“Dan’s experience with publishing certainly instilled confidence in my finished product. With his help, I signed two contracts in a three-month period!”
—Jeffrey A. Denman, author of four traditionally published books
Finding the Right Publisher for Your Nonfiction Book
You’ve written a nonfiction manuscript you believe in. Now the hard part: Where do you submit it? And how do you know which publisher might be a fit?
If you’re asking questions like these, you’re not alone:
Which traditional publishers are actively looking for new authors?
Which houses are accepting submissions in 2026?
Who are the Big Five publishers in the US?
Which publishers accept unsolicited submissions without an agent?
Where can I find clear submission guidelines for nonfiction proposals?
Truth is, reliable answers are hard to find. After a decade in publishing, I’ve learned three things:
Targeting is hard. It’s not easy to quickly identify which publishers accept your topic and format.
The market moves fast. Imprints merge, publishers rebrand, and submission policies change without notice. What was true last month may be wrong today.
Time is precious. Wasting hours you don’t have on research or off-target pitches is never a good idea.
🫤🤷
You don’t need more guesswork.
You need a list of American book publishing companies that’s been meticulously updated.
One that gives you:
- A well-organized list of nonfiction publishers and imprints, with the genres and categories they acquire
- Submission guidelines, including whether they accept unsolicited submissions or whether an agent is needed
- 150+ pages of information—which includes dozens of publishing companies
- The full spectrum of traditional publishing houses: Big 5, independent trade publishers, university presses, etc.
You just found the resource dedicated to nonfiction authors who want to get their books traditionally published.
Introducing . . .
The 2026 List of Traditional Book Publishers for Nonfiction Authors
The only resource of its kind for nonfiction authors!
With the freshly updated list, a searchable digital download, you can:
➜ Find the best publisher for your nonfiction book
➜ Save yourself hours of aimless searching
➜ Follow the correct submission guidelines
➜ Submit your book proposal with ease and move closer to a book deal!
For only $15.
“When it was time to start preparing the book for submission to my publisher, I turned to Dan to help me shepherd the manuscript through that long process.”
—Eric A. Cheezum, author of Chessie: A Cultural History of the Chesapeake Bay Sea Monster
This seems like a good time to introduce myself.
Hi—I’m Daniel Tortora.
History professor turned nonfiction editor and publishing coach.
On a mission to help you sail through the traditional book publishing process.
Too many authors assume they can tackle publishing without support. And when they go looking for it—they don’t always find it.
I would know. I’ve traditionally published two books, one of which won a prestigious award and went on to be held in more than 1,200 libraries!
Friends started knocking on my door because they wanted guidance as they pitched their book proposals to publishers.
Since then, I’ve spent the past eight years perfecting this process while guiding dozens of authors. I understand how competitive traditional publishing is and how the industry operates.
There’s very little room for error, and the right strategy matters.
I’ve helped hundreds of hopeful authors like you take charge of the traditional book publishing process. It all starts with identifying where you want to publish your book.
“Dan is a godsend to authors. I can’t imagine publishing my next book without his help, expertise, and knowledge.”
—Samantha Shad, author of Write Through the Crisis
What’s included in this traditional publishing companies list?
In this one-of-a kind directory for nonfiction authors with traditional publishing dreams, you get:
► A digital download with an alphabetical listing of publishing companies with a description of each publisher and imprint in their own words
► Direct links to publisher websites and submission guidelines (and if they’re accepting unsolicited proposals)
► Dozens of traditional publishing houses looking for book manuscripts
► Information that’s regularly updated throughout 2026
► 150+ pages of vital information
► Introductory guidance on the traditional publishing landscape and tips for pitching and finding an agent
Join the dozens of authors who’ve used this list to publish their books . . .
This list of publishers and submission guidelines is ideal for authors writing in these genres:
How this list of publishers is organized:
► Overview of traditional publishing in the US
(Big 5, independent trade publishers, and university presses)
► List of publishers of nonfiction books, no agent required
(independent publishing companies)
► List of publishers, agent required (including Big 5 and select independent publishing companies)
► List of university presses
FAQ
+ When should I buy this list?
If you’re considering traditional publishing, or preparing to send your query letter or book proposal within the next year, you’ll want to see what your options are and what potential publishers are looking for!
+ What will I be able to do with this list?
You’ll be able to identify potential publishers for your book! Conveniently browse and search the PDF (which is full of helpful info and tips about the publishing industry and getting published!) You’ll have a list of publishers (and imprints) that you can approach without an agent and a list of publishers that you can approach only with an agent. You’ll have links to publisher websites and submission guidelines, and for each publisher, you’ll see what they publish and how they describe themselves, in their own words. You’ll be one step closer to getting a book deal!
+ What exactly is a traditional publishing company? What is an imprint?
There’s more about the traditional publishing industry and the types of publishers on the list! In short, a traditional publishing company (i.e, HarperCollins or the other Big 5 publishing companies) acquires book manuscripts. They edit, package, distribute, market, and sell books. They pay you an advance and/or a cut of the profits from sales (royalties). You never pay them. Imprints are brand names used to publish books in a specific genre or for a specific audience. Some imprints are once-independent publishers that have been acquired.
+ Which traditional publishers are included in this list?
Nearly all of the US-based traditional publishers of nonfiction books. Several hundred, each with their nonfiction imprints listed. Whether you’re looking for a Christian or conservative publisher, a progressive or LGBTQIA+ publisher, you’ll find plenty of options among the many publishers on this list.
+ Can I really get published without an agent?
You can! Dozens of publishers are accepting unsolicited book proposals. You’ll have the most up-to-date information available, so you can reach out yourself, if you’d like.
+ Aside from authors, who is this list for?
Freelance editors and book designers, booksellers, librarians, and author coaches have bought this list.
+ I’m not an American. Should I still buy this list?
Probably not—unless you intend to publish with a US publishing company.
+ Are refunds available?
No. All sales are final. It’s an incredible resource (for just $15) that took weeks to curate and verify and that I regularly update. I’m confident you’ll find this list helpful. If you have questions about this list of publishers before buying, just ask!
“It is clear that the financial investment I made was worth 100% of the cost.”
—Jeffrey A. Denman, author of four traditionally published books
Next steps toward getting your nonfiction book published:
1️⃣ Buy the 2026 Nonfiction Publishers List for just $15
2️⃣ Download the searchable digital file instantly
3️⃣ Find your ideal nonfiction book publisher and learn what they’re looking for
3️⃣ Confirm submission guidelines and start sending your query or book proposal
Ready for instant access to this one-of-a-kind list?
“I never could have published this book without Dan’s help. Not only that, but getting published seemed to go so smoothly.”
—Eric A. Cheezum, author of Chessie: A Cultural History of the Chesapeake Bay Sea Monster