29 Book Publishing Companies that Accept Submissions without an Agent

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Ten years ago, you never would have dreamed of publishing your book traditionally without an agent. but these days, the sky is the limit for authors.

The pros and cons of traditional versus self-publishing have been discussed several times.

You are reading: Publishing companies for books

Just so you know, although there are many advantages to self-publishing a book, writing a book is so good that a publisher wants to claim it and sell it as their own. maybe you’re one of the many writers who would like to publish a book through the traditional route, or you’re looking to branch out and try it alongside independent publishing.

You are not alone.

If you’ve ever considered looking for publishers to take a look at one of your books, you might be able to find a literary agent, or there are plenty of legitimate publishers that accept submissions from authors without agents too!

who knew?

Warning: As you all know, I have traditionally never posted. so I want to be honest and let you know that the following is based purely on research and does not imply that I have used the editors below. You can search for publishers and agents on websites like querytracker.net,writersmarket.com, or publishersarchive.com.

traditional publishing & literary agents-what’s the deal?

When you think of traditional publishers, the Big 5 might be the first thing you think of:

hachette book group
harpercollins
macmillan publishers
penguin random house
simon and schuster

These are the big dogs: the holy grail of editorial accolades and prestige.

These companies are extremely selective and will only accept proposals through an agent. For there to be even the slightest hope of interest from major publishers, fiction authors must have impressive writing skills and their work must fit the commercial mold of the fiction genre, while non-fiction authors must have a compelling hook. , a marketable idea, and an important author. platform.

If you think your work is Big 5 material, you need to find an agent who is interested in your book. they (if they’re good) will help you make your book even better, then work hard to find you a good deal. they are much like a business manager and can communicate with otherwise unreachable publishers and negotiate all the important details of the deal on your behalf, but all is not rosy.

the disadvantages of using an agent

First, you should do a lot of research on each agent before contacting them. The internet is full of scammers looking to take advantage of someone desperate for a book deal, or hobbyists who will be a waste of time (and possibly money) because they call themselves “agents” but don’t really know what they’re doing . .

So, after doing some careful research to find a legitimate agent, the next step is to find one who thinks they have an amazing book. even then, there is no guarantee of a publishing contract. Like authors, agents often get several rejections before finding a publisher who shows interest in their book.

If they get your book accepted by a publisher and get you an advance on your book sales, it will cost you 15% of all your earnings.

so if you don’t want to be published by a company and require an agent, a better option might be to publish without an agent. there are tons of reputable small and medium sized publishing companies out there, and more and more publishers are loosening their grip on the reins to allow agentless authors to contact them directly, cutting out the middleman. even big companies go through periods of submission where they bypass literary agents to find talented writers.

While small publishers don’t have the same clout with retailers or the same marketing and advertising resources, most have publishers, designers, and professionals who are passionate about publishing great books.

One of the book publishers on our list is even a penguin random house publisher, and yes, they accept contacts from authors directly. Plus, here’s an example of a new author who got a deal with Baen Books, another publisher on our list, and his novel has great reviews on Amazon.

publishers to consider (even if you are a new author)

Below is a list of 30 book publishers that authors can contact directly. for each publisher, you will find:

a link to their website
what they publish
any important notes about their publishing history
a link to their submission guidelines for authors
whether they accept proposals by mail, electronically, or both
estimated turnaround time (if provided on your site)
a link to your catalog of previously published books and
publisher location

When you find one that sounds interesting or might fit your goals as an author, bookmark it. this could bring you one step closer to becoming a (traditionally) published author.

Note: Be sure to carefully review each publisher’s website and submission requirements. You’ll make a great first impression by applying only to those publishers that publish books like yours.

30 book publishers that accept proposals directly from authors

1. desktop publishing school

publishing a wide variety of non-fiction, fiction and children’s books
have helped over 7,000 authors in just 7 years, so there is proof that their system works
they take pride in not only helping authors get published, but also selling their books (and they don’t get a royalty cut on their sales)
they have extra training, support systems, community and author training, included if accepted
submission guidelines – note: you should schedule a strategy call so they can learn about your book idea and see if it will be a good fit for your organization< /li
You can usually be contacted by phone within 48 hours of applying.
You’ll be matched with a 1-1 coach after you’re accepted and given access to a great number of complementary courses. and training materials
see successful students here.
see their library here.
virtual, mostly based on us

2. wow

publish science fiction and fantasy
a respected and popular publisher, and a penguin imprint.
submission guidelines
only accept submissions by mail and full-length novels of at least 80,000 words. they don’t accept short stories or novellas.
they require submissions to be exclusive to them, however, if they take more than three months to review your manuscript, then you can send it elsewhere
new york, new york

