18 Publishers Accepting Novels, Poetry and Nonfiction Manuscripts - No agent required

Updated 3/2/26

These eighteen publishers have opened their doors to submissions - no agent required. They are looking for romance, thrillers, speculative fiction, kidlit, memoir, and more. All of these are traditional publishers (not vanity publishers). All pay royalties, but only the larger houses pay significant advances.

When submitting to a publisher make sure you follow their guidelines carefully. Don't give anyone an excuse to throw out your work!

For a list of hundreds of publishers organized by genre that don't require an agent see Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts. 

(Image: Look and Learn)

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June Road Press. Genre: Poetry collection, full-length, 40 to 60 poems, preferably the author’s first or second book. "We’re particularly interested in work with strong ecological/environmental themes, or that engages in meaningful ways with nature or place, by writers who identify as women." Payment: Royalties. Has reading periods.

Zero Street Restrictions: Open to LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Full-length literary fiction. "Zero Street will be committed to LGBTQ+ literary fiction with commercial potential, providing marginalized authors opportunities for a wide readership in the trade fiction market. The series editors are Timothy Schaffert, bestselling author of The Perfume Thief, and SJ Sindu, author of Blue-Skinned Gods. The series seeks LGBTQ+ literary fiction of all kinds, from stories of modern life to innovations on traditions of genre and are particularly interested in BIPOC authors, trans authors, and queer authors over 50." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: Submissions to the series are accepted annually January 1 – April 30.

Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series. Restrictions: Open to any individual living in the U.S. who identifies as an immigrant and who either (i) was born in another country, (ii) has at least one parent who was born in another country (iii) is a refugee, or (iv) lives in the United States under Asylum or a Protection Program, such as TPS or DACA. Genre: Books of poetry, prose (fiction or nonfiction), and hybrid texts of poetry and prose. Payment: In addition to publication, marketing, and a standard royalties contract from Black Lawrence Press, authors chosen for the Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series will receive a travel stipend of $500, which can be used for book tours or in any manner chosen by the authors. Please read full guidelines here. 

Black Lyon Publishing, LLC is a small, independent publishing house operating in Oregon. Established in January of 2007, it is a royalty-paying, Romance Writers of America-recognized publisher. Response time: 3 months. Read guidelines HERE.

Farrago Books is an imprint of Duckworth Press (UK). Farrago’s tagline is “fiction to make you smile”. All of the work they publish, from mysteries to science fiction, have humor at the core. They do not publish memoir. Please read full guidelines here. 

Pan Macmillan Australia accepts electronic manuscript submissions of fiction and commercial nonfiction, including memoir, directly from writers. Authors need not be Australian. Read their submission guidelines here. Has submission periods.

Tundra Books, Puffin Canada, and Penguin Teen Canada publish books for teens and children. They are open to direct submissions by underrepresented authors and illustrators only. Authors need not be Canadian. Read their submission guidelines here.

Hydra Publications publishes genre fiction. All speculative fiction genres are desired and include thriller, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, steampunk, dystopian, and all reasonable sub-genres thereof. Hydra is actively seeking LitRPG of any type! If you have a LitRPG submission, please include your sub-genre in the subject line of your email to get access to immediate consideration. Subtypes include VR, no logout, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, dungeon core, harem, crunchy, light, moba, portal fantasy, town builder, and LitFPS, among others. See guidelines HERE. Has submission periods.

Crooked Lane publishes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. titles in both print and electronic editions. Crooked Lane Books is distributed through Penguin Random House. They are represented by Biagi Literary Management for subsidiary rights licensing in foreign and domestic markets, and their business relationships include Bookspan, home of the country’s largest book clubs, and Dreamscape Media, one of the nation’s largest independent audiobook publishers. Read submission guidelines here.

Android Press is a small press that publishes science fiction, fantasy, and the various -punk subgenres. "We love stories that are full of hope and optimism. We also love stories that hold up a mirror to our society and force us reexamine our past and our values in order to move forward and build a better future." Accepts novels, graphic novels, and novellas. Read submission guidelines here.

Starry Eyed Press: 224-Verse and Galactic Treks is seeking space opera, 2,000 words to novel length. Payment: Royalty split. Read guidelines here.

Lyrical Press, an imprint of Kensington, publishes suspense fiction, thrillers, and cozy mysteries. They have a penchant for romance. Submit to one editor only. (The list of editors includes the genres they are receiving.) Response time is three months. Read submission guidelines here.

Publishers With Regional Restrictions

Penguin Random House SEA was launched in October 2018 to bring local writing from the South East Asian region to a wider audience, breaking barriers of language and geographies. "As one of the world’s premier English-language publishers, we publish across a whole range of genres and are home to some of today’s most revered names in fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose. We are publishing and discovering new and established, local and international voices in English for adults and children primarily for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. We have a strong fiction and non-fiction list across every genre including biography, travel, business, politics, history, religion and philosophy, lifestyle and self-help." Submit HERE.

Text Publishing Australia accepts non-fiction and fiction manuscripts, including middle grade and young adult, from Australian or New Zealand residents.

Hachette Australia accepts work from Australian or New Zealand residents. They do not accept science fiction/fantasy, illustrated children’s books, illustrated books, cookbooks, poetry, self-help, screenplays or academic submissions.

Allen & Unwin accepts pitches for fiction and nonfiction manuscripts on Fridays. Please only apply to the Friday Pitch if you are currently living in Australia or New Zealand.

Lucent Dreaming is open to any genre, but has a preference for accessible literary, fantasy, sci-fi, speculative and/or surreal fiction. Word Limit: 40,000-80,000+ words, Pay Rate: Advance fee of £500, 20% royalties. You must be a UK resident for your work to be considered. They are especially looking for novel submissions from writers who are under-represented in UK publishing.

Thistledown Press (CANADA). Restrictions: Open to Canadian authors, with a preference for Western Canadian voices. Genre: Full-length literary work, including novels, short story collections, creative non-fiction, and collections of poetry. They will consider YA novels and—occasionally—books for younger children. Payment: Royalties.

Random House Opens to LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC Writers - No agent required

If you fit into the demographic they are seeking, this is a wonderful opportunity to get published by Random House. I can say from personal experience that the editors at RH are excellent. Your novel will receive top-notch editing, and great distribution.

From the website:

Random House Canada is excited to open our submission policy exclusively to LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC writers, as well as those from other traditionally underrepresented communities. Effective immediately, unsolicited and unagented work can be sent directly to our editors within the RHC division at randomhousecanadasubmissions@penguinrandomhouse.com. 

Our hope is that this will go a small way toward removing some of the barriers that have existed for writers developing their craft outside of traditional avenues of literary exposure.

The submissions inbox is open to writers from anywhere.

What We’re Looking For

In particular, our editors are looking for high quality commercial fiction in the following genres: literary, romance, speculative fiction, historical fiction, and mystery. Please note that we do not currently accept screenplays, stage plays, young adult fiction, children’s fiction, or picture book queries. All non-fiction submissions must be submitted via a literary agent.

