70 romance publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in September 2024
You’ve finished your romance novel and now it’s time to pitch it to a publisher! All of the publishers listed here are currently accepting manuscripts without a literary agent. I’ve done my best to weed out any dodgy and vanity publishers from this list.
Don’t forget to check out my developmental editing services 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.
1. Indulgence
Indulgence is the contemporary romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: Romance with alpha heroes and strong conflict.
Word count: 45,000 to 60,000 words.
2. Harlequin Medical Romance
Harlequin Medical Romance publishes uplifting romances set in the medical world.
Genre: Medical romance.
Word count: 50,000 words.
3. Lovestruck
Lovestruck is the romantic comedy imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: Romantic comedy.
Word count: 45,000 to 60,000 words.
4. Scandalous
Scandalous is the historical romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: historical romance.
Word count: 15,000 to 65,000 words.
5. Harlequin Romance (M&B True Love)
Harlequin Romance publishes novels that focus on the romantic journey of the couple.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 50,000 words.
6. Bella Books
Bella Books believe stories about women-loving-women are essential to our lives.
Genre: Novels that reflect and celebrate the diversity of the lesbian, sapphic, queer, bisexual, and gender non-conforming community.
Word count: At least 60,000 words.
7. Harlequin Presents (M&B Modern)
Harlequin Presents publishes novels with classic themes but with innovative takes.
Genre: Romance with alpha heroes and international settings.
Word count: 50,000 words.
8. Harpeth Road
Harpeth Road is a creative digital publisher who publishes women's fiction, romance and south fiction.
Genre: Fiction's fiction, contemporary romance, historical romance and southern fiction.
Word count: 65,000 to 90,000 words.
9. Decadent Publishing
Decadent Publishing is a romance fiction publisher. They are always looking for submissions for their main line as well as ongoing series and special calls.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 15,000 words and over.
10. Storm Publishing
Storm Publishing believes in the power of storytelling to transport readers to other worlds.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: Not stated.
11. Changeling Press
Changeling Press is a digital publisher of contemporary, scifi and paranormal romance.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 20,000 to 40,000 words.
12. Romance.ink
Romance.ink has been in business since 1991 and is the oldest web-based romance publisher.
Genre: Romance. They have an extensive list of things they are looking for and not looking for on their website.
Word count: Not stated.
13. August
August is the single-title Gen-X romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: Gen-X romance.
Word count: 70,000 to 100,000 words.
14. Siren-BookStrand
Siren-BookStrand is an ebook publisher with over 8,000 romance novels under their belt and over 700 authors writing for them.
Genre: Romance with menage, M/M and M/F (only if it includes BDSM) pairings.
Word count: 20,000 words and over.
15. The Wild Rose Press
The Wild Rose Press is primarily a virtual publisher founded in 2006.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 15,000 to 100,000 words.
16. August
August is the single-title Gen-X romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: Gen-X romance.
Word count: 70,000 to 100,000 words.
17. Blind Eye Books
Blind Eye Books publishes science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and romance novels featuring LGBTQ protagonists.
Genre: Romance featuring LGBTQ protagonists.
Word count: Not stated.
18. The Story Plant
The Story Plant was founded in 2008 and is dedicated to publishing quality fiction and developing authors.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: Not stated.
19. Dragonblade Publishing
Dragonblade Publishing specialises in historical romance.
Genre: Historical romance.
Word count: 40,000 to 120,000 words.
20. Inkspell Publishing
Inkspell Publishing is an ebook romance publisher.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: At least 80,000 words.
21. Harlequin Intrigue
Harlequin Intrigue focuses on high-stake contemporary crime stories with a strong romance storyline.
Genre: Contemporary crime with romance.
Word count: 55,000 to 60,000 words.
22. Deep Hearts YA
Deep Hearts YA is a publisher of LGBTQ+ young adult fiction.
Genre: Romance with lead characters who are 20 years or younger.
Word count: 50,000 to 80,000 words.
23. Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Harlequin Romantic Suspense (as the name implies) is an imprint of Harlequin which publishes on romantic suspense.
Genre: Romantic suspense.
Word count: 70,000 words.
24. Boroughs Publishing Group
Boroughs Publishing Group is an e-publisher who love romance, a great story and compelling characters.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 40,000 to 100,000 words.
