18 Best Book Publishing Companies in Southern California

Southern California has long been a nerve center for creativity and innovation, and its book publishing industry is no exception.

The region’s ten counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, and Orange County, are home to literary presses, art-book houses, children’s imprints, and niche specialists. For each publisher below, you’ll find what it publishes and how it handles submissions right now, from presses reading manuscripts today to houses that work only through agents or in-house. Once you’ve completed this guide, a treasure trove of publishing entities awaits your exploration.

Related content:

• Publishers in California
• Publishers in San Francisco
• Publishers in Los Angeles
• Publishers in San Diego
• Publishers in San Jose

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 best book publishing companies in Southern California

1. Harvard Square Editions

Harvard Square Editions grew out of Harvard Writers and Publishers, a Harvard Alumni Association group, and was founded in Hollywood to publish literary fiction and nonfiction of social and environmental value. Its list runs from novels, novellas, and true stories to romance, fantasy, YA, translation, and science fiction, alongside nonfiction such as textbooks, self-help, health, and meditation. Several of its titles have won Nautilus and Independent Publisher Book Awards. Harvard Square Editions accepts manuscripts that fit its mission through the submission form on its site, from emerging and established authors, and an agent is not required. Submission guidelines.

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

2. Prospect Park Books

Prospect Park Books began in Altadena, in Los Angeles County, and is now an imprint of Turner Publishing. Its list mixes Southern California cookbooks such as “The Urban Forager,” humor, mysteries like the Mas Arai series, and smart nonfiction, so it suits authors with a strong regional or culinary hook. Turner accepts fiction and nonfiction submissions from agents or authors directly; fiction needs a completed manuscript and nonfiction a detailed proposal. It is not taking picture books, children’s or middle-grade books, novellas, story collections, or anthologies. Submission guidelines.

3. Angel City Press

Angel City Press has spent decades publishing beautifully designed books about Los Angeles history, architecture, film, art, and popular culture, often built around striking photography and archival images. It now operates as part of the Los Angeles Public Library, which keeps its focus on the stories and heritage of the city. Angel City Press accepts proposals for books that fit its Los Angeles mission, and its submission page on the library’s site explains what to send.

4. Thunder Bay Press

Thunder Bay Press is a San Diego imprint of Printers Row Publishing Group, known for licensed books and kits that bring pop culture into the kitchen and the craft room. Its list includes “Recipes from the World of Tolkien,” Disney and Star Wars crochet kits, Marvel word searches, and coloring books for adults and teens, plus illustrated children’s books. According to its contact page, Thunder Bay Press is not accepting unsolicited manuscripts for new projects, so most of its projects are developed in-house.

5. Red Hen Press

Red Hen Press is a nonprofit independent press in Pasadena, founded in 1994 by Kate Gale and Mark E. Cull to publish poetry, literary fiction, memoir, and essay collections while promoting literacy. It champions diverse literary voices and runs literary programs in Southern California schools. Red Hen Press accepts submissions during its posted reading periods and through its annual book awards, so check the guidelines for what is open right now. Submission guidelines.

6. Plural Publishing Inc.

Plural Publishing, based in San Diego, was founded in 2004 by Dr. Sadanand Singh and Angie Singh and is a leading publisher in communication sciences and disorders. Its textbooks, professional books, assessments, and online products cover speech-language pathology, audiology, otolaryngology, special education, and singing and voice. Plural welcomes original textbook proposals for courses in communication disorders, speech-language pathology, and audiology, and academic and clinical specialists vet every proposal before publication. Publish with Plural.

7. Portable Press

Portable Press is the home of “Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader,” the long-running trivia series now in its 39th edition, and its website now redirects to the Bathroom Reader site. The books serve up bite-sized history, science, sports, weird news, and pop culture, written to be read a page at a time and perfect as travel companions. Portable Press does not publish a submission route; its contact page is for reader feedback and questions.

8. Unnamed Press

Unnamed Press is an independent publisher based in Los Angeles that has earned attention from The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Los Angeles Review of Books for its bold fiction and nonfiction. It looks for writers whose stories cross cultures and challenge conventions, from international literary fiction to essays. Unnamed Press accepts submissions during open reading periods, and its submissions FAQ explains what it is looking for and when to send. Submissions FAQ.

9. Black Bed Sheet Books

Black Bed Sheet Books, founded by horror author Nicholas Grabowsky in 2008, is an independent press for dark fiction: horror, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, thrillers, and young adult. It publishes trade paperbacks and ebooks and has produced titles such as “Forrest J Ackerman’s Anthology of the Living Dead.” Black Bed Sheet Books is accepting submissions for Fall and Winter 2026 releases and beyond, including novels, novellas, and short story collections; send a query by email first, and both agented and unagented authors are welcome. Submission guidelines.

10. Brown Paper Press

Brown Paper Press was founded in Long Beach in 2015 and specializes in nonfiction that celebrates truth, diversity, and curiosity. It is a small, boutique house, and its titles include Sandra A. Miller’s “Trove: A Woman’s Search for Truth and Buried Treasure,” a memoir of midlife and a hunt for buried gold. Its website does not list a submission route, so start with the email address on its site if you have a nonfiction project that fits.

