If you’ve written an excellent memoir and search for the best memoir publishers, you’re in the right place.
Memoirs belong to the non-fiction narrative writing genre, and not every publishing house is interested in getting them into the market. To increase your chances of getting published without the help of literary agents, try contacting the publishers mentioned below. It’s a list of the best publishers who are currently accepting manuscripts. These companies welcome non-fiction writing and welcome new writers who want to get their memoirs published. I’ve provided their contact details and submission requirements. Please take time to check them out and you’ll be one step closer to getting your work into the hands of readers. Once done with this guide, enhance your understanding by browsing my vast catalog of over 3,000 publishing companies.
15 Best Memoir Publishers Accepting Manuscripts:
1. City Lights
Since its inception in 1953, City Lights Books has published a wide range of fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, and some translation work. It is not just an iconic bookstore but an excellent platform for struggling writers who need visibility. City Lights Books is often looking for memoirs, poetry, and fiction. In 2021, they published the classic memoir of the Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda, adding newly discovered material. Although they accept manuscripts, they only do so when they solicit them. They might make an open call for submissions at a later time. However, they welcome unsolicited book proposals. They require you to send a book proposal via mail, not e-mail. Here are the guidelines for submitting a book proposal to City Lights Books. The only downside is that you will have to wait six months to get a reply to your proposal.
Contact:
- Phone: +1 415-362-1901
- Address: 261 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States
2. Persea Books
Persea Books is an independent publisher with hundreds of published works in its name. They cover different genres and styles of writing, including memoirs, biographies, literary fiction, poetry, essays, and revived classics. They are constantly on the lookout for writers with “a fresh voice, a clear point of view… well-written work that will endure.” They accept both solicited and unsolicited memoir manuscript submissions. They are always ready to receive query letters via email from authors and literary agents. They used to accept physical query letters or submissions, but no longer do so. They are open to publishing debut books and will keep you on if you continue to meet their expectations. You can send your submissions to editorial@perseabooks.com Follow this guideline on how to submit your manuscript to Persea Books to increase your chances.
Contact:
- Phone: (212) 260-9256
- Address: 90 Broad Street, Suite 2100 New York, NY 10004
3. Chicago Review Press
Chicago Review Press is another independent publisher, always willing to give voice to writers with fresh creative ideas. They collaborate with authors and aim to build long-lasting relationships with them. They provide support in editing, design, publicity, and marketing to make your publishing experience easier and more enjoyable. They accept manuscripts for personal memoirs but not family memoirs. They suggest that you e-mail a brief query to one of their acquisition editors before sending a proposal. You will find how to go about each phase of the process from their submission guidelines. You should mail your proposal and enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for a guaranteed response. Do not send your original manuscript to avoid loss in transit while you expect a response in their turnaround time of four to six weeks.
Contact:
- Phone: (312) 337-0747
- Address: 814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610
4. Memoirs Books
Memoirs Books is a publishing company that solely focuses on memoirs and biographies. They provide support in all aspects of turning your manuscript into a published work, from the cover and spine design to editing and printing. They accept unsolicited manuscripts, offering a variety of publishing packages at affordable fees. To tell them about your book and requirements, you can send an e-mail or call them.
Contact:
- Phone: 020 3286 8686
- Address: 2nd Floor 6-8 Dyer Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 2PF
5. Red Hen Press
Red Hen Press is known for publishing works of literary excellence. Since its establishment in 1994, it has been giving visibility to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that large-scale publishers have overlooked. Red Hen calls for submissions from new writers. They are constantly on the lookout for memoirs, amongst many other types of writing. Follow the submission guidelines and expect to receive a response within three to twelve months. If you are submitting through an agent, the manuscripts should be sent directly to the managing director at kate@redhen.org.
Contact:
- Phone: (626) 356-4760
- Mailing Address: P.O Box 40820 Pasadena, CA 91114
6. Kensington Publishing Corp.
Kensington is an independent publisher and a multi-generational family business. Since its founding in 1974, it has published a diverse range of fiction and nonfiction. They open a wide door of opportunities for new authors by accepting unsolicited manuscripts. You can submit a query by emailing one of their editors who specializes in the type of book you are proposing as listed in the Kensington submission guidelines. Do not attach your manuscript yet. The editor will request it based on your query if they are interested. If you do not receive any response from them within three months, it simply means that your project doesn’t fit their current need.
Contact:
- Phone:1-800-221-2647
- Address: 119 West 40th Street, New York 10018
- Email: Mail listed in submission guidelines
7. Bellevue Literary Press
Since 2007, this non-profit press has been devoted to publishing literary fiction and nonfiction. They accept unsolicited manuscripts from time to time. Be on the lookout for such windows of opportunity and familiarize yourself with their submission guidelines. At the moment, they only request submissions as needed.