For a full manuscript, there are no strict restrictions on length. As a guideline, fiction manuscripts often fall between 70,000 and 100,000 words (or up to 120,000 words for speculative fiction).

The submissions inbox is open year-round. Work can be submitted to randomhousescanadasubmissions@penguinrandomhouse.com at any time.

For full submission requirements, click HERE. 

8 Paying Markets Open to Speculative Fiction Short Stories, Novellas and Novels - No agent required

Updated 11/6/23

Here are eight markets for speculative fiction short stories, poems, novellas, and novels. They want every subgenre of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, plus all combinations, including weird fiction, slipstream, magical realism, and more.

All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. 

For over a hundred paying speculative fiction magazines accepting submissions see: Mega-List of Speculative Fiction Magazines Accepting Submissions

Happy submitting!

(Image: Pixabay)

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Aethon Books

Aethon is open to all fiction genres with a focus on Science Fiction and Fantasy. "We don’t care what sub-genre you write in. Hard Sci-fi, Epic Fantasy, Space opera, Military SF, Alt/History, Time Travel and more." Aethon does not offer an advance, though they do give royalties. Books are published in all English-language territories – notably the US, Canada, UK and Australia – and are distributed through Ingram. Length should be between 60,000 and 80,000 words. Read their guidelines here.

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Android Press

Android Press is a small independent press that publishes science fiction, fantasy, light horror, and specializes in the various -punk subgenres. "We love stories that are full of hope and optimism, as well as stories that hold up a mirror to our society, forcing us reexamine our past and our values in order to move forward and build a better future." They publish novellas (17,000–40,000 words); short story collections [single author] (40,000–60,000 words); short story anthologies [numerous authors] (40,000–60,000 words); novels (60,000–100,000 words). Terms: $100 advance and royalties. Read their guidelines here.

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Dancing Star Press 

Dancing Star Press is seeking submissions of speculative fiction novellas. What sort of speculative fiction? Space operas, solar punk, dark fantasy, and urban fantasy. Hard science fiction with an emphasis on biology or chemistry rather than physics. Fantasy based on non-Western cultures. Optimistic futurism. Polar Tesla pop and soft science fiction. novellas should be between 17,500 and 40,000 words in length.

Reading periods are:
April 1 – June 30
October 1 – December 31

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Shorts stories and poetry

Ahoy Comics. Genre: Short fiction and social commentary. "We seek smart, weird, funny articles or stories, which run between 500 and 1,500 words." Payment. $200. 

Radon. Genre: Short stories and poetry containing elements of anarchism, transhumanism, dystopia, and/or science fiction. Payment: 1 cent per word for original work.

The Hungur Chronicles. Genre: Horror. Vampires or creatures with vampiric themes. Payment: The pay for original stories is $25.00; for reprints, $12.00. Payment for poems is $5. The pay for illustrations is $8.00. The payment for articles is $10. The pay for cover art is $25.00.

The Were-Traveler: Curst & Twysted Tarot. Genre: Short fiction. Choose an image you would like to write a story about. Payment: $10 for flash, $15 for short stories. (Open until filled.)

Three-lobed Burning Eye. "Original speculative fiction: horror, fantasy, and science fiction. We're looking for short stories from across the big classifications and those shadowy places between: magical realism, fantastique, slipstream, interstitial, and the Weird. We will consider suspense or western, though we prefer it contain some speculative element. We like voices that are full of feeling, from literary to pulpy, with styles unique and flowing, but not too experimental. All labels aside, we want tales that expand genre, that value imagination in character, narrative, and plot. We want to see something new and different." Length: Short fiction 1000–7000 words, Flash fiction 500–1000 words, (2000–5000 preferred). Payment: $100 for short fiction, $30 for flash fiction; + 1 print annual. Deadline: Open now.

11 Mystery and Thriller Publishers Open to Submissions - No Agent Required

Updated 12/24/25

Whodunnits never go out of style, and neither do pulse-pounding thrillers, so if you write mysteries or thrillers, you are in luck. 

Here are ten mystery and thriller publishers that don't require an agent. All are traditional publishers. (No vanity presses) Make sure your manuscript is complete before you submit. None of these publishers accept proposals or partially completed work.

Happy submitting!

For a list of over 400 traditional publishers accepting unagent submissions see: Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts

(Image credit: Pixabay)

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Brash Books publishes psychological thrillers, murder mysteries, international espionage, and police procedurals. To submit send a one-page summary of the book and the first 25 pages as a Microsoft Word document to brashbooks@gmail.com. If they like the sample, they’ll request the entire manuscript. Read submission guidelines here.

Camel Press is the genre imprint of Coffeetown Press. (Coffeetown Press publishes memoir, nonfiction, some literary mysteries, and literary fiction). "Camel Press is a feisty little publisher with a mission: to be your trusted purveyor of popular literature—the stuff that makes you lie in the sun too long and read in bed until the cock crows, the urban chickens start clucking, or your neighbor leaves for her 6 am shift." Seeking: Genre fiction: mystery/suspense, cozy mystery, mystery thrillers, romantic suspense and romance (contemporary and historical). They also consider general fiction, historical fiction and westerns. Read their guidelines here.

Crooked Lane publishes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. titles in both print and electronic editions. Crooked Lane Books is distributed through Legato Publishers Group, a member of the Perseus Books Group. Crooked Lane is also represented by Biagi Literary Management for subsidiary rights licensing in foreign and domestic markets, and their business relationships include Bookspan, home of the country’s largest book clubs, and Blackstone Audio, one of the nation’s largest independent audiobook publishers. Read submission guidelines here.

Fahrenheit Press exclusively publishes mysteries and thrillers. They accept self-published and previously published work, provided the author has all the rights. They offer a generous royalty rate of 50% on both eBooks & paperback editions for a 5 year contract. Read submission guidelines here.

Hard Case Crime publishes old-fashioned, hard-boiled crime novels with "bare-knuckled" prose. They are unabashedly dedicated to "reviving the vigor and excitement, the suspense and thrills—the sheer entertainment—of the golden age of paperback crime novels, both by bringing back into print the best work of the pulp era and by introducing readers to new work by some of today's most powerful writers and artists. Determined detectives and dangerous women...fortune hunters and vengeance seekers...ingenious criminals and men on the run..." Read submission guidelines here.

Joffe Books is one of the UK’s leading independent publishers of crime and mystery novels. Many of their authors have topped the best-seller lists. They accept submissions from published authors and new writers, as well as authors who wish to relaunch their back-list titles. They are seeking mysteries, crime fiction, psychological thrillers, detective, thrillers, and suspense. Read submission guidelines here.

Level Best, a publisher of anthologies, has recently opened its doors to full-length manuscript submissions. They are seeking crime fiction novels in the following categories: mystery, thriller, suspense, historical, traditional, and contemporary. No works of erotica or science fiction at this time. Read submission guidelines here. Has submission periods.

