We generally only review presses that accept work without geographic limitations on who can submit, but this list includes many publishers who do have geographic requirements. We have never fully reviewed most of these presses because of their geographic limitations, but they are still good presses.
Most of the presses on this list accept work from writers with a specific geographic region or nationality, some have very strict limitations, and others are more lenient.
All of the publishers on this list primarily publish authors from the country they are based in by a wide margin, even if they don’t have formal guidelines that state this. We created this list in 2019 as a reference point for writers, and have received a lot of positive feedback and support in terms of updating it.
This list is organized by region. It only covers a limited number of countries at this time. If this article continues to do well, we will keep expanding the list and include more countries in the future.
Currently, this list only covers the US, Canada, Oceania, the UK, Ireland, and Asia, but we are hoping for that to change.
Not all of the publishers on this list are currently open to unagented submissions, but most are.
I’ve done basic research about the publishers, but I haven’t done in-depth research as I do for a full review, so keep that in mind.
If you know of a press to add to this list, please send me an email at support@authorspubish.com.
United States
Red Adept Publishing
This multi-genre small press has managed to end up with a number of books on the New York Times Bestseller list. They are only open to submissions by US-based writers.
Epicenter Press
Founded in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1988, Epicenter Press, Inc. is a regional press publishing nonfiction books about Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
Chesapeake Press
This small press that publishes books and podcasts for kids focused on promoting American democracy.
Hub City Press
A respected press with great distribution. They publish books of literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, regional nonfiction, nature, and art. They only publish work for adults. They accept non-agented submissions during 2-3 open reading periods a year. According to their website, “Hub City publishes writers living in or from the South. What’s the South? A complicated issue, to say the least, but the short answer for our purposes: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia. At the same time, we’re interested in boundaries, borders, and in-betweens, so if you want to make a case for a state not listed here, we’ll take a look.”
Texas Review Press
They have a number of reading periods a year, some are paid contests, some are free, some are focused on nonfiction (regional and otherwise) and others on poetry. Each year they read for the TRP Southern Poetry Breakthrough Series which highlights a first full-length collection by emerging authors from each state in the southern United States. There is no reading fee. The state rotates every year.
June Road Press
This small poetry press plans to eventually expand into literary fiction and creative nonfiction. They plan to reopen to submissions in the fall and in the past they were only open to submissions by US based authors.
JackLeg Press
This small press primarily focuses on publishing poetry and short story collections. They only consider queries from US based writers.
University of Georgia Press
They do not have strict geographic guidelines, but much of what they publish is about Georgia and the American South. Although they also publish on a number of other subjects.
Heyday Press
Heyday is an established independent and nonprofit publisher that focuses on California and the American West. They publish nonfiction books that explore history, celebrate Native cultural renewal, fight injustice, and honor nature.
NDSU Press
NDSU Press exists primarily to stimulate and coordinate interdisciplinary regional scholarship. These regions include the state of North Dakota, the Red River Valley, the plains of North America (comprising both the Great Plains of the United States and the prairies of Canada), and comparable regions of other continents.
Santa Monica Press
They consider international submissions, but much of what they publish is of local interest and focused on California. At the time of this update they are closed to submissions.
Amble Press
This press which focuses on publishing work by queer writers of color, doesn’t officially state on their website that they don’t accept international submissions but several of our international subscribers have been informed otherwise, so I’ve added them to this list.
Sasquatch Books
They publish “visual nonfiction by gifted writers, artists, chefs, naturalists, and thought leaders whose work reflects the adventurous, creative, DIY spirit of the PNW (the Pacific Northwest)”. The Pacific Northwest unlike other regions involves both the US and Canada. They don’t say anything about not allowing Canadians to submit as long as the work reflects the region. They have good distribution.
Little Bigfoot
An imprint of Sasquatch books focused on publishing for children, the guidelines for submissions are on the same page, but further down.
Wayne State University Press
According to their website they are currently actively “acquiring books in African American studies; fairy-tale studies; film, television, and media studies; health humanities; Jewish studies; labor studies; and regional studies: books about the state of Michigan, the city of Detroit, and the Great Lakes region. We also acquire books of short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry written by Michigan authors in our Made in Michigan Writers Series.”
Gray and Company
They only publish nonfiction books about Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, and Ohio.
Forest Avenue Press
This Portland based press publishes fiction and the occasional memoir. They don’t have strict geographic limitations but they mostly publish authors based in the Pacific Northwest. They have one reading period per year.
The University of Arizona Press
The premier publisher of academic, regional, and literary works in the state of Arizona is open to direct submissions. They are open to international authors but much of what they publish is focused on the region.
