35 women’s fiction publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in November 2024
Now you’ve written your women’s fiction novel, it’s time to find it a home! All of the publishers listed here are currently accepting manuscripts without a literary agent, and I’ve done my best to weed out any dodgy or vanity publishers.
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.
Allen & Unwin
Allen & Unwin are an Australian-owned and operated publisher. They were named 2023 Publisher of the Year and have won the title twelve times since 2000! They accept submissions every Friday during their The Friday Pitch sessions.
Genre: Fiction. They are not interested in category romance, fantasy, science fiction, or short stories.
Word count: Full length works.HQ
HQ, a boutique division under HarperCollins, publishes a broad range of fiction.
Genre: Adult fiction.
Word count: At least 70,000 words.Bloodhound Books
Bloodhound Books is a leading publisher of commercial fiction. They take pride in working closely with their authors to create international bestselling books.
Genre: Crime & thriller, literary, romance and historical fiction.
Word count: Over 60,000 words.Torrey House Press
Torrey House Press publishes books focusing on environmental advocacy.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Akan Books
Akan Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers led by June Sarpong, accepting submissions from underrepresented groups in the UK.
Genre: Literary and genre fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Hera
Hera was launched in 2018 with the mission to be "unashamedly commercial, always inclusive".
Genre: Crime and thriller, romance, saga, and general fiction.
Word count: Over 80,000 words.Text Publishing
Text Publishing is an independent Melbourne-based publisher of fiction and nonfiction. They accept submissions from citizens or residents of Australia and New Zealand.
Genre: General fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: 40,000-120,000 words.Brother Mockingbird
Brother Mockingbird is a small, independent publisher committed to the discovery of talented writers.
Genre: Fiction. They will not consider erotica.
Word count: Not stated.Sunbury Press
Sunbury Press is a rapidly growing publisher with six imprints.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
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.Kensington Publishing Corp.
Kensington Publishing Corp. is an independent publisher based in New York City, releasing over 300 titles per year in a range of popular genres.
Genre: Each editor has their preferences across various genres of fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Sparkling Books
Sparkling Books is an independent publishing house and a member of the Independent Publishers Guild. Please note they require manuscripts to be independently edited prior to submission. They don't specify how they check this, but it's worth noting!
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Amble Press
Amble Press publishes fiction from writers who identify as people of color or those writing across the broader queer spectrum.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: 45,000 to 100,000 words.Pelican Book Group
Pelican Book Group is a Christian publisher of Christian fiction.
Genre: Christian romance.
Word count: 15,000 words and over.The Book Folks
The Book Folks strive to give readers compelling fiction at affordable prices while giving fair returns to their authors.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Black Rose Writing
Black Rose Writing is a Texas-based publisher who strongly believes in developing a personal relationship with their authors.
Genre: Literary fiction, nonfiction and genre fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Bancroft Press
Bancroft Press is a publisher without a niche! They publish titles they're passionate about.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Pan Macmillan Australia
Pan Macmillan Australia is committed to investing in Australian authors and publishes a variety of bestselling books.
Genre: Fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Storm Publishing
Storm Publishing believes in the power of storytelling to transport readers to other worlds.
Genre: Fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Severn House
Severn Press prides themselves in being the home of the very best genre fiction. Please note Severen House does not publish debut authors.
Genre: Fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Aunt Lute Books
Aunt Lute Books is an intersectional feminist press dedicated to publishing works by those who have been underrepresented by the literary canon.
Genre: Fiction and creative nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Bookouture
Bookouture is a division of Hachette UK that publishes digital commercial fiction.
Genre: Commercial fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Roundfire Books (Collective Ink)
Roundfire Books is the general fiction imprint of Collective Ink.
Genre: General fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Pegasus Publishers
Pegasus Publishers have been publishing high-quality Christian books for over 25 years, offering traditional and hybrid contracts.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Literary Wanderlust
Literary Wanderlust strives to help new and experienced authors achieve their dreams of publishing.
Genre: Genre fiction.
Word count: 60,000 to 100,000 words.Joffe Books
Joffe Books is one of the UK’s leading independent publishers of commercial fiction, especially crime and mystery.
Genre: Primarily crime and mystery but also accepts women's fiction, fantasy, historical, and romance.
Word count: Over 60,000 words.Harpeth Road
Harpeth Road is a creative digital publisher who publishes women's fiction, romance, and southern fiction.
Genre: Women's fiction, contemporary romance, historical romance, and southern fiction.
Word count: 65,000 to 90,000 words.Beacon Publishing Group
Beacon Publishing Group is based in New York.
Genre: All genres of fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.HarperNorth
HarperNorth is a Manchester-based publisher connecting northern writers to readers.
Genre: Adult fiction and nonfiction. They are not accepting fantasy currently.
Word count: Over 80,000 words.Penguin Random House New Zealand
Penguin Random House New Zealand celebrates writers, stories and ideas that entertain and inspire.
Genre: Adult fiction and nonfiction. Children's submissions are closed until 2025.
Word count: Around 80,000 words (guideline).Penguin Random House Australia
Penguin Random House Australia comprises an adult and children’s publishing division. They accept manuscripts from Australian and New Zealand residents or citizens.
Genre: Fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Red Adept Publishing
Red Adept Publishing is a small fiction publisher with multiple USA Today Bestsellers. Please note they only accept submissions from US authors.
Genre: Fiction.
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.Bella Books
Bella Books believes 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.Ringwood Publishing
Ringwood Publishing is an independent Scottish publisher based in Glasgow.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction from Scottish authors or residents.
Word count: 50,000 words and above.
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.
Best of luck with your manuscript submissions!