21 fairytale, mythology & folklore retelling publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in July 2025
Now that you’ve written your novel, it’s time to pitch it to a publisher! Perhaps your fairytale, mythology or folklore retelling is more of a literary piece or perhaps it falls within the fantasy genre. Either way, you’ll find plenty of publishers here who are looking for novels just like yours.
All of the publishers listed here are currently accepting manuscripts without a literary agent. I update this list at the start of every month so be sure to check back if you don’t find a publisher that suits your needs.
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.
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.Ringwood Publishing
Ringwood Publishing is an independent Scottish publisher based in Glasgow. Please note that they only accept authors who are Scottish or are a resident of Scotland.
Genre: Literary fiction, genre fiction and nonfiction from Scottish authors or residents.
Word count: 50,000 words and above.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.Brain Lag
Brain Lag was founded in 2010 and they strive to release a book every month.
Genre: Fiction in the subgenres of fantasy, science fiction, post-apocalyptic, weird and steampunk.
Word count: 50,000 word and above.Finishing Line Editions
Finishing Line Editions is the fiction and nonfiction imprint of Finishing Line Press. Please note they charge a reading fee of $10.
Genre: Literary, genre and upmarket fiction in the areas of historical, realistic, science fiction, fairy tales, folktales and fables. They also accept narrative nonfiction, short story collections, personal narrative, memoir and narrative procedure (how-to/craft).
Word count: Not stated.Tiny Fox Press
Tiny Fox Press is in search of engaging stories needing a great home. They also boast a bearded dragon on their staff who leads a double life as a very tiny fox.
Genre: Fantasy, litRPG, science fiction, light fantasy, cozy fantasy, mythology, fairytale retellings, Arthurian, gaslamp, humorous, urban, space opera, post apocalyptic and young adult.
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.Hague Publishing
Hague Publishing is an independent Australian publisher of science fiction and fantasy. Please note that they publish work by Australian and New Zealand authors.
Genre: Science fiction and fantasy.
Word count: 30,000 to 80,000 words but they will consider works outside of this range.City Owl Press
City Owl Press is an indie publisher specializing in speculative fiction and romance. Please note that Writer Beware wrote an article on City Owl Press recently so make sure you do your research before submitting.
Genre: Genre fiction in the subgenres of romance (dark, fantasy, historical, monster, paranormal, comedy, science fiction, suspense, small town, time travel) and speculative (fairy tale retellings, cozy, dark, urban). They also accept horror, psychological, thriller, mystery and new adult.
Word count: 50,000 words and above.Aethon Books
Aethon Books is a publisher dedicated to readers, passionate about publishing the next generation of fantasy and science fiction novels. Their main concern is finding stories with a compelling narrative that pulls readers through your world.
Genre: Fantasy and science fiction in any subgenre. They are also open to thrillers, especially action, political and military thrillers.
Word count: Novel-length work.Roundfire Books (Collective Ink)
Roundfire Books is the general fiction imprint of Collective Ink.
Genre: Literary and genre fiction.
Word count: Not stated.EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
EDGE publishes thought-provoking and well-written science fiction and fantasy novels.
Genre: Adult science fiction and fantasy. They occasionally accept young adult fiction.
Word count: 75,000 to 100,000 words.Sunbury Press
Sunbury Press is a rapidly growing publisher with six imprints.
Genre: Literary and genre fiction, including history, mystery, detective, police procedural, crime, thriller, horror and young adult. For nonfiction, they accept history, current events, science, reference, art history, local/regional history, humour, spiritual, metaphysical, self help, professional and memoirs.
Word count: Not stated.Turnstone Press
Turnstone Press is a literary publisher who publishes Canadian authors and landed immigrants.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction. They publish a variety of literary mysteries, thrillers and speculative fiction under their Ravenstone imprint.
Word count: Not stated.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).CamCat Books
CamCat Publishing opened in 2019 and takes pride in facilitating and engaging communication between their readers and writers. They will not publish erotica or books with strong religious or political slants.
Genre: Genre fiction, including mystery, thriller, suspense, science fiction, fantasy, romance, historical, paranormal, horror, adventure, western and young adult.
Word count: 60,000 to 100,000 words.Ekstasis Editions
Ekstasis Editions is a long-standing Canadian literary press who originally published poetry but has now branched out into fiction and criticism. They consider works from mostly Canadian authors.
Genre: Literary fiction, but they are happy to accept original works of science fiction, fantasy and mystery. This might be a good pick if your speculative or mystery novel blurs genre lines. They also publish nonfiction concerning alternative approaches to spirituality.
Word count: Not stated.Ink Smith
Ink Smith is a small independent publishing house who streamline their genres to best serve their authors and readers.
Genre: Adult and young adult adventure, fantasy (contemporary, dark, fairy tale, heroic, historic, magic, paranormal, shapeshifting, sword and sorcery , urban, medieval), horror, science fiction (near future, apocalyptic, superhero, steampunk, time travel) and thriller (conspiracy, psychological, techno-thriller)
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.Solaris Nova
Solaris Nova is a new imprint of the genre publisher Solaris.
Genre: Science fiction, fantasy, or horror.
Word count: 70,000 to 150,000 words.Farrago
Farrago's mission is to help readers find fiction that makes them smile. They are the sister imprint of Duckworth Books.
Genre: Accessible, entertaining and humorous fiction, including humorous mystery and crime, romantic comedy, satirical comedy, speculative fiction and social comedy.
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. Otherwise, check out my country-specific list of fantasy publishers in Australia and New Zealand.