Publishers for Early American History Books (Independent Trade Presses)

Unboxing that first box of books with your name on it and holding your book in your hand is a great feeling. I want to help get you there.

Below, you’ll find some helpful information and a list of trade publishers of early American history books.

Scroll down for a list and links.

This list of publishers for early American history books is for . . .

  • anyone interested in nonfiction publishing—especially a historian / author of an early American history book dealing with colonial America or the Revolutionary War

  • anyone who’s not looking to self-publish, don’t plan to publish with a university press, and don’t plan to find an agent in hopes of landing a “Big Five” publishing deal

  • authors writing or a general audience

  • cultural history, military history, historiography, genealogy, Native American history, and other subspecialties

You might also consider publishing with a university press if your book is footnoted and might be of interest to researchers or university library buyers, but university presses are not included in the list below.

You’ve been writing a book. You’re ready to start shopping it to agents and/or publishers. It’s about time, right? What’s the hold-up?

You need to write a nonfiction book proposal. A great one.

And you don’t have the time or the expertise to do this all on your own.

Learn more:

Writing a Nonfiction Book Proposal: Hiring a Book Proposal Coach vs. Hiring a Book Proposal Editor

Book coaching and editing services for authors.

 
 

What is a trade publisher?

A trade publisher is a publishing company that acquires, edits, designs, publishes, and sells books to consumers. It pays royalties, a portion of profits, to authors.

The “Big Five” book publishers—Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Macmillan, and HarperCollins—owned by media conglomerates—account for 80 percent of trade book sales. These publishers often offer “advances” to authors. Their books are usually sold online and found in brick-and-mortar bookstores and libraries. Each publisher has “imprints”—brands within a brand, if you will.

Typically, to get a Big Five book deal, you need name recognition, a platform, an agent, and a book idea or manuscript with broad appeal.

Independent trade publishers are not owned by the major publishing companies. They release fewer titles, have smaller print runs, and have fewer resources. They strategically produce and sell books, reaching authors and readers with certain interests in mind.

If a publisher is actively acquiring titles in eighteenth-century American history, it’s not a “Big Five” trade publisher, and it’s not a university press, I’ve tried to include it on the list below.

Here are some non-“Big Five” trade Publishers for early American history books:

Here are some questions to ask yourself when determining what publisher is right for you:

  • Who published the books you’ve read or enjoyed that are similar to your manuscript?

  • After viewing the publisher’s website and catalog, do you see books that are similar to your manuscript?

  • Do they have a niche, a series, or a strong reputation in your subfield or subspecialty?

  • Realistically, what do you have to offer them? Is your audience, expectations, format, and background a match for what they’re looking for?

  • What have other authors in your field said?

  • How long are you willing to wait?

You might also like

Looking for helpful emails for authors to help you write better and finish and publish your history or nonfiction book? Click here to get in on the action!

—Daniel

Authors, PublishingDaniel J. Tortorawriting, publishers