3. chronicle books

children’s books and adult trade (adult non-fiction)
their books are everywhere as they even have international retail stores
submission guidelines
different guidelines if you are submitting children’s or adult books so please follow carefully
will only respond if you are interested in publishing
find your books here
san francisco, california

4. baen

science fiction and fantasy only
one of the most respected publishers of science fiction and fantasy books, is one of the few established publishers that will accept full manuscripts from unauthorized authors. agent
shipping guidelines here
strongly prefers electronic submission via their submission form
takes longer than usual to receive a response (9- 12 months)
website
wake forest, north carolina

5. flashlight press

they publish illustrated children’s fiction books aimed at 4-8 year olds
their books are beautifully illustrated and they only publish 2-4 each year. his company and individual books have won many awards. distributed internationally.
submission guidelines
follow the guidelines to the letter
books must be less than 1000 words with a universal theme dealing with family or social situations and fit into their book catalog
if they are interested, they will contact you within 3 months.
brooklyn, new york

6. skyhorse post

one of the fastest growing independent publishers in the us. uu. with 15 publishing labels and a list of more than 6,000 titles.
they publish practically everything, both fiction and non-fiction, books for adults, young people and children.
they have had 43 titles on the new york times bestseller list in the 10 years they’ve been publishing.
submission guidelines
you’ll hear from them within 4-6 weeks if they’re interested in seeing more of your manuscript.
You can search for your titles here
new york, new york

7. free spirit post

publish nonfiction books and learning materials for children, teens, parents, educators, counselors, and others who interact with young people
produce 20-25 new titles per year and they have a strong distribution through major commercial and library distributors, in bookstores such as barnes & noble, on amazon.com, and its widely distributed mail-order catalog.
submission guidelines
are seeking nonfiction submissions in these categories: teaching strategies & professional development, early childhood, gifted & special education, bullying prevention & conflict resolution, character education, leadership & service learning, educational games, posters & jars, and advice & social-emotional learning (at the time of this writing)
they only accept proposals by mail.
their response time is usually 2-6 months
top page
minneapolis, mn

8. five stars

open to western fiction and mystery submissions
connected to large academic gale and cengage learning companies
without an agent or prior published book, you will need to consult a general editor (associateeditortekno@shaw.ca) for full submission guidelines. must include your name, contact information, and gender. submissions are only accepted electronically.
they will respond, but it may take some time
their website was harder than most for authors looking for publishers, but they also have a page facebook for more information
website
waterville, maine

9. kensington publishing corp.

Published by some of the New York Times best-selling authors
Submission Guidelines
which should check the interests of your publishers and send it to the one you think best suits your book
they will only respond if they are interested.
you can explore the categories and titles of his books here
new york, new york

10. beacon press

publish serious non-fiction on deep fundamental themes, such as respect for diversity, religious pluralism, anti-racism, justice, fairness, and compassion for all human beings
in At the time of this writing, they do not accept self-help, new poetry, or fiction books
submissions
they only accept electronic submissions.
will contact you within 3 weeks if interested in seeing a full proposal after considering your inquiry
website
boston, massachusetts

11. black inc.

publish a variety of fiction and non-fiction, but not poetry or children’s books
submission guidelines
open to submissions from Australian writers only and by post only email</li
if they are interested in your manuscript, they will contact you within 8 weeks.
browse their website
carlton, victoria, australia

12. persea books

fiction and nonfiction.
Literary novels, creative nonfiction, memoirs, essays, biographies, books on contemporary issues, anthologies and limited poetry, and young adult titles are accepted.
they do not publish genre fiction, self-help, textbooks or children’s books
submission guidelines
you must send your submission package by mail
browse her books here
new york, new york

13. bellebooks/bell bridge

bellebooks originated to publish southern fiction before creating the major bell bridge imprint, which publishes a wide variety of genres
publishes everything from anthologies to young adult books, including books for Children, Fantasy, Nonfiction, Romance, Mystery, and Women’s Fiction.
Submission Guidelines: No Submissions Currently Accepted
This page includes accurate answers to questions like what do you want? the editors? why was your book rejected? and specific submission instructions, publisher contact, and word count by genre.
They don’t accept simultaneous submissions unless you’re represented by an agent.
Typical response is 3 to 6 months
explore her books
memphis, tennessee

14. seven story press

publish fiction and nonfiction, and the occasional book of poetry
books are randomly distributed
submission guidelines: currently no submissions
You should send requested materials only by mail.
See your titles. you’ll notice her topics include feminism, lgbtq, environmentalism, human rights, and journalism.
new york, new york

