Why you should consider submitting to indie presses (with our recommendations)

Last updated Sep 5, 2024 | Blog

When it comes to getting a finished manuscript out into the world, there are more avenues available than ever before. Self-publishing is no longer the domain of the downtrodden and the desperate, while traditional publishers are constantly on the hunt for fresh new voices. But there’s a third road that often gets overlooked: seeking publication through small independent presses.

We’ll introduce you to the benefits of working with an indie publisher, as well as some established indie presses who are looking for new work.

What is an independent publisher?

An independent publisher, also known as a small press or indie press, is a publishing house that operates independently of the “Big Five” traditional publishers: Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster. Within each of these big five publishers are numerous imprints under a variety of names. The majority of books on your bookshelf probably come from one of these imprints under the “Big Five” umbrella.

An indie press exists outside these megalithic corporations. They can operate on a variety of scales with teams ranging from one person to several dozen. Some might do all of their production work in house, while others might outsource freelancers to do some jobs like typesetting, proofreading, or cover design.

Overall, indie presses tend to have tighter budgets than major traditional publishers but a more intimate, authentic approach. Next, we’ll look at some of the things that differentiate independent publishers from the big five.

Benefits of submitting to an indie press

So why should you think about sending out your novel to one of these independent publishers? Here are the key reasons why they might be the perfect road for you.

You don’t need a literary agent

The biggest draw of independent publishers is that many of them accept unsolicited submissions directly from authors. While the big five require a literary agent to liaise with you and vouch for the quality of your work, smaller publishers are often willing to communicate with aspiring writers one-on-one.

This means two things for you: firstly, that you can bypass the long, draining, and often unrewarding process of trying to sign with a literary agent. This process can add years to your writing journey without a guarantee of ever reaching publication. Secondly, it means that when you do get that book deal, you don’t have to fork over fifteen hard-won percent of your earnings.

They value their authors

Like any major corporation, big five publishers can (although of course authors’ experiences here will vary) become a bit impersonal as they mill out product (the product would be you, by the way) with their eye on the prize: profit. With so many processes and revenue streams happening in so many directions all the time, the humanity of the author-publisher relationship can get a bit lost.

Because independent presses are smaller and have smaller outputs, they’ll often develop deeper relationships with the authors they work with. The publishing process feels more like a conversation between people who love books, rather than a clinical business deal.

They offer more creative control

An element of this more flexible relationship is that authors will often be part of major decision-making processes along the way. When a new author is published by a big five publishing house, they’ll very rarely have any say in things like cover design, fonts, promotion, or even the book’s final title.

An independent publisher, by contrast, will invite an author’s opinion on these elements to make sure you’re happy with the final book. This doesn’t mean that you as the author will get the final say in every choice that’s being made (you’ll need to look at self-publishing for that), but it does mean that your input will be heard as you and the publisher work together as a team.

They’re less risk-averse than traditional houses

All types of traditional publishers, large and small, can only accept a fragment of the submissions they receive. However, small presses are more likely to accept experimental or controversial work that larger houses might overlook.

Small press publishers know that there’s an enormous body of authors and authorship that doesn’t fit the conventional mould, but which has a lot to offer the literary world. Because they’re not investing as much and they have more control over every step of the process, they’re willing to take more chances on new and innovative ideas.

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10 indie publishing houses that accept historical fiction

As of January 2024, these independent presses are all open to international submissions from new, unagented historical fiction authors.

1. Jacaranda Books

Jacaranda Books is looking for historical fiction that relates to “underrepresented groups, strong female characters, women’s stories, or the urban literary landscape”. They request a cover letter, full synopsis, and the first 20-30 pages of a complete manuscript.

2. Kensington Books

Kensington Books publishes a range of genres including a wide spectrum of historical fiction. They request a query letter, then will follow up if they’re interested in reading more.

3. Joffe Books

Joffe Books is primarily interested in mysteries and thrillers (including historical mysteries), but they’ll also publish historical romance and historical women’s fiction. They request a full manuscript accompanied by a synopsis.

4. Sunbury Books

Sunbury Books publishes a wide range of fiction and nonfiction. They request a synopsis and the first three chapters.

5. Coffeetown Press

Coffeetown Press publishes literary and historical fiction. They request a cover letter, synopsis, author bio, and the first 50 pages of your work.

6. Sharpe Books

Sharpe Books focuses on crime thrillers, biographies, and historical fiction. They request a synopsis and a full manuscript.

7. Black Rose Writing

Black Rose Writing publishes a wide range of material. They request a query template including a synopsis, author bio, and promotional plan. Note that they prefer working with authors with a pre-existing platform.

8. Aubade Publishing

Aubade Publishing loves genre fiction including historical, gothic, and fantasy. They request a query letter and will follow up if they’re interested in reading more.

9. Slant Books

Slant Books publishes a range of genres, and they request a short cover letter accompanied by a full manuscript.

10. Renard Books

Renard Press welcomes historical fiction with a literary or upmarket bent. They request a query letter and the first 10 pages.

Fija Callaghan is an author, poet, and a content editor with The History Quill. She is also The History Quill’s community manager. Her work has been shortlisted and longlisted for a number of short story prizes, and you can find her writing in publications like Gingerbread House, Crow & Cross Keys, Corvid Queen, and Mythic Magazine. When not writing or helping other writers get the best out of their work, she can be found haunting her local bookshops or watching the tide come in.

Do you write historical fiction?

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