Lyrical Press, an imprint of Kensington, publishes suspense fiction, thrillers, and cozy mysteries. They have a penchant for romance. Submit to one editor only. (The list of editors includes the genres they are receiving.) Response time is three months. Read submission guidelines here.

Oceanview Press is an independent publisher of original mystery, thriller, and suspense titles.  Oceanview Publishing’s titles have received many awards and award nominations. Any manuscript that has been published elsewhere in any format or language will not be considered. Read submission guidelines here. 

Red Dog Press (UK) publishes crime, thriller, noir, cosy and mystery. "As a small indie, we are actively trying to promote diversity in publishing. As a result, we are especially keen to hear from authors less well represented in traditional publishing — especially in crime, whether that be authors of colour, authors from the LGBTQ+ community, or authors with disabilities whether seen or unseen. We will accept romance or sci-fi if they break traditional molds. No standalone novels under 70,000 words, please." Read submission guidelines here.

White City Press is focused on publishing mysteries across a range of sub-genres. They are particularly interested in novellas and series. They will consider short story collections but no flash fiction. They typically read submissions during four specific times: March, June, September and December unless otherwise indicated. Read submission guidelines here.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux Open to Submissions - No agent required

SADLY, THEY ARE NOW CLOSED

Farrar, Straus and Giroux is an imprint of Macmillan, one of the Big Five publishers. The company is noted for its literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s books.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux authors have won numerous National Book Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, as well as twenty-two Nobel Prizes in literature. Nobel Prize-winners include Knut Hamsun, Hermann Hesse, T. S. Eliot, Pär Lagerkvist, François Mauriac, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Salvatore Quasimodo, Nelly Sachs, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Pablo Neruda, Eugenio Montale, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Czeslaw Milosz, Elias Canetti, William Golding, Wole Soyinka, Joseph Brodsky, Camilo José Cela, Nadine Gordimer, Derek Walcott, Seamus Heaney, and Mario Vargas Llosa.

That impressive list is equaled by the poets Farrar, Straus and Giroux has published, including Elizabeth Bishop, Ted Hughes, Philip Larkin, John Ashbery, Thom Gunn, and Les Murray.

Astonishingly for a major publisher, they accept unsolicited submissions. All submissions must be submitted through the mail—they do not accept electronic submissions, or submissions delivered in person. Please include a cover letter describing your submission, along with the first 50 pages of the manuscript.

Note: Farrar, Straus and Giroux does not publish commercial or genre fiction. Their children's book division only accepts submissions that are represented by an agent.

Read guidelines HERE.

28 Traditional Publishers Accepting Submissions - No agent required

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Updated 10/10/25

While the Big Five publishers require an agent, many smaller publishers do not.

There are some important advantages to publishing with a smaller press. For one thing, there is a shorter gap between acceptance of a manuscript and production. Larger publishers often take upwards of a year to produce and distribute a book. With a smaller press, the wait is a matter of a few months.

A second advantage is that there is greater flexibility in contracts. Among larger publishers, contracts are written in stone. There is very little room for negotiation. Smaller presses can offer larger royalties, and give authors greater leeway in terms of rights.

Lastly, smaller presses are more accessible. With a larger press, authors have absolutely no say in cover design, blurbs, or marketing. Small presses accept more input from authors. The increase in communication is reassuring for authors, who often feel that control over their book is taken out of their hands once a contract is signed.

For a list of more than a hundred publishers that do not require an agent, go to Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts.

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Academy Chicago Publishers is one of the oldest publishing houses in Chicago. They publish both fiction and nonfiction and have more than two hundred published titles on their list. Academy Chicago publishes about 60 new titles yearly under five imprints: Chicago Review Press, Lawrence Hill Books, Ball Publishing, Zephyr Press, and Academy Chicago. Seeking: Nonfiction, memoirs, mysteries, fiction, history, popular science, music, film, biography, autobiography, DIY, craft, and travel, as well as children's activity books and young adult biographies. Read submission guidelines here.

Acre is an imprint of the Cincinnati Review. They consider books of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid forms from writers of any background, at any point in their literary careers, and they are especially interested in the work of debut writers. Read submission guidelines here. See reading periods.

Arsenal Pulp Press is a book publisher in Vancouver, Canada with over 400 titles currently in print, which include literary fiction and nonfiction; books on social issues; gender studies; LGBTQ and diverse literature; graphic novels and non-fiction; cookbooks; alternative crafts; youth culture and young adult literature; visual arts; and books in translation. "We are interested in literature that engages and challenges readers, and which asks probing questions about the world around us." Read submission guidelines here.

Baen Books was founded in 1983 by science fiction editor and publisher Jim Baen (now deceased). Baen was one of the first publishers to use the Internet as a means of "spreading the word" about a book or author. Seeking: Science fiction with powerful plots with solid scientific and philosophical underpinnings are essential for science fiction submissions. For fantasy, any magical system must be both rigorously coherent and integral to the plot, and overall the work must at least strive for originality. Manuscripts should be at least 100,000 words. Click here for submission guidelines.

Bellevue Literary Press publishes literary fiction and narrative nonfiction geared toward a general readership. They do not publish poetry, single short stories, plays, screenplays, memoir, or self-help/instructional books. Distributed to the trade by Consortium Book Sales & Distribution. Read submission guidelines here. Has reading periods.

Black & White Publishing is an established Scottish press. They publish nonfiction and fiction in a variety of genres. Seeking: Commercial women’s fiction, especially chick lit, saga and romance, crime and psychological thrillers, contemporary YA and New Adult crossover books, children’s fiction. In nonfiction: memoirs, sport (UK and Ireland in particular), humour, food and drink, activity books. Read submission guidelines here. Has reading periods.

BlazeVOX [books] is an independent small press publisher located in Buffalo, New York. To date, BlazeVOX has published 280 books and over 1000 writers in their online journal and other publishing outlets. They are in the process of developing a book series that promotes the work of women who are courageous, innovative, definition defying writers. Seeking:  Poetry, short stories, experimental fiction, literary criticism (including companions, studies and histories), women authors. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Campfire Press focuses on long-form fiction that interrogates borders and boundaries of any kind. "We are drawn to compelling voices, articulate points of view, tight pacing, and immaculate prose. Genre fiction does not deter us if the aforementioned criteria is met." Read guidelines HERE.

Chronicle Books  "We're always looking for the new and unusual." Chronicle Books publishes 90 titles per year. Seeking: Art and design, art, craft, graphic design, interior design, photography, food and drink, kids and teens, literature, lifestyle, pop culture. Read submission guidelines here.

Dalkey Publishers primarily publishes literary fiction, rarely poetry or non-fiction. They place a heavy emphasis upon fiction that belongs to the experimental tradition of Sterne, Joyce, Rabelais, Flann O’Brien, Beckett, Gertrude Stein, and Djuna Barnes. They also accept scholarly work.  Read their submission guidelines here. 