15. jollyfish press

publishes a variety of commercial and literary fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thriller, young adult fiction, humor, romance, and women’s fiction.
a newer publisher started in 2012, was acquired by North Star Editions, Inc. as of October 2016
submission guidelines
must be submitted by email only
their about us page tells what publishers are looking for, what you can be helpful to authors searching for published
book titles
provo, utah

16. publishing a world

non-fiction and literary fiction. categories include self-help, biographies, religion, history, business, and more.
approximately 100 books per year internationally.
submission guidelines
have a submission form for authors to download and complete
make sure your book matches previously published titles
london, UK

17. black & white post

fiction and non-fiction, including women’s fiction (chick lit, saga and romance), psychological and police thrillers, adult and new adult contemporary crossovers, children’s fiction… and non-fiction: memoir, sports ( the uk and ireland especially ), humour, food and drink, and activity books
a leading independent scottish publisher open to work by authors from the uk, ireland and beyond
submission guidelines
prefer you use their online submission form, but will accept mail
must hear back within 3 months if interested
titles of books
united kingdom

18. angry robot

a well-respected adult science fiction and fantasy publisher, occasionally also publishing horror films
based in the britain but has wide distribution in the us, australia, new zealand and the united kingdom. part of watkins media ltd
submission guidelines
have periodic “open door” periods (such as every 18 months or so) when they accept manuscripts from authors without agents. check their website to find out if it’s currently an open house
you can submit them at any time if you have a literary agent or if an author already on your list has recommended you
li>
submissions are accepted electronically only
prefer books aimed at adults rather than young adults. you can find his books here
uk

19. all night post

seek full manuscripts between 10,000-100,000 words in romance and erotic romance subgenres.
submission guidelines
your submission must be unique to this publisher
they will make a decision on your proposal in 12 weeks
browse their website to see if yours fits
canada

20. felony & chaos

a publisher of print and digital literary mystery and fiction books
submission guidelines
only accept electronic submissions, preferably word documents
word count must be at least 80,000 words. 85,000 preferred.
Prefer mysteries with plots related to literature, philosophy, religion, academia, history, music, art, politics, food and wine, theater, magic, anthropology, and non-US settings. uu.
her book titles are here
new york, new york

21. chicago review press

a variety of fiction and non-fiction. They have several imprints, including an award-winning line of nonfiction books for children and young adults. I’ll be in touch
here are the titles of his books
chicago, illinois

22. Albert Whitman & company

books for children ages 0-15, from board books to young adult books
submission guidelines
picture books, middle grade children’s fiction and young adult fiction each have their own submission details to follow
you should hear from them within 6 months if they are interested
explore their catalog
park ridge, illinois

23. charlesbridge

publishes mainly children’s books, but also non-fiction and puzzle books for adults. their submission guidelines also state that they accept young adult novels.
submission guidelines
send by mail
they will respond only if they are interested.
here are your children’s books
watertown, massachusetts

24. peach tree

specialize in children’s books, from board books and picture books to fiction and non-fiction for young adults. they also maintain a line of retroactive titles for adults covering consumer references in health, education and parenting; regional guides to the southern united states; adult fiction, biographies, and memoirs with a focus on southern authors.
submission guidelines: currently closed for submissions
mail submission
your submission process review usually takes 6-9 months
look at his books
atlanta, georgia

25. post turner

a bit of everything – children, health & fitness, cookbooks, literary fiction, thriller/suspense, family & relationships/religion, juvenile fiction, history, humor, science, sports, romance, and nonfiction
submissions
their submissions don’t provide much guidance except where to email your materials
will reach out if interested
check out his books
nashville, tennessee

26. koehler books

two publishing models: 1) traditional model for experienced authors and agencies with good sales. 2) hybrid/co-edited publishing for new and emerging authors who need help and coaching.
a wide range of genres, including memoir, military, business, fiction, self-help mystery, young adult thriller, and women
submission guidelines
do not accept previously published books
fill out your submission form and expect to receive a response within 1-2 weeks
view their home page
virginia beach, va

27. post tck

publish a wide range of non-fiction and fiction (but not children’s poetry or picture books)
submission guidelines
only accept digital submissions of full manuscripts or proposed books on their website or by email
different guidelines if you submit fiction or non-fiction, so read carefully
answer all submissions with a yes or no within the 21 days
find your titles here
granger, indiana

28. gray wolf press

publish poetry, memoirs, essays, fiction, and nonfiction
submission guidelines
submissions open and close at different times
publications only about 30 books a year
find their titles here
minneapolis, minnesota

29. Union Square & co. (formerly sterling post)

publishing a wide variety of books for adults, youth and children
have been in business for over 60 years and over 5000 titles in print
have various printings, including one for food, wine and spirits; another for body, mind & spirit; another for crafts, decoration and outdoor living; yet another for puzzles and games.
for children’s books, they publish both fiction and nonfiction. they even have a publisher that publishes workbooks and flashcards for students from preschool through middle school.
submission guidelines – note: this publisher now requires a shipping agent
they accept submissions from authors via mail.
they appear to respond to all mail and phone submissions within several months.
find their catalogs here
new york, new york

how to get the attention of editors

Once you’ve decided you want one of your books published, it’s time to work on getting noticed and staying out of the sleet pile.

