51 Ontario publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in May 2025
Now that you’ve written your novel, it’s time to pitch it to a local Ontario publisher! All of the publishers listed here are currently accepting manuscripts without a literary agent and I’ve done my best to weed out vanity publishers and those with less than savoury business practices.
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 or have a look at my other publishers lists where you can search via genre or Canada-wide.
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.
Afterglow Books
Afterglow Books is a Harlequin imprint targeting romance readers under 35.
Genre: Spicy romance aimed at under-35s.
Word count: 70,000 words.Annick Press
Annick Press is a proudly independent children's publisher in Toronto, Canada. They aim to empower readers, open minds, and create a lifelong love of reading.
Genre: Picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: 50,000 to 70,000 words for young adult.Between the Lines
Between the Lines is proudly left-wing and publish books that reflect their activist roots.
Genre: Nonfiction that reflects their commitment to social justice struggles.
Word count: Not stated.Biblioasis
Biblioasis is a literary publisher based in Windsor, Ontario. They are searching for works of exceptional literary and cultural merit across the board.
Genre: Literary fiction, short story collections, poetry and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Blue Moon Publishers
Blue Moon Publishers has a mission to provide people with inspiration and support to boost resilience and improve their wellbeing.
Genre: Nonfiction including wellness, grief and loss, and journals.
Word count: Not stated.Borealis Press
Borealis Press publishes most genres but focuses on works by Canadian authors or Canadian oriented material.
Genre: Literary fiction and nonfiction, especially history, criticism, biography, the Canadian parliamentary system and medicine.
Word count: Not stated.Canadian Scholars
Canadian Scholars publishes an extensive range of academic books under their Canadian Scholars and Women's Press imprint.
Genre: Nonfiction focusing on undergraduate and graduate level textbooks.
Word count: Not stated.Carina Press
Carina Press is Harlequin’s digital-first adult fiction imprint.
Genre: Romance, especially in the subgenres of contemporary, erotic, paranormal, science fiction/fantasy, suspense, historical, and mystery.
Word count: 50,000 to 125,000 words.Coach House Books
Coach House Books publishes innovative fiction and nonfiction. They publish primarily Canadian authors.
Genre: Literary fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
Word count: Not stated.Double Dagger Books
Double Dagger Books is a Toronto-based publisher of military and security-focused fiction and non-fiction.
Genre: Fiction and non-fiction in the areas of military and security.
Word count: Not stated.Dundurn Press
Dundurn Press is an independent Canadian-owned publisher of contemporary fiction and nonfiction. They only accept fiction submissions from Canadian authors, but welcome nonfiction submissions from writers worldwide.
Genre: Literary fiction and literary nonfiction. They also accept trade nonfiction in the genres of biography, history (especially Canadian and social history), public policy, politics, business, economics, true crime, self help, wellbeing, supernatural, Canadiana and local interest, travel, sport, music, culture, city building, architecture, social science and popular science.
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.Emond
Emond is an independent Canadian publisher focusing on the development of products for postsecondary students and professionals in law and justice.
Genre: Nonfiction in law and justice.
Word count: Not stated.Evernight Publishing
Evernight is an indie publisher that prefers to publish popular tropes.
Genre: Romance in a variety of subgenres, including science fiction, BDSM, LGBTQ+, holiday, medical, new adult, dark, motorcycle, menage, paranormal, shifters, vampires, urban, erotica, humor, contemporary, military, steampunk, western, fantasy, reverse harem, suspense and young adult.
Word count: 16,000 to 100,000 words.Evernight Teen
Evernight Teen publishes gritty fiction for today's young adults.
Genre: Young adult fiction, including contemporary, dystopian, fantasy, historical, horror, humor, LGBT, multicultural, mythology, paranormal, romance, science fiction, shifters/vampires, steampunk, suspense, time travel and urban fantasy.
Word count: Not stated.Eye of the Newt Press
Eye of the New is a Canadian publisher of curiosities beautiful and fantastical.
Genre: Children's fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Gordon Hill Press
Gordon Hill Press is a publisher of innovative fiction and nonfiction.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry, criticism and creative nonfiction.
Word count: Novel-length works.Harlequin
Harlequin is a well-known romance publisher that publishes over 60 novels every month.
Genre: Romance, romance and more romance!
Word count: Not stated.Harlequin Heartwarming
Harlequin Heartwarming publishes feel-good contemporary romances set in close-knit, small towns.
Genre: Wholesome contemporary romance set in close-knit communities.
Word count: 70,000 words.Harlequin Intrigue
Harlequin Intrigue focuses on high-stakes contemporary crime stories with a strong romance storyline.
Genre: Contemporary crime with romance.
Word count: 55,000 to 60,000 words.Harlequin Medical Romance
Harlequin Medical Romance publishes uplifting romances set in the medical world.
Genre: Medical romance.
Word count: 50,000 words.Harlequin Presents (M&B Modern)
Harlequin Presents publishes novels with classic themes but with innovative takes.
Genre: Romance with alpha heroes and international settings.
Word count: 50,000 words.Harlequin Romance (M&B True Love)
Harlequin Romance publishes novels that focus on the romantic journey of the couple.
Genre: Romance.
