ePublishers

I always thought this would be one of those 'drag me kicking and screaming' kind of things, but I made the decision to research e-publishing with a mind toward getting something published.  (Yeah, yeah, Kristen, I know.)

In the spirit of helping out my fellow writers, I thought I'd compile some links as I go along - because why should I make other people reinvent the wheel, when I'm perfectly willing to reinvent one myself.  Below is that reinvention - hopefully with some added value people might appreciate.  (Italics are their words, and the regular print after is my thoughts, for whatever they're worth.)  I tried really hard to make sure these were actual publishers - you know, the ones who pay you - but if you see one that doesn't belong, please let me know.

(ETA: I just found the link to EPIC - the Electronically Published Internet Coalition (or Connection, depending on where you look) - who seems to be a watchdog group for ePublishers. If you're concerned about anything you find at any ePublisher, please contact these folks.  It looks like they know what they're doing. YMMV)

In no particular order*...

Samhain Publishing - Samhain Publishing is now open to general submissions of all genres of romance and erotica, as well as fantasy, urban fantasy and science fiction with strong romantic elements. We are refocusing our efforts and will no longer be accepting submissions in other genres for the time being, including women’s fiction, chick lit and young adult. (Since my work doesn't have strong romantic elements, this one isn't for me - even if I wish they were.)

AKW Books -  Quality new eBooks at low prices.  (I tried to find some 'about us' type page, or even a paragraph talking about what they do, but I found nada.  (Okay, so I didn't look for more than a few minutes.  I'm committed to doing this, but let's get real.)  They look legit.  The only wrinkle I saw is that they require authors to provide all their own artwork - including the cover.  They do have an interesting blog.)

Aspen Mountain Press - Aspen Mountain Press is seeking stories in all genres.  Please know we will not accept manuscripts that encourage racial / religious intolerance, illegal acts, or abuse.  Beginning with a minimum word count of 20k and extending to 90k creative, unusual, well-written stories that draw the reader into your world will garner our attention.  We especially like tales that cross genres; for example a science-fiction mystery.We only contract COMPLETED manuscripts and do not accept proposals from authors unknown to us.  (That last part shoots me in the ass, but maybe one of you is known to them.  If so, good luck.)  Additionally: Aspen Mountain Press will launch its new Aurora Regency imprint on October 15, 2010! Aurora Regency at Aspen Mountain Press is a line devoted to Regency romance. Traditional Regency romances, as exemplified by Georgette Heyer’s work, are first and foremost historical fiction about a very specific (and short) era.

Whiskey Creek Press - Whiskey Creek Press is a royalty-paying traditional publisher of fiction and non-fiction, and we publish in ebook and trade paperback formats. WE ARE LWAYS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS. Whiskey Creek Press charges NO fees of any kind to authors for publishing services. Editorial service, cover art design and production, paperback set-up fees, and ISBN numbers are provided at absolutely NO fee to our contracted authors. WCP authors may purchase copies of their print books at a substantial discount off the retail price.  WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS IN ALL FICTION GENRES. WE ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN ALL GENRES OF ROMANCE, SCIENCE FICTION, AND FANTASY.  (Seems like a good one.  All I need now is a business plan.  Spin it, Salesgirl.  Spin it.)

Atlantic Bridge - a full service, royalty paying e-publisher. Our doors have been open since February 2000 and through these past years, our focus has remained the same. That focus is to publish the highest quality books from the most outstanding authors we discover. We are looking for manuscripts from creative writers of fiction genres such as Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, along with Celtic stories of myth and legend. We are looking for that "something different", that "something unique" which doesn't fit into the mold or stands just outside the box. We are looking for those works which create a paradigm shift within a genre or sub genre. (Closed to submissions.  Check back with them for updates.)

Awe-Struck Publishing - Awe-Struck Publishing was founded in 1998. Awe-Struck was acquired by Mundania Press LLC in January 2009.  (Closed to submissions.  Check back with them for updates.)

