Algonquin Books is a publisher of literary fiction and non-fiction. They are an established and respected press. They are not interested in genre books or self-help non-fiction. They just started a line of young adult books as well, but if you are submitting a young adult book, make it clear on your submissions envelope.
Algonquin Books started out as an independent Chapel Hill based publisher. In 1989 they were purchased by Workman Publishing (a large independent publishing company) and continued to grow as part of Workman Publishing. They now have offices in New York and Chapel Hill.
Algonquin Books has published some very famous books and many literary bestsellers, including Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Gap Creek by Robert Morgan and In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez.
Algonquin Books only considers proposals submitted by mail. They generally respond in around six months. They do not respond to phone calls about the status of a submission, so prepare to be patient.
When you submit a query, include a short (less than 15 double-spaced pages) sample of your manuscript, a cover letter, and an SASE.
Algonquin Books is a well-respected company that has the marketing budget that comes with being a more established company. If you are interested in submitting please visit their website.
