75 biography and autobiography publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in September 2025
You’ve written your biography or autobiography book and now it’s time to pitch it to a publisher! All of the publishers listed here are currently accepting nonfiction manuscripts without a literary agent.
If you’re looking for memoirs, I suggest you check out my separate memoir publishers list here.
Don’t forget to check out my developmental editing services or pre-querying package if you want to make sure your book 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.
Epicenter Press
Epicenter Press publishes books related to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction relating to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, including biography, memoir, history, humor, life in the North, Native American culture and true crime.
Word count: 50,000 to 100,000 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).Bancroft Press
Bancroft Press is a publisher without a niche! They publish titles they're passionate about.
Genre: Literary fiction and genre fiction, including contemporary, financial thriller, historical, Jewish, LGBTQ+, legal thriller, medical, mystery, political, romance, rural, satire, science fiction, suspense and general thriller. For nonfiction, they accept biography, crime, essays, finance, history, humor, investing, memoir, movie reviews, parenting, politics, psychology, religion, self-help, spiritual and sports.
Word count: Not stated.Aurora Metro
Aurora Metro is an independent publisher in London.
Genre: Adult and young adult fiction, including general, multicultural, historical and drama. For non-fiction, they accept biography, wellbeing, travel, history and books about the arts and popular culture.
Word count: Not stated.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. They also accept trade nonfiction in the genres of biography, history (especially Canadian and social history), public policy, politics, business, economics, true crime, self help, wellbeing, supernatural, Canadiana and local interest, travel, sport, music, culture, city building, architecture, social science and popular science.
Word count: Not stated.Filter Press
Filter Press publishes books on Colorado history.
Genre: Fiction (especially mystery) and nonfiction, including biography, history and travel that focus on Colorado.
Word count: Not stated.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: Children's books and nonfiction, including biography, cookbooks, field guides, gardening, gift, hiking, history, hobbies & crafts, maternal health, medicine, nature, photography, saltwater, trivia and vaccines.
Word count: Not stated.Saint Andrew Press
Saint Andrew Press is the publishing house of the Church of Scotland. They have a varied catalogue of over 200 titles.
Genre: Poetry and Christian nonfiction, such as bible discovery, history, biography, missions, worship and prayer.
Word count: Not stated.Schaffner Press
Schaffner Press was founded in 2001 and has since published over 50 books.
Genre: Literary fiction, short fiction, historical fiction with socially relevant content and crime fiction. For nonfiction, they accept memoir, biography, autobiography, journalistic expose, true crime, art, culture, pop culture, world history, current events, science, arts, US history, military history and music.
Word count: 60,000 to 100,000 words.Optimum Publishing
Optimum Publishing opened their doors in 1970.
Genre: Nonfiction, including Canadian affairs, true crime, business and biography.
Word count: Not stated.Blue River Press
Blue River Press opened their doors in 2004 and has since published over 200 books.
Genre: Fiction (especially mystery), children's books, and nonfiction, including biography, cookbooks, education, health & fitness, history, humor, nature, social sciences, sport, travel and true crime.
Word count: Not stated.Bywater Books
Bywater Books primarily publishes lesbian and feminist fiction.
Genre: Lesbian and feminist fiction and nonfiction. This includes general fiction, historical, action, adventure, speculative, young adult, new adult and romance. For nonfiction, they're looking for narrative nonfiction, memoirs and biography.
Word count: At least 60,000 words.Heritage House
Heritage House publishes 20 to 30 books each year from Canadian authors who write about topics relevant to Western Canada.
Genre: Nonfiction and children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Michael O'Mara Books
Michael O'Mara opened its doors in 1985 by Mr. and Mrs. O'Mara. They now have a backlist of over a thousand titles.
Genre: Nonfiction.
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. They publish predominately Canadian authors, especially those from Treaty One and the Métis Homeland in Manitoba, but they do consider authors from outside Canada.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry and nonfiction that aligns with their mission to amplify writing from the left. For nonfiction, they publish art, criticism, politics, biography, autobiography, feminism, business, economics, education, family & relationships, history, language, law, medical, music, performing arts, philosophy, photography, political science, science, social science, technology, travel and sports.
