As book lovers, we are always looking for new perspectives in the literary landscape. Independent publishers are one of the best ways to discover new and upcoming stories.
Why the independent press movement matters
Being published by a traditional publishing house is harder than ever. The Big Five (Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, HarperCollins, and Macmillan) require many hurdles even just to have a book considered. Authors need to write book proposals, find and secure an agent, have that agent pitch their book, secure a deal, and plenty of more steps in between.
This is where independent publishers plays a huge role: These smaller presses may not offer as large of advances or terms for their authors, but many don’t require agented submissions, or are more open to debut authors.
How independent presses diversify literature
Publishing has a history of lacking diversity, which presents itself in everything from employees at publishing companies to the books published. But many indie publishers are committed to amplifying authors of color, disabled, and/or LGBTQIA+ authors and stories. And, with many debut authors lacking the connections, following, or resume that established authors have, this commitment from a small press goes a long way.
Some of our favorite independent presses & their must-read books
P.S. Most small publishers don’t publish audiobooks themselves, instead outsourcing the production to audiobook-specific publishers or the Big Five. You might notice this when looking at the audiobook’s details. Shout out to the publishers who are helping make these books accessible on audio!
Akashic Books
This Brooklyn-based independent publishing company is dedicated to “Reverse-Gentrification of the Literary World,” by supporting urban literary fiction and political nonfiction from authors whose work exists outside of the mainstream or who reject big name publishers.
Cosmogramma
By Courttia Newland
Polar Vortex
By Shani Mootoo
A Million Aunties
By Alecia McKenzie
Haymarket Books
Haymarket Books is an “independent, nonprofit book publisher based in Chicago with a mission to publish books that play a part in radical social movements.”
Perfect Victims
By Mohammed El-Kurd
Reconsidering Reparations
By Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò
Let This Radicalize You
By Kelly Hayes & Mariame Kaba
Lee and Low
This family-run, independent, and certified 100% Minority Owned Business Enterprise is the largest and most trusted multicultural children’s book publisher in the United States. It has been at the forefront of the movement for greater representation in publishing since its inception.
Flying in Colors
By Padma Prasad Reddeppa
A Two-Placed Heart
By Doan Phuong Nguyen
Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key
By Tracy Occomy Crowder
The Feminist Press
Established in the ’70s, this publisher has evolved from promoting second wave feminist classics to lifting up insurgent and marginalized voices from around the world.
The Sapling Cage
By Margaret Killjoy
The Age of Goodbyes
By Li Zi Shu
Head Above Water
By Shahd Alshammari
Catapult
Launched in 2015, Catapult Book Group includes Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press. Their authors fearlessly shake up assumptions and biases — celebrating stories that expand the boundaries of personal perception: who we think we are, and what we think we know.
Godshot
By Chelsea Bieker
These Letters End in Tears
By Musih Tedji Xaviere
The Coin
By Yasmin Zaher
Milkweed Editions
As Milkweed notes on their website, “We take risks on debut and experimental writers, we invest significant time and care in the editorial process, and we enable dynamic engagement between authors and readers…We believe that literature has the potential to change the way we see the world, and that bringing new voices to essential conversations is the clearest path to ensuring a vibrant, diverse, and empowered future.”
Braiding Sweetgrass
By Robin Kimmerer
How to Be a Good Savage
By Mikeas Sánchez
The Seed Keeper
By Diane Wilson
ECW Press
Named after their journal of literary criticism (Essays on Canadian Writing), ECW has evolved to publish a mix of commercial and literary works.
Transland
By Mx. Sly
On the Shores of Darkness, There Is Light
By Cordelia Strube
The Conjoined
By Jen Sookfong Lee
The future of publishing: independent presses are leading the way
At Libro.fm, we are proud to offer and promote some of the best independent publishers in the literary landscape. Whether it’s supporting subversive stories, minority voices, or unagented authors, these small presses are blazing an awesome trail in the publishing world.
Join the movement and explore books published by indie press on audio with us!