Contact:
- Address: 90 Broad Street, Suite 2100, New York, NY 10004
8. Chronicle Books
This is another independent publisher in San Francisco accepting manuscripts for publication. Regardless of background and point of view, they partner with writers who represent the diversity of the creative world. They have an open submissions policy. Without an agent, you can submit your manuscripts as it suits their list of brilliant books. They currently accept submissions via email only. Check their submission guidelines to know what to do and how to do it. For memoirs, the instructions under Adult Trade Submissions are most applicable.
Contact:
- Phone: 415-537-4200
- Address: 680 Second Street, San Francisco, California 94107
9. Autumn House Press
This is another non-profit literary publisher in Pittsburgh, PA, that publishes nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. They often give more attention to contemporary writers who already have a following among readers but are overlooked by commercial publishers. For submissions, they carry out contests where winners receive $2500 and get their full-length manuscripts published. Memoirs are nonfiction; hence, they fall under the Autumn House nonfiction contest. Submissions are usually open from January 1 and close on May 31. What’s more? They accept submissions from international writers! Ensure you follow the submission guidelines for the Autumn House Nonfiction Contest.
Contact:
- Address: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Submissions link
10. BenBella Books
BenBella is an author-friendly publishing house that provides authors with excellent service and partnerships. They actively acquire strong non-fiction manuscripts, including memoirs for publishing. Their support extends beyond editing and printing. They also do the marketing work for each book they publish. To pitch your work to BenBella, you are required to fill out this form under Pitching BenBella to aid an initial assessment. If they love your project and feel like it’s a good fit for them, they will request sample chapters and other information. Otherwise, they will reach out to you within a month to inform you they are declining your book proposal. They do not accept pitches via email or physical mailings.
Contact:
11. Black & White Publishing
Since 1999, Black & White Publishing has been one of Scotland’s independent leading publishers, with many books in print across various genres. They publish books in the nonfiction, biographies, sports, and humor categories. For nonfiction submissions like memoirs, they currently accept one-page proposals via email. Note that they are particular about celebrity memoirs. They will inform you within six months if they are interested in considering your proposal for publication. If you do not hear from them within that time frame, it’s a ‘no’ on that occasion. Follow the submission guidelines to know what is expected of you.
Contact:
- Phone: 0131 625 4500
- Address: Nautical House, 104 Commercial Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6NF
12. Stone Pier Press
Stone Pier Press has a unique approach to books. They use them to save the world with a focus on food security and sustainability. They share stories about environmental concerns related to farming, food production, and the like. They accept memoirs that revolve around such themes. So, if your story somehow highlights environmental protection, sustainable methods, clean eating, and green living, then you can send it to them by following these submission guidelines. They are currently accepting submissions. Provided your memoir can help readers see a connection between the food system and a healthier planet, they will be ready to listen to you.
Contact:
- Phone: 415 484 2821
- Mailing Address: PO BOX 170572 San Francisco, CA 94117
13. Unnamed Press
As its name implies, Unnamed Press seeks unconventional and quirky writer who brings something new to the table. You stand a good chance if you can do that with your memoir. They are so easygoing that they do not have submission guidelines for authors. If they are interested in your proposal, which they expect you to send via email, they will send a reply signaling their intention. They give special attention to debuts by women, people of color, and underrepresented voices.
Contact:
14. Sourcebooks
Sourcebooks is an independent publisher that believes in authorship. They are well-known for both fiction and non-fiction titles, as well as memoirs and children’s books. They entertain both independent and agent-assisted submissions and projects. To submit manuscripts, follow these submission guidelines. Unless they made a specific request, do not send complete manuscripts.
Contact:
- Phone: (800) 432-7444
- Mailing Address: PO Box 4410 Naperville, IL 60567-4410
15. Rio Nuevo Publishers
The Tucson-based Rio Nuevo is an independent book publisher that has focused on food, culture, local history, travel, and nature since its inception. With a clear interest in these areas of writing, they welcome memoirs that speak their ‘language.’ They deal with both literary agencies and non-fiction authors with no representation. They expect you to send a query first. Upon evaluation, they will contact you requesting a complete proposal or manuscript if they are interested. It’s most likely a ‘no’ if they do not respond after a month. Follow these submission guidelines to submit your query.
Contact:
- Phone (520) 623-9558
- Address: 451 N Bonita Ave, Tucson, AZ 85745
Wrap Up
That was one exciting ride. I hope you find this helpful in making the manuscript submission of your memoir much easier. Read the submission guidelines carefully before you send a query or proposal. Keep yourself informed about any openings these publishers might have for you. In the meantime, submit to memoir publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts. You might encounter many rejections, as have countless now-bestselling authors like Stephen King and Kathryn Stockett. Make each rejection a stepping stone and not a stumbling block in reaching your goal of getting published. I also recommend checking my article about the best books on writing a memoir.
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Rafal Reyzer
Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here, and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.