Blade Publishing - DOA 

Bluewood Publishing - an international full royalty paying publisher. Providing your manuscript meets our submission quality and content criteria, we will edit it with you, design a cover, and publish it on the major e-book retail sites. All we ask is that you actively get involved with promoting your book and we will help you to do this.  We are always on the lookout for quality submissions of any length, from short stories with a minimum of 3,000 words up to full length novels. We will not consider works of less than 50,000 words for printing.  Bluewood Publishing is a royalty paying publisher, and the services we provide are not charged to the author. Please ensure your manuscript meets the following guidelines.  (These folks are in New Zealand - which may or may not be a bad thing for us Yanks.  I really like their site and their business model, so they may be worth a go, even if currency exchanges could make payment a pain in the wazoo.)

Virtual Tales - a US-based publisher of print, eBook and serialized novels and novellas spanning a variety of fiction genres and styles. We are currently looking for talented authors, editors and artists to help us add to our fiction catalog.  (Another one looking for a marketing plan.  Paging Dr. Spin.)

Calderwood Books - Good readers deserve good books. Calderwood Books chooses its books because they are enjoyable reads, not because they fit marketing profiles. We welcome cross-genre books and those that don’t fit into whatever is the current print-publishing fashion. Don’t form expectations about what you will find here.  (Some of the books in their catalog look interesting.  I'm not sure how any of my works would fit into their current listings, but it might be worth a shot.  Closed to submissions.  Check back with them to see if they're open.)

Champagne Books - Champagne Books publishes novel length fiction in both electronic and trade paperback formats. While we are happy to look at all genres we have a specific interest in: Contemporary Romance, Time Travel Romance, Historical Romance, Science Fiction/Futuristic, Fantasy, Steam punk.  (Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  (ahem, if you're out there, Natalie, lookie here)  Aside from being out of the US, they seem like just the right place for my stuff.  We'll see what further research reveals.)

Club Lighthouse Publishing - Not really sure about this one.  Their site won't let me copy anything that might urge you to hop from here to there.  Suffice it to say, they looked good enough for me to put them here.  (And no, I haven't put every site I find on here.)  They look to be either Canadian or British - since their guidelines say that they accept US English, they will change it over to their spellings.

Colvin Publications Pty Ltd - DOA

Double Dragon Publishing - We welcome submissions from new, unpublished authors as well as from those well known to the public. We also welcome authors who do not enjoy the services of an agent.We are currently accepting only SCIENCE FICTION, including Hard (Science) SF, Space Fiction, Sci Fi, Future Fiction, Lost Civilizations, Utopias, Distopias, Disaster Novels, Alternate Histories, Time Travel, Parallel Worlds, etc., and FANTASY, including Myth, Legend, Fairy Tales, Traditional Fantasy, Magic Realism, Sword and Sorcery, Epic Fantasy, Horror, Gothic, etc. (Closed to submissions until March 2011.)

Dragonfly Publishing - Please note that we do not publish graphic material. That means no erotica, no horror, and no military fiction.  We consider all types of TRUE science fiction and fantasy, as long as the content does not include graphic situations that mandate an adult R-rating (18 or older).  Teen / Young Adult books should keep as close to a G-rating as possible.  Genre Fiction works should fall under a standard PG rating, which means it is suitable for young teens and up to read. (Closed to submissions.  Check back with them for updates.)

Draumr Publishing - (Not a spelling error.  Draumr means 'dream' in Norse.)  We are currently seeking submissions for Draumr Publishing fiction genres such as science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, adventure, suspense/thriller, non-bbw romances (including all the subgenres listed above), and gay/lesbian stories.  (They're also looking for books with a big, beautiful MC for their Dangerous Curves line.  I don't have any of those, but they might be good for my one suspense novel.)

E-Press Online - We welcome nonfiction and fiction submissions as follows: Nonfiction pertaining to the art and craft of writing, as well as Resource for Writers books.  Fiction in the following genres: Mystery (and sub-genres, including crossovers) U.S Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Category Romance. (Looks straightforward enough.)