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: Literary and genre fiction (romance, mystery, suspense, thriller, upmarket, historical, speculative, mystery and romantasy) and nonfiction (biography, memoir, history, true crime, pop culture, film, TV, music, military history, narrative law enforcement and pop science). Each editor has their preferences across various genres of fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Monash University Publishing
Monash University Publishing has been in operation for over 10 years and has built a reputation as a trusted source of information.
Genre: Books with a focus on sustainability, the environment, science, Indigenous affairs, politics, sociology, popular culture, economics, literature, history, and biography.
Word count: Not stated.Affirm Press
Affirm Press is an independent Melbourne-based publisher dedicated to publishing Australian stories and ideas. Please note they only accept submissions from Australian authors or authors based in Australia.
Genre: Literary and genre fiction as well as nonfiction that is engaging and entertaining.
Word count: Novel-length work.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.Auckland University Press
Auckland University Press is New Zealand's leading scholarly publisher.
Genre: Nonfiction, including architecture, art, Asia and the Pacific, biography, memoir, business & economics, health, history, language, literature, media, music, natural history, poetry, politics, law, science, social science, contemporary society, sport, war, conflict and Māori studies.
Word count: Not stated.WildBlue Press
Wildblue Press was founded by two college friends who recognized that the publishing world was changing. They strive to create a unique and engaging process for authors.
Genre: Fiction in the genres of fantasy, mystery, romance, science fiction and thriller. For nonfiction, they accept biography, memoir, history and true crime.
Word count: Not stated.Black Inc.
Black Inc. loves ideas and stories. They are passionate about publishing works about history, politics, biography, criticism, and current affairs. They only accept proposals from Australian writers.
Genre: General, literary, and commercial nonfiction, especially history, current affairs, memoir and biography.
Word count: Not stated.Amble Press
Amble Press publishes fiction from writers who identify as a person of color or those writing across the broader queer spectrum.
Genre: Genre fiction, including general, crime, mystery, thriller, historical, action/adventure, speculative, young adult, new adult and romance. For nonfiction, they accept narrative, memoir and biography.
Word count: 45,000 to 100,000 words.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: Genre and literary fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Borealis Press
Borealis Press publishes most genres but focuses on works by Canadian authors or Canadian oriented material.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction, especially history, criticism, biography, the Canadian parliamentary system and medicine.
Word count: Not stated.Saqi
Saqi Books is a leading independent publishing house of trade and academic books on the Middle East and North Africa.
Genre: Bold nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Birlinn
Birlinn is an independent publishing house based in Edinburgh, Scotland. They have an imprint of the same name which publishes Scottish and general UK interest books. They accept direct submissions but encourage seeking a literary agent.
Genre: Nonfiction, including biography, history, military, politics and Scottish Gaelic that relates to Scotland and the UK.
Word count: Not stated.Sartoris Literary Group
Sartoris Literary Group publishes books that the majors consider too regional, too controversial, or too “small” for publication
Genre: Genre and literary fiction, including mystery, thriller, romance and coming of age. For nonfiction, they accept biography, memoir, self help, music history, American history, Canadian history, photography and business.
Word count: Not stated.Ambassador International
Ambassador International is a publisher with a Christian worldview.
Genre: Children's books and nonfiction, including Christian, cookbooks, fashion, business, finance, history, regional, biography, grief and memoir.
Word count: Not stated.Haus Publishing
Haus Publishing was founded in 2003 and is an independent publisher of politics, history, biography, memoir and travel writing.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Harbour Publishing
Harbour Publishing publishes books on topics concerning the Pacific Northwest of Canada.
Genre: Children's books, young adult, middle grade, literary fiction and upmarket fiction. For nonfiction, they consider cookbooks, food & drink, aviation, art, photography, architecture, memoir, biography, history, geology, literary criticism, maritime, politics, social issues ad the great outdoors.
Word count: Not stated.Massey University Press
Massey University Press welcomes proposals from writers outside of Massey University, New Zealand.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Great Plains Press
Great Plains Press publishes works from emerging and established writers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
Genre: Nonfiction, especially history and biography. They also consider creative nonfiction that voices the issues of Canada to the wider world.
