Updated November 2022: Even though they don’t list this as part of their submission guidelines anywhere their website, they’ve been turning away authors for not being based in the US. We will be removing them from the next round of the manuscript publishers guide as they are no longer eligible for review as part of our guiding principles.
Amble Press is an imprint of Bywater Books. Both presses are based in Ann Arbor Michigan. Bywater Books focuses on publishing lesbian-and feminist-themed fiction and narrative nonfiction. They are currently closed to submissions.
Amble Press publishes fiction and narrative nonfiction from people who identify as a writer of color, as well as “those writing across the broader queer spectrum.” So far they have published eight books, including two by the managing Editor and Lambda Literary Award-winning author Michael Nava. You can see what they’ve published so far here.
Amble Press is currently actively seeking submissions in the following subgenres:
- Contemporary General Fiction
- Crime Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers
- Historical Fiction
- Action/Adventure
- Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Cli-Fi/Spec Fiction/Steampunk
- Graphic Novels
- Young Adult/New Adult
- Romance
- Narrative nonfiction
- Memoirs/Biographies
They focus on publishing underrepresented writers and are actively seeking unpublished full-length manuscripts (between 45,000 – 100,000 words) and graphic novels between 48 and 100 pages.
This is what Micheal Nava has to say about the imprint’s goals: “Amble Press will celebrate and amplify our community’s diverse voices, and the unique and compelling stories they have to tell. As the forces of reaction are empowered at the highest levels of society, the arrival of Amble Press could not be more timely and more necessary. Amble Press is committed to publishing books that are bold, entertaining, and of enduring value.”
All submissions should be made by email. They have an additional list of tips here and guidelines here.
They don’t have much information about the press on the site itself, outside of staff which are listed here. Their website’s initial copyright date is 2017. There is no information about distribution or sales that I could find.
The covers are mostly well designed and for the most part easy to navigate.
To learn more or to submit, go here.
Emily Harstone is the author of many popular books, including The Authors Publish Guide to Manuscript Submissions, Submit, Publish, Repeat, and The 2020 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.