Bottom Dog Press
A small press that mostly publishes working class literature and Appalachian Literature.
Ooligan Press
This student run press publishes regionally significant works of literary, historical, and social value to the Pacific Northwest.
Canada
Anansi Press
A wonderful Canadian press focusing on publishing a wide range of literary works. They accept submissions twice a year, for a one-month period. Currently the months they are accepting submissions are August and February. They accept work by Canadian citizens or residents, or Indigenous Peoples from Turtle Island and around the world who are eligible to hold Canadian citizenship.
Groundwood Press
My favorite Canadian children’s book publisher, and an imprint of Anansi Press, they are open to children’s nonfiction, and novel-length fiction as well as picture books. They have two open reading periods a year.
Red Deer Press
A respected and established publisher of children’s books. They used to be open to submissions from outside of Canada, but they’ve recently limited their perimeters to only “encourage” Canadian authors, and they are now only open to submissions via post.
Partridge Island Press
This Canadian press focuses on publishing Canadian authors. They publish a wide range of books but are currently most interested in Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction.
Second Story Press
This Canadian feminist press considers submissions in a wide range of genres, from Canadian authors. They occasionally publish non-Canadians, but this is very much the exception.
Caitlin Press
Caitlin Press is a British Columbia based literary press. They only publish authors from Canada, the majority being BC-based.
Dagger Editions
Caitlin Press’s new imprint focuses on publishing literary fiction, nonfiction and poetry by and about queer women (those who identify as queer women, including trans women or trans men, or anyone who includes this in their personal history).
Touchwood
They only publish Canadian writers, with a strong preference for writers based in western Canada. They publish a wide variety of nonfiction as well as literary fiction and memoir.
Invisible Publishing
Invisible Publishing publishes literary fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction by Canadians.
Coach House Books
Coach House Books is one of the largest publishers in Canada. They are a wonderful press that primarily publishes Canadian authors. They publish poetry, literary fiction, and select nonfiction; they’re not accepting drama currently.
Cormorant Books
Cormorant Books publishes literary fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry. They are only open to Canadian authors.
Dundurn Press
One of the largest Canadian presses. They publish a variety of fiction and nonfiction.
ECW Press
They are only open to fiction and poetry books submitted by Canadians; there are no citizenship restrictions on writers submitting nonfiction.
Freehand Books
A Canadian press that started out as as an imprint but is now independent. They publish literary fiction, literary nonfiction, memoir and graphic literature. They have good distribution.
Ronsdale Press
A literary house that publishes a wide variety of work including children’s books. They accept work only from Canadian citizens or landed immigrants to Canada.
NeWest Press
NeWest publishes outstanding literary works by established and emerging Canadian authors at the rate of 10-12 books a year. They are especially interested in publishing books by Western Canadian authors or which explore Western Canadian themes. They have good distribution.
Talonbooks
They publish work of significant literary or cultural importance by Canadian authors. They are no longer accepting fiction submissions.
Wolsak and Wynn
At the very start of their guidelines they state: “We are a Canadian press dedicated to publishing clear, passionate Canadian voices. As such, we publish very few non-Canadians. However, we encourage Canadian authors of diverse backgrounds and communities to submit.” Their books are well edited and beautifully printed. They accept mailed submissions only.
Turnstone Press
They are only open to specific fiction genres, nonfiction, and poetry. Please see their submission page for details. Authors must be based in Canada.
Baraka Books
Baraka Books is a Quebec-based English-language book publisher specializing in creative and political nonfiction, history and historical fiction, and fiction. They also have a translation imprint.
Delve
An imprint of Irwin Law, Delve is looking for books that provide insightful and accessible analysis of influential legal cases, legislation, and policies related to diversity, equity, and systemic prejudice in Canada. They are open to submissions from non-Canadians, but the focus of the work must be Canada.
Véhicule Press
They primarily publish Canadian authors. At the time of this update they are only open to submissions of nonfiction.
At Bay Press
At Bay Press is a respected literary publisher of fiction and nonfiction, including poetry. They do publish “literary mysteries, thrillers, and noir and are interested in quality submissions in the science fiction, fantasy and graphic novel genres as well”. They publish very few books a year.
Nightwood Editions
Nightwood Editions publishes poetry and fiction by writers across Canada, as well as nonfiction about Canadian writing.
Random House Canada
The Canadian arm of Random House changed their submission policy have opened their policy exclusively to LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC writers, as well as those from other traditionally underrepresented communities. They are particularly 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.” They are open to submissions internationally, but prioritize Canadian writers.
