70+ Book Publishers You Can Submit To Without an Agent
Are you interested in publishing your book with a small press or indie publisher? Then this list is for you! It includes over 70 publishing houses you can query without an agent, spanning all age groups and genres from fantasy to romance to nonfiction.
This list will be expanded and updated regularly. Any changes and additions will also be announced in my newsletter so subscribe to make sure you don’t miss anything. If you want to add to this list or find that there’s outdated information on it, let me know. Your help is highly appreciated!
If you want to learn more about indie publishers, there’s a FAQ section.
Genres: Science Fiction, GameLit/LitRPG, Fantasy, Thriller, Romantasy, Superhero, Horror
Status: Open to submissions
“Aethon Books is publishing the next generation of Science Fiction & Fantasy, from hit debuts like He Who Fight’s With Monsters, to explosive Military Sci-Fi like Contact Front, to the debut novel by actor Lou Diamond Phillips. Our mission is to build a bridge between authors and their potential readers.”
Genres: Retellings, Contemporary Romance, Book Club Fiction, Fantasy, Romantasy, Historical Fiction, NA, Y
Status: Open to submissions
“Alcove Press is dedicated to publishing the stories and ideas that inspire, enlighten, and empower readers. From book club fiction and commercial novels to prescriptive and narrative nonfiction, our books embrace the joys, challenges, and diverse journeys that make up our human experience. Alcove Press champions the work of debut, established, and bestselling authors, providing a home for the voices and stories that bring us together and keep us talking.”
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Beacon Publishing Group is an award-winning, independent publisher of books and audio books headquartered in NYC. Beacon has a broad array of titles in fiction & non-fiction, including business, young adult, history, romance, mystery, horror, comedy, childrens, health & wellness and more.”
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Erotica
Status: Open to submissions
“Bella Books publishes fiction for and about women-loving-women. From romance to mystery and science-fiction, to erotica and thrillers, Bella Books embraces and celebrates the worldwide community of our lesbian, queer, non-binary readers and authors of all ages, cultures and colors.”
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Memoirs, YA, MG, Children’s
Status: Closed to submissions
“Big Sea Books is an independent publishing house established in 2024. Our sole mission is to publish well-written books and get those books into the hands of readers who want them.”
Genres: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller, Romance, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, New Adult, YA, MG, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Black Rose Writing, established in 2006, features books from an array of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s book genres, all having one thing in common, an individual’s originality and hard work. It can take endless hours to finish a deserving manuscript, and Black Rose Writing applauds every author, giving them a chance at their dream. Because Black Rose Writing takes full advantage of modern printing technology, the company has an infinite print run via print-on-demand services.”
Disclaimer: Allegedly, this press charges authors for certain parts of the publishing process that authors definitely should not pay for. You should never pay an indie publisher.
Genres: Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Women’s Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“Bloodhound Books is a renowned global commercial fiction publishing house that began in 2014. We pride ourselves on collaborating with authors and agents at every step. We promise publishing in multiple formats – eBook and physical print – on the same publication day, with every title receiving guaranteed paid digital advertising. We are proud to work with exciting debuts alongside established authors.”
Genres: Children’s, MG
Status: Closed to submissions
“Blue Dot Kids Press inspires curiosity with beautifully crafted stories that connect us to each other and the planet we share. Written and illustrated by impassioned storytellers and artists from around the world, our books engage young readers’ innate sense of wonder and empathy, connecting them to our global community and the pale blue dot we call home.”
Genres: Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Speculative Fiction, Historical Fiction, Erotica, YA
Status: Open to submissions
“Bold Strokes Books is a midsized independent publisher headquartered in Cambridge, New York that offers a diverse collection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer general and genre fiction.”
Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Romance Poetry
Status: Closed to submissions
“Brigids Gate Press, an indie press established in 2021 by Heather, Clyde, and S.D. Ventura-Vassallo, believes in the power of STORY. We seek to be a forge where new and underrepresented talents are refined and developed, and their stories shaped and tempered into beautiful, dark, mysterious, and thrilling tales that will delight readers. Above all, we seek to do our utmost to help and encourage writers on their journeys.”
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Horror
Status: Open to submissions
“CamCat Publishing, LLC, opened for business in 2019. Our founder, Sue Arroyo, launched the company for the love of story, those tales that bewitch and dazzle you, grab hold of you and won’t let go.”
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Literary Horror
Status: Open to submissions
“CLASH Books is an independent literary press focusing on fiction, non-fiction, poetry, & art that blends & challenges genre expectations. We publish the books that are too good to be ignored but that the bigger presses are too risk averse to publish.”