Fictionwise - A Barnes and Noble Company -  (I'm not seeing their submission guidelines, so if anyone had the link, leave it in the comments.)

Gypsy Shadow Publishing - (I'm unable to copy from their submission guidelines, but they publish 'high-quality, well-written manuscripts in a variety of genres and lengths'.  The site is pretty attractive.  They also have free books available so readers can get a feel for their writers before they spend money, which is always good.)

Hard Shell Word Factory - We publish book-length quality non-fiction and fiction--Romance (all categories), Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Western, Historical,  Mainstream, Young Adult and Children's books. (Closed to submissions.  Check back with them for updates.)

Lillibridge Press - seeking stories in these genres ONLY: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror/Gothic, Myths/Tales, Magick/Occult, Superheroes, High Romance, LGBTQ, and Erotica. Stories can stand alone or be part of a well-developed series, but MUST HAVE AN ELEMENT OF THE SPECULATIVE.  (Thought we had a winner, but I can't figure out how to purchase any of their books, and one e-book has a price of $9999.99.  Nevermind, I figured out how to buy, but that huge typo price is still worrying.  I'm leery, but it appears to be worth further investigation.  And they have awesome covers.  Anyone who makes awesome covers can't be too bad.  Right?**)

Literary Road - Independent Books for Independent Minds.  (I like that, but their genres don't seem to fit me, and they don't seem to have very many books for sale.)

Lyrical Press -  a commercial fiction publisher, and as such, our goal is to entertain and satisfy our readers. Please keep that guiding principle in mind while considering Lyrical Press as a potential home for your work.  Lyrical Press is actively acquiring all sub-genres of erotica and romance. We are also seeking urban fantasy and steampunk.  (They have some hella-pretty covers, too.)

Multi-Media Publications - an independent publisher focused on delivering high quality books, ebooks, audiobooks, DVDs and interactive learning solutions. Using technology to its fullest advantage since 1988, Multi-Media Publications has been a pioneer in digital content delivery, offering many of its titles simultaneously in print and several ebook formats.  (Closed to fiction submissions.  Check back with them for updates.)

Mushroom eBooks -interested in book-length fiction of all genres, particularly science fiction, fantasy, horror, thrillers and romance. Your story should be well written, clear, artfully plotted, and have three-dimensional characters. Above all your story must be an "unputdownable page-turner".  (Closed to submissions.  Check back with them for updates.)

New Concepts Publishing - ONLY publishes romantic fiction. Non-fiction, children's or young adult stories, mysteries or suspense, unless it is romantic suspense, will be immediately rejected. New Concepts Publishing DOES publish romantic fiction in sub-genres: Science Fiction/Futuristic, Paranormal, Fantasy, Historical and Contemporary romance, some romantic suspense, and also Erotica, although we prefer that the erotica be romantic in nature and require that it be targeted toward our audience-women.  (They have a nice breakdown of their payouts.  Too bad about the 'only romance thing'.)

SynergEbooks - a company with a firm foothold in electronic publishing, and has already expanded to include CD-ROMs, audio books, and trade paperbacks, carrying more than 350 digital titles, more than 50 of which are available in print. Genres include Fiction, Nonfiction, Romance, Young Adults, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Poetry, Humor, Mystery/Suspense, Inspiration, Cookbooks, Self-Help/Reference, Suspense, Mystery, Business, True Crime, New Age, Native American, and an ever-expanding Children's section. (Open for submissions but only until February 15th.  If you miss that, check back for a new window.)

Uncial Press - seeking submissions of complete manuscripts. Our present needs are for Georgian, Regency, Victorian, and western American historical romance, fantasy and paranormal stories; cozy and traditional mysteries; Science Fiction; and nonfiction how-to books and humor. Please feel free to query us about stories in other genres, because the list of what we would like to see is far too long to include here. We will consider both book-length works (at least 50,000 words) and superlative shorter fiction (at least 5,000 words.) (Take a look at their sample contract.  The thing I'm not digging is they require the author to get their own copyright.  I don't think that's standard procedure, but what do I know?)

