7 Book Publishers Finding Fresh Voices
The big publishing houses may have all the resources and money, but they hardly have the last word when it comes to releasing great literature to the public; the smaller, independent presses are just as worthy, and often have even more unique and interesting catalogs of titles. The ones included here, operating around the world, are helping to bring compelling works from talented authors to market. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
7 Publishing Presses Introducing New Talent
| Name | About |
|---|---|
| Blackbird Digital Books | Using business principles based on the Diamond Cutter Sutra, an ancient Tibetan text, it gives a percentage of sales revenue from selected publications to author-chosen charities |
| Lee & Low Books | The largest multicultural children's book publisher in the country, and one of the few minority-owned publishing companies in the United States |
| Trinity University Press | Dedicated to publishing original, compelling, and imaginative work that furthers Trinity University’s commitment to educate for "the personal, lifelong quest for understanding of oneself and one's place in the world" |
| John Hunt Publishing | Independent publisher with sales teams worldwide, welcoming new authors and unsolicited manuscript submissions and providing an automated production system, forums, and marketing database |
| Sort of Books | An independent publishing venture specializing in contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and popular science, among other categories |
| KERNPUNKT Press | Publishes literary fiction, with a focus on symbolism, non-traditional plots, unique characters, taboo subjects, and experimentation |
| Penmore Press | Arizona-based independent publisher dedicated to publishing fiction and nonfiction from emerging and established authors |
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Helpful Books for Writers
Literary Charities
If you want to spread your love of literature with those in need, then you should consider looking into these non-profit organizations that help young minds get access to books and high-quality education.
- First Book
- Books for Kids
- Room to Read
- LitWorld
- 826 National
- KIPP
- Street Poets Inc.
- Get Lit - Words Ignite
- WriteGirl
- Academy of American Poets
- Asian American Writers' Workshop
- Beyond Baroque
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In Depth
New writers often have difficulty getting their foot in the door of the publishing industry. However, some firms are open to authors looking to debut a first book. If your manuscript is polished and ready, there are plenty of companies open to reading your submissions, even without a literary agent. Here, in no particular order, are several publishing houses cultivating new, exciting work.
At #1 is Blackbird Books. When she launched the business in 2009, founder Stephanie Zia was aiming to build a brand that both readers and authors could trust. Ideas like cooperation and respectful communication with authors and contributors are important to the Blackbird ethos. Also, a percentage of sales revenue from selected publications goes to charities chosen and supported by the writers themselves.
Blackbird Books' employees build contracts around flexibility and support while helping cultivate authors' long-term careers. Agents also continue promoting well after the traditional three-month launch window. The company understands that with digital publishing, books have a better chance for longevity in the retail market.
The company understands that with digital publishing, books have a better chance for longevity in the retail market.
#2 is Lee and Low Books. Founded in 1991, the company is the largest multicultural children's book publisher in the United States. The firm is also one of the few minority-owned publishing companies in the country. It is an independent business that aims to increase the number of works available to children that feature diverse characters.
Lee and Low began with a mission to be a leader in the movement for more diversity in books and publishing. The organization has earned a reputation for high-quality works for young readers, with many titles winning major awards and honors. Company representatives make a special effort to work with unpublished authors and illustrators who are people of color.
Coming in at #3 is Trinity University Press. Since launching in 2002, it has published books from dozens of national and international authors. The business is dedicated to finding original, compelling, and imaginative writing that furthers Trinity University's commitment to the personal, lifelong quest for understanding oneself and one's place in the world.
The business is dedicated to finding original, compelling, and imaginative writing that furthers Trinity University's commitment to the personal, lifelong quest for understanding oneself and one's place in the world.
The firm promotes books via national print, broadcast, and online media and by hosting author events. Agents at Trinity look for manuscripts that contribute to complex dialogue and conversations about ideas and knowledge. Trinity publishes works about topics including nature, the environment, regional subjects, architecture, and landscape, and many of its books are used in college classes.
#4 is John Hunt Publishing. This independent printing house with international distribution welcomes new authors and unsolicited submissions. Writers who work with John Hunt have access to an automated production system, internet forums, a marketing database with tens of thousands of contacts, and other online tools to produce and publicize each book. The firm's marketers place their publications in traditional stores worldwide, and with most online retailers.
John Hunt Publishing has twenty-four imprints grouped into ten clusters, which include mind body spirit, culture and politics, history, children and young adult, and paganism. The company accepts new proposals through the imprint websites, and the partners base their business on transparency so authors can see the process and progress with their books.
The company accepts new proposals through the imprint websites, and the partners base their business on transparency so authors can see the process and progress with their books.
For #5, we have Sort Of Books. The name comes from the idea that this business offers the sort of books readers will want to discover and re-discover. The firm is a publisher of both original and classic fiction as well as nonfiction titles. The company was set up in 1999 as an independent venture by the founders of the Rough Guides British travel series.
An independent publisher, Sort Of Books produces a small number of titles each year, and focuses on contemporary fiction, neglected classics, and nonfiction titles, particularly nature writing. The company also accepts manuscripts about popular science and environmental issues. Books range from essay collections to travel writing to reprints of the beloved Finnish Moomin series for young readers.
#6 is Kernpunkt Press, an independent publisher of fiction. The staff looks for work reflecting symbolism, nontraditional plots, unusual characters, taboo subjects, and literary experimentation. Agents pursue challenging material and value art over entertainment. Kernpunkt welcomes submissions of new writing year-round and publishes in both paperback and ebook formats.
Agents pursue challenging material and value art over entertainment.
Kernpunkt Press Editor Jesi Buell and her colleagues look for books that are unique and have unexpected approaches to either structure or language. While Kernpunkt doesn't publish traditional poetry, many of its books are written by poetically-inclined writers who are less concerned with plot than with creative phrasing.
Finally, at #7, is Penmore Press. An Arizona-based firm, Penmore is dedicated to fiction and nonfiction from emerging and established authors. While it welcomes most genres, agents look for compelling stories, engaging prose, and intriguing characters. For nonfiction books, the firm pursues works with interesting subjects, impeccable research, and an accessible writing style.
In the fiction genre, Penmore prefers submissions covering subjects that are contemporary, historical, nautical, or military, and it also publishes mysteries and thrillers. The company produces traditional and audio books and does not require writers to have a literary agent to submit a query. Penmore Press accepts electronic submissions only and offers writers a database of opportunities for promoting their work.
