48 Californian publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in October 2025
Congratulations on writing your book! The Californian publishers on this list are currently accepting manuscripts this month 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.
Invisible City Literary Journal
Invisible City Literary Journal is the University of San Francisco's MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing program's online literary journal.
Genre: Submissions for their literary journal, including poetry, fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Chronicle Books
Chronicle Books is inspired by the enduring magic of books.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.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.Harvard Square Editions
Harvard Square Editions publishes works of environmental, spiritual and social value.
Genre: Literary fiction of social, spiritual and environmental value. They are particularly looking for fiction that transcends national boundaries, especially manuscripts that are international, spiritual, political, literary, science fiction, fantasy, utopia and dystopia.
Word count: Not stated.Familius
Familius is a mission-driven company that publishes books that reflect their 10 Habits of Happy Families.
Genre: Nonfiction for children and families.
Word count: Not stated.Kaya Press
Kaya Press is a publisher of Asian Pacific Diasporas.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction relating to Asian diaspora literature.
Word count: Not stated.Black Dawn
Black Dawn is the speculative imprint of AK Press. AK Press believes that the voices of the disenfranchised must be heard and that speculative fiction is the perfect tool for exploring paths to bring forth a just and free world. They seek to explore themes that do not reinforce dependency on oppressive forces.
Genre: Fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, horror, and mystery.
Word count: 25,000 to 55,000 words.Suspense Magazine
Suspense Magazine publishes some of the best titles in suspense, thriller, mystery and horror.
Genre: Suspense, thriller, mystery and horror.
Word count: 5,000 words and less.AK Press
AK Press believes that the voices of the disenfranchised must be heard. They are interested in works that reflect the rich traditions with anarchism. They seek to explore themes that do not reinforce dependency on oppressive forces.
Genre: Nonfiction which explores the theory, history, art, culture, economics, labor of anarchism as well as historical and contemporary movements that share their common spirit.
Word count: Not stated.Sapphire Books
Sapphire Books publishes manuscripts by lesbian authors.
Genre: Lesbian genre fiction, including romance, mystery, intrigue with romantic elements and young adult.
Word count: Not stated.unnamed press
unnamed press is a Lost Angeles-based independent book publisher.
Genre: Literary fiction and creative nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.New World Library
New World Library is dedicated to publishing books that inspire and challenge.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Black Bed Sheet Books
Black Bed Sheet Books publishes horror, science fiction and fantasy.
Genre: Fiction of a dark nature, especially horror, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, young adult, contemporary and thrillers.
Word count: Not stated.PM Press
PM Press is an independent, radical publisher of critically necessary books.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction, including art, social justice, education, parenting, economics, gender, sexuality, history, politics, music, theory and philosophy.
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: Literary fiction, short fiction collections, anthologies, memoirs, creative nonfiction and cultural/social criticism.
Word count: Not stated.Red Hen Press
Red Hen Press is an independent, non-profit press.
Genre: Literary fiction, memoirs, creative nonfiction and poetry collections.
Word count: Not stated.Yeehoo Press
Yeehoo Press publishes fun and socially responsible children's books for audiences around the world.
Genre: Children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Agape Editions
Agape Editions was founded in 2016 and publishes visionary literature.
Genre: Poetry.
Word count: Short stories for their anthologies.Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Berrett-Koehler Publishers is an independent publisher that aims to connect people and ideas to create a world that works for all.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Nonfiction in the areas of business development, personal development and professional development.Jossey-Bass
Jossey-Bass was founded in 1965 and is committed to publishing products and services to inform and inspire educators and professional learners who want to develop themselves, their organisations and their communities.
Genre: Nonfiction relating to K-12 education, such as how to plan a lesson, leading school change, business and organizational health.
Word count: Not stated.C&T Publishing
C&T Publishing is a craft book publisher of handmade art subjects. They publish around 40 books a year.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of quilting, fiber arts, craft sewing, general sewing, and fabric based mixed media.
Word count: Not stated.American Heart
American Heart is a romance imprint of Tule Publishing that features contemporary stories set in the United States.
Genre: Contemporary new adult romance set in the United States.
Word count: Not stated.Cooper Dillon Books
Cooper Dillion is a small poetry press that is committed to upholding the virtues of poetry as a high art and the expression of truth, beauty and sincerity. Please note they charge a $10 reading fee, which can be waived if you buy one of their books.
Genre: Poetry.
Word count: Full-length and chapbook.Corwin
Corwin is an independent family-owned business that strives to publish books by experts on topics most relevant to what educators are facing today. They publish books for coaches, specialists, administrators, those in higher education, librarians, school counselors and psychologists, teachers and staff developers.
Genre: Nonfiction in the area of education development, such as bullying prevention, critical thinking, teaching methods, supporting students with ADHD or autism, or student behavior.
Word count: Not stated.Angel City Press
Angel City Press is a nonfiction publisher owned by the Los Angeles Public Library and focuses on the cultural history of Los Angeles and the broader Southern California region.
Genre: Nonfiction relating to the cultural history of Los Angeles and the broader Southern California region.
