Michigan-based publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in October 2025

Congratulations on writing your book! The publishers based in Michigan 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.

1. Dahlia (Tell-tale Publishing)

   Tell-tale Publishing's Dahlia Imprint focuses on romance with fast-paced storylines packed with action and excitement.
   Genre: Romance, including romantic suspense, gothic suspense, regency and contemporary.
   Word count: 50,000 words and over.

2. 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.

3. Sleeping Bear Press

   Sleeping Bear Press was launched in 1998 as a children's book publisher. Their mission is to provide books that engage, entertain, and educate.
   Genre: Children's books.
   Word count: Not stated.

4. Casablanca (Tell-tale Publishing)

   Casablanca is Tell-tale Publishing's mystery imprint.
   Genre: Mystery.
   Word count: 55,000 to 75,000 words.

5. 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.

6. Thistle (Tell-tale Publishing)

   Thistle is Tell-tale Publishing's middle grade and young adult imprint.
   Genre: Middle grade and young adult romance and fantasy.
   Word count: 40,000 to 55,000 words.

7. Stargazer

   Tell-tale Publishing's fantasy imprint is Stargazer.
   Genre: Fantasy, especially urban and steampunk.
   Word count: 65,000 to 110,000 words.

8. Nightshade (Tell-tale Publishing)

   Nightshade is Tell-tale Publishing's horror imprint.
   Genre: Horror.
   Word count: 60,000 to 90,000 words.

9. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

   Eerdman Books for Young Readers the children's imprint of WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. They are rooted in the historic Christian tradition and open to emerging dialogue between denominations and with other faiths.
   Genre: Board books, picture books, novels and nonfiction, especially in the areas of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, disability and neurodiversity, and age and community.
   Word count: Not stated.

10. Medieval Institute Publications

    Medieval Institute Publications is part of Western Michigan University and is a specialized university press dedicated to publishing academic texts on the history, literature and culture of the premodern world.
    Genre: Scholarly nonfiction in the areas of history, literature and culture of the premodern world.
    Word count: Not stated.

11. Parkhurst Brothers Publishers

    Parkhurst Brothers Publishing focuses on publishing the American storytelling movement by publishing books by ethnic and professional storytellers who write for general audiences.
    Genre: Fiction and nonfiction, including story-based works such as memoirs, story collections, folktale anthologies and instructional titles, social issues and behavioral psychology titles.
    Word count: Not stated.

12. University of Michigan Press

    The University of Michigan Press publishes both scholarly books and general interest books.
    Genre: Scholarly and general interest nonfiction in the areas of American history, applied linguistics, classical studies, American studies, class studies, communications, cultural studies, disability, English as a second language, gender & sexuality studies, African studies, German studies, international relations, law, literary criticism, medieval studies, Michigan, music, Asian studies, poetics, politics, social sciences, theatre, dance studies and writing craft.
    Word count: Not stated.

13. Wayne State University Press

    Wayne State University Press is a publisher of exceptional books and journals based in the city of Detroit.
    Genre: Academic nonfiction in the areas of queer and feminist film, television and new media studies, Black studies, popular culture, humanities, Jewish studies, labor studies, and books about Michigan and the Great Lakes region.
    Word count: Not stated.

14. Zondervan

    Zondervan is a Christian publisher of original books and Bibles.
    Genre: Christian reflective and academic 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.