Small press
Book*hug Press
Fiction, Independent, Literary fiction
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Book*hug Press
Book*hug Press is closed to submissions in all genres and plans to reopen in early 2027. When its online portal reopens, writers without an agent can submit literary fiction, translation, poetry and creative nonfiction, with no fee shown.
Book*hug Press is a Canadian-owned independent publisher in Toronto, founded in 2004. It publishes literary fiction, literature in translation, poetry and creative nonfiction for adult readers. Its authors include Shani Mootoo, Maria Stepanova and Olga Ravn. Poetry manuscripts must run at least 60 pages, since the press does not take chapbooks.
The press is closed to all genres right now and says it will reopen in early 2027 through an online Submission Portal, with no fee shown. When it reopens, you send one Word or PDF file holding the complete manuscript, an introductory letter of up to two pages with a synopsis and comparable titles and a publication list. Creative nonfiction writers can send a proposal, table of contents, outline and three to five sample chapters instead. Replies take 6 to 12 months.
What Book*hug Press is looking for
- Literary fiction
- Literature in translation
- Poetry manuscripts of at least 60 pages
- Creative nonfiction
Publishes
- Fiction
- Independent
- Literary fiction
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
Specialties
- Literary fiction
How to submit to Book*hug Press
From its own guidelines- Watch for the Submission Portal to reopen in early 2027.
- Combine your manuscript, introductory letter and publication list in a single Word or PDF file.
- Name the file Full Name_Title_Genre_Submission Date.
- Submit through the online Submission Portal, which shows no fee.
- Allow 6 to 12 months and do not call or email about your status.
Is Book*hug Press right for your book?
A good fit if
Book*hug suits writers of literary fiction, translated literature, full-length poetry or creative nonfiction who can wait for the early 2027 reopening.
Look elsewhere if
Look elsewhere if you write commercial fiction, thrillers, crime fiction, fantasy, children's books, YA, graphic novels, cookbooks, academic texts or self-help. Chapbook-length poetry and any work using AI-generated content are not accepted.
Questions about Book*hug Press
Does Book*hug Press accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Not right now. Book*hug Press is closed to submissions in all genres and says it will reopen in early 2027. When it reopens, writers without an agent can submit through its online portal. It accepts one manuscript at a time and does not take revised resubmissions, mailed hard copies, emails to staff or links to Google Docs or Drive.
How do I submit to Book*hug Press?
Submit through the online Submission Portal once it reopens in early 2027. Put your complete manuscript, an introductory letter of up to two pages and a publication list in one Word or PDF file named Full Name_Title_Genre_Submission Date. Creative nonfiction writers can send a proposal with a table of contents, outline and three to five sample chapters. No fee is shown.
How long does Book*hug Press take to reply?
Book*hug Press asks writers to allow 6 to 12 months for a reply. It asks you not to call or email about the status of your submission during that time. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, so you can send the same manuscript to other publishers while you wait, as long as you send Book*hug only one manuscript at a time.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