Fidessa Literary is a new publishing house committed to literary fiction with depth and resonance. Fidessa Literary is expanding its presence both locally and  internationally. Alongside their base in the Netherlands, they have established  Fidessa Publishing Ltd. in the UK. They participate in the Libris  purchasing fair, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and the London Book Fair.  Read their submission guidelines here. 

Harvard Square Editions was started by a group of Harvard University graduates who met on one of the university’s online discussion boards. The press focuses on novel and novella submissions with environmental and social themes. HSE does not offer an advance. Read submission requirements here.

Histria Books publishes general interest books, fiction and literature, and children’s books, under several imprints, as well as scholarly books in broad range of categories. Originally established in 1997 as an academic publishing house, Histria Books is now an independent publishing house with offices in Las Vegas and Palm Beach. They have only recently begun publishing fiction. Read submission requirements here.

Holland Park Press (UK) publishes books in English and Dutch. No advance. What they want: They accept literary fiction in the form of a novel, novella or collection of short stories. They also welcome poetry collections. Read submission requirements here.

Immedium publishes picture books, Asian-America: Contemporary viewpoints on our evolving national identity and changes that have universal resonance, and Arts and Culture: Cutting-edge commentary on the intersection of popular culture, social trends, and our modern lifestyle. Read submission guidelines here.

Joffe Books is a small publisher located in London. They accept full-length manuscripts in following genres: Mysteries, Romance, Thrillers, Detective, Suspense. They do not publish children's books, sci-fi, non-fiction, conspiracy theories, or erotica but they'll take a quick look at just about anything. Joffe gives royalties, but there is no information on whether they offer an advance. Read submission guidelines here.

Kensington Publishing Corp. is the last remaining independent U.S. publisher of hardcover, trade and mass market paperback books. Seeking: Fiction and non-fiction. They do not publish science fiction, fantasy, poetry, or plays. Read their submission guidelines here. 

Madrona Books welcomes submissions of booklength manuscripts. "We’re best suited for authors working within the genres of literary fiction, memoir, longform ecological and adventure journalism, and select place-based genre fiction. Irrespective of genre, all authors with ambitious, emotionally nuanced manuscripts are encouraged to submit." Terms: Madrona authors would be paid: 20% of all net dollar receipts on the book’s first $10,000, 35% on the next $10,000, 50% on net dollar receipts thereafter. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Nimbus Publishing. "Locally, nationally and internationally, Nimbus is best known and widely recognized as the premier publisher of books about Atlantic Canada. Our books usually fall into one or more of these categories: biography, art, history, science and nature, political and social issues, folklore, children’s fiction and non-fiction, sports, guidebooks, cookbooks, and photographic books. Nimbus does not publish in the following sub-genres: self-help, religion, philosophy, poetry, drama, erotica." Read guidelines here. Has submission periods.

Page Street Publishing. "Page Street Publishing Co. does around sixty original titles a year and is distributed by Macmillan everywhere except Canada, where Manda does the sales and PGC handles distribution. Our books are large format, full-color throughout, packed with original photography and nearly two hundred pages for around twenty dollars. Most titles feature lay-flat binding for ease of use. Page Street is a proud member of 1% for the Planet and donates 1% of its annual revenue to environmental groups. We have an established line of credit with Berkshire Bank. Page Street Publishing Co. was founded in 2012 and is located just outside of Boston." Seeking: YA and children's fiction (all genres) and nonfiction. Submission guidelines are here.

Persea Books is an independent, literary publishing house founded in 1975 by Michael Braziller and Karen Braziller, who still own and direct the company. Genres: Poetry, fiction, essays, memoir, biography, titles of Jewish and Middle Eastern interest, women's studies, American Indian folklore, and YA. Response time: Eight weeks for proposals and 12 weeks for requested manuscript. Submissions: Queries should include a cover letter, author background and publication history, a synopsis of the proposed work, and a sample chapter. Send queries and manuscripts to info@perseabooks.com or to the appropriate editor (Fiction or Nonfiction), Persea Books, 277 Broadway, Suite 708, New York, NY 10007. Read their submission guidelines here.

Reagent Press publishes Children's Fiction, Teen Fiction, Adult Fiction, Nonfiction and market Specialty Merchandise. They are particularly interested in fantasy. They publish their books in print, digital, and audio with simultaneous distribution in the US, Canada, and UK. They work directly with foreign agents and publishers to sell rights internationally. Accepts novels and novellas. This press does not edit manuscripts, so your book must be professionally edited prior to submission. Read their submission guidelines HERE.

Schaffner Press publishes: Fiction: literary adult fiction, short fiction collection, historical with socially relevant content, crime fiction. Non-fiction–memoir, autobiography, biography. Journalistic Expose or Narrative, True Crime, Art, Culture, pop culture, World History, current events, science, arts and letters, US history, military history music, are some of the preferred categories. No Children’s or Young Adult fiction or non-fiction. No science fiction, romance, or fantasy. Length: Manuscripts must be between 60,000 – 100,000 words. Read their submission guidelines HERE.

Skyhorse Publishing accepts proposals for non-fiction books through its main website. Its distributor is Perseus Book Group. Skyhorse has 14 imprints, including Talos and Nightshade (speculative fiction), Sky Pony Press (children's book imprint), and several imprints for fiction. They have hundreds of titles on their list. Read guidelines here.

Tirgearr Press is a small independently-owned publishing company of commercial adult genre fiction located in Ireland. It is a digital-first publisher, which means in most cases it is a digital-only publisher. Tirgearr does not offer an advance. Rights are purchased for five years. Read guidelines here. Has reading periods.

Torrey House Press publishes 8-12 books per year including literary novels, full-length short story collections, essay collections, creative nonfiction including literary journalism, and the occasional anthology and memoir. They are interested in well-crafted work with environmental, natural history, or natural landscape themes, and writing which explores the value of well-managed public lands and the transformative power of wilderness. THP does not currently accept submissions for poetry or books for children. Read guidelines HERE. Has submission periods.

Turner Publishing is an award-winning, independent publisher of books. The company is in the top 101 independent publishing companies in the U.S. as compiled by Bookmarket.com and has been named five times to Publishers Weekly's Fastest Growing Publishers List. Operating since 1984, Turner currently publishes 5,000 titles. Turner has a broad array of titles in fiction & non-fiction, including business, young adult, history, romance, mystery, cookbooks, health & wellness, animals, design, and more. Turner Publishing Company has the following imprints:

• Turner
• Wiley: Turner publishes under the Wiley name, with permission, for over 1,000 acquired titles
• Hunter House: Health, Wellness & Sexuality Titles
• Ancestry: Genealogy (acquired assets of the book division of Ancestry.com)
• Fieldstone Alliance: Business Books for Non-profits (acquired assets of Fieldstone Alliance)
• Basic Health Publications: Titles on Health and Wellness
• Iroquois Press: Fiction and Literature imprint
• Ramsey & Todd: for children's books
• Specific Titles formerly published by Cumberland House Press

Read their submission guidelines here.

