27 Illinois publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in December 2025
Congratulations on writing your book! The publishers from Illinois on this list are currently accepting manuscripts in December 2025 without a literary agent. I’ve done my best to weed out any vanity presses or publishers without any novels published from the past year.
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 send 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 with a quick turnaround time.
ACTA Publications
ACTA Publications opened their doors in 1957 as a publisher of books and resources for religious education and spiritual development. Now they publish a variety of books in sports, social justice, caregiving and more.
Genre: Children’s fiction, poetry, fiction and nonfiction, including sports, social justice, caregiving, grief, gift, cookbooks, humor, religious, biography, crafts and parenting.
Word count: Not stated.
Agate Publishing
Agate publishes books in the general areas of food, cooking, and nutrition-related nonfiction.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Albert Whitman & Company
Albert Whitman & Company was founded over a century ago with the goal of making good books that kids want to read.
Genre: Children’s picture books (fiction and nonfiction), middle grade fiction and young adult fiction.
Word count: Up to 70,000 words.
Ara Pacis Publishers
Ara Pacis is a print-on-demand traditional publisher.
Genre: Poetry, short story collections and literary novels.
Word count: Not stated.
Bigio Morato
Bigio Morato is an imprint of Ara Pacis, a print-on-demand traditional publisher.
Genre: Literary essays, anthologies and art/film criticism.
Word count: Not stated.
Bloom Books
Bloom Books is an imprint of Sourcebooks that focuses on supporting self-published authors who have an established fanbase. Bloom Books isn’t the typical kind of publisher you would find on these lists as they target self-published authors who want to get their books into physical bookstores while still retaining flexibility and creative ownership of their books.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: Not stated.
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers specializes in books dealing with the ancient and medieval world, with some contemporary titles.
Genre: Nonfiction relating to the ancient and medieval world.
Word count: Not stated.
Charles C Thomas Publisher
Charles C Thomas Publisher was founded in 1927 and specializes in the publication of books and textbooks on biomedical sciences.
Genre: Nonfiction relating to biomedical science, behavioral science, education, special education, speech-language, hearing, rehabilitation, long-term care, criminal justice and law enforcement.
Word count: Not stated.
Chicago Review Press
Chicago Review Press opened in 1973 and publishes titles of lasting interest and groundbreaking works that go beyond the trends.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
From Beyond Press
From Beyond Press is an independent publishing imprint founded by Michael W. Phillips Jr. They specialize in new horror, science fiction and poetry.
Genre: Short stories in new horror, science fiction and poetry for their anthologies.
Word count: 1,000 to 5,000 words.
G-W Publisher
G-W Publisher is an expert in career and technical education. They have been around since 1921 and publish textbooks and educational supplements for a variety of fields.
Genre: Educational textbooks and related resources for a variety of fields, including agriculture, arts, communications, automotive, business management, career education, construction, drafting, education, finance, health science, hospitality, human services, technical trades, IT, manufacturing, marketing, STEM, visual technology and welding.
Word count: Not stated.
Green Dragon Books
Green Dragon Books was founded in 1969 in Atlanta, Georgia and publishes a range of books that improve life from childhood through to adulthood.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Quills & Quartos Publishing
Quills & Quartos Publishing was founded in 2019 and publishes Austenesque and historical romance fiction.
Genre: Jane Austenque variations (i.e. romance novels based on Jane Austen’s stories).
Word count: 70,000 to 100,000 words for novels and 30,000 to 40,000 words for novellas.
Society for American Archaeology Press
The Society for American Archaeology Press is the official publishing unit of Society for American Archaeology.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of archaeological endeavors and helping archaeologists in their work.
Word count: Proposals should be less than 90,000 words while submissions should be less than 120,000 words.
Sourcebooks
Sourcebooks is the adult nonfiction imprint of their parent company of the same name, Sourcebooks.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Sourcebooks Casablanca is the romance imprint of Sourcebooks, an entrepreneurial independent publisher bound together by the idea that books change lives.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 85,000 to 100,000 words.
Sourcebooks Explore
Sourcebooks Explore is the children’s nonfiction imprint of Sourcebooks, an entrepreneurial independent publisher bound together by the idea that books change lives. They are currently only accepting submissions from experts in a field, such as scientists, artists, pilots, architects, etc.
Genre: Children’s nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Sourcebooks Fires
Sourcebooks Fire is the young adult imprint of Sourcebooks, an entrepreneurial independent publisher bound together by the idea that books change lives.
Genre: young adult fiction, especially books that have an authentic teen voice and validate the teen experience in all its diversity.
Word count: Not stated.
Sourcebooks Horror
Sourcebooks Horror is the horror imprint of Sourcebooks, an entrepreneurial independent publisher bound together by the idea that books change lives.
Genre: Horror.
Word count: 80,000 to 100,000 words.
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky is the children’s book imprint of Sourcebooks, an entrepreneurial independent publisher bound together by the idea that books change lives.
Genre: Picture and board books.
Word count: Not stated.
Sourcebooks Landmark
Sourcebooks Landmark is the adult fiction imprint of Sourcebooks, an entrepreneurial independent publisher bound together by the idea that books change lives.
Genre: Fiction, especially historical fiction, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense and book club fiction.
Word count: Not stated.
Sourcebooks Wonderland
Sourcebooks Wonderland is the proprietary, customized and regional children’s book imprint of Sourcebooks, an entrepreneurial independent publisher bound together by the idea that books change lives.
Genre: Children’s books.
Word count: Not stated.
Sourcebooks Young Readers
Sourcebooks Young Readers is the middle grade imprint of Sourcebooks, an entrepreneurial independent publisher bound together by the idea that books change lives.
Genre: Fiction for ages 8 to 12.
Word count: Not stated.
Southern Illinois University Press
Southern Illinois University Press was founded in the mid-1950s and has since published a mix of younger and established scholars. They primarily publish books on the humanities and social sciences.
Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of art and architecture, classical studies, history (world and American), literary criticism, philosophy, religion, rhetoric and composition, speech communication, and theatre.
Word count: Not stated.
The University of Chicago Press
The University of Chicago Press was founded in 1890 and has embraced their mission to disseminate scholarship of the highest standard. They publish books of timely issues and debates by authors who are experts in their fields. They also publish experimental books of new areas of knowledge and intellectual endeavor.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of literature, criticism, sociology, education, jazz, STEM, digital studies, environmental studies, philosophy of science, political science, law, international relations, geography, regional reference, general reference, art, ancient studies, economics, public policy, religious studies, philosophy, music, medieval studies, humanities and social sciences.
Word count: Not stated.
Timeless Wind
Timeless Wind is an independent publisher of fantasy and science fiction established in 2020.
Genre: Progression fantasy, power fantasy and Gamelit/LitRPG books
Word count: 100,000 words and above.
University of Illinois Press
The University of Illinois Press supports the mission of the University of Illinois through the worldwide dissemination of significant scholarship.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of Chicago politics, architecture, natural history, general interest, American ethnic studies, Black studies, gender and sexuality studies, history, radical studies, disability studies, Illinois and midwestern history, Lincoln studies, Appalachian studies, religion, Mormon studies, digital humanities, communication, journalism, film studies, sports studies and music.
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.