Word count: Not stated.Entrepreneur Press
Entrepreneur Press is part of the Entrepreneur Media family and publishes books written by entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of entrepreneurship and small business.
Word count: Not stated.Heyday Books
Heyday is an independent, nonprofit publisher based in California. They were founded in 1974 and promote civic engagement and social justice.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of African American studies, architecture, art, photography, Asian and Asian American studies, the Indigenous peoples of California, history, literature, poetry, memoir, nature, politics and social justice. They also publish children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Gingko Press
Gingko Press was founded in 1985 in Germany but moved to California in 1991. They are always on the lookout for shifts in our social order via new media.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of graphic design, popular culture, street art, graffiti, architecture, children's interests, art, photography and literature.
Word count: Not stated.ORO Editions
ORO Editions has published over 700 titles over 15 years in a variety of topics relating to architecture, landscape, art photography and more.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of architecture, urbanism, landscape, art photography, sustainability, interior design, academia and applied research.
Word count: Not stated.punctum books
punctum books accepts works from both academic and para-academics working in the humanities, social sciences, fine arts, and architecture & design who are interested in writing genre-queer and genre-bending books.
Genre: Genre-queer and genre-bending creative nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Golden West Books
Golden West Books was founded in 1960 and specializes in railroad-focused subject matter.
Genre: Nonfiction related to railroads.
Word count: Not stated.Lucky Spool
Lucky Spool was founded in 2012 and is passionate about sewing, knitting and quilting. They strive to create beautiful books that enrich the artistic work that crafters do.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of sewing, knitting and quilting.
Word count: Not stated.Jaded Ibis Press
Jaded Ibis Press publishes literature that tackles a personal or universal truth and that makes people see the world around them more clearly or from a different perspective.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction that explores a personal or universal truth.
Word count: Short stories to full-length novels.New Harbinger Publications
New Harbinger is dedicated to publishing practical, evidence-based tools for mental health professionals as well as self-help books for general readers.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of self-help books for general readers and evidence-based books for mental health professionals.
Word count: Not stated.No Starch Press
No Starch Press has a reputation for publishing unique books on technology. They publish authors who are passionate and write about topics that people care about.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of technology, especially open source, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, LEGO, science and math.
Word count: Not stated.North Atlantic Books
North Atlantic Books publishes books that promote healing of self, spirit and society. They aim to apply an intersectional lens to their publishing and reject bigotry and oppression in all forms.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of healing of self, spirit and society.
Word count: Not stated.Sage College Publishing
Sage College Publishing is an academic publisher of the social sciences. They publish over 800 titles a year.
Genre: Scholarly nonfiction in the area of the social sciences, especially textbooks for university students, handbooks, reference books and professional resources.
Word count: Not stated.Parallax
Parallax Press is a nonprofit publisher founded by Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh. Parallax Press publishes books on the art of mindful living and Engaged Buddhism.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of mindful living and Engaged Buddhism.
Word count: Not stated.Stanford University Press
Stanford University Press publishes 130 books in the humanities, social sciences, law and business. They strive to inform scholarly debate, generate global discussion and bring timely scholarship to the wider reading public.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of the humanities, social sciences, law and business.
Word count: Not stated.Mosaica Press
Mosaica Press is an independent publisher of Jewish books.
Genre: Nonfiction relating to Judaism, including Jewish law, health and wellness, history, inspirational, Jewish thought, literature, parenting, personal growth, philosophy, self help, Shluchim and Tanakh and marriage.
Word count: Not stated.Solano Press Books
Solano Press Books is a California-based publishing house specializing in land use, planning law, urban affairs and environmental subjects. They are known for publishing resources on land use and related legal matters.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of land use, planning law, urban affairs and environmental subjects.
Word count: Not stated.Stone Pier Press
Stone Pier Press is a San Francisco-based press with a passion for publishing books that promote DIY environmentalism.
Genre: Nonfiction on the topic of sustainable gardening.
Word count: Full-length works.Sunbelt Publications
Sunbelt Publications was founded in Austin, Texas with the aim of marketing and distributing books by their founders. Since then they have grown into a publisher of books relating to California, Baja California and the Southwest.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of regional travel and reference, guidebooks, natural science, and outdoor adventure in California, Baja California, and the Southwest.
Word count: Not stated.Three Hands Press
Three Hands Press publishes titles of interest for readers of esoterica.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of esoterica, such as folk magic, witchcraft, charming, ancient religion, magical philosophy, ceremonial magic, herbalism, European grimoires, shamanism, and kindred disciplines.
Word count: Not stated.University of California Press
The University of California Press is dedicated to promoting independent thinking and diverse voices. They publish over 200 books each year.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
Word count: Not stated.Travelers' Tales
Travelers' Tales was founded in 1993 with the aim of publishing travel books that paint a portrait of a country through the experiences of travelers.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of travel stories for their volumes.
Word count: Not stated.WTAW Press
WTAW Press strives to publish exceptional, enduring literary books.
Genre: Full-length books of prose.
Word count: Not stated.Zibby Books
Zibby Books is part of Zibby Media, a women-led startup founded by Zibby Owens. They are dedicated to deepening connections between readers and authors.
Genre: Literary fiction, genre fiction, and memoir.
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.