Unnamed Press is an independent publisher of fiction and non-fiction, based in Los Angeles and founded in 2014. Their books have been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, NBC, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Guardian, the Financial Times, the Miami Herald, the Chicago Review of Books, Playboy, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and many other outlets. Their authors include Man-Booker, Granta Best American Novelist, Philip K Dick and Pulitzer Prize award winners and have been finalists for many other book prizes. "Our books represent a diverse list of voices—ones that challenge conventional perspectives while appealing to a broad general audience: exciting, radical, urgent. We nurture emerging talent and partner with more established authors to help their platform grow." Their titles are distributed by Publishers Group West. Read their submission guidelines here.

17 Publishers Accepting Picture Books - No Agent Required

Settling in to devour a good book  (credit: Max Pixel)

Updated 10/5/25

There are many children's book publishers that do not require an agent, which means children's book authors generally find it easier to break into publishing than those who write adult fiction and nonfiction. This holds true for juveniles of all ages, from birth to young adult.

Picture books are geared to children ages 3 - 8. Lengths can vary from 500 to a thousand words. In most cases, the author provides the text, while publishers arrange for an illustrator. (An exception is  made for author-illustrators.) 

You can find more children's book publishers that accept unagented writers here: Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts. All of these are traditional publishers.

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Albert Whitman & Company has been publishing award-winning children’s books since 1919. Albert Whitman’s special interest titles address subjects such as disease, bullying, and disabilities. Submissions: Albert Whitman and Company currently has an open submissions policy. They read and review unagented manuscripts and proposals for picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult novels. Novellas accepted. Email submissions only. Note: They will not review any submissions that do not follow their submission guidelines.

Annick Press accepts submissions of picture books, middle grade fiction, YA fiction, and non-fiction for kids of all ages. "Our stories feature contemporary themes (even if the setting is historical) and aim to instill kids with the joy of reading." Read guidelines HERE.

Levine Querido Founded in 2019 by Arthur A. Levine, Levine Querido is an independent publisher of children's books. Submissions: Picture Books: Query letter + the full text; Novels: Query letter + the first two chapters + synopsis; Other: Query letter + five page samples (five poems, five nonfiction pages, etc.); Illustration: Three sample illustrations via attachment, and links to online portfolios. Do not send full manuscripts. Read submission guidelines here. Has submission periods.

Flashlight Press publishes books for 4 - 8-year-olds. Books must be under 1000 words, have a universal theme, and deal with family or social situations. Read guidelines here.

Holiday House specializes in hardcovers, from picture books to young adult, both fiction and nonfiction for ages four and up. They do not publish mass market books, including pop-ups, activity books, sticker books, coloring books, or licensed books. Submissions: Holiday House only responds if they are interested in publishing your manuscript. Please send the entire manuscript, whether submitting a picture book or novel. They do not accept submissions by email or fax. Read guidelines here. 

Pajama Press publishes picture books—both for the very young and for school-aged readers, as well as early chapter books, novels for middle grade readers, and contemporary or historical fiction for young adults aged 12+. PP also published nonfiction. Pajama Press is looking for manuscripts from authors of diverse backgrounds. Stories about immigrants are of special interest. See their submission guidelines here. Has submission periods.

Red Deer Press is a Canadian company that publishes books for children across the ages, from picture books to young adult fiction and non-fiction. Please read complete author guidelines here.

Sky Pony Press is the children's book imprint of Skyhorse Publishing. They publish picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA fiction and nonfiction. "We’re open to any genre and style, and we’re always looking for something new and different. We love original concepts, fresh voices, and writing that knocks us off our feet." See their submission guidelines here.

Second Story Press is a Canadian feminist press publishing books of special interest to women. Their list is a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and books for young readers. They look for manuscripts dealing with the many diverse and varied aspects of the lives of girls and women, as well as social justice, diversity, and children's empowerment. They not publish poetry, short story collections, traditional romance novels, rhyming picture books, or books with anthropomorphized animals. Canadian authors only. Read guidelines HERE.

Sleeping Bear Press is a publisher of quality children’s books. They specialize in picture books and middle grade novels. They accept both fiction and nonfiction submissions. Please read complete author guidelines here.

Spinning Wheel Stories believes that every book should be crafted by authors and illustrators who care about community, creativity, and childhood discovery. They are currently accepting: Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade. Read submission guidelines HERE. 

Immedium publishes picture books for ages 4-8 or 6-10. The general format is 32-pages with color illustrations. "Do not submit children's picture books which you consider to be complete with "finished art", since we want the flexibility to help improve and refine your concept."  Please read complete author guidelines here.

Nobrow Press publishes graphic novels, picture books, novels and novellas for YA and adults, as well as nonfiction. Flying Eye is their children's imprint. They require a brief synopsis of your novel as well as the complete first draft which should be sent as attachments. Manuscripts should be a minimum of 40,000 words and not exceed 90,000 words in length. Read guidelines here.

Princeton Architectural Press accepts fiction and general nonfiction picture books for children ages three to eight. They only review complete submissions, which include text and illustrations. Please send a low-resolution PDF of your proposal to submissions@papress.com. Read their guidelines here.

Yeehoo Press is dedicated to publishing fun, enchanting, and socially responsible children’s books for audiences around the world. Their books are published and sold in simultaneous English and Simplified Chinese editions. Yeehoo Press has offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, California, and Shanghai, China. Yeehoo is a boutique press publishing 10 to 15 books per year.  They are looking for fictional and non-fiction picture books, both text-only and author-illustrator projects, aimed at ages 3-8.  Read guidelines here.

Hogs Back Books (UK) is a small publishing house that publishes picture books and YA novels.  Submissions: For children’s books aged 0-10 years, send a complete manuscript along with a cover letter. For young adult novels, include a synopsis and the first three chapters of your manuscript. Click here for details.

Tilbury House focuses on nonfiction picture books that appeal to children (ages 5 – 10) and their parents. They will also consider nonfiction chapter books and graphic nonfiction for early readers (ages 8 – 13), and nonfiction for young adult readers (YA, age 12+). Read guidelines here.

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4 Digital Imprints of Major Publishers Accepting Submissions - No agent required

Wikimedia

Updated 9/24/25

Did you know that you can get published by a major publisher without an agent? Under normal circumstances, the doors of major publishers are closed to unagented writers. But with the advent of the digital revolution, major publishers are seeing the possibility of making sales without much outlay. Publishers still have to edit ebooks and hire graphic designers for covers, but they don't have to spend anything on printing costs, at least not initially.

The advantage of digital first imprints with major publishers is that they can lead to print runs, provided the ebook sells well. You also get the advantage of having been published by a major publisher, which gives you significant bragging rights. In addition, if your first ebook does reasonably well, you can continue with the publisher.

All of these are traditional publishers.

For a list of over 450 publishers that don’t require an agent click HERE. 