Cloaked Press
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror
Status: Closed to submissions
“Cloaked Press, LLC was founded by Andrew Ferrell in 2017. Our first ever anthology launched in Fall of 2017 with Fall into Fantasy, a collection of short stories set in a variety of fantastical worlds. From Epic to Urban and Aliens to AI, Cloaked Press is committed to connecting readers with great Science Fiction and Fantasy stories to delight the imagination.”
Genres: Romantasy, Dark Romance, Upmarket YA, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, Suspense, Horror
Status: Closed to submissions
“Conquest Publishing is an independent, innovative, traditional publisher founded by authors who understand the passion and care that goes into writing a book. Our goal is to give your emotionally immersive story a home and help you share it with readers who will love it just as much as you do.”
Genres: Fantasy, Inspirational, Historical Fiction, YA, MG
Status: Closed to submissions
“Founded in July 2019 by Jean Lowd, Creative James Media seeks to discover and publish new authors and bring exciting, genre bending stories to life.”
Genres: Horror, Speculative Fiction, Thriller, Literary Fiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“Based in Virginia with roots in New York, Creature Publishing specializes in feminist horror, dark speculative fiction, women-driven thrillers, spooky fantastical fiction, literary fiction, and the like.”
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Status: Open to submissions
“Crooked Lane Books was founded in 2014 to publish the highest quality crime fiction titles in both print and electronic editions. In 2020 we introduced a second line—Alcove Press—to publish upmarket book club fiction that explores family, friendship, and community..”
Genres: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Poetry
Status: Open to submissions
“Publishing a variety of gothic works that bring a voice to the darker side of life.”
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Status: Open to submissions
“Publishers Weekly recognizes ECW Press as one of the most diversified independent publishers in North America. ECW Press has published close to 1,000 books that are distributed throughout the English-speaking world and translated into dozens of languages.”
Genres: Romance, Women’s Fiction, Poetry
Status: Open to submissions
“Egret Lake Books is a small, indie publisher based in the greater Seattle area that publishes women’s fiction, poetry, fiction, and romance.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Horror, NA, YA
Status: Open to submissions
“At Ellysian Press we seek to create a sense of home for our authors, a place where they can find fulfillment as artists. Just as exceptional mortals once sought a place in the Elysian Fields, now exceptional authors can find a place here at Ellysian Press.”
Genres: YA Fiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Flux is a YA fiction imprint devoted to publishing authors who understand that young adult is a point of view, not a reading level.”
Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Romance, YA, Children’s, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Our mission is to exceed the expectations of our authors and the reading community with an uncompromising commitment to quality, individualism and personal pride. We measure our success one book at a time.”
Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Supernatural
Status: Closed to submissions
“Established in January 2021, Ghost Orchid Press is an independent publisher of horror, Gothic, and supernatural fiction based in Cambridgeshire, UK. We are dedicated to championing new and emerging authors in these increasingly popular, versatile genres.”
Interested in submitting to Ghost Orchid Press? Learn more about them in this testimonial by author Jelena Dunato.
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Fiction
Status: Open to submissions
“We are an independent publisher founded by two sisters who share a love for immersive and exceptional novels. We believe in the transformative power of reading and aim to support new authors by providing them with the tools for creative and commercial success. The publishing world is dominated by larger companies that prioritize money over authors while self-publishing is costly, confusing to navigate and heavily saturated.”
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, YA, MG, Children’s, Nonfiction, Poetry
Status: Open to submissions
“Our mission: To provide an avenue and safe place for LGBTQIA+ authors to share their artistic talents through fiction or non-fiction writings with the world. Our non-fiction side works to help preserve our LGBTQIA+ history in a world where books are constantly being banned. Our fiction side of the company provides entertaining tales for all ages featuring LGBTQIA+ characters or written by LGBTQIA+ authors.”
Genres: Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance
Status: Closed to submissions
“We are a creative digital publisher, publishing our novels worldwide in eBook, audiobook, and paperback. Our agents also pitch to foreign traditional and digital markets, and we manage film and TV rights. In less than three years, we’ve reached astronomical heights.”
Genres: Adult, New Adult, YA, Poetry
Status: Open to submissions
“We strive to connect with authors of various genres to publish their works! We are constantly on the lookout for traditional novelists.”
Genres: Historical Fiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Founded in 2019 by Minnesota Author and Historian Colin Mustful, History Through Fiction is an independent press publishing high quality fiction that is rooted in accurate and detailed historical research. The mission of History Through Fiction is to provide readers with a compelling narrative that also acts as a valuable historical resource.”
Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, Thriller, YA
Status: Closed to submissions
“What we see in the media is an incomplete picture of the world around us. It furthers distorts stereotypes, promotes prejudice, and builds barriers between communities. Inked in Gray seeks to change that.”
Genres: Fiction, YA, MG
Status: Closed to submissions
“Inimitable Books, LLC was founded by self-published author Zara Hoffman while still a graduate student at the NYU Center for Publishing. Inimitable Books, LLC is an imprint of Ulysses Press with a simple mission: publishing commercial fiction in all genres from marginalized voices (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, those with disabilities, and other kinds) without pigeon-holing the authors into writing books about the trauma of those identities.”
Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery
Status: Closed to submissions
“Interlude Press is an award-winning boutique publisher of LGBTQ general and romantic fiction. Veterans in the fields of publishing, technology, and media founded Interlude Press in 2014 to feature novels, novellas, and short form fiction.”
Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Interstellar Flight Press is a new indie speculative publishing house. Our flight plan includes focusing on the most rare and beautiful of books and ideas. We want to feature innovative works from the best up and coming writers in SFF.”
Genres: Romance
Status: Open to submissions
“JMS Books LLC is a 100% queer-owned limited liability company doing business in the Commonwealth of Virginia, founded in June 2010 by author J.M. Snyder. “
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Western, Fiction, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Kensington Publishing Corp. is an independent, family-owned book publisher founded in 1974 and based in New York City. Known for the diversity of the authors and books it publishes, Kensington releases more than 300 fiction and non-fiction titles each year, providing readers with a range of popular genres. “
Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Gothic Horror
Status: Open to submissions
“We are a family-oriented wife and husband team dedicated to finding authors who are storytellers at heart and want to join the Lake Country Press family.”
Genres: Speculative Fiction, Thriller, Horror, Romance, YA
Status: Open to submissions
“Lethe Press is an independent publishing house specializing in the strange, the eerie, and the uncanny. Many of our books do have queer interest but we've grown into speculative fiction for all readers. Named after the Greek river of memory and forgetfulness, Lethe Press is devoted to ideas that are often neglected or forgotten by mainstream publishers. Founded in 2001 by author Steve Berman, Lethe Press has grown steadily to become one of the larger gay presses.”
Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
Disclaimer: It looks like this publisher uses AI “art” so beware!
Genres: Speculative fiction, Science Fiction, Horror, Fairytales, Gothic fiction, Experimental Fiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“Moonstruck Books is an independent, queer-run press that publishes otherworldly, haunting fiction. We are based in Portland, Oregon. The press is named for the perfectly-imperfect 1987 film Moonstruck, starring Cher and Nicolas Cage.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance
Status: Open to submissions
“Mythic Roads Press was founded in 2023 by Patricia Veldstra. Since completing the Certificate in Publishing program at Toronto Metropolitan University, Patricia has served as Project Coordinator at the Book Publishers Association of Alberta, and she has also worked with many authors and other organizations as a freelance print and digital book designer.”
Genres: LitRPG, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Romance, Erotica
Status: Open to submissions
Genres: Romance, Literary Fiction
Status: Open to submissions
“NineStar Press is an LGBTQIA+ publisher owned and managed by LGBTQIA+ people. We adore romance and erotic romance, but we also have an enormous interest in showcasing amazing literary works about characters less represented in fiction: ace, aro, trans*, nonbinary, genderfluid, bi, pan, etc. We also like genre-bending fiction, fusion genre, and stories that don’t quite fit into a particular category.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Poetry, YA
Status: Closed to submissions
“Not a Pipe Publishing is a small, independent publishing company founded in 2013 in (fittingly) Independence, Oregon. Focusing on high quality poetry and genre fiction for young adult and adult audiences, Not a Pipe Publishing seeks to both entertain and enlighten readers by bringing diverse voices to the market, engaging in the struggle for human rights, and giving voice to deeper truths best expressed through fiction and poetry.”
Genres: Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, YA, MG, Nonfiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“We are a small press located in Central Florida that publishes adult and children's books. Our focus is on stories about love, wellness, and humor, with a concentration on the female audience.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“Orbit Works is the new digital publishing imprint of Orbit, one of the world’s leading science fiction and fantasy publishers. Our expert team of Orbit editors, marketers, publicists, and designers based in New York has decades of experience helping authors to become international bestsellers.”