Word count: 50,000 words.Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Harlequin Romantic Suspense (as the name implies) is an imprint of Harlequin that publishes romantic suspense.
Genre: Romantic suspense.
Word count: 70,000 words.Heritage House
Heritage House publishes 20 to 30 books each year from Canadian authors who write about topics relevant to Western Canada.
Genre: Nonfiction and children's books.
Word count: Not stated.Inanna Publications & Education Inc.
Inanna Publications & Education Inc. was established in 1978 with the aim of making current writing and research on a variety of feminist topics available to the largest possible community of women.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and essays on ideas, society, politics, culture and the arts that speak to the diverse lives of women around the world.
Word count: Not stated.Invisible
Invisible Publishing is a small "scrappy" producer of contemporary fiction, poetry and nonfiction with a focus on Canadian authors.
Genre: Contemporary literary fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Irwin Law
Irwin Law strives to publish books on law that aren't dull or costly to produce.
Genre: Nonfiction focusing on law.
Word count: Not stated.Kegedonce Press
Kegedonce Press is an Indigenous publishing company from Neyaashiinigmiing and Owen Sound, Ontario.
Genre: Children's books, fiction and creative nonfiction from Indigenous authors in Canada.
Word count: Not stated.Kids Can Press
Kids Can Press is a Canadian-owned children's book publisher established in 1973.
Genre: Picture books, middle grade fiction and children's nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Lorimer
Lorimer publishes books related to Canada as a whole or particular regions in Canada.
Genre: Nonfiction from Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Love Inspired
Love Inspired is the Christian imprint of Harlequin.
Genre: Contemporary romance with Christian characters.
Word count: 55,000 words.Love Inspired Suspense
Love Inspired Suspense is the Christian romantic suspense imprint of Harlequin.
Genre: Romantic suspense with Christian characters.
Word count: 55,000 words.Mansfield Press
Mansfield Press publishes exciting, challenging and adventurous literature from Canadian authors. Please note they are unlikely to publish authors without a track history of publishing previous novels, magazines of literary journals.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Massey University Press
Massey University Press welcomes proposals from writers outside of Massey University, New Zealand.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Mawenzi House
Mawenzi House is dedicated to bringing readers fresh writing from Canada and across the world that reflects diversity, particularly relating to Asia and Africa.
Genre: Literary and upmarket fiction, poetry and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Optimum Publishing
Optimum Publishing opened their doors in 1970.
Genre: Nonfiction, including Canadian affairs, true crime, business and biography.
Word count: Not stated.Plumleaf Press
Plumleaf Press was created in 2015 as a passion project to create "books to linger over".
Genre: Children's books, literary fiction and nonfiction. They are particularly looking for books aimed at women and children.
Word count: Not stated.Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
The Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies has an extensive publishing program with a reputation for advancing medieval scholarship.
Genre: Nonfiction in the area of medieval studies.
Word count: Not stated.Second Story Press
Second Story Press is a feminist publisher who focuses on publishing Canadian authors.
Genre: Literary fiction, mystery and nonfiction looking at the lives of girls and women, social justice and children's empowerments from Canadian authors.
Word count: Not stated.Study It Books
Study It Books specializes in Enhanced Books for the Apple Bookstore, digital books, textbooks, paperback and hardcover publishing.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of education such as textbooks.
Word count: Not stated.t r a c e
t r a c e works with writers who want to publish books that illuminate contemporary and historical experiences of conflict, war, displacement, exile migration, the environment, labour and resistance.
Genre: Genre-breaking forms of literary fiction and nonfiction
Word count: Not stated.The Brucedale Press
The Brucedale Press is the publishing division of Broad Horizons Books and was established in 1976. Please note they only accept queries sent via post.
Genre: Literary and historical works by Canadian authors with a focus on the Queen's Bush and Bruce Peninsula area of Ontario, Canada.
Word count: Not stated.The Key Publishing House
The Key Publishing House is a progressive publisher built on creating a quality publishing experience.
Genre: Nonfiction including wellness, grief and loss, and journals.
Word count: Not stated.The Porcupine's Quill
The Porcupine's Quill is an artisanal publisher that values the art and craft of the book.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction by Canadian authors.
Word count: Novel length works only.Tundra Book Group
Tundra Book Group is Canada's oldest English children's book publisher. They are currently only accepting manuscripts from underrepresented communities.
Genre: Middle grade, young adult fiction, young adult nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Turtle's Back Publishing
Turtle's Back Publishing was established in 2019 and aims to publish Indigenous work that strength and amplify Indigenous knowledge.
Genre: Literary fiction, poetry and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.University of Ottawa Press
University of Ottawa Press (Les Presses de l'Université d’Ottawa) is North America's flagship bilingual university press.
Genre: Academic titles, literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.University of Toronto Press
University of Toronto Press publishes books for academic and general audiences.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University Press publishes books in the disciplines of the humanities and social sciences.
Genre: Nonfiction, including humanities and social sciences.
Word count: Not stated.Wolsak and Wynn
Wolsak and Wynn is a Canadian press dedicated to publishing passionate Canadian voices.
Genre: Literary fiction, nonfiction and poetry from Canadian authors.
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, take a look at my genre-specific list of publishers for romance, fantasy and science fiction.