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Forever Yours is a digital-only imprint of Grand Central Publishing, which is part of Hachette Book Group. Forever Yours publishes new works as well as backlist titles from its nine-year-old Forever imprint. The imprint publishes two to four e-book titles a month. What they are looking for: Forever Yours is currently accepting all styles of romance, particularly contemporary, diverse reads, romantic suspense, cowboys, historicals, and paranormal. They are not looking for any YA, fantasy, mystery, general fiction, or nonfiction. How to submit: They are accepting novella length works (25,000-50,000 words), as well as longer works from 50,000-100,000 words. Read guidelines here.

Carina Press is one of Harlequin’s digital-first adult fiction single-title imprints, publishing first in digital, with releases in audio and print as well. Carina Press publishes a wide range of adult fiction genres and features books from talented authors in all genres, including romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery and more. What they are looking for: All subgenres of romance with all levels of sensuality, from the very sweet to the incredibly erotic, featuring couples (or multiples) from all walks of  life and sexual orientation, including same-sex romances. They publish novels and novellas. How to submit: Please submit queries for only completed, fully polished manuscripts, unless previously arranged otherwise with an editor. If a response has not been received after 12 weeks, please follow-up via your submittable account by adding a note to your submission log. Read full guidelines HERE.

HarperCollins: Heartdrum. Heartdrum is a Native-focused imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, author-curated by Cynthia Leitich Smith and edited by Rosemary Brosnan. "Our focus is on Indigenous stories that reflect Native people whose Nations are located within the borders of what’s now called the United States and Canada. In this, we are mindful and inclusive of intersectional identities and various modern settings.We are open to considering picture book, chapter book, middle grade novel, and young adult novel manuscripts as well as middle grade and young adult nonfiction manuscripts, and both poetry and graphic novel formats. Writing that reflects young protagonists and/or youth-related topics are welcome. Our emphasis will be on contemporary, near histories and/or futuristic works, including realistic fiction and genre fiction." Read full guidelines HERE.

One More Chapter: HarperCollins (UK) publishes commercial fiction globally across ebook, print and audio formats.

They accept the following fiction genres:

• Crime & Thriller
• Historical
• Romance (spicy, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, erotica)
• Contemporary
• YA/Crossover/Adult Fantasy
• Romantasy
• Horror

18 Publishers Accepting Memoirs - No agent needed

Pixabay

Updated 9/7/25

I have often said that memoir is the highest form of fiction. By that, I'm not encouraging memoirists to make things up. I am simply reminding writers that a good memoir must read like fiction, but it must also be honest.

Honesty lies at the heart of every memoir. The author must adhere to the truth (allowing for the fact that there are different ways of interpreting it). Memoirists who lie to themselves, who sugarcoat, self-censor, exaggerate, or in any way compromise the integrity of their stories not only do a disservice to themselves but to us. The reason we enjoy reading memoirs is to gain insight, and to better understand the human condition.

Do not be afraid to tell the truth if you are writing a memoir. Don't hold back. And when you are finished writing your life, go get it published. Here are eighteen publishers that can help you do that - no agent required.

For a list of over 450 publishers that accept submissions from writers - no agent required see Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts.

Note: Some of these publishers have submission periods. Read their submission requirements carefully.
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Academy Chicago Publishers is one of the oldest publishing houses in Chicago. They publish both fiction and nonfiction and have more than two hundred published titles on their list. Academy Chicago publishes about 60 new titles yearly under five imprints: Chicago Review Press, Lawrence Hill Books, Ball Publishing, Zephyr Press, and Academy Chicago. Seeking: Nonfiction, memoirs, mysteries, fiction, history, popular science, music, film, biography, autobiography, DIY, craft, and travel, as well as children's activity books and young adult biographies. Read submission guidelines here.

Baobab Press is currently considering completed manuscripts in all genres. They publish nonfiction (including memoir), fiction, poetry, comics, and picture books. (No MG or YA). "We like risk. We like invention. More importantly, we look for a quality of thought that adds depth to a writer's concerns. And although it is not an official requirement, we tend to select literary work with a strong sense of place at its core. Ultimately, our goal is to publish work that resonates in the contemporary climate and that will continue to resonate in years to come. We believe that that this goal and the goal of staying financially viable are one in the same." Read submission guidelines here. Note: Charges for fiction and poetry manuscripts. No fee for nonfiction.

Black & White Publishing is an established Scottish press. They publish nonfiction and fiction in a variety of genres. Seeking: Commercial women’s fiction, especially chick lit, saga and romance, crime and psychological thrillers, contemporary YA and New Adult crossover books, children’s fiction. In nonfiction: memoirs, sport (UK and Ireland in particular), humor, food and drink, activity books. Read submission guidelines here. See submission periods.

BLF Press is open to various types of literary work. They are especially interested in work that centers women of color and same gender loving women. Their preferred genres are short fiction, literary fiction, memoir, and creative non-fiction. Prose (fiction and non-fiction) manuscripts should be from 40,000-80,000 words; poetry collections should be at least 50 pages.  If your work is under serious consideration elsewhere, please wait until you've received a decision before submitting it here. They ask for limited print and electronic rights. Read submission guidelines HERE. See submission periods.

Bywater Books is looking for well-written commercial fiction targeted to lesbian readers. They are especially interested the following fiction and non-fiction categories: Romance, Mystery, Action/Thriller, Science-fiction/Fantasy, Eco-fiction, Young Adult/New Adult, General Fiction, Cross-genre, Memoir, Essay, and Autobiography/Biography. They do not publish poetry or erotica. Read submission guidelines HERE. No simultaneous submissions.

Coffeetown Press publishes nonfiction—including memoir—literary fiction, and historical fiction. They prefer the word count to be between 70,000 and 100,000, but books between 50,000 and 70,000 words will still be considered. Most of their memoirs concern growing up in other cultures or have a strong theme that will appeal to a specific audience. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Delphinium Books publishes literary fiction and non-fiction, including memoir. They only accept completed manuscripts. They do not make offers on spec. They prefer submissions with a minimum of 50,000 words. "Modest advance." Read their submission guidelines HERE.

Epicenter Press publishes nonfiction and fiction submissions that relate to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest: biography & memoir, history, humor, life in the North, Native American culture, true crime. "We seek well-written, fast-paced, absorbing, compelling, and entertaining nonfiction including memoir and fiction manuscripts. We currently do not publish poetry, young adult or children’s titles." Read their full submission guidelines HERE. 

Hobby Horse Press accepts original, novella-length submissions of literary writing that can fit in your pocket. They consider novella-length to be about 80 – 120 pages, or 20,000 to 30,000 words. Hobby Horse is seeking fiction, poetry, and memoir/nonfiction, as well as comics/ graphic novels. "We are flexible about form, and excited to experiment and collaborate with different kinds of submissions." Read submission requirements here. 