Word count: Not stated.University of Regina Press
University of Regina Press publishes a variety of scholarly and trade books on a wide range of subjects.
Genre: Scholarly and trade books.
Word count: Not stated.Joshua Tree Publishing
Joshua Tree Publishing is an innovative publisher dedicated to helping authors making their dreams of publishing their novel come true.
Genre: Genre fiction and nonfiction, including biography, memoir, self help, improvement and the mind, body & spirit.
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: Children's books, middle grade and young adult fiction. For adult fiction, they accept literary, upmarket, western and mystery. For nonfiction, they accept biography, history, art, architecture, theatre, social science, nature, environment, inspirational, health and management.
Word count: Not stated.Spinner Publications
Spinner Publications publishes the history and culture of southeastern New England.
Genre: Fiction, children's books, poetry and nonfiction in the subgenres of historical narratives, memoirs, photography, art, oral history, biography, poetry, cookbooks that focus on southeastern New England.
Word count: Not stated.Melbourne University Press
Melbourne University Press was established in 1922 and is Australia's first university press.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.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: Genre fiction, including crime, thriller, erotica, fantasy, paranormal, historical, romance, LGBTQIA+, young adult, and middle grade. For nonfiction, they accept biography, memoir, essays, film, history, humour, philosophy, politics, religion, science, environment, relationships, society, culture, sport, travel and war.
Word count: 10,000-120,000 words.Black Rose Writing
Black Rose Writing is a Texas-based publisher who strongly believes in developing a personal relationship with their authors. Please note that Writer Beware wrote an article about Black Rose Writing. Please do your research before submitting.
Genre: Fiction, including action, fantasy, historical, horror, humor, inspirational, LGBT, literary, mystery, suspense, paranormal, romance, science fiction, thriller, women's fiction. They accept children's books, middle grade and young adult books as well. For nonfiction, they accept biography, memoir, business, history, humor, inspirational, spiritual, military, self-help, sports and true crime.
Word count: Not stated.8th House Publishing
8th House Publishing loves books that are modern, enduring, insightful and inventive.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction, especially contemporary history, music, economics and social justice.
Word count: Not stated.Ayebia
Ayebia is an African and Caribbean publishing specialist.
Genre: Poetry, literary fiction and nonfiction, including biography, Black interest, critical essays/criticism, culture, economics, gender, heritage, history, international, language, literature, memoirs, politics, race and women.
Word count: Not stated.ECW Press
ECW Press has published close to 1,000 books, including nonfiction, poetry and fiction. Please note that they accept poetry and fiction from Canadians only but accept nonfiction submissions from around the world.
Genre: Fiction, including literary, mystery, crime, science fiction, young adult, middle grade and humour. They also accept poetry and nonfiction, including sports, pop culture, memoir, biography, science, nature, true crime, travel, business, personal finance, poker, literary criticism and reference.
Word count: Not stated.Flanker Press
Flanker Press publishes general trade books with strong Newfoundland and Labrador content.
Genre: Literary fiction, children's books, middle grade, young adult, upmarket fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction and nonfiction with strong Newfoundland and Labrador content. For nonfiction, they accept biography, autobiography, cooking, crafts & hobbies, gardening, general, history, humour, nature, politics, reference, religion & spirituality, sea stories, thriller, true crime and wartime history.
Word count: Not stated.Otago University Press
Otago University Press publishes a variety of books of scholarly and cultural significance that enrich New Zealand society.
Genre: Poetry and nonfiction, including history, Māori and Pacific topics, natural history, contemporary issues, biography, essays, creative non-fiction, literature and the arts.
Word count: Not stated.Asabi Publishing
Asabi Publishing is an innovative publishing company who takes pride in establishing honest and sincere relationships with their authors.
Genre: Fiction, including crime, horror, mystery, thriller, classic noir crime, lesbian, erotica and culture-based historical fiction. For nonfiction, they accept biography, autobiography, narrative, memoir, survival guides, travel and relocation guides. They also accept children's books, middle grade and young adult fiction/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. They primarily publish Canadian authors living in Canada but will consider submissions from Canadians living abroad if the book has extraordinary interest to Canadian readers.
