This list focuses on ten publishers that we are excited about that are open to submissions this month. Some are only open for a short period of time, others will be open the whole month and beyond. At least four of these are presses we have not covered previously.

Please note that if a publisher doesn’t have a specific submission window they can close at any time, and publishers that use Submittable can close at any point because of submission caps (although these publishers generally reopen to submissions at the end of the month).

If a publisher has closed to submissions unexpectedly, please send us an email at support@authorspublish.com.

Please read the full review, which we link to in the publish name, and carefully consider fit before submitting work. I can not stress enough that you should only submit to presses that are a good fit for your work, and that you should carefully read and follow submissions guidelines before submitting that work. Over the past year we had several presses ask to be de-listed because they were deluged by submissions, even after moving to this format. Still more presses have had to temporarily close to submissions because of an influx of inappropriate submissions.

Orbit Works
Orbit Works was founded in April 2023, as a new imprint of Hachette/Orbit that is focused on digital publishing. This includes both eBooks and audiobooks. You can read the PR statement about the imprint here. It is led by Orbit Executive Editor Brit Hvide and Editor Stephanie Clark. Orbit Works, like Orbit, is based out of New York. They are open to both agented and unageneted submissions. Orbit is only open to agented submissions and was founded in 2007 to focus on publishing science fiction and fantasy. They have one other imprint, called Redhook. They have published many well- regarded, bestselling, and award-winning books, in terms of science fiction and fantasy. They don’t have a deadline listed in terms of when they will close to submissions, so could close at any time.

Legend Press
Legend Press is a UK-based independent press open to direct and agented submissions. They publish contemporary fiction and crime fiction (largely psychological and political thrillers). They now also publish historical fiction. You can get a good feel for what they publish by visiting their website here. They’ve published some very popular books, including The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. They don’t have a deadline listed in terms of when they will close to submissions, so could close at any time.

Crooked Lane
Crooked Lane was established in 2014 as a press specializing in crime books. They have an experienced staff and have managed to publish some well-known authors already. They publish a range of mysteries that lean towards the cozy, and they are not opposed to publishing a series of books. You can see their catalog here. They are generally open to submissions. 

Headpress
Headpress was established in 1991 although the publishing arm wasn’t active till 1992, according to their FAQ. Headpress focuses on publishing nonfiction. The subject matter they publish varies widely. They say, “When Headpress first started, much of this was considered the counterculture. Now it is pop culture.” They publish work on cult film, strange music, pulp literature, fanzines, conspiracy theories, sex and gender, occult and folklore, true crime, etc. It is still run by one of the three founders, David Kerekes.

TCK Publishing
TCK Publishing was founded in 2011 by Tom Corson-Knowles. Tom Corson-Knowles is also an author and has published a number of his own books through TCK Publishing. It’s not clear if he started TCK Publishing as a way to self-publish, but it is clear that TCK has moved past that, publishing many books, on a number subjects, by many authors. They are only open to nonfiction submissions at this time.

Bold Strokes
Bold Strokes Books publishes only LGBTQ books.  They publish general and genre fiction, with an emphasis on romance. They have great print distribution.

Genius Book Publishing
This small Wisconsin-based press is run by a couple, Steven and Leya Booth. They share some of their story and experience on their About page here. Genius Book Publishing was founded in 2011. It publishes a range of genres, including fiction, but at the time of this review, they are only open to nonfiction submissions focused on Music or True Crime. The earliest work accepted now will be published is 2026.

Harlequin Heartwarming
Harlequin Heartwarming describes the stories they are seeking as “Wholesome, fun and feel-good contemporary romances set in close-knit communities where the reader can escape to a world of love and belonging. Fall in love with small towns, friendly neighborhoods and romances that always end with happily ever after!”.

Young Dragons
They are planning to reopen to submissions in April 2025. They are not open yet, at the time of this update, but I have every reason to believe that they will open this month as planned, which is why they are listed here. Young Dragons is a traditional independent publisher focused on publishing books for children. They publish picture books as well as middle grade fiction. 

CSIRO Publishing
CSIRO Publishing is Australia’s largest science publisher of books, peer-reviewed journals, and magazines. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was founded in in 1916. In 1948, the CSIRO scholarly journals program started, and only in 1995 was CSIRO Publishing established as a stand-alone imprint and publishing house. They still operate as as a not-for-profit, editorially independent business unit within CSIRO.

Additionally because this is National Poetry Month, more poetry presses are open now, so this list of 102 Poetry Manuscript publishers might be worth reading as well, if you are a poet seeking a manuscript publisher.