17 Best Book Publishers in Tennessee (How to Submit)

Tennessee’s literary landscape is as diverse as its cultural heritage, boasting a legacy shaped by acclaimed authors, Pulitzer Prize winners, and unique literary genres.

From Southern Gothic novels to a deep tradition of Christian and children’s books, the state has long been a center of publishing, and Nashville in particular is home to some of the biggest faith-based houses in the country. If you are looking for a Tennessee publisher, the list below covers Christian houses, two university presses, small literary presses, and a few paid publishing services, with what each one publishes and how it handles submissions today. For a wider search, browse my directory of publishing companies.

Submission policies change without notice, so check the publisher’s own page before you send anything, and never pay a reading fee. Last verified: October 2, 2026.

Here’s a list of the top book publishers in Tennessee:

1. Thomas Nelson

Thomas Nelson is one of the best-known Christian book publishers in the world, with Bibles and trade books from authors such as Billy Graham and Max Lucado. It was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, more than 200 years ago and is now part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, based in Nashville. Its imprints include Nelson Books and W Publishing Group. Thomas Nelson does not accept unsolicited manuscripts, so most authors reach it through a literary agent. Submission guidelines.

2. Argyle Fox Publishing

Argyle Fox Publishing was founded by Daniel Brantley in Cleveland, Tennessee, with a team of artists, illustrators, and editors who help authors bring a book to market. Argyle Fox accepts submissions across many genres, though it avoids graphic, pornographic, or offensive content. Keep in mind that this is an author-funded publishing service, not a traditional publisher: its pricing page listed a $2,100 base package plus optional add-ons in October 2026. Submission guidelines.

3. B&H Publishing Group

B&H Publishing Group is a Nashville Christian publisher whose authors include Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Matt Chandler, and Stephen and Alex Kendrick. It publishes Christian living, leadership, devotionals, fiction, and academic titles, along with Bibles in translations such as the CSB, KJV, RVR 1960, and NVI. B&H does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or proposals; its FAQ asks authors to come through a literary agent. Submission guidelines.

4. Pathway Press

Pathway Press publishes Christian resources for churches: Sunday School curriculum, small-group and discipleship material, hymnals, and books, sold through its own online bookstore. It is an active publisher with a clear church audience, but it does not post a manuscript submission policy, so a general contact form is your only route in. Treat it as a long shot unless your book fits its curriculum and ministry lines.

5. Turner Publishing

Turner Publishing Company is an independent publisher headquartered in Nashville. Established in 1984, it publishes business, young adult, history, romance, and wellness titles, with imprints that include Keylight Books for film-adaptable fiction and Ramsey & Todd for children’s books. Turner accepts queries from authors and agents through the submission portal linked from its guidelines. Fiction and nonfiction have different requirements, and the page lists the categories it does not publish, so read it closely before you send anything. Submission guidelines.

6. Ingram Content Group

Ingram Content Group, based in La Vergne near Nashville, is one of the world’s largest book distributors, connecting publishers with booksellers and libraries for print and digital titles. It is not a publisher that acquires manuscripts. For authors, its route in is IngramSpark, a self-publishing platform with print on demand, ebook publishing, and global distribution. Uploading files to IngramSpark publishes your own book; it is not an editorial submission. Ingram for authors.

7. Vanderbilt University Press

Vanderbilt University Press, established in 1940, is the publishing arm of Vanderbilt University in Nashville. It publishes scholarly books in the humanities, social sciences, health care, and education, and its manuscripts are reviewed by a faculty editorial committee. Vanderbilt University Press accepts scholarly book proposals from prospective authors; send a full manuscript only when an editor asks for one. Submission guidelines.

8. University of Tennessee Press

The University of Tennessee Press in Knoxville, established in 1940, publishes scholarship about Tennessee and the wider region. It is known for African American studies, Southern history, religion, and Appalachian studies, along with series such as the presidential papers and Voices of the Civil War. The University of Tennessee Press accepts book proposals, which go to the editor for your subject area; a full manuscript is read only on request. Submission guidelines.

