Hello Fellow Children’s Writers and Friends,

Yet again, this week’s post looks deceivingly simple, but is hopefully very helpful to as many of us as possible. This scenic adventure on the publication route began because I promised to update this post regularly, can you believe it’s been almost a year? I’ll attempt to be better this year, maybe one in July- six months from now. A year ago having a couple of manuscripts ready for submission, I began to research where I might send them. I found it difficult to find one place where publishers who are accepting manuscript submissions are recorded and where their details are up to date. The closest I could find was at www.creativekidstales.com.au  So with their help and that of Publishers Global I made the following list of Australian Children’s Publishers (bonus some English Accepting Australian submissions) and highlighted those open for submissions and what sort of submissions they are i.e.trade, digital, cooperative, partner or work for hire (for those of you who, like me last year, don’t know work for hire involves receiving a one off payment for a specifically requested type of book, often an educational publication).

I will endeavour to keep it up to date by checking these links regularly. Hence this being a deceivingly simple cut and paste post, no such luck. In the meanwhile, have a good look through to find the publishers and publishing style which best suit you and your work and good luck! Oh, and wish me luck too-please!

Key: * Accepting submissions

** A version of self publishing
~ Accepting submissions with some exceptions/conditions

^ Digital publication only

~ About Kids Books– previously accepting children’s book submissions except for Picture Books. Website currently unavailable

UPDATE- About Kids Books- no longer publishing.

Affirm Press– generally accept submissions of all types which align with their ethos. Currently not accepting any children’s including YA.

**Aurora House– offer manuscript assessment, book promotion, ebook, Print On Demand (POD) and combination packages for self publishers

**^Austin McAuley– London based hybrid publisher which offers some traditional, but mainly partnership publishing in print, ebook and some audiobook formats

UPDATE – There has been many negative comments about this publisher with claims they are pretty much a vanity press only.

~ Allen and Unwin– Friday Pitch accepts all ms submissions bar Picture Books, Poetry and Short Stories. They are especially looking for submissions from authors who identify as diverse.

** Balboa Press (A division of Hay House) open for assisted self-publishing

~ Big Sky Publishing – currently accepts unsolicited children’s titles in fiction and non-fiction formats. Currently not accepting picture books.

~Black Dog Books – A Division of Walker Books Australia -Accepting unsolicited manuscripts. (Picture Books from agented authors only)

* Blake Education is accepting Primary and Secondary Resource Guides especially Indigenous perspective for Primary and IWB and laptop compatible for Secondary

^ Bloomsbury Spark– publishing ebooks only for teen, YA and New Adult

~ Boolarong Press– accepting all genres particularly from QLD authors, but speak to them first (phone number provided)

Brolly Books– not accepting unsolicited submissions at the moment

~ Celapene– accepting children’s chapter books and junior novels. Not accepting unsolicited mss until 2019

~ Christmas Press Picture Books– accepting illustration submissions electronically

~ DoctorZed Publishing– ‘offers traditional, partnership and self-publishing services. We are currently accepting submissions of manuscripts for consideration. Please note that we review all submissions on the basis of whether your manuscript will meet our aims of delivering Goodness, Truth and Beauty to our readers.’

* EK Books– accepting Picture Book submissions only, sent digitally

*Empowering Resources– ‘We are a publisher of high-quality children’s picture books and junior novels that nurture educate and empower children. We encourage meaningful conversations’

~ ERA Publications– accepts submissions from illustrators and occasionally from authors, although ERA usually commission their authors.

~ Five Mile Press – currently accepting submissions from illustrators only

UPDATE- Five Mike Press no longer publishing

* Ford Street Publishing – currently open for submissions

~ Fremantle Press– open for residents of WA or those of WA origin

Hachette Australia – not accepting children’s book submissions at the moment

Hardie Grant Egmont– accepting  submissions for the Ampersand Prize only

Harper Collins – accept submissions via the Wednesday Post, but not at the moment

** Hinkler – open for enquiries and submissions on a ‘work for hire basis’

* IAD – accept enquiries for Indigenous Authors and Artists

** InHouse Publishing – open for submissions for ‘Assisted Independent Publishing’

** Inspiring Publishers – for Cooperative Publishing in Self-help, How to, Business books, Mind, body and spirit, Emotional healing novels, Self Help Psychology books and Children’s books that teach something.

**^ IP Kidz – accepting ms for digital and print publication, offering consultations, reports, assessments, editorial support and mentoring for self publishing

*Little Hare– accepting submissions

Little Pink Dog Books – not currently open to submissions

** Little Steps Publishing – open to partnership publishing

*Midnight Sun– always open for submissions but may take 3-6 months for a response

*Magabala Books – publishes works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We do consider collaborations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples that have 50% authorship by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person(s) – from inception

* McMillan Educational– accept series only related to the Australian Curriculum

Morris Publishing – not accepting submissions till later in 2018

* New Frontier – accepting submissions (they recommend you buy their submissions pack)

* New Holland – accepting submissions but primarily publish Non Fiction

* Nosy Crow – accepting submissions

~ Pan McMillan – accept submissions except PBs on Manuscript Monday year round

~Pantera– accept YA and adult mss

~ Pegasus– accept submissions and offer traditional contracts or a shared cost inclusive contracts.

*Penguin Random House Australia -accepting submissions from Feb to Nov inclusive

* Rhiza– accepts YA and Adult submissions

Scholastic Australia – publishes under four imprints; Scholastic Press, Scholastic Australia, Omnibus Books and Koala Books. None of these are accepting submissions at the moment

Scribble Books– accept Picture Book submissions from authors and illustrators annually only in the month of June.

~Scribe– accepts unsolicited serious non-fiction and literary fiction from writers with a demonstrated background of publishing for general readers, between January 1st- March 31st and July 1st to September 30th

Simon and Shuster – not accepting submssions at the moment

~ Starfish Bay Books– focuses on supporting unpublished authors, predominantly publishing PBs for 3-8 yrs.

* Text Publishing – accepting submissions for mss suitable for upper primary to adult

UQP – currently not accepting Children’s or YA ms submissions

~ Ventura Press – accepting ms submissions and/or book proposals except PBs

~ Walker Books – accepting MG and YA submissions on Walker Wednesday, the first Wednesday of each month. Unfortunately I cannot get the link for them to work at the moment. You can reach them by typing walkerbooks.com into your search engine

Wild Eyed Press – currently closed for submissions

* Windy Hollow Books – accepting submissions

* Wombat – accepting submissions

Working Title Press – not accepting submissions until further notice.

*Yellow Brick Books– accepts submissions for Picture Books and Early Readers

By the way, as you can imagine no doubt, Publishers Global is a worldwide site which covers all types of publication, not just book publishers. There are 448 in the Australian section alone and 881 in the Children’s section worldwide. As I continue to wade through it, I may even find some more which belong here. If I do I’ll add them, so be sure to come back and check every few months.

Well the road was long and hard again with new publishing houses and opportunities added and links being checked and updated, but as expected very rewarding.

Farewell for now fellow travellers,

Savour the Quest

Journeygirl

P.S. This list is only meant as a guide and a starting point.

Publishing Houses often have small windows of opportunity where they are open to publication so it is advisable to check their websites regularly and/or to follow them on social media where they announce these times in advance.

I would also recommend connecting with other writers online as this sort of news spreads like wildfire and you want to be among those who hear of it before it’s too late.