Honno publishes Welsh women writers – for the purposes of submission to Honno this means that you must be a woman born in Wales or resident in Wales at the time of submission. Honno also publishes titles of exceptional interest to women within Wales from writers who may not meet the first two criteria i.e. that they are female and that they are of Welsh birth or residence. They publish full length works of fiction and non-fiction for adults (manuscripts of between 60,000 and 120,000 words). Honno is open to all genres of fiction and is particularly interested in increasing the number of literary fiction, crime/thriller, commercial women’s fiction, science fiction and fantasy titles it publishes. Honno is also building a list of non-fiction works to include biography (untold tales of remarkable Welsh women, places and industries), memoir, nature and travel writing. Read guidelines HERE. See submission periods.

Kaya Press is a publisher of Asian and Pacific Islander diasporic writers in the United States. Their diverse list of titles includes experimental poetry, noir fiction, film memoir, avant-garde art, performance pieces, and “lost” novels. How to submit: Send your manuscript in electronic format. Files must be sent in a Word document or as a PDF. They will only accept works related to the Asian diaspora. Read full guidelines HERE.

Madrona Books welcomes submissions of booklength manuscripts. "We’re best suited for authors working within the genres of literary fiction, memoir, longform ecological and adventure journalism, and select place-based genre fiction. Irrespective of genre, all authors with ambitious, emotionally nuanced manuscripts are encouraged to submit." Terms: Madrona authors would be paid: 20% of all net dollar receipts on the book’s first $10,000, 35% on the next $10,000, 50% on net dollar receipts thereafter. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Persea Books is an independent, literary publishing house founded in 1975 by Michael Braziller and Karen Braziller, who still own and direct the company. Genres: Poetry, fiction, essays, memoir, biography, titles of Jewish and Middle Eastern interest, women's studies, American Indian folklore, and YA. Response time: Eight weeks for proposals and 12 weeks for requested manuscript. Submissions: Queries should include a cover letter, author background and publication history, a synopsis of the proposed work, and a sample chapter. Send queries and manuscripts to info@perseabooks.com or to the appropriate editor (Fiction or Nonfiction), Persea Books, 277 Broadway, Suite 708, New York, NY 10007. Read their submission guidelines here. Has reading periods.

Rio Nuevo Publishers focuses exclusively on the American West. Their list of publications includes 69 back titles and 13 new titles. Seeking: American West arts and crafts, cooking, history, gardening, memoir, Native America, nature, spirituality, and travel. Read their submission guidelines. Has reading periods.

Riverdale/Magnus is the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) imprint of Riverdale Avenue Books. They are actively looking for titles, both fiction and nonfiction, in a wide variety of areas, including popular culture, entertainment, biography/memoir, self-help, spirituality, and current affairs, among others. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Roseway Publishing publishes works of fiction, creative non-fiction, memoirs, biographies and other literary writing that reflects our interest in social justice issues. "We publish primarily for an adult audience, but have occasionally published young adult material as well. We tend not to publish children’s books or poetry." Read their submission guidelines HERE.

Schaffner Press publishes: Fiction: literary adult fiction, short fiction collection, historical with socially relevant content, crime fiction. Non-fiction–memoir, autobiography, biography. Journalistic Expose or Narrative, True Crime, Art, Culture, pop culture, World History, current events, science, arts and letters, US history, military history music, are some of the preferred categories. No Children’s or Young Adult fiction or non-fiction. No science fiction, romance, or fantasy. Length: Manuscripts must be between 60,000 – 100,000 words. Read their submission guidelines HERE.

Three Rooms Press is a New York-based independent publisher inspired by dada, punk, and passion. Founded twenty-five years ago by editors Peter Carlaftes and Kat Georges, Three Rooms Press serves as a leading independent publisher of cut-the-edge creative, including fiction, memoir, poetry translations, drama and art. In addition, Three Rooms Press produces and promotes a variety of literary and cultural events worldwide, including readings, plays, workshops and concerts. Three Rooms Press books are distributed by PGW / Ingram. Read guidelines here.

5 Major Australian Publishers That Accept Unagented Manuscripts

Chris Samuel - Flickr

Updated 8/31/25

Unlike US and UK publishing houses, Australian publishers suffer from a dearth of submissions. All of these are major traditional publishers, with worldwide distribution, and all offer an advance and royalties. (You don't have to be Australian to submit to one of these publishers.)

Submission periods are limited for some of these publishers, so make sure to read their requirements carefully before you submit.

For a list of 450 publishers that accept submissions directly from writers, no agent required, see Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts. 

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Allen & Unwin accepts submissions through the "Friday Pitch." (Despite its name, The Friday Pitch is open to submissions all week.) Allen & Unwin is an independent Australian publishing company established in 1976 as a subsidiary of the British firm George Allen & Unwin Ltd., one of the leading publishers of the twentieth century. They currently publish up to 250 new titles a year, including literary and commercial fiction, a broad range of general non fiction, academic and professional titles and books for children and young adults. Please only apply to the Friday Pitch if you are currently living in Australia or New Zealand.

Pan Macmillan Australia accepts electronic manuscript submissions directly from writers every day of the week. Pan Macmillan is a major Australian publisher with a wide range of titles under group imprints, including Macmillan, Pan, Picador, Plum, Momentum, Macquarie Dictionary Publishers, Pancake, St Martin's Press, Tor, Forge, Griffin and Sidgwick & Jackson. They publish commercial and literary fiction, children's and YA fiction, picture books, Australiana, history, biographies, cooking, health and self-help, sports and travel. It also handles sales for Guinness World Records.

Penguin Australia accepts unsolicited manuscripts the first week of every month. They accept both children's literature and adult books. They do not accept submissions from outside Australia, New Zealand or Oceania (unless the author has a connection to the region such as citizenship or residency). 

Text Publishing Australia accepts non-fiction and fiction manuscripts, including middle grade and young adult. Submissions are by hard copy only. Send the first 3 chapters and a brief (1-page) synopsis. If they want to see more they will contact you. Responses generally take three months. Submissions should be from citizens or residents of Australia and/or New Zealand.

Hachette Australia accepts work from Australian or New Zealand residents. They accept children’s and YA fiction and non-fiction, and adult non-fiction. They do not accept science fiction/fantasy, illustrated children’s books, illustrated books, cookbooks, poetry, self-help, screenplays or academic submissions. They will contact you only if they are interested. Responses take four weeks. 

DAW Books Opens Its Doors to Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writers - No agent needed

Pixabay

Updated 5/15/22

DAW now appears to be closed to unagented submissions.

DAW Books, a division of Penguin/Random House, is the oldest publishing company devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy. DAW has published such luminaries as Patrick Rothfuss, Tad Williams, C. J. Cherryh, Mercedes Lackey, Kristen Britain, Melanie Rawn, C.S. Friedman, and Tanith Lee.

From the site: "Science fiction and fantasy have always been genres in which creators have infinite space to explore bold and inventive new ideas, while also reflecting the multiplicity of cultures, traditions, and identities of our own world. At DAW, we are proud of the work that our authors have already done to explore and celebrate diversity. We have a history of publishing feminist and LGBTQIA+ fiction, but we are always seeking to expand our own horizons, as well as those of our readers.

