This article links to all of the websites I know of that list or link to manuscript publishers. I use these resources to find publishers to review, in addition to spending a lot of time at libraries and bookstores, finding publishers there.

Note that a lot of the publishers you’ll turn up at the following resources will not be currently open to submissions, some because they are never open to direct submissions and others because they are currently closed to direct submissions. I have a large bookmark file containing all the temporary closed publishers I know, and I check back on that regularly.

Often publishers listed by these companies will charge a reading fee. These lists will also include hybrid and/or vanity presses. Many of them will also include publishers that have a record of major misdeeds, some ongoing, which we have decided against listing or publishers that we have delisted for unfair contracts or refusing to pay authors. Authors Publish will not cover these companies, but you will encounter them on these websites.

There are two major categories for these websites. The first is distributors. There are more distributors than are listed here, but these are a good starting place, and not as overwhelming as some other distributor’s websites. For example Independent Publishers Group (IPG) is one of the largest independent publishers, but they also list a lot of self-publishing companies and companies that have stopped acquiring new books, or even gone out of business, so they are not particularly helpful.

Distributor websites are not always particularly author friendly, as that is far from their primary purpose, but they are one of my favorite places to find publishers, because then you already know they have decent distribution. 

The second category is focused on websites that are resources for writers and have sections or searches focused on manuscript publishers.

Please note that in both these categories there are many publishers that do charge authors, or that we wouldn’t review for other reasons, and that you should always vet these publishers further.  If you’re ever in doubt, please send us an email. (support@authorspublish.com)

This article gives a lot of good tips in terms of vetting publishers. I’m not going to add this disclaimer to all the listings, because it covers all of them.

Outside of these links, we still have many resources available on the Authors Publish website. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should browse The 2024 Guide to Manuscript Publishers. The book consolidates 285 publisher reviews into one resource.

You should also check out the Manuscript Publishers category on our website. This includes our latest review of publishers, as well as the longer lists we’ve published. 

Distributors

Sidenote: One of the best ways to judge any distributor is to ask yourself the question – have I ever seen any of the publishers’ books they distribute in bookstores? Not all distributors are created equal.

Asterism
After the recent closure of SPD (which you can read about here), they have grown a lot. Mostly distributes for small literary presses.

Itasca Books
A division of Bookmobile, they have also tried to fill the gap left by SPD. They also distribute primarily for small literary presses.

Publishers Group West (PGW)
A once independent distributor that is now part of Ingram, they represent some pretty large US-based publishers. While anyone can be distributed by Ingram, and it means essentially nothing in and of itself, being distributed by a company within Ingram like PGW, that only takes on select publishers, is meaningful and a good sign. I regularly see books distributed by PGW in bookstores.

Two Rivers Distribution
Also run by Ingram, also has a mostly select client base. I have seen books they distribute in bookstores regularly.

Penguin Random House Distribution
As expected, they have a very select client base and excellent distribution. Most of the publishers they work with aren’t open to direct submissions, but some are.

MacMillan Distribution
They have a pretty select client base and excellent distribution. Most of the publishers they work with aren’t open to direct submissions, but some are.

Lerner Publisher Services
A great distributor focused on the children’s book market.

Websites/Databases

Chill Subs
They started listing independent publishers about a year ago on their searchable database.

Reedsy
Their database has been active for about three years now, and while they say it is vetted, it includes many publishers that we would not review or feature because of known predatory behavior.

Duotrope
They charge, but if you already pay to access their literary journal listings, it can be worth it. Their publisher listings are a lot more limited over all.

Poets & Writers
Not always up to date, or accurate, but a fair number of publishers are listed and it’s free.