PIcket Fire Press
Genres: Literary Fiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“Founded in 2024, Picket Fire Press is dedicated to publishing novels of exceptional literary quality. At Picket Fire, we believe that writing matters. That books matter. That damn good stories with damn good characters, matter. We also believe that there are too many barriers between writers and the public, and that together, we can burn these barriers down.”
Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Crime, Thriller, Science Fiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Polymath Press was founded in 2023 by owner and executive editor Robert Lewis with a mission to publish only the finest in both fiction and non-fiction. Our name, Polymath Press, reflects our eclectic tastes and desire to publish a wide variety of the best books we can find. Though we specialize in genre fiction (particularly horror) and quirky non-fiction, we also believe quality is more important than genre or marketing categories.”
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Status: Open to submissions
“Querencia Press is an independent publisher, seeking to amplify overlooked voices. We want to create a safe space for writers and artists to share their stories. We are especially interested in work that may have been looked over in the past for shouting too loudly. We want you to shout. We want you to make us listen. Querencia accepts poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and hybrid work. We welcome submissions from emerging and established voices, alike.”
Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Speculative Fiction, YA, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Quill & Crow Publishing House is a quaint and curious press dedicated to publishing stunning dark fiction and nonfiction titles. Celebrating all things Gothic and macabre, we strive to preserve the integrity of independent literature and lift voices often unheard.”
This is my publisher! Learn more about my experience here.
Genres: YA, NA, Romance, Romantasy
Status: Open to submissions
“Quill & Flame got its start from best selling author April J. Skelly’s frustration with the general market. Tired of searching for good books for her high school students that didn’t glorify toxic relationships, have words sailors would blush at hearing, and graphic sex on the page, she wanted something more for her students. Quill & Flame was born.”
Interested in submitting to Quill & Flame Publishers? Learn more about them in this testimonial by author Emily Bequette.
Genres: Literary Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, Nonfiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“Renard Press is an award-winning independent publisher, launched in June 2020. Covering both classic and contemporary titles, Renard publishes fiction and non-fiction, theatre and poetry; the emphasis is on good writing, properly edited, and our books can be found in convenient modern formats – in a world increasingly lived online – as well as in beautifully designed and well-produced editions.”
Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Book Club Fiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“At Rising Action, we are passionate about literature and sharing our authors’ stories with the world. Our commitment to our readers is reflected in our carefully curated collection of books, which spans a wide range of genres. Each title is a captivating page-turner, filled with emotion, surprises, and delight.”
Genres: Romance, Cozy Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Paranormal, Fantasy, Women’s Fiction, YA
Status: Closed to submissions
“Rowan Prose Publishing was founded in 2023 and launched in January 2024 by Kelly Moran, Shelly Small, & Katie O'Connor to be a unique publishing experience.”
Genres: Fiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Scorpius Books is an award-winning independent fiction publisher who love breaking the rules of publishing! We believe great stories should be available to all, and we were the 1st UK publisher to produce dyslexia-friendly versions of all our adult titles.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Second Sky Books We are a brand new SFF imprint of Bookouture, a dynamic digital publisher of bestselling commercial fiction and a division of Hachette UK.”
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“An Indie Publishing house looking to redefine what it takes to be successful in the industry, we develop relationships with our authors to bring their voices to the world.”
Genres: Fiction, YA, MG
Status: Closed to submissions
“Shaherazad Shelves is the first Muslim-owned, Muslim-serving fiction publisher in the United States. Founded in 2021, we are a New York-based book publisher created by two sisters aiming to diversify bookshelves all over the world.”
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Speculative Fiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“Shortwave Publishing is an independent small press based in the Pacific Northwest. We offer a selection of original books, zines, and online stories with a focus on dark and speculative genre fiction.”
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Paranormal Romance
Status: Closed to submissions
“At SmashBear Publishing, we produce and publish high-quality books. We specialise in urban fantasy, fantasy, and paranormal romance but will also consider horror and Sci-Fi. As an independent publisher, we want to help change the face of literature by bringing diversity and fair representation to our genres.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror
Status: Closed to submissions
“A new imprint of genre publisher Solaris, our authors are bestsellers, prize winners and fan favourites. At Solaris, we curate a strong and diverse list, never publishing too much so we are able to give our titles the time and attention they deserve. Because we are independent, we offer a bespoke and boutique service to our authors, and we look forward to welcoming a new raft of digital-first authors to the Solaris family.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“We specialize in queer science fiction, fantasy, and science fantasy novels and novellas, no matter the queer element. M/M, F/F, Poly, Bi, Pan, Trans, Ace, Neurodivergent, other gender representation, and more. BIPOC authors are especially encouraged to submit manuscripts. Space Wizard Science Fantasy strives to uplift queer and marginalized voices that are currently not as prevalent in the SFF community.”
