22 Best Book Publishing Companies in Minnesota (Contact)

The State of Minnesota is often admired not just for its breathtaking natural splendor, but also for its thriving and lively world of literature.

In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, nonprofit literary presses, university presses, children’s publishers, and faith-based houses shape Minnesota’s and the nation’s literary identity. For each publisher below, you’ll find what it publishes and how it handles submissions right now, including which are reading manuscripts, which open only through prizes or agents, and which are self-publishing or hybrid services you pay for. You can also explore my handpicked 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 are the 22 best book publishing companies in Minnesota:

1. Graywolf Press

Graywolf Press is a nonprofit publisher founded in 1974 and based in Minneapolis. It publishes literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and translation, champions diverse and innovative voices, and has launched many emerging authors. Its authors include Claudia Rankine, Maggie Nelson, Carmen Maria Machado, Eula Biss, and Jericho Brown, and its books regularly win national awards. Graywolf is closed to submissions at the moment and reads manuscripts through Submittable only during announced windows. Submission guidelines.

Working on a book of your own? You can publish it yourself with PublishDrive (affiliate link).

2. Coffee House Press

Coffee House Press is a nonprofit independent publisher in Minneapolis known for literary fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction that takes risks with form. It also works with visual artists and performers through its programs and residencies. Coffee House Press is closed to submissions right now and opens its reading periods on the schedule posted on its submissions page. Submission guidelines.

3. Paragon House

Paragon House, based in St. Paul, publishes trade and scholarly books in philosophy, ethics, religion, social thought, political philosophy, and integral studies. It began in New York in 1963 as Paragon Book Reprint Corp., reprinting books on Asian philosophy, before moving to Minnesota. Its author list ranges from Georges Bataille to Dennis Gottfried. Paragon House does not publish a submission route online.

4. University of Minnesota Press

The University of Minnesota Press, founded in 1925 in Minneapolis, publishes scholarship in cultural studies, media and digital studies, literary theory, Indigenous studies, environmental humanities, and regional books about Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. The University of Minnesota Press accepts proposals by email to the editor for your field, and it is also accepting proposals for projects built for Manifold, its open-source platform for interactive scholarship. Book proposal guidelines.

5. Jolly Fish Press

Jolly Fish Press, founded in 2011, is an imprint of North Star Editions in Mendota Heights. It publishes young adult, middle-grade, and children’s fiction in print and digital formats, supporting both debut and established authors. Jolly Fish Press accepts queries through its submissions page, so read the guidelines carefully before you send. Submission guidelines.

6. Capstone

Capstone, based in North Mankato, is an independent, family-owned children’s publisher creating educational content from preschool through middle school: picture books, early readers, chapter books, graphic novels, and nonfiction on science, history, and social studies. Much of its nonfiction is written on assignment. Capstone accepts submissions as described in its guidelines, including applications from work-for-hire authors with a writing sample and publishing credits. Submission guidelines.

7. Living Justice Press

Living Justice Press is a nonprofit publisher in St. Paul devoted to restorative justice, peacemaking circles, and community healing, with a strong commitment to Indigenous perspectives. It works with authors, practitioners, and community leaders, and its style guide asks writers to use respectful terms such as Native Country and homeland. Living Justice Press accepts proposals with one or two representative sample chapters, as set out on its book submissions page. Book submissions.

8. Astragal Press

Astragal Press publishes affordable books on antique tools and tool collecting, early trades such as blacksmithing and carriage building, and the history of science and technology, from rail technology to the slide rule. Its illustrated references, toolmaker histories, and classic technical manuals serve collectors, craftspeople, and historians. It belongs to a family of catalogs alongside the Finney Company, and its web address now leads to an imprint page at Globe Pequot.

9. Holy Cow! Press

Holy Cow! Press is an independent literary press in Duluth, founded in 1977 by Jim Perlman. It publishes poetry, short fiction, memoir, anthologies, and creative nonfiction rooted in the Upper Midwest, and it is one of the few small presses that regularly publishes Native American authors. Its website is mainly a bookstore, so contact the press directly about submissions.

10. Fortress Press

Fortress Press, an imprint of 1517 Media in Minneapolis, is a leading publisher of theology, biblical studies, ethics, church history, and religious studies for scholars, students, and pastors. Fortress Press accepts proposals on an ongoing basis: contact the acquisitions editor whose interests are closest to your project, and include the proposal elements listed in its guidelines. Manuscript submissions.

11. Shipwreckt Books

Shipwreckt Books Publishing Company aims to raise independent publishing to the level of indie music and film. It publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and memoir, plus the magazine Lost Lake Folk Opera, and it offers creative development, editorial services, and publishing workshops to authors. Writers can upload a query, short bio, and writing sample through its website.

12. ABDO Publishing

ABDO, founded in Minnesota in 1985, creates nonfiction, fiction, graphic novels, and digital resources for schools and public libraries, covering science, social studies, language arts, and more for early readers through high school. It also offers Abdo Reference Online, a multi-user ebook library for schools. ABDO does not publish a current submission route online; its old submissions page has been removed.