11. Santa Monica Press

Santa Monica Press has published lively nonfiction for more than 25 years, casting a wide net across pop culture, film, music, humor, biography, travel, sports, and regional titles about California. In 2022 it launched Santa Monica Press/Teen for young adult historical fiction and narrative nonfiction. Santa Monica Press is not accepting book proposals, queries, or submissions at this time and asks authors to check back for news of a reopening. Author guidelines.

12. Silver Dolphin Books

Silver Dolphin Books is a San Diego children’s imprint of Printers Row Publishing Group, the same group as Thunder Bay Press. It creates board books, picture books, and interactive learning sets with flaps, touch-and-trace pages, and stickers, including the bestselling “You’re My Little” series for babies and toddlers. Its website does not publish a submission route for authors.

13. ProStar Publications

ProStar Publications, headquartered in Los Angeles County, is one of the few independent publishers devoted to nautical books. Its catalog covers tide and current tables for the West Coast, the U.S. Coast Pilot volumes, Light Lists, navigation rules, and Waggoner cruising guides, so boaters and sailing professionals use it as a reference shelf. ProStar does not publish a submission route.

14. Kaya Press

Kaya Press, based in Los Angeles, is a leading independent publisher of Asian and Pacific Islander diasporic literature. It publishes innovative fiction, narrative nonfiction, experimental poetry, art, and performance pieces that push boundaries, and its books have won many awards. Kaya Press accepts submissions during its open reading periods, and its guidelines explain the current call. Submission guidelines.

15. Rare Bird Lit

Rare Bird is an independent publisher in Los Angeles with an eclectic list of literary fiction, memoir, music books, humor, and pop culture, sold in print and ebook. Its catalog runs from “All For Now” by Joseph Di Prisco to music memoirs such as “Along Comes the Association.” Rare Bird does not accept unsolicited submissions, according to its contact page, so most of its authors arrive through agents or referrals.

16. Chimayo Press

Chimayo Press is an independent educational publisher in Los Angeles that launched in 2005 with one advanced English as a Second Language title. Its Compelling Conversations series now spans editions for different levels, countries, and workplaces, with questions and quotations that get learners talking. In 2011 it expanded into fiction and memoir, including “Star Boy” by Dennis E. Hackin. It does not publish a submission route; use the contact form for inquiries.

17. MindStir Media

MindStir Media is a self-publishing services company with an office in West Hollywood among its US locations. It offers packages that cover editing, cover design, printing, distribution, marketing, and publicity, and it also provides ghostwriting. Because authors pay for these services, treat it as a self-publishing partner and compare packages carefully before you sign. MindStir accepts manuscripts from authors who choose one of its packages, and its process page explains each step. Publishing process.

18. Taschen

Taschen was founded in Cologne, Germany, in 1980 and has long had a strong presence in Los Angeles. It is famous for lavish art, architecture, design, photography, fashion, and pop culture books, from affordable basics to collector’s editions. Taschen accepts project proposals through a dedicated page on its site, so photographers, artists, and authors with a visual book idea can pitch it directly. Project proposals.

Names you may be looking for

New Harbinger Publications

New Harbinger is a respected psychology and self-help publisher, known for workbooks on anxiety, depression, and mindfulness. It is based in Oakland, in Northern California, and takes book proposals from experts through its website.

Pauline Books & Media

Pauline Books & Media is the publishing house of the Daughters of St. Paul, with Catholic books for adults, teens, and children. It publishes from Boston, Massachusetts, and runs book and media centers in several US cities. See also my guide to Catholic book publishers.

Chemical Publishing Company

Chemical Publishing Company has published scientific and technical books since 1934, including “Harry’s Cosmeticology.” Its author submission form gives a mailing address in Revere, Massachusetts.

Ulysses Press

Ulysses Press began in 1983 in Berkeley, in Northern California, with the travel guide “Hidden Hawaii,” and now publishes health, fitness, cooking, and pop culture books.

MSI Press

MSI Press is an award-winning small press in Hollister, on California’s Central Coast, publishing self-help, memoir, spirituality, and psychology, with a San Juan Books division for first-time authors.

Two Lines Press

Two Lines Press, the publishing arm of the Center for the Art of Translation, publishes literature in translation from San Francisco. It is currently closed to submissions.

Carnation Books

Carnation Books is a queer-focused independent press from San Jose, in Northern California. Its website did not respond in October 2026, so look for a current address before you submit.

Final Thoughts

Southern California is more than the glitz of Beverly Hills and Hollywood or the ocean views of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. It is also home to some of the most dynamic independent presses in the country. If you want to submit now, start with the publishers reading today: Harvard Square Editions, Black Bed Sheet Books, Prospect Park Books through Turner, Plural for speech and hearing textbooks, and Taschen for visual projects, then watch Red Hen, Unnamed, and Kaya for their next reading periods. Whether you are a first-time or seasoned author, SoCal has a press that can help turn your book dream into reality. Next up, you may want to explore a guide on book publishers in Vermont.