Genre: Literary, queer and historical fiction. For nonfiction, they consider biography, memoir, business, politics, social sciences, mind & spirit, nature, philosophy, travel, true crime, Indigenous, military heritage and trail guides.
Word count: Not stated.Cormorant Books
Cormorant Books is an independent literary publisher based in Canada that publishes books that reflect the diversity of the country. They only accept submissions from Canadian authors.
Genre: Literary fiction, upmarket fiction and nonfiction, including memoir, finance, photography, history, social justice, democracy, biography, music and international relations.
Word count: Not stated.Eakin Press
Eakin Press is a trade-book publisher founded in 1979. They were acquired by Wild Horse Media Group in 2013.
Genre: Nonfiction in a variety of subgenres such as biography, ranching, food & drink, legal, military, poetry, rodeo, Texas and sports.
Word count: Not stated.Abilene Christian University Press
Abilene Christian University Press is the university press of Abilene Christian University. Their mission is to reflect the high standards of their parent institution and spread the values of Abilene Christian University to a broad, public audience.
Genre: Scholarly nonfiction that reflects the values of Abilene Christian University (i.e. Christian values).
Word count: Not stated.Irish Academic Press
Irish Academic Press was established in 1974 following the demise of the Irish University Press. They have developed into one of the leading Irish publishers of academic and scholarly writing on a range of subjects relating to Irish Studies.
Genre: Scholarly nonfiction in the areas of current affairs, memoirs, biography/autobiography, Irish history, the arts, politics, heritage and culture.
Word count: Not stated.Coffeetown Press
Coffetown Press is based in Kenmore, Washington has been publishing fiction and selective nonfiction and memoirs since 2005.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction, especially historical and literary fiction.
Word count: 50,000 to 100,000 words.At Bay Press
At Bay Press is a literary publisher known for publishing original, thoughtful titles.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction. They publish literary mystery, thriller, science fiction and fantasy.
Word count: Not stated.Aurum
Aurum is the narrative nonfiction imprint of Quarto.
Genre: Narrative nonfiction in the areas of memoir, biography, polemic, food, feminism, history, sport, science, nature, and travel writing.
Word count: Not stated.Hohm Press
Hohm Press was founded in 1976 and is committed to publishing books that promote self-awareness, recognition of interdependence and compassion.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of authentic spiritual and mystical traditions (such as Buddhism, Sufism, Hinduism etc.), transformational psychology, translations of classical spiritual poetry as well as biographies, autobiographies and memoirs of spiritual teachers or journeys.
Word count: Not stated.Holler
Holler is the young adult nonfiction imprint of Quarto.
Genre: Young adult nonfiction, including biography, social issues, self-help, wellbeing and graphic non-fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Merrion Press
Merrion is the general books imprint of Irish Academic Press.
Genre: Trade nonfiction in the areas of current affairs, memoirs, biography/autobiography, Irish history, the arts, politics, heritage and culture.
Word count: Not stated.North Country Books
North Country Books is an imprint of Globe Pequot that publishes books about the Adirondacks and Upstate New York.
Genre: Nonfiction relating to the Adirondacks and Upstate New York histories, folklore, biographies, children's books, photography books, and mysteries.
Word count: Not stated.Icon Books
Icon Books is an independent publisher specializing in intelligent, quality nonfiction for a general audience.
Genre: Adult nonfiction, including history, biography, memoir, politics, current affairs, business, economics, military history, true crime, popular science, philosophy, psychology, self help, family health, lifestyle, travel, nature, environment, sport, religion and transport.
Word count: Not stated.Down East Trade
Down East Trade publishes regional books local to Maine or books written by Maine authors.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of antiques, art, architecture, biography, body, mind, spirit, business, cooking, craft, hobbies, design, family games, gardening, health, fitness history, nature, humor, photography, pets, reference, sciences, sports, travel, and true crime. They also accept fiction, children's books and middle grade.
Word count: Not stated.J. Gordon Shillingford
J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing was founded in Winnipeg in 1992 and now publishes 10 titles annually.
Genre: Poetry and nonfiction the areas of politics, religion, true crime and biography.
