Hashtag Press was established in the UK in 2016 by Abiola Bello and Helen Lewis. They focus on publishing “commercial fiction books for young people that are plot driven with relatable, inspiring characters and great friendships”. You can get a feel for what they publish here. They very much prioritize stories about characters from underrepresented backgrounds and by authors from underrepresented backgrounds. They are particularly interested in debut books by authors from underrepresented communities.
They open to submissions on the 1st of July and close on the 31st. During this reading period they are open to YA and Children’s book manuscripts. They generally have a few open reading periods a year. The rest of the time they only consider work submitted by agents. They prefer work that hasn’t been previously published and that is plot driven, and includes great friendships.
You can also see that some of the books they publish are co-authored by the founding editor and another author. This is a little unusual with an established press even a small one, but not unheard of. The editor in question is also represented by an agent at a major agency. Many of the books they publish are by authors not affiliated with the press.
They stress that they are looking for diversity in their story, and they share this definition in the context of publishing: “a book that contains characters not typically or widely represented. Everyone deserves to see themselves represented. It’s about a range of characters that are not from the same walks of life. This can be diversity in class, race, gender identity, sexuality, disability, background and other forms of identity.” They are not interested in publishing a book that isn’t diverse, based on this definition. Any books that are not diverse or inclusive will be a no.
During this reading period they are open to manuscripts
They are not interested in books that are science fiction, historical fiction, non-fiction or picture books. They will also not consider picture books, film pitches, or book covers.
Submissions must be made via email. To read their full submission guidelines, go here. Please read them in full before proceeding. Please follow their guidelines carefully and do not submit if your work isn’t a good potential fit. They are only open to submissions during clearly marked reading periods.
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.
