60 Canadian publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in January 2025
Now that you’ve written your novel, it’s time to pitch it to a local Canadian publisher! All of the publishers listed here are currently accepting manuscripts without a literary agent. I update this list at the start of every month so be sure to check back if you don’t find a publisher that suits your needs.
Don’t forget to check out my developmental editing services or pre-querying package if you want to make sure your novel is in top shape before you sent it to a publisher for consideration. I offer a variety of services to suit all budgets, from writers looking for the standard developmental editing experience to those seeking high-level feedback and a quick turnaround time.
Roseway (Fernwood Publishing)
Roseway publishes literary works relating to social injustices and struggles for democracy, liberation and sovereignty.
Genre: Fiction and creative nonfiction focusing on social injustices and liberation.
Word count: Not stated.Radiant Press
Radiant Press is committed to publishing exceptional books from authors in their home province of Saskatchewan and wider Canada.
Genre: Fiction and creative nonfiction written by Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Breakwater Books
Breakwater Books was established in 1973 to highlight the vibrant literary culture in Newfoundland and Labrador. Today, they welcome books from authors across Canada and overseas.
Genre: Literary fiction, commercial fiction, and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Tidewater Press
Tidewater Press publishes fiction and nonfiction that explores the individual and collective Canadian identity.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Renaissance Press
Renaissance is a Canadian publisher who is dedicated to publishing novels from diverse Canadian voices.
Genre: Fiction, narrative nonfiction and memoirs.
Word count: Not stated.Coach House Books
Coach House Books publishes innovative fiction and nonfiction.
Genre: Literary fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.8th House Publishing
8th House Publishing loves books that are modern, enduring, insightful and inventive.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.The Brucedale Press
The Brucedale Press is the publishing division of Broad Horizons Books and was established in 1976.
Genre: Literary and historical works by Canadian authors with a focus on the Queen's Bush and Bruce Peninsula area of Ontario, Canada.
Word count: Not stated.Turnstone Press
Turnstone Press is a literary publisher who publishes Canadian authors and landed immigrants.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction. They publish a variety of literary mysteries, thrillers and speculative fiction under their Ravenstone imprint.
Word count: Not stated.Moose House Publications
Moose House Publications was founded by author Brenda Thompson to publish material written in or about Nova Scotia.
Genre: Books about, or written in, rural Nova Scotia.
Word count: 50,000 words and above.Boulder Books
Boulder Books is an innovative Atlantic Canadian book publishing company, dedicated to high-quality works that explore unrepresented parts of Canadian culture.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Caitlin Press
Caitlin Press publishes work by Canadian authors, particularly those based in British Columbia.
Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.Optimum Publishing
Optimum Publishing opened their doors in 1970.
Genre: Nonfiction, including Canadian affairs, true crime, business and biography.
Word count: Not stated.Arbeiter Ring Publishing
Arbeiter Ring Publishing is a left-wing progressive publisher whose mission is to amplify writing from the left.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry and nonfiction from Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Baraka Books
Baraka Books is an English-language publisher based in Quebec.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.UBC Press
UBC Press publishes innovative and transformative works of nonfiction.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Ekstasis Editions
Ekstasis Editions is a long-standing Canadian literary press who originally published poetry but has now branched out into fiction and criticism. They consider works from mostly Canadian authors.
Genre: Literary fiction, but they are happy to accept original works of science fiction, fantasy and mystery. This might be a good pick if your speculative or mystery novel blurs genre lines. They also publish nonfiction concerning alternative approaches to spirituality.
Word count: Not stated.NeWest Press
NeWest publishes literary works by established and emerging Canadian authors.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Kegedonce Press
Kegedonce Press is an Indigenous publishing company from Neyaashiinigmiing and Owen Sound, Ontario.
Genre: Fiction and creative nonfiction from Indigenous authors in Canada.
Word count: Not stated.New Star Books
New Star Books started in 1969 and is based in Vancouver.
Genre: Literary fiction and literary nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Dundurn Press
Dundurn Press is an independent Canadian-owned publisher of contemporary fiction and nonfiction. They only accept fiction submissions from Canadian authors, but welcome nonfiction submissions from writers worldwide.
Genre: Literary fiction and literary nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Gordon Hill Press
Gordon Hill Press is a publisher of innovative fiction and nonfiction.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction.
Word count: Novel-length works.Nightwood Editions
Nightwood Editions' goal is to help readers explore high-quality work by emerging Canadian writers.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Eschia Books
Eschia Books publishes books that safeguard the history, aspirations and accomplishments of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction focusing on First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
Word count: Not stated.Second Story Press
Second Story Press is a feminist publisher who focuses on publishing Canadian authors.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction looking at the lives of girls and women, social justice and children's empowerments from Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Bayeux Arts
Bayeux Arts entered the publishing world in 1994. They are committed to producing books of beauty that build bridges across cultures.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Cormorant Books
Cormorant Books is an independent literary publisher based in Canada. They only accept submissions from Canadian authors.
