Criteria for inclusion
The selection criteria of the North Carolina Literary Map for independent presses reflect an interest in maintaining a broad, inclusive, and up-to-date list of independent presses as a resource for authors. To that end, our inclusion criteria aim to protect writers and promote presses that value inclusivity and publish actively. Independent presses included on the NC Literary Map website must have an editorial process in place. Independent presses must also publish primarily poetry and/or books (rather than journalism), and it must publish semi-regularly (at least annually). Presses must not charge authors fees to publish or edit the work, and presses cannot only consider members of a particular group (university, club) or only publish their own editors. For questions about the criteria for inclusion, please contact the NC Literary Map team at nclitmap@uncg.edu. For authors considering publishing options, see WRITER BEWARE, a valuable resource from the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), for tips and best practices when choosing a publisher.
If you know of a press we’re missing that fits these criteria, please email us and share what you know!
- Algonquin Books
- https://www.algonquin.com/
- Started in 1983, this publisher specializes in publishing undiscovered authors particularly from the South. An imprint of Workman Publishing, it is now an imprint of Little, Brown and Company. Based in North Carolina with an office in New York.
- Located in Chapel Hill.
- Baen Publishing Enterprises
- https://www.baen.com/
- Founded in 1983, this publisher specializes in science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction in E-book format and physical copies.
- Located in Wake Forest.
- Black Mountain Press
- http://theblackmountainpress.com/
- Started in 1994, this independent press has a focus on poetry, creative novels, and short story collections of new authors.
- Located in Asheville.
- Blair Publishing
- https://www.blairpub.com/
- Forming under the new name of Blair in 2018 after being sold to Carolina Wren Press, this publisher was once John F. Blair Publisher. It now focuses on marginalized authors or stories focusing on marginalized groups.
- Located in Durham.
- Bull City Press
- https://bullcitypress.com/
- Founded in 2006, this publisher focuses on chapbooks and full-length books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. It releases 4-10 chapbooks each year, as well a quarterly journal titled Inch.
- Located in Durham.
- Cave Wall Press
- http://www.cavewallpress.com/index.html
- Since 2007, this publisher has been publishing poetry chapbooks once or twice a year.
- Located in Greensboro.
- Franklin/Kerr Press
- http://www.franklinkerr.com/
- Publishing since 2016, this small, full-service publishing company focuses on the genres of thriller, young adult, fantasy, and science fiction with diverse representation.
- Located in Concord.
- Gryphon House
- https://www.gryphonhouse.com/
- Founded in 1971, this publisher specializes in children resource books for teachers and parents.
- Located in Lewisville.
- Hermit Feathers Press
- https://hermitfeatherspress.wordpress.com/
- Since 2019, this small, independent publisher focuses on regional poetry of the Southeastern United States.
- Located in Winston-Salem.
- Less Than Three Press
- https://lessthanthreepress.tumblr.com/
- Started in 2009, this independent press focuses on LGBTQ romance.
- Located in Rocky Mount.
- Longleaf Press
- https://longleafpress.org/
- Founded in 1997, this press was formerly housed at Methodist University. In 2021, it became an independent press. Publishes poetry chapbooks, full-length collections, translations, and novels.
- Located in Fayetteville.
- Lookout Books
- https://lookout.org/
- Started in 2009, this publication is an imprint of The University of North Carolina Wilmington. It publishes one book of either fiction, poetry, or non-fiction every year from emerging and historically underrepresented authors.
- Located in Wilmington.
- Mainland Press
- http://www.mainlandpress.com/
- Publishing since 2005, this press focuses on comedy fiction and non-fiction. Not currently accepting submissions.
- Located in Conover.
- McFarland Books
- https://mcfarlandbooks.com/
- Founded in 1979, this independent publisher specializes in academic and general-interest nonfiction books. Known for its serious treatment of popular culture. Owns the imprints of Exposit Books and Toplight Books.
- Located in Jefferson.
- Orison Press
- https://orisonbooks.com/
- Publishing since 2014, this press focuses on "spiritually-engaged" poetry, fiction, and non-fiction.
- Located in Asheville.
- Press 53
- https://www.press53.com/
- Since 2005 this publisher focuses on short fiction and poetry collections. It is the owner of the imprints Opine Press and Plot Hound Books.
- Located in Winston-Salem.
- Prospective Press
- http://prospectivepress.com/
- Founded in 2015, this press accepts books and short stories, focusing on titles of fiction and some non-fiction from a wide array of genres.
- Located in Winston-Salem.
- Regal House Publishing
- https://regalhousepublishing.com/
- Starting in 2014, this independent publisher has an interest in fiction of all genres, novel and short story length through their press and imprints of House of Kel, Fitzroy Books, and Pact Press.
- Located in Raleigh.
- Supposed Crimes & Acquitted Books
- https://supposedcrimes.com/
- Founded in 2010, this publisher focuses on LGBTQ fiction of romance and other genres (Supposed Crimes) and LGBTQ romance and experimental fiction (Acquitted Books).
- Located in Matthews.