Word count: Not stated.River Light Press
River Light Press is a brand new imprint of Aurora Metro Publications which aims to shine a light on great reads that are written by subject experts and scholars.
Genre: Literary fiction, nonfiction and academic writing.
Word count: Not stated.Hancock House Publishers
Hancock House Publishers focuses on publishing nonfiction, regional titles which emphasise western and northern history, biographies, Indigenous culture, natural history, wildlife and folklore.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Douglas & McIntyre
Douglas & McIntyre is an independent trade publisher in Canada, with bestselling books that have won both national and international awards. They publish predominately Canadian authors.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction, including cookbooks, biography, memoir, art, architecture, photography, environmental issues, gardening, history, humor, literary criticism, maritime, medical, military, nature, social issues, politics and sports.
Word count: Not stated.Prestel Publishing
Prestel Publishing was founded in 1924 and is one of the world's leading publishers in the fields of art, architecture, photography and design. They publish in all aspects of these genres from pop culture to fashion to children's fiction.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of art, architecture, photography and design. This includes related categories such as biographies, autobiographies, children's books and food and drink.
Word count: Not stated.TCU Press
TCU Press publishes the history, culture and literature of Texas and the American West. They are the university press of Texas Christian University.
Genre: Children's books, genre fiction, literary fiction and nonfiction. They publish a wide variety of genres from history, nature, art, biography, photography, humor, young adult, cooking, religion, science, education, law and more. I suggest you look at their website to see the full list as I can't possibly list them all here!
Word count: Not stated.Oneworld
Oneworld was established in 1986 and is an independent publishing house focusing on stimulating nonfiction.
Genre: Nonfiction in a variety of subgenres.
Word count: Not stated.SVS Press
St Vladimir's Seminary Press is an active publisher of Orthodox Christian books in the English language. They permit free expression of ideas within the breadth of the Orthodox faith, tradition and history. They publish books about theology, history, ecclesiology, ecumenism, hagiography, iconography, spirituality, spiritual studies, biographies, philosophy and more.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of art, iconography, canon law, catechetical, church history and Christian education. They will only consider children's books that are accompanied by authors who have done their own art or are working together with an artist.
Word count: Not stated.Pelican Publishing
Pelican Publishing releases an average of 30 titles a year, related to identifiable regions around the United States.
Genre: Children's, middle grade, young adult and adult nonfiction.
Word count: 40,000 to 100,000 for adult nonfiction. Maximum of 25,000 words for young adult and middle grade. Children's books can be up to 1,100 words.Process Media
Process Media publishes writers of distinction and unique perspectives. They consider themselves a formidable force in independent publishing and document important cultural movements.
Genre: Historical fiction, middle grade stories and nonfiction in the areas of memoir, biography, music, history, self-reliance, realpolitik, true crime, mysticism and occult.
Word count: Not stated.University of Alaska Press
The University of Alaska Press is nonprofit scholarly publisher of books about Alaska and the circumpolar regions.
Genre: Nonfiction relating to Alaska and the circumpolar regions, including politics and history, Native languages and cultures, science and natural history, biography and memoir, poetry, fiction and anthologies.
Word count: Proposals should be less than 90,000 words while submissions should be less than 120,000 words.TwoDot Books
TwoDot Books is an imprint of Globe Pequot and publishes books that tell stories of the West and Westerners.
Genre: Nonfiction about the West and Westerners, including biography, history, travel and reference.
Word count: Not stated.The O'Brien Press
The O'Brien Press is a leading general publisher of adult and children's books in Ireland. They publish a range of books and are always looking to explore new and exciting areas.
Genre: Children's fiction, children's nonfiction and adult nonfiction. They are more likely to publish authors based in Ireland but are open to submissions from authors all around the world.
Word count: Not stated.Formac
Formac publishes a variety of genres, especially nonfiction related to Mi'kma'ki, children's fiction and other nonfiction.
Genre: Children's books, middle grade, young adult and adult nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Woodhall Press
Woodhall Press is an independent publisher of independent authors. They have published emerging writers, poet laureates, and New York Times best-selling authors.
Genre: Genre fiction, upmarket fiction and 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.