We review a lot of wonderful small presses here, and we also list even more here, here, and here (although some of these lists include large presses also). We also feature a lot of these presses in our biannually updated guide, which you can download here.
This list doesn’t include all of our favorites, but it does include many of them. Of course, like always, all of these presses have to align with our guiding principles. Unlike a lot of my lists, this one does show some very personal bias. My primary criteria for this list is that all of these presses have published at least one book I have read and loved.
How to I define small press for this list? Any press that is not big enough to be part of the Big Five. Although most of these presses are pretty small and some only publish a few books every year.
If this list skews a little more literary and kid lit focused than most of our lists, I apologize. That is most of what I am reading these days.
To share your favorite press open to direct submissions with me, please send an email to support@authorspublish.com. I’m also always happy for book recommendations.
Not all of these publishers are currently open to submissions but some are, more than most lists actually because of the focus on literary presses.
Most titles link to the review but a few link directly to the publisher, if we have yet to publish that full review. A few only allow submissions from authors from a specific geographic location, but when this is the case, we make it clear in the short description of the press.
Princeton Architectural Press
Princeton Architectural Press is a small press that focuses on publishing books on architecture, design, photography, landscape, and visual culture. They also publish beautiful stationary and children’s books. They are based in New York. They are 100% on this list because of their wonderful children’s books.
June Road Press
A small US-based press that publishes wonderful poetry collections, and they do not accept work from international writers. They are currently closed to submissions, but plan to reopen next year.
Chronicle Books
They are based out of San Francisco. Their books receive a lot of positive attention and acclaim. They have excellent distribution. They have published many of my favorite kids’ books as well as many of my favorite cookbooks.
Game Over Books
This small press focuses on poetry and short story collections. They have published a number of unusual and brilliant books including Griefcake, This Conversation is Being Recorded, and Discount Ceremonies. They generally have at least one submission period a year.
Persea Books
Persea Books is an independent book publisher based out of New York that was established in the 1970s. Since then they have gained a reputation for publishing thoughtful books in a variety of literary genres. They are only open to poetry queries currently.
Annick Press
One of the top children’s book publishers in Canada, Annick Press got a strong start early on by publishing Robert Munsch, back when they were based out of co-founder Anne Millyard’s basement (you can learn more about that here). Annick is currently accepting submissions of picture books, middle grade fiction, YA fiction, and nonfiction for kids of all ages. Their picture books are exceptional. My youngest daughter’s favorite book was published by them.
CLASH Books
CLASH Books started in 2015. They publish fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. I have loved a lot of what they have published in the past, particularly Daisuke Shen’s Vague Predictions & Prophecies.
Enchanted Lion
This charming children’s book publisher is based in New York, and almost any time I’m drawn to a newer book at the library it ends up being published by them. They are really terrific and work with a lot of wonderful illustrators. I have a particular soft spot for Noodlephant.
Saraband
They have published some great nonfiction about nature that has deeply resonated with me. They are only open to direct submissions of nonfiction.
Stone Pier Press
Stone Pier Press is a niche publisher that describes themselves as “an environmental publishing company with a food focus.” They are a San Francisco based non-profit focused towards a climate-friendly food system. Their cookbook, The One & Done Cookbook, is terrific. They are currently only open to submissions about sustainable gardening.
Wesleyan University Press
Wesleyan University Press focuses on poetry, music, dance, science fiction studies, film-TV, and Connecticut history and culture. They have been actively publishing since 1957. Books they have published have won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. They are an established and respected university press that has published many top-notch books over the years, including some personal favorites. They are currently openly open to submissions of books focusing in on the areas of music and dance.
Flying Eye & Nobrow
I’ve read so many of their books for kids and adults. We own a few, and our library has many more. Quirky and beautifully presented illustrated books.
Acre Books
Acre Books is an imprint of The Cincinnati Review. They focus on publishing literary fiction and poetry. They are interested in novels and short story collections. They are not accepting submissions of full manuscripts. They ask that authors query first. Their submission periods vary. They are planning to reopen poetry submissions in January, but are currently closed to all submissions.
Hashtag Press
This UK-based Children’s and YA publisher focuses on publishing diverse stories, and they do a great job! I’ve been a big fan of the books I’ve read by them.
Owl Kids
Their books have been mentioned or reviewed in the following publications: The New York Times, the Globe and Mail, CBC, Kirkus, Booklist, and School Library Journal, and selected for numerous awards. In 2022, the press was nominated for the Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publisher. Their website is easy to use and well organized and their covers are generally excellent. They publish picture books, nonfiction for children, and middle grade fiction. You can get a good feel for what they publish by visiting their catalogue here. I have read and loved so many of their books. They are currently closed to submissions.
ECW Press
ECW Press is an established Canadian publisher. They accept poetry, fiction, and nonfiction submissions from Canadians. They only accept nonfiction submissions from international submitters. I can not stress this enough – if you are not a Canadian, you can only submit nonfiction to them. I own and appreciate a number of their books across genres.
Alcove Press
The publish a mix of book club fiction and romance, and I’ve very much enjoyed some of their book club focused titles. They are distributed by Penguin Random House, and an imprint of Crooked Lane Press.
Crooked Lane Press
This established mystery focused small press is distributed by Penguin Random House. I have enjoyed a number of their books over the years. They are now also open to horror submissions.
Page Street Publishing
They have good distribution and publish a wide range of genres including nonfiction. I really like a number of the YA books that they have published.
Holiday House
They have published many of my children’s favourite books including Watercress.
Jaded Ibis
They have published some really wonderful books over the years.
Vine Leaves Press
They publish in a lot of genres, but I have mostly read and enjoyed the memoirs that they have published.
Emily Harstone is the author of many popular books, including The Authors Publish Guide to Manuscript Submissions, Submit, Publish, Repeat, and The 2025 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.
