas on their website for free across many nonfiction and fiction genres. They then extend contracts to authors who either pay for services or whose ideas garner enough community upvotes.
Olympia Publishers
Olympia Publishers accepts submissions across a broad spectrum of genres, both fiction and nonfiction. They consider all submitted work for both traditional publishing contracts where no costs are incurred by the author, or with an alternative hybrid contract with an author contribution.
Entangled Publishing
Committed to acquiring diverse books and authors, Entangled Publishing is looking for submissions across thirteen different imprints with a heavy focus on romance from YA to erotica. They seek mainstream thriller and women’s fiction titles through their Sideways imprint.
Schaffner Press
Schaffner Press publishes literary adult fiction, short fiction collections, historical fiction with socially relevant content, crime fiction, and nonfiction works across preferred categories. They love books of quality that address social concerns and consider manuscripts between 60-100k words.
Legacy Book Press
As per their name, Legacy Press seeks to publish “legacy stories, widely defined” of 25k words and up. While they are primarily interested in nonfiction submissions, they also consider novels rooted in personal experience.
Forever
Unagented submissions to Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, are currently open only to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) authors. They publish women’s fiction and romance novels between 80 and 100k words.
Heartdrum
HarperCollins accepts unsolicited submissions exclusively through their Heartdrum imprint. Submissions go through Cynthia, the author-curator of Heartdrum at HarperChildren’s, in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. She is looking only for Native and First Nations writers and illustrators of fiction and nonfiction picture books and middle grade and YA novels.
ZunTold
Twice a year from June 15-June 29th and December 1st-December 15th, this UK-based independent publishing company accepts unsolicited un-agented submissions across many genres. In June ZunTold is open for submissions in YA, crossover, and new adult fiction; and in December they are open for submissions in middle-grade fiction. They are based in the UK but accept submissions internationally.
8th House Publishing
Publishers of “exemplary fiction, philosophy, esoterica, and other earnest works,” 8th House Publishing requests prospective authors provide a sample of their book, a full table of contents, and a query letter with submission. Given their esoteric tastes, it is also recommended to first review their catalog.
Baobab Press
Self-proclaimed lovers of risk-taking and quality of thought, Baobab considers unsolicited submissions of completed books in all genres. They aim to publish work “that resonates in the contemporary climate and that will continue to resonate in years to come.”
Hera
Hera is a female-led, independent, UK-based digital publisher currently seeking crime and thriller, romance, saga, and general fiction from authors around the world. They offer carefully curated publicity and marketing campaigns for every published book, with bespoke websites and social media support.
Torrey House Press
The mission of Torrey House Press is to publish eight to ten books annually “at the intersection of the literary arts and environmental advocacy.” They are looking for literary fiction, book-length short story and essay collections, creative nonfiction, anthologies, and memoirs.
Immedium
Immedium publishes children’s picture books, Asian-American contemporary literature, and cutting-edge commentary on art and popular culture. They aim to publish entertaining and original titles with “multidimensional” and inspirational appeal.
Creative Texts Publishers
A traditional independent small press, Creative Texts enters most publishing agreements by invitation only, but is open to reviewing unsolicited manuscripts in the Action and Adventure, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, and Historical Fiction genres, as well as the nonfiction categories of History, Biography, and Western. They keep an open mind regarding submissions, so if your work falls outside these categories, they will still consider it.
Mango Publishing
On the hunt for thoughtful and unusual books that emphasize technology and innovation, this independent Miami-based publisher mostly publishes nonfiction and requires detailed proposals from prospective authors. Mango Publishing pays high royalties compared to traditional publishers but does not extend an advance.
Woodhall Press
Woodhall Press accepts poetry, fiction, and nonfiction submissions from women and under-represented writers. Check their website for submission deadlines, events, and requested essays.
The Permanent Press
The Permanent Press only accepts hard copy submissions, no emails. They aim to discover “novelists who have the talent to write exceptional fiction” and request interested authors submit the first 25 pages or so of a finished manuscript.