These are the strategies we will look at:

follow the guidelines
be courteous and professional
build connections at conferences
do your best work
be open to feedback
build your authoring platform

follow the guidelines

read and follow the stinky guidelines.

then read and follow them again.

provide the editor with exactly what it requests in the requested method. if they say they prefer electronic submissions, get a bonus point and submit your materials electronically.

Do not submit your full manuscript unless they explicitly request it in their submission guidelines, or after they have expressed interest in their query letter.

Write an amazing query letter. this is like the cover letter you write when applying for a job, waiting for an interview. You should write your best pitch for selling your book in a one-page letter, hoping the publisher or agent will choose your book for further “interviewing.”

many publishers also ask for a synopsis or a short summary of your entire story. sample chapters are another common request for publishers. most guidelines specify whether they want one, two, or their first five. give them what they ask for.

Nonfiction authors should write an excellent book proposal to demonstrate that your book idea will sell and that you have the credibility to give the advice. Among other things, your book proposal will include a detailed analysis of similar books already on the market, how your book is different, who will buy the book (your target audience) and why they need it, your author bio, a detailed chapter -outline by chapter and sample chapters. you’ll want to spend a fair amount of time researching and preparing your book proposal, which will probably end up being between 10 and 25 pages long.

Ultimately, send them quality work of what they ask for, nothing more, nothing less.

be professional and polite

In all of your interactions as an author, you will stand out as courteous and professional. In your letters, emails, social media, phone calls, and in-person conversations, show courtesy and professionalism, and people will be more likely to want to do business with you.

If you seem rude and unprofessional, people won’t want to work with you. Publishers receive an incredible number of submissions each month, so please be patient and humble as you search for a publisher.

build connections

A good way to network one-on-one with people who work in publishing is another way to increase your chances of getting a foot in the door.

Editors are more likely to at least carefully consider inquiries from someone they recognize, so get out of your comfort zone and introduce yourself to people at conferences and summits. you never know where a connection might lead.

make it your best work

This is another “should go without saying”, but before you start pitching to editors or agents, make sure your work is the best. this applies to both your manuscript and all of your submission materials. read them out loud. have someone else edit them. this is part of being professional. don’t waste the editor’s time or yours by submitting sloppy materials.

be open to feedback

Another difficult issue for some authors is being open to feedback. If your publisher, agent, and beta readers give you feedback, keep an open mind. consider their point of view and seek further opinions or information if you are unsure.

You probably won’t follow all the advice you’re given (sometimes it’s contradictory), but as authors, we’re so blind to our passionate work that we miss the flashing red lights that only strangers can see. modify as necessary to create a more attractive book.

build your authoring platform

Lastly, and this is especially important for nonfiction authors, but it doesn’t hurt fiction authors either, create your authoring platform.

Design a professional authoring website that showcases your previous work, if you have any, and has your social media author accounts ready.

Showing publishers that you’ve established a place in the world as an author by building a great email list will certainly help. this sends the message that you will be more of a partner to them in marketing your book, which they will love to see.

an important note about vanity presses

Aside from the 30 publishers on this list, not every company cares about you. Just like in the indie world, there are people who are more than happy to use you as a means of making money. Vanity printers are publishing companies that charge you a fee to publish your book and do nothing to market or professionally edit it. beware of any company that wants you to pay them to publish your story. if this happens, run for the hills.

If you’re not sure about the difference between legitimate publishers and these “vanity presses”, check out this helpful guide to clear things up.

follow him

If the prestige, the validation, the increased potential of having your own book on bookstore shelves, and the prospect of winning literary awards are exciting to you, then do your research and contact the publishers that seem like the best fit. for your writing can now be under way. your to-do list.

If reading about these publishers is exciting to you, or if you always knew getting a publishing deal would mean a lot to you, why not give it a try?

One thing I do know is that if you never try, you’ll never know.

side note: if you’re interested, I also have an article to help you find the best desktop publishing company here.

And as you’ve learned, you don’t even have to have an agent. you’ll probably get a rejection or five, but don’t get discouraged. there are plenty of legitimate book publishers waiting to find the next talented author.

why not you?

cheers,