9. Red Horseshoe Books

Red Horseshoe Books, founded by Barbara M. Lee, helps authors design, manage, and self-publish their books, drawing on her background in technical illustration and publication design. Projects range from a global cookbook to a family recipe collection, and the company brings in editors, illustrators, photographers, and printers as each book needs them. This is a paid publishing and consulting service: the author funds the book and keeps control of it. Publishing services.

10. Randall House Publications

Randall House Publications, the Nashville publisher of the Free Will Baptist denomination, now presents itself through D6 Family Ministry, a line of curriculum and books that helps churches and parents disciple children and teens together. Its catalog includes the D6 Curriculum and family-ministry books, and it hosts the D6 Conference. Randall House does not post a manuscript submission policy, so it fits best if you already work in family ministry and know its team.

11. Abingdon Press

Abingdon Press is the book imprint of The United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, which has been publishing since 1789. It produces academic, professional, and inspirational religious books for churches across denominations. Abingdon Press accepts nonfiction proposals focused on ministry and faith development. It is not a market for fiction, poetry, memoir, or children’s books, so check that your project fits before you send it. Submission guidelines.

12. Worthy Publishing

Worthy Books is an inspirational imprint of Hachette Nashville, part of Hachette Book Group. It publishes Christian and faith-based nonfiction and fiction for adults, and its sister lines publish for children, covering Bible study, devotion, leadership, biography, and personal growth. Hachette Book Group does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or queries, so you will need a literary agent to reach Worthy. Submission guidelines.

13. AMG Publishers

AMG Publishers, based in Chattanooga, is the publishing arm of AMG International, a global Christian ministry. Since 1980 it has published Christian resources such as the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, Bible studies, reference works, and youth fiction. AMG accepts manuscripts for Christian resources and asks authors to review its author guidelines before submitting. Submission guidelines.

14. C&R Press

C&R Press, founded in 2006, publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, including novels, memoirs, and experimental work. It began as a nonprofit poetry press and has broadened its list since a new team took it over in 2015. The press reads manuscripts through seasonal calls and contests and offers royalty-based contracts, but the deadlines on its submissions page had passed as of October 2026, so check there for the next call. Submission guidelines.

15. True Vine Publishing Co

True Vine Publishing Company in Nashville is a paid publishing service for independent authors. It sells packages, from basic book production to bestseller-level marketing, plus à la carte services such as manuscript coaching, co-writing, and sales coaching. There is no acquisitions route: you buy the package that fits your book, so compare it with other self-publishing companies before you sign. Publishing packages.

16. Celtic Cat Publishing

Celtic Cat Publishing, in Knoxville, is an award-winning independent publisher established in 1995, with honors that include a ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award and a Benjamin Franklin Award for Poetry. It focuses on novels, poetry, and work with an East Tennessee flavor, and it avoids formulaic genre novels. Celtic Cat accepts initial queries; do not send a full manuscript until it asks for one. Submission guidelines.

17. Iris Press

Iris Press was founded by Patricia Wilcox in 1975 in Binghamton, New York, to publish literary work by underappreciated writers, and it added the Tellico Books imprint in 2003. Its list centers on poetry and literary prose, with titles such as George Scarbrough’s “New and Selected Poems.” Iris Press is not accepting unsolicited manuscripts at the moment, according to its contact page, so watch that page for any change. Contact page.

Names you may be looking for

Waldenhouse Publishers

Waldenhouse Publishers offers individually priced publishing plans for authors. Its current website lists its home office in Elberfeld, Indiana.

CamCat Books

CamCat Books published adult and YA fiction across genres. Its old web address now shows unrelated articles, so look for its books through bookstores.

Nightscape Press

Nightscape Press is a small horror publisher known for its charity anthology “Horror for Good.” Its website and submissions page could not be reached in October 2026, so check for a current address before you submit.

Conclusion

Tennessee publishing leans heavily toward faith-based books, so if you write Christian nonfiction you have more options here than almost anywhere else, though the biggest Nashville houses work through agents. Scholarly authors have two strong university presses, and literary writers should look at Celtic Cat and the seasonal calls at C&R Press. If a listing is a paid service, compare its packages before you commit. Next up, you may want to explore a guide on publishing companies in Kentucky.