Creature Publishing
A feminist horror press based in Brooklyn, NY, Creature Publishing is on the lookout for genre-defying stories that challenge the status quo. They accept both agented and un-agented submissions, preferably in the 20-60k range. Their current reading period is March 6th to August 31st.
Perugia Press
Perugia Press awards an annual prize including publication and $1000 to the winner of the Perugia Press Prize for a first or second English-language book by a woman. The contest is open to poetry submissions by female and female-identified U.S. residents, and for non-BIWOC poets, a submission fee is required. Accepted manuscripts are generally between 45-85 pages.
University of Nevada Press
The University of Nevada Press publishes scholarly works in the humanities and social sciences and select fiction. They are looking for contributions to environmental studies, public health, mining studies, Native American studies, urban studies, Basque studies, and gambling and commercial gaming. External readers who are recognized authorities in the manuscript’s subject vet all submissions.
Unsolicited Press
This small independent press based out of Portland, Oregon, loves literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, with the occasional nonfiction book passing muster (but not something stuffy you might submit to Random House). Unsolicited Press accepts unagented submissions year-round, and at the time of writing requires a $5 submission fee good for all lifetime submissions.
Mirror Books
Headquartered in London, Mirror Books accepts submissions through their online portal from around the world. Submissions from new and existing authors with a focus on non-fiction real-life (memoir, crime, nostalgia, personalities, and celebrities) are preferred.
Baen Books
Founded by the Hugo-nominated author Jim Baen in 1983, Baen Books publishes only science fiction and fantasy and is a market leader in the field. Their catalog includes over 2000 books and 500 authors including some of the biggest names in the industry. Sci-fi submissions should have “solid scientific and philosophical underpinnings,” and magic systems “must be both rigorously coherent and integral to the plot.” Expect a year to pass before they get back to you.
Fox Chapel Publishing
Fox Chapel and its imprints publish illustrated nonfictional instructional books for children and adults with an aim to “provide readers of all ages with an array of compelling and visually appealing books that encourage creativity, inventiveness, and understanding.” Prospective authors should submit a book proposal that includes a writing sample, brief synopsis, and market analysis.
Chicago Review Press
An independent publishing house since 1973, Chicago Review Press publishes about 50 new titles annually under five imprints. They seek high-quality non-fiction in the following categories: African American interest, autobiography/biography, DIY, film, food, and drink (not cookbooks), history, music, parenting, politics, popular culture, popular science, social science, sports, regional (Midwest), nature/outdoor/travel, true crime, and women’s interest. Authors are advised to send a brief email query to an acquiring editor before submitting.
Austin Macauley Publishers
Austin Macauley Publishers accepts submissions in all genres from anywhere in the world. After a comprehensive submissions process, they offer either one of two contracts to an author: a non-contributory contract or a partnership agreement, where the author may be asked to cover a portion of the cost to publish their work. All submissions should include a synopsis, a cover letter, and a full copy of the manuscript.
Abingdon Press
Based in Nashville, TN, Abingdon Press has been publishing religious words from across denominations for nearly two centuries. The press is an imprint of the United Methodist Publishing House and focuses on nonfiction works such as academic and professional books and inspirational and uplifting books. They encourage folks who have written books for ministry use and personal faith development to submit via proposal using their Submittable form.
Dove Christian Publishers
An evangelical press out of Washington D.C., Dove Christian Publishers works with both fiction and nonfiction writers. They are known for historical fiction, urban fiction, Amish fiction, and devotionals, and anthologies, as well as other works that are viable for ministry. They do have strict criteria that must be followed precisely for consideration. They expect a strong social media presence, a statement of faith (upon request), and a full never-before-published manuscript of 32,000+ words edited by a professional editor before submission.
Crossway Books
Perhaps one of the most well-known Christian publishers is Crossway Books, an imprint of Good News Publishers based in Wheaton, Illinois. The press works with Gospel-focused works of nonfiction. You’ll need to submit an email query first, including a brief summary of the manuscript, a blurb about your inspiration for the book, chapter outline, sample chapters, estimated word count, estimated completion date (i.e., uncompleted manuscripts may be considered), your resume, and a list of competing titles.