Tundra Books, Puffin Canada, Penguin Teen Canada
These children and teen focused Canadian imprints are open to direct submissions by underrepresented authors and illustrators only. Authors need not be Canadian.
UK, Ireland
Dahlia Books
This is a small UK based press, and they are only currently only interested in short fiction and short stories when presented as a collection from a UK based writer.
Tramp Press
Tramp is a literary press based out of Ireland that has great distribution. Within Ireland they are distributed by Gill & Macmillan. Throughout the rest of the world they are distributed by Macmillan. They do not accept submissions from the US and Canada. They plan to reopen to submissions in late 2024.
Sandycove
They are an imprint of Penguin Random House Ireland that consider manuscripts and proposals in all genres.
Four Courts Press
An Irish academic press. They ask that potential authors reach out for details first.
Currach Books
An independent publisher of Irish interest books. They are closed to submission at the time of this update.
Floris Books
A publisher of specialized nonfiction and children’s books.
Acair Books
They publish books in Scottish, Gaelic and English. Many of their titles are related to Scotland, history, nature and social issues.
Gill Books
One of Ireland’s leading publishers of content in terms of both the Primary and Secondary schools market, but they also publish nonfiction for adults. They accept proposals for adult nonfiction and children’s books.
Black & White Publishing
This established Scottish publisher is open to a variety of nonfiction submissions, some not bound by geography, but they are also particularly interested in sports books focused on the UK and Ireland and Scottish and Irish nonfiction.
Asia
Epigram Books
They are an independent publisher established in 2011, with imprints in Singapore and London. They say “We are keen to read and publish new writing by Singaporean authors and authors writing about Singapore.” So they don’t have strict geographic guidelines but a specific geographic focus.
Penguin Random House Southeast Asia
Though this imprint of this big five publisher is technically open to submissions from authors everywhere, they would prioritize Southeast Asian authors.
Manohar
A scholarly publisher focused on the social sciences, Manohar is based in India, and the books they publish primarily focus on India and South Asia.
Earnshaw Books
Earnshaw Books is actively seeking new manuscripts of all sorts, particularly historical fiction, young adult fiction, China-related topics, and Chinese language learning-related books and materials.
Oceania
Hachette Australia
Hachette is only open to direct submissions from residents of Australia or NZ.
Penguin Random House Australia
A big five publisher. They are only open to submissions from Australians.
Black Inc.
This established and award-winning Australian press has imprints that focus on nonfiction. They accept work from Australian writers only.
te herenga waka university press
te herenga waka university press is New Zealand’s leading publisher of new fiction and poetry, and a scholarly publisher specializing in NZ history, biography and essays. Submissions are restricted to people who live in or are strongly connected with Aotearoa New Zealand.
AIATSIS
A publisher of scholarly and general books, including children’s books focused on the unique heritage and diverse lives of Australia’s first peoples by Australia’s first people. They have this helpful guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Ginninderra Press
A small press that focuses on publishing quality nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. They do not accept work from writers who live outside Australia.
Text Publishing
An established and respected publisher of fiction and nonfiction, including middle grade and young adult. Submissions should be from citizens or residents of Australia and/or New Zealand.
Fremantle Press
Fremantle Press accepts submissions of unsolicited manuscripts from authors of Western Australian origin or whose main place of residence is Western Australia, or non-Western Australian authors whose work has a strong Western Australian focus. They publish nonfiction, fiction and narrative nonfiction, poetry, and books for children and young adults. They also run the Fogarty Literary Award for manuscripts by young West Australian writers, which has a prize of AUD20,000.
Pantera Press
Their passion is “publishing books readers rave about by discovering, launching and nurturing talented Australian authors who write quality fiction or non-fiction for a popular audience”. They also accept work from New Zealand authors.
Giramondo
Giramondo doesn’t have any strict guidelines in terms of geography, but they do appear to have a track record of publishing primarily writers from Australia and New Zealand, so I have placed them here. They publish quality poetry, nonfiction, and fiction.
Wakefield Press
They publish a wide variety of work and are only not open to children’s picture book submissions. They do not state strict geographic guidelines but they mostly publish work by Australian authors.
Melbourne University Publishing
They accept unsolicited submissions of nonfiction work.
ACER Press
The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is open to international submissions of one of research-based nonfiction focused on how to improve learning across the lifespan, but they are on this list because they do seem to primarily publish Australian authors.
Emily Harstone is the author of many popular books, including The Authors Publish Guide to Manuscript Submissions, Submit, Publish, Repeat, and The 2024 Guide to Manuscript Publishers. She regularly teaches three acclaimed courses on writing and publishing at The Writer’s Workshop at Authors Publish. You can follow her on Facebook here.