13. North Star Press of St. Cloud

North Star Press of St. Cloud, now based in Clearwater, is a long-running Minnesota press that has published regional fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and children’s books for more than 50 years. Today it focuses on self-publishing services: authors pay for editing, design, and print facilitation, keep 100% of their rights, and earn all the profits from sales, with no minimums and transparent pricing. Treat it as a self-publishing partner rather than a traditional publisher.

14. Tristan Publishing

Tristan Publishing, founded in 2002 by Brett and Sheila Waldman and based in Golden Valley, publishes gift books, children’s books, and inspirational titles that encourage, uplift, and offer hope in Jesus, including books by Jodi Hills and Joan Steffend. Its imprints include Waldman House Press and TRISTAN Outdoors. It shares messages of hope and inspiration and does not publish a submission route online.

15. Afton Press

Afton Press is a nonprofit Minnesota publisher of beautiful, scholarly books on the state’s history, art, culture, and people. Founded in 1993, it released its first book, “The Shape of Things: The Art of Francis Lee Jaques,” in 1994, and it went on to win the Minnesota Book Award. Afton Press accepts manuscripts through the contact details on its website, where it also explains its donor program. Contact Afton Press.

16. Cruciform Press

Cruciform Press, co-founded by Bob Bevington and Tim Challies, publishes short, accessible, gospel-centered books on Christian living, discipleship, and theology, including titles by John Piper. It values clear writing that applies biblical truth to everyday life. Cruciform Press has paused new author inquiries for now, except from writers who already know its team.

17. Beaver’s Pond Press

Beaver’s Pond Press has been turning interesting people into independent authors since 1998. It is a choosy, relationship-focused self-publishing service: if it likes your project, it meets with you, prepares an estimate, and pairs you with a project manager for editing, design, production, and distribution. Authors pay for these services, and it promises no hard sell if you decide not to go ahead.

18. Redleaf Press

Redleaf Press, a division of Think Small in St. Paul, publishes resources for early childhood professionals, from curriculum and assessment to family child care and professional development. It publishes books for children or parents only when they relate directly to early care and education. Redleaf Press accepts book proposals by email with a writing sample and makes acquisition decisions about once a quarter, but it is not accepting unsolicited children’s manuscripts. Submit a book idea.

19. Lerner Publishing Group

Lerner Publishing Group, founded in Minneapolis in 1959 by Harry Lerner, is one of the largest independently owned children’s book publishers in the US, with more than 7,000 books in print and 17 imprints and divisions, including Carolrhoda Books, Carolrhoda Lab, Darby Creek, and Millbrook Press. Lerner does not accept unsolicited submissions or queries from unagented or unreferred authors, though it occasionally announces open calls in its press room. About Lerner.

20. MHS Press (Minnesota Historical Society Press)

The Minnesota Historical Society Press in St. Paul is one of the largest historical society presses in the US. It publishes books about Minnesota’s past and its many cultures, along with Minnesota History magazine. MHS Press seeks proposals for nonfiction about the history and culture of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, especially well-researched narrative history, and its author page lists what to include. Information for authors.

21. Milkweed Editions

Milkweed Editions, founded in Minneapolis in 1980, publishes 20 to 30 books a year of nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and translation, with a special interest in place, the environment, and social justice. Milkweed is closed to unsolicited submissions for now. The way in for poets is its prizes: the Jake Adam York Poetry Prize, open each year from July 1 to October 15, the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize, and the National Poetry Series. Submissions and prizes.

22. Kirk House Publishers

Kirk House Publishers was founded in Minneapolis in 1994 and has spent more than 30 years helping authors turn ideas, stories, and expertise into published books. It is a hybrid publisher: it vets every manuscript, pays no advances, and asks authors for a financial contribution while offering royalties. Kirk House accepts manuscripts of at least 20,000 words but not short story collections or previously published work, and it replies in about two weeks. Submission guidelines.

Names you may be looking for

Focus Publishing

Focus Publishing spent more than three decades publishing Christian books from Bemidji, Minnesota. It is now an imprint of Shepherd Press, which carries on its list.

Free Spirit Publishing

Free Spirit Publishing, known for social-emotional learning and mental health books for children and teens, began in Minneapolis and is now part of the Teacher Created Materials family of brands.

New Rivers Press

New Rivers Press, founded in 1968 and associated with Minnesota State University Moorhead, has published literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Its website did not respond in October 2026, so look for its current address before you submit.

Final Thoughts

Minnesota is a hotbed for literary talent. If you want to submit now, start with the presses taking proposals: the University of Minnesota Press and MHS Press for scholarship and history, Fortress Press for theology, Redleaf Press for early childhood education, Living Justice Press, Capstone, Jolly Fish Press, and Afton Press. Graywolf, Coffee House, and Milkweed are worth watching for reading periods and prizes, and Kirk House, Beaver’s Pond, and North Star are options if you choose to invest in hybrid or self-publishing. Next up, you may want to explore a guide on publishing companies in Long Island.