Massachusetts-based publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in October 2025
Congratulations on writing your book! The publishers based in Massachusetts 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.
Charlesbridge
Charlesbridge is on the lookout for high-quality books for young people that will help create lifelong readers and learners.
Genre: Picture books, early readers, middle grade, young adult fiction and nonfiction. Their fiction tends to focus on nature, science, social studies, biography, history and the arts.
Word count: Not stated.Page Street Publishing
Page Street Publishing publishes over 150 titles per year in a variety of genres.
Genre: Young adult fiction, nonfiction and adult horror.
Word count: Not stated.Tupelo Press
Tupelo Press publishes prose that blends poetry and fiction. Please note they charge a $45 reading fee.
Genre: Prose that blends poetry and fiction.
Word count: Not stated.Barefoot Books
Barefoot Books was founded as a small home-based business in 1992. They want to create visually captivating books that celebrate diversity, spark curiosity and capture children's imaginations.
Genre: Picture and board books for children ages 0 to 12.
Word count: Not stated.Elk Lake Publishing
Elk Lane Publishing is a Christian publisher that aims to point people to Jesus and broaden their horizons.
Genre: Christian genre fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Sea Crow Press
Sea Crow Press believes that small presses play an essential part in amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard.
Genre: Literary fiction, genre fiction, historical fiction, eco-fiction, young adult and nonfiction, including Buddhist, Black studies, eco-activism, memoir, spirituality and women's stories.
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.Career Press
Career Press publishes practical books for professionals and general audiences on topics such as career development, HR management and marketing.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of career development, HR management and marketing.
Word count: Not stated.Academic Studies Press
Academic Studies Press is a scholarly press devoted to publishing the humanities and social sciences, especially Jewish and Slavic studies.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of the humanities and social sciences, especially Jewish and Slavic studies.
Word count: Not stated.Cool Springs Press
Cool Springs Press is the DIY gardening and home improvement imprint of Quarto.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of DIY gardening and home improvement.
Word count: Not stated.Fair Winds Press
Fair Winds Press is an imprint of Quarto focusing on providing accessible guidance for living a physically and spiritually healthy life.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of nutrition, cooking, fitness, parenting, beauty, mental and spiritual health, treating sickness and new medicine.
Word count: Not stated.Hamilcar Publications
Hamilcar Publications is a Boston-based publisher focusing on the area of professional boxing, true crime, hip-hop, jazz and related topics.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of boxing, true crime, hip-hop, jazz and related topics.
Word count: Not stated.Hampton Roads Publishing
Hampton Roads Publishing publishes both popular and inspirational titles from a variety of philosophical and theological perspectives with the aim of evolving the human spirit.
Genre: Nonfiction in the area of philosophical and theological perspectives.
Word count: Not stated.Harvard Common Press
Harvard Common Press publishes accessible books on cooking, parenting and lifestyle.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of culinary, parenting and lifestyle.
Word count: Not stated.Gemma
Gemma publishes writers who explore the diverse experiences of young adults. As part of this commitment, they founded Gemma Open Door for Literacy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting adult and young adult readers.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction of relevance to adults and young adults improving their reading. These stories should involve simple tenses with a second- to -fourth-grade reading level.
Word count: 10,000 words or fewer.Jones & Bartlett Learning
Jones & Bartlett Learning is a publisher of secondary, post-secondary and professional instructional and learning-performance management solutions.
Genre: Nonfiction textbooks and learning materials for the health sciences, nursing, medicine, public safety, science and technology.
Word count: Not stated.Interlink Publishing
Interlink Publishing is a Palestinian-owned and Massachusetts-based independent publishing house. They offer global perspective to readers by publishing works of history, activism, politics, art, cultural guides, cookbooks and illustrated children's books from around the world.
Genre: Children's books and nonfiction in the areas of history, activism, politics, art, cultural guides and cookbooks.
Word count: Not stated.Motorbooks
Motorbooks publishes books on transportation.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of transportation.
Word count: Not stated.Skinner House Books
Skinner House Books is the publishing house of the Unitarian Universalist Association. They publish books at the intersection of progressive values and life's biggest questions.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of religious studies, theology, ministry resources and living in the Unitarian Universalist values.
Word count: Not stated.New Page Books
New Page Books publishes books on ancient mysteries, UFOS, paranormal activity, unexplained phenomena, and related subjects.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of ancient mysteries, UFOS, paranormal activity, unexplained phenomena, and related subjects.
Word count: Not stated.Rockport Publishing
Rockport Publishing is an imprint of Quarto and publishes books in design.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of design.
Word count: Not stated.Quarry Books
Quarry Books publishes business books for a non professional audience.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of business for a general audience.
Word count: Not stated.Storey Publishing
Storey Press publishes practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment.
Genre: Children's nonfiction and adult nonfiction in the areas of gardening, home, reference, crafts, cooking, beer/wine, nature, raising animals, horses, building, farming, homesteading and the mind, body and spirit.
Word count: Not stated.Timber Press
Timber Press strives to share the wonders of the natural world by publishing books from experts in the fields of gardening, horticulture and natural history.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of gardening how to, garden design, popular science, nature, garden literature and regional/national field guides.
Word count: Not stated.Voyageur Press
Voyageur Press publishes books in five key areas: self-sufficiency, beer and spirits, regional American cooking, popular science and music.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of self-sufficiency, beer and spirits, regional American cooking, popular science and music.
Word count: Not stated.Walter Foster Publishing
Walter Foster Publishing publishes books that help people discover their artistic talents. They specialize in art instruction including traditional pencil sketching, acrylic, oil, watercolor painting, mixed media, hand lettering, and DIY crafting.
Genre: Nonfiction in the area of art instruction.
Word count: Not stated.Weiser Books
Weiser Books publishes esoteric and occult teachings from around the world.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of astrology, tarot, witchcraft, magick, Eastern thought and Western mystery traditions.
Word count: Not stated.Walter Foster Jr.
Walter Foster Jr. publishes fun and imaginative books for children.
Genre: Children's nonfiction in the areas of art, "edutainment", history, craft, nature and preschool concepts.
Word count: Not stated.Wisdom Publications
Wisdom Publications is a publisher of contemporary and classic Buddhism, mindfulness and meditation.
Genre: Buddhist nonfiction. Authors should have relevant professional, academic or Dharma-teaching credentials.
Word count: Not stated.Wildhouse Publishing
Wildhouse Publishing is a nonprofit independent publisher that aims to enliven the spiritual quests of people outside or in the margins of established religious and spiritual traditions. They offer practical ways to deepen spirituality and enhance the meaning of their readers' lives by producing spiritual explorations that readers can trust.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry 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.