Genre: Adult fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Invisible
Invisible Publishing is a small "scrappy" producer of contemporary fiction, poetry and nonfiction with a focus on Canadian authors.
Genre: Contemporary literary fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Plumleaf Press
Plumleaf Press was created in 2015 as a passion project to create "books to linger over".
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. They are particularly looking for books aimed at women and children.
Word count: Not stated.Arsenal Pulp Press
Arsenal Pulp Press is a small Vancouver-based publisher.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Thistledown Press
Thistledown Press began as a press for Prairie writers in Saskatchewan in 1975 but now publishes novels from writers across Canada.
Genre: Literary fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.Acorn Press
Acorn Press is proud to publish books about Prince Edward Island, by Prince Edward Islanders.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction written by Prince Edward Islanders.
Word count: Not stated.Freehand Books
Freehand Books publishes innovative works by Canadian authors.
Genre: Literary novels and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Goose Lane
Goose Lane is based in New Brunswick and provides book lovers with a variety of great reads that inspire and spur conversations.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction from Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Annick Press
Annick Press is a proudly independent children's publisher in Toronto, Canada.
Genre: Middle grade and YA fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Pulp Literature
Pulp Literature's motto is 'good books for the price of a beer'. They publish magazines of short stories and novels.
Genre: Most genres of fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Canadian Scholars
Canadian Scholars publishes an extensive range of academic books under their Canadian Scholars and Women's Press imprint.
Genre: Nonfiction focusing on undergraduate and graduate level textbooks.
Word count: Not stated.Flanker Press
Flanker Press publishes general trade books with strong Newfoundland and Labrador content.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction with strong Newfoundland and Labrador content.
Word count: Not stated.Common Deer Press
Common Deer Press publishes uncommon and well-written books for children and teenagers.
Genre: Middle grade
Word count: Not stated.DCB
DCB is an imprint of Cormorant Books which publishes fiction and nonfiction for middle-grade and young adult readers.
Genre: Middle grade and YA fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.DCB Young Readers
DCB Young Readers is a Canadian imprint of Cormorant Books.
Genre: Middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction by Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
EDGE publishes thought-provoking and well-written science fiction and fantasy literature.
Genre: Adult science fiction and fantasy.
Word count: 75,000 to 100,000 words.Emond
Emond is an independent Canadian publisher focusing on the development of products for postsecondary students and professionals in law and justice.
Genre: Nonfiction in law and justice.
Word count: Not stated.ECW Press
ECW Press has published close to 1,000 books, including nonfiction, poetry and fiction.
Genre: Fiction, poetry and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Harlequin
Harlequin is a well-known romance publisher that publishes over 60 novels every month.
Genre: Romance, romance and more romance!
Word count: Not stated.Kids Can Press
Kids Can Press is a Canadian-owned children's book publisher established in 1973.
Genre: Middle grade fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Lorimer
Lorimer publishes books related to Canada as a whole or particular regions in Canada.
Genre: Nonfiction from Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Linda Leith Publishing
Linda Leith Publishing is based in Montreal and specializes in literary fiction and nonfiction.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction from Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Word count: Not stated.Orbis Tertius Press
Orbis Tertius Press was founded in 2020 and is an independent Canadian publisher committed to publishing works that explore multiple perspectives.
Genre: Literary fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Touchwood Editions
Touchwood Editions is a small team of creatives who opened doors back in 1984 who publishes Canadian authors, with a strong preference for authors from or writing about western Canada.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Mawenzi House
Mawenzi House is dedicated to bringing readers fresh writing from Canada and across the world that reflects diversity, particularly relating to Asia and Africa.
Genre: Fiction, poetry and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Red Deer Press
Red Deer Press publishes upscale children's books, YA and adult fiction.
Genre: Children's, middle grade and YA fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.The Porcupine's Quill
The Porcupine's Quill is an artisanal publisher that values the art and craft of the book.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction by Canadian authors.
Word count: Novel length works only.Starlit Publishing
Starlit Publishing is an indie publisher which focuses on publishing science fiction and fantasy.
Genre: Progression fantasy or xianxia genres from Asian writers.
Word count: Not stated.Borealis Press
Borealis Press publishes most genres but focuses on works by Canadian authors or Canadian oriented materia.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Theytus Books
Theytus Books publishes books by Canadian First Nations, Métis and Inuit authors.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Biblioasis
Biblioasis is a literary publisher based in Windsor, Ontario.
Genre: Literary fiction, including short story collections, and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Tundra Book Group
Tundra Book Group is Canada's oldest English children's book publisher. They are currently only accepting manuscripts from underrepresented communities.
Genre: Middle grade and YA fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Guernica Editions
Guernica Editions houses a variety of imprints focused on books written by Canadian and non-Canadian authors.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.University of Toronto Press
University of Toronto Press publishes books for academic and general audiences.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Best of luck with your manuscript submissions! If you want to ensure your manuscript is in the best position to be accepted, check out my developmental editing services, pre-querying package or my free writing advice. Otherwise, take a look at my genre-specific list of publishers for romance, fantasy and science fiction.