To this end, DAW is actively seeking new works of science fiction and fantasy written by and/or featuring people of color, Native people, disabled people, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ people, and those from other underrepresented or marginalized communities."

How to submit: DAW accepts electronic submissions through Submittable. Science fiction and fantasy novels should not be fewer than 80,000 words. Please send the entire completed manuscript with a query letter. The manuscript should be double-spaced, with at least 1″ margins. Please number your pages consecutively, and put the title of your novel at the top of each page.

No simultaneous submissions. However, if you have not heard back from them after three months, you may submit your novel elsewhere.

Read full guidelines HERE.

12 Feminist Publishers - No agent required

New Woman by Frances Benjamin Johnston - Wikimedia Commons

Updated 8/12/25

Although there are many women authors, publishing is a man's world. In 2017, Quartz examined literary prizes in the US and found that since 1950, only a quarter have gone to women. What's more, author Nicola Griffith discovered that from 2000 to 2015, not one of the 15 Pulitzer Prize-winning books were written from the point of view of a woman or girl, regardless of who wrote them. In same period, eight of the 15 Pulitzers were given to male novelists who wrote books about men or boys.

To compensate for the domination of the male voice in the publishing world, a number of houses have sprung up that cater exclusively to women writers. The majority are feminist, meaning they represent a female perspective. Most of these are small presses, which means they rarely offer advances. All offer royalties. None require an agent.

Note: For a list of over 450 publishers accepting work directly from writers, no agent required, see: Publishers Accepting Unagented Manuscripts. Also see: 40 Feminist and Women's Publications That Pay Writers

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Aqueduct Press publishes works of feminist science fiction as well as works about feminist science fiction or of particular interest to readers of feminist science fiction. "We are interested in seeing feminist sf novels of any length; for our Conversation Pieces series, we are interested in original novellas, poetry, and prose work of every kind at lengths ranging from 20,000-35,000 words. Please send a query to info[at]aqueductpress.com before sending us nonfiction or a collection of short fiction." Read guidelines HERE. Has submission periods.

Aunt Lute Books is a nonprofit multicultural women’s press based in San Francisco. "For over thirty years, we have been publishing literature that voices the perspectives of women from a broad range of communities. We have published a number of well-known feminist and lesbian authors, including Paula Gunn Allen, Gloria Anzaldúa, Judy Grahn, LeAnne Howe, Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Audre Lorde, and Alice Walker." They seek manuscripts, both fiction and nonfiction, by women from a variety of cultures, ethnic backgrounds and subcultures. Read guidelines HERE.

Creature accepts both agented and unsolicited submissions of feminist horror, dark speculative fiction, women-driven thrillers, spooky fantastical fiction, literary fiction, or genre-defying prose. "We are looking for books that celebrate fluidity—the ability to cross boundaries and inhabit more than one category at once. Our definition of feminist horror is broad and inclusive, and we welcome writing that pushes boundaries." Read guidelines HERE. Has submission periods.

BLF Press is an independent Black feminist press dedicated to amplifying the work of women of color. "We strive to create a space for forward thinking, creative women of exceptional talent.  We embrace difference, and envision BLF Press as an outlet for the expression of various types of writing that exemplify the experiences of women of color in the United States." They are especially interested in literary fiction and short story collections. Read guidelines HERE. Has submission periods.

Caitlin Press was established in 1977 by Carolyn Zonailo as a feminist literary press. In the 1980s, Caitlin Press expanded its mandate to that of a BC literary press. Their focus is mainly on topics concerning or by writers from the BC Interior and stories about and by BC women. In a normal year they publish twelve to fourteen books, most of which are regional non-fiction (e.g. pioneer history or exploration, industry, politics, guide books, contemporary creative non fiction). The remaining titles are literary selections such as a works of fiction, short fiction, poetry or prose. Read guidelines HERE.

Clash Press is looking for strong voices & POVs in any genre. Fiction, nonfiction, & poetry. "Especially looking for unique voices of female identifying & POC from all over the world. CLASH Books is about global perspectives, contrasts, & juxtapositions." (There is literally no other information about submissions on their site.) Read guidelines HERE. Has submission periods.

Dorothy is an award-winning feminist press dedicated to works of fiction or near fiction or about fiction. "Each fall, we publish two new books simultaneously. We work to pair books that draw upon different aesthetic traditions, because a large part of our interest in literature lies in its possibilities, its endless stylistic and formal variety. Dorothy books are available through most major retail channels, but we offer special sales on titles purchased together through this website, to encourage readers to approach them as a conversation (a project)." Has submission periods. Read guidelines HERE.

The Feminist Press is an educational nonprofit organization founded to advance women's rights and amplify feminist perspectives. FP publishes classic and new writing from around the world, creates cutting-edge programs, and elevates silenced and marginalized voices in order to support personal transformation and social justice for all people. They publish fiction and nonfiction. No poetry, drama, doctoral dissertations, or literary criticism. Read guidelines HERE. Has submission periods.

Honno publishes Welsh women writers – for the purposes of submission to Honno this means that you must be a woman born in Wales or resident in Wales at the time of submission. Honno also publishes titles of exceptional interest to women within Wales from writers who may not meet the first two criteria i.e. that they are female and that they are of Welsh birth or residence. They publish full length works of fiction and non-fiction for adults (manuscripts of between 60,000 and 120,000 words). Honno is open to all genres of fiction and is particularly interested in increasing the number of literary fiction, crime/thriller, commercial women’s fiction, science fiction and fantasy titles it publishes. Honno is also building a list of non-fiction works to include biography (untold tales of remarkable Welsh women, places and industries), memoir, nature and travel writing. Read guidelines HERE.

Inanna Publications and Education Inc. (Canada) was founded in 1978 with the goal of making current writing and research on a wide variety of feminist topics accessible to the largest possible community of women. "We welcome fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and essays on ideas, society, politics, culture and the arts that speak to the diverse lives of women around the world. While we do not restrict our always-expanding sense of what makes a contribution "feminist" -- we strive for a presentation of different perspectives -- we will not publish writing that is sexist, racist, homophobic or in any other way discriminatory or harmful to women." Read guidelines HERE. (Has submission periods)

Second Story Press is a Canadian feminist press publishing books of special interest to women. Their list is a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and books for young readers. They look for manuscripts dealing with the many diverse and varied aspects of the lives of girls and women, as well as social justice, diversity, and children's empowerment. They not publish poetry, short story collections, traditional romance novels, rhyming picture books, or books with anthropomorphized animals. Canadian authors only. Read guidelines HERE.

Women’s Press is Canada’s oldest English language feminist publisher. For over forty years, Women’s Press has played an integral role in the proliferation of high-quality Canadian writing in the fields of gender, sexuality, and women’s studies. Scholarly nonfiction only. Read guidelines HERE.