25. Brother Mockingbird
Brother Mockingbird is a small, independent publisher committed to the discovery of talented writers.
Genre: Romance. They will not consider erotica.
Word count: Not stated.
26. Amble Press
Amble Press publishes fiction from writers who identify as people of colour or those writing across the broader queer spectrum.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: At least 60,000 words.
27. Extasy Books
Extasy Books is one of the oldest royalty paying digital publishers who offer a diverse catalogue and are interested in working with authors from all works of life.
Genre: All genres of romance.
Word count: 15,000 words and over.
28. Tell-tale Publishing
Tell-tale Publishing's Dahlia Imprint focuses in romance with fast-paced story lines packed with action and excitement.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 50,000 words and over.
29. CamCat Publishing
CamCat Publishing opened in 2019 that takes pride in facilitating and engaging communication between their readers and writers.
Genre: Romance. They will not publish erotica or fiction with strong religious or political slants.
Word count: 60,000 to 100,000 words.
30. Kensington Publishing
Kensington Publishing is an independent, family-owned publisher based in New York.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: Not stated.
31. Joffe Books
Joffe Books is one of the UK’s leading independent publishers of commercial fiction, especially crime and mystery.
Genre: While their favourite genres are crime and mystery they also love romance.
Word count: Not stated.
32. Interlude Press
Interlude Press is a boutique publishers of award-winning LGBTQ+ fiction.
Genre: Well-crafted original novels featuring diverse casts with lead characters from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
Word count: 60,000 to 90,000 words.
33. Hera
Hera was launched in 2018 and their mission is "unashamedly commercial, always inclusive".
Genre: Romance.
Word count: Not stated.
34. Bold Strokes Books
As an LGBTQ+ publisher, Bold Strokes Books strives to ensure their authors represents the cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints of our world.
Genre: A variety of genres including romance, contemporary, historical, erotic and speculative.
Word count: 45,000 to 120,000 words.
35. Forever Yours
Forever Yours is a division of Hachette Book Group and an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 25,000 to 100,000 words.
36. Evernight Publishing
Evernight is a popular indie publisher who prefers to publish popular tropes.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 16,000 to 100,000 words.
37. Dreamspinner Publications
Dreamspinner Press focuses on gay male romance stories.
Genre: Romance. The main characters must end in a gay or all-male polyamorous relationship.
Word count: 18,000 words and over.
38. Deep Desire Press
Deep Desires Press is a publisher of erotica and high-heat-level erotic romance whose goal is to excite the reader.
Genre: All genres of erotica and erotic romance.
Word count: 10,000 words and over.
39. Brazen
Brazen is the erotic romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: High heat romance.
Word count: 45,000 to 60,000 words.
40. City Owl Press
City Owl Press is a cutting edge indie publishing company, bringing the world of romance and speculative fiction to discerning readers.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 20,000 words and over.
41. Bookouture
Bookouture is a digital publisher of bestselling commercial fiction. They are a division of Hachette UK.
Genre: Full-length commercial fiction , especially contemporary romance and romantic comedy.
Word count: Not stated.
42. Literary Wanderlust
Literary Wanderlust strives to help new and experienced authors achieve their dreams of publishing.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 60,000 to 100,000 words.
43. Carina Press
Carina Press is Harlequin’s digital-first adult fiction imprint.
Genre: Contemporary, erotic, paranormal, scifi/fantasy, suspense, historical and mystery romance.
Word count: 50,000 to 125,000 words.
44. Love Inspired Suspense
Love Inspired Suspense is the Christian romantic suspense imprint of Harlequin.
Genre: Romantic suspense with Christian characters.
Word count: 55,000 words.
45. Camel Press
Camel Press is the genre imprint of Epicentre Press. They publish popular and genre fiction.
Genre: Romance, especially contemporary, historical and suspense.
Word count: 50,000 to 100,000 words.
46. Pelican Book Group
Pelican Book Group is a Christian publisher of Christian fiction.
Genre: Christian romance. Keep in mind this is a Christian press so it's probably not the best place for your spicy demon M/F/M harem!
Word count: 15,000 words and over.
47. Pegasus Publishers
Pegasus Publishers have been publishing high quality books for over 25 years. Please note they offer traditional and hybrid contracts.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: Not stated.
48. Pantera Press
Pantera Press is an Australian publisher who is all about great storytelling.