Untreed Reads Publishing - actively seeking short stories, novellas, reprints and print works that have not previously appeared in ebook format. Spanish-language fiction is a high-demand item. Please note that due to a full production schedule, at this time we are not entertaining full-length fiction works with the exception of: materials from agents, Spanish-language, existing Untreed Reads authors, the creation of ebook versions of previously published full-length print works or reprints of either print or ebook. We plan to resume accepting full-length fiction submissions from all other sources in June.  (Check back in June, I guess.)

Wings ePress - always looking for innovative fiction... actively looking for Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance and Young Adult.

Write Words - all genres except books for small children. Only books for Ages 12 and up, please. We are actively seeking romance, mystery, and non-fiction.  (Looks like they do paperbacks and ebooks.)

Writers Exchange - welcomes both first time novelists and multi-published authors. We provide indepth editing for those newer authors who require the extra work and also less intensive editing for those authors who have been published previously and know their craft better. If you have cover art already available for your books please mention this in your submission as this will save time in the publication process. 

Cobblestone Press - an electronic publisher of sensual& erotic romance and short story erotica seeking creative storytelling and original style.  Because we at Cobblestone Press are selective about what we accept, we are looking for authors to set the standard of writing for this press; authors that show extraordinary ability to weave tales of romance through strong, unforgettable characters, plots that twist and turn with layers of conflict and emotion, and a style that sets them apart from other writers in the market.

Drollerie Press - believes in providing quality entertainment to our customers: good stories, polished with good editing, accompanied by quality cover art, and provided at a reasonable price, in as many ways as our customers want to enjoy them. (Submissions closed until June 15th.)

Eternal Press - currently accepting: Novellas, and full-length manuscripts from 20,000-140,000 words. Genres: Romance, Erotica, GBLT and BDSM, Paranormal, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Thriller, Historical, Young Adult.  (Canadian company.  Another one looking for a marketing plan.  This must be a somewhat standard thing amongst ePubs.)


LBF Books - any fiction genre you can think of, we publish it. Except for picture books and young readers. Middle-grade, YA and adult in any genre are welcome here at LBF! (Closed to submissions until further notice.)


L&L Dreamspell - a small publishing company based near Houston, Texas, producing print books and e-books in both fiction and non-fiction. Genres including Romance, Erotica, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy Paranormal, Non-Fiction Writer's Handbooks, Paranormal and Metaphysical Non-Fiction topics and more. (Looks legit.)

Mundania Press - the home of uncommonly good books for the discerning reader. Mundania Press is a publisher of select novels and short stories. We specialize in science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, and paranormal.  (Currently closed to SF and F, but open for urban fantasy, paranormal romance, horror and steampunk.)


Zumaya Publications - One of the advantages of the new digital publishing industry is that we are able to offer titles from talented authors previously overlooked by traditional markets or who write in genres transcending standardized categories of fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery and others. Zumaya's philosophy is simple. If it's a great, well-written story, we'll publish it. (Currently closed to submissions.  Check back with them later.)


More research to come later...

One thing I've noticed while reading these sites was that most of them state: No Simultaneous Submissions.  (Sometimes with all caps and exclamation points.)  This means you submit to one, and wait 1-4 months before you can submit to the next.  Not exactly writer friendly, but I can understand their thinking.  They've probably been burned by people who don't have the sense to say something after accepting an offer somewhere else.  Please please please - if you have your work out at multiple places (this goes for agents, too) and you get an offer, let everyone else know.  It's just common courtesy.

(Most links were originally found at eBook Crossroads, but I did the extra legwork.  As always and with everything you read online - independently verify that the people you are thinking about working with don't suck and aren't out to part you from your hard-earned moolah.  And for the love of all that's good, don't use only one source as a reference point - not even me.  Some people / sites / forums / blogs have axes to grind.  Like me and my axe to grind about people with axes to grind.  :wink:)

* because I'm too lazy to alphabetize right now.
** totally joking about that, but their covers are really nifty