20 magical realism publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in May 2025
Magical realism blends our everyday world with magical elements. No matter if you classify your magical realism novel as literary or genre fiction, 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.Pan Macmillan Australia
Pan Macmillan Australia is committed to investing in Australian authors and publishes a variety of bestselling books.
Genre: Middle grade, young adult, commercial and literary fiction. For nonfiction, they're interested in narrative nonfiction, contemporary issues, memoir, history, true crime, lifestyle, health, and mind, body & spirit.
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.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: Adult literary and genre fiction, nonfiction and illustrated books. Fiction. They are not currently interested in adult high fantasy and science fiction but do accept other fantasy manuscripts.
Word count: Full length works.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.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.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.Roundfire Books (Collective Ink)
Roundfire Books is the general fiction imprint of Collective Ink.
Genre: Literary and genre fiction.
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.Honno
Honno is an independent co-operative press committed to bringing the world the best in Welsh women's writing.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction written by women of Wales. For nonfiction, they consider food writing, women's history, Welsh history, Welsh interest and nature writing. For fiction, they consider crime, thriller, romance, historical, humour, literary, horror, fantasy and science fiction.
Word count: Not stated.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).Torrey House Press
Torrey House Press publishes books focusing on environmental advocacy.
Genre: Literary fiction and genre fiction, including mystery, thriller, horror, climate fiction, Indigenous futurism, afrofuturism, magical realism, fantasy, historical, romance and nontraditional western. They also accept investigative nonfiction, creative nonfiction and narrative nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.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.Cosmic Egg Books (Collective Ink)
Cosmic Egg Books is the speculative imprint of Collective Ink, seeking books that will inspire, inform and illuminate readers.
Genre: Science fiction (including steampunk), fantasy (including magical realism and spiritual fantasy), metaphysical cosmology, supernatural fiction horror and paranormal.
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.HQ
HQ, a boutique division under HarperCollins, publishes a broad range of fiction.
Genre: Adult genre and upmarket fiction. They also accept memoirs.
Word count: At least 70,000 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.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.
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.