Genre: Romance. Please note they only accept submissions from Australian and New Zealand authors.
Word count: They recommend 70,000 to 90,000 words.
49. Canelo
Canelo was founded in 2015. They find the best commercial storytelling and brings it to the widest possible audience.
Genre: Romance, romantic comedy and romance set in exciting locations.
Word count: Not stated.
50. Mills & Boon
Mills & Boon is the number one publisher of romantic fiction in the UK. Every 10 seconds a new Mills & Boon book is sold within the UK.
Genre: Romance! Mills & Boon has modern, true love, medical, historical, intrigue and romantic suspense.
Word count: Varies by genre but most hover around 50,000 words.
51. Sourcebooks
Sourcebooks is passionate about reaching as many people as they can through books that will enlighten lives.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 85,000 to 100,000 words.
52. Embraced
Embraced is the New Adult romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: NA romance including contemporary, suspense, near future sci-fi, historical, fantasy and paranormal.
Word count: 40,000 to 100,000 words.
53. Totally Bound Publishing
Totally Bound Publishing is part of the Totally Entwined Group.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 10,000 to 100,000 words.
54. Ninestar Press
Ninestar Press is a boutique publisher of quality LGBTQA+ romance, erotica and literary fiction.
Genre: LGBTQA+ romance.
Word count: 20,000 to 120,000 words.
55. Bywater Books
Bywater Books primarily publishes lesbian and feminist fiction.
Genre: Lesbian and feminist romance.
Word count: At least 60,000 words.
56. Love Inspired
Love Inspired is the Christian imprint of Harlequin.
Genre: Contemporary romance with Christian characters.
Word count: 55,000 words.
57. Pan Macmillan Australia
Pan Macmillan Australia is passionate about bringing Australian stories to their readers.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: Not stated.
58. Vinspire Publishing
Vinspire Publishing began as a historical romance publisher but later opened their dares to various family-friendly books.
Genre: Romance with protagonists over the age of 45. Stories must be "family friendly".
Word count: 35,000 to 95,000 words.
59. The Story Plant
Founded in 2006, The Story Plant is dedicated to publishing quality fiction and developing authors.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: Not stated.
60. Afterglow Books
Afterglow Books is imprint of Harlequin aimed at romance readers under the age of 35.
Genre: Spicy romance aimed at under-35s.
Word count: 70,000 words.
61. Spencer Hill Press
Spencer Hill Press was founded in 2010 and specializes in YA and New Adult contemporary romance.
Genre: YA and New Adult contemporary romance..
Word count: Not stated.
62. Pride Publishing
Pride Publishing is interested in acquiring stories where the lead characters identify as LGBTQI. They are part of the Totally Entwined Group.
Genre: LGBTQI Romance.
Word count: 10,000 to 100,000 words.
63. Amara
Amara is the single title adult romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: Single title romance including contemporary, hisotircal, suspense, thriller, scifi, fantasy and paranormal.
Word count: 70,000 to 120,000 words.
64. Bliss
Bliss is the sweet romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: Contemporary romance with a small town setting.
Word count: 15,000 to 65,000 words.
65. Finch Books
Finch Books is part of the Totally Entwined Group and is actively looking for exciting YA and New Adult romance.
Genre: YA and New Adult romance.
Word count: 10,000 to 100,000 words.
66. Entangled Teen
Embraced is the YA romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: YA romance including contemporary, suspense, near future sci-fi, historical, fantasy and paranormal.
Word count: 70,000 to 120,000 words.
67. Scorched
Scorched is the erotic romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: Erotic romance.
Word count: 15,000 to 65,000 words.
68. Harlequin Heartwarming
Harlequin Heartwarming publishes feel-good contemporary romances set in close-knit, small towns.
Genre: Wholesome contemporary romance set in close-knit communities.
Word count: 70,000 words.
69. Small Town Girl Publishing
Small Town Girl is a new imprint of Brother Mockingbird which focuses on romance set in the 80s.
Genre: Romance set in the 80s.
Word count: Not stated.
70. August
August is the single-title Gen-X romance imprint of Entangled Publishing.
Genre: Gen-X romance.
Word count: 70,000 to 100,000 words.
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 or my free writing advice. Otherwise, check out my fantasy publishers list or my Australian romance publishers list.