Genres: Thriller, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, New Adult, YA, Children’s
Status: Open to submissions
“We are SRL Publishing, the world’s first climate-positive publisher who believes passionately in the power of storytelling. We believe books can change a life. They can make you laugh, make you cry, and most importantly, they can open up conversations. We’re all too familiar with mental health and the stigma that surrounds, and our Breaking the Silence ethos has helped break down the barriers and get people talking about some difficult topics that can affect our everyday lives.”
Genres: Speculative Fiction, Literary Fiction, Climate Fiction, Nonfiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“We’re a small press publishing out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We focus on genre (SFFH) and literary fiction and creative non-fiction which takes up the conversation around the climate emergency and an intersectional view of environmental justice.”
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Storm is a brand-new digital-first publisher. We’re starting small, but we have BIG plans and are looking for writers to be part of an innovative, author-focused new business.”
Genres: Children’s
Status: Closed to submissions
“Sweet Cherry is an award-winning independent children’s book publisher based in Leicester. We believe that all children should have access to great stories and aim to make reading fun for ages 0-14.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Mystery, YA, Nonfiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“Founded in 1995, Tachyon Publications LLC is a publisher of smart science fiction, fantasy, and horror, as well as mysteries, memoirs, young adult, and literary fiction. We champion the creative storytelling of authors who inspire us through intelligent prose and imaginative worlds. Our titles are consistently unique, thought-provoking, and entertaining.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, YA
Status: Open to submissions
“We at Tiny Fox Press came together wanting three things: talented writers, wonderful stories, and the entrance to Doc Noss’s lost gold mine. Though it might take a couple of fortnights for us to find that mine (send us your hot tips, please), we’re confident we can find the first two and give our readers great books to enjoy.”
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Literary Fiction, YA, Children’s, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Vulpine Press was set up in 2017 to publish high quality, innovative and stylish books. We publish fiction, personal non-fiction and various titles that straddle genres.”
Genres: Fiction, YA, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Watchful Wizard Publishing was born one fateful night when two authors realized that the traditional publishing world had lost its way. Upholding to a standard that traditional publishing should not be gate keepers that are transfixed on publishing the mundane, Watchful Wizard Publishing seeks to publish literature that otherwise would have been overlooked.”
Genres: Fiction, YA, Children’s, Poetry, Nonfiction
Status: Closed to submissions
“Wild Ink Publishing LLC’s focus is on helping aspiring authors take that first step in achieving their publishing goals. We know the frustration of getting your foot in the door, which is why we exist. While new to the publishing scene, we have a passion and dedication that is unstoppable. We will help you in making your dreams come true.”
Genres: Romance, Erotica, Women’s Fiction
Status: Open to submissions
“The Wild Rose Press was founded in 2006 by RJ Morris and Rhonda Penders. Both published authors, these women were disheartened by the way publishers treated authors. They believed there should be a better, friendlier way to get books published. At this same time, publishing was just entering the digital world with ebooks.”
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Science Fiction, Romance, Literary Fiction, YA, Nonfiction
Status: Open to submissions
“Winding Road Stories (WRDS) is a traditional and innovative book publishing company created by authors for authors. We will guide writers and experts from all genres and backgrounds through the process by helping you develop your story to reach its greatest potential.”
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Status: Closed to submissions
“Wolsak and Wynn was created in 1982 by two dedicated poets, Heather Cadsby and Marja Jacobs, who felt that important poetry was being neglected by the publishers of the day. Within six years the press had gone from its first anthology of poems to its first Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry. Today this is the umbrella imprint for the press, and it is still the place to find important work that has been overlooked by larger publishers, whether it’s cultural analysis, memoir or translation.”
FAQs
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Like with any publishing path, there are pros and cons. Indie publishers generally give their authors more creative control and a higher percentage of royalties, but often offer a small or no advance and they have fewer resources for the book than big publishers. Ultimately, it depends on your preferences and your book.
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Nothing! If a publisher asks you for money, they’re a vanity press and I would advise against those. A legitimate publisher will cover all the cost (editing, cover, print etc.).
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Querying indie publishers is similiar to querying agents. You’ll need a completed manuscript, a synopsis, and a query letter (you can find an example of a successful query letter here). The guidelines may vary from publisher to publisher so make sure to read through their submissions page for all the info you need.
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Indie publishers are traditional publishers, just smaller. This generally affects the budget for cover, marketing, distribution etc. but the process behind the scenes is the same.