Independent publishing company
Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation
Children's, Comics, Diverse and BIPOC voices
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Magabala Books
Magabala Books is closed right now, with no open call. When it reopens, it takes work only from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, storytellers and illustrators, sent through Submittable. Watch its publishing page for the next call.
Magabala Books is an Aboriginal owned and led publishing house based in Broome, Western Australia, founded in 1987. It publishes children’s picture books, memoir, fiction for junior, YA and adult readers, nonfiction, graphic novels, social history and poetry. It releases up to 18 new titles a year. Its books include Wandering Girl by Glenyse Ward and Mayi: Some Bush Fruits of the West Kimberley by Merrilee Lands.
Magabala takes submissions only during open calls, and there is none at present. When a call opens, you submit through Submittable with your name, phone, email and manuscript as a Word document. Assessment can take up to 20 weeks. Approved titles go to the Board of Directors, then into editing, which takes 6 months to 2 years. Creators generally earn a 10% royalty, paid twice a year.
What Magabala Books is looking for
- Work from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, storytellers and illustrators
- Picture books, memoir, fiction for junior, YA and adult readers, nonfiction, graphic novels, social history and poetry
- Collaborations where Indigenous collaborators contribute at least 50% of the text from inception
- Picture book text without illustrations, unless the author is also the illustrator
- Illustrator samples of up to 10 images in one PDF
Publishes
- Children's
- Comics
- Diverse and BIPOC voices
- Fiction
- History
- Independent
- Memoir
- Nonfiction
- Picture book
- Poetry
- Young adult
Readers
- Adult
- Picture book
- Young adult
How to submit to Magabala Books
From its own guidelines- Check the Magabala publishing page for an open call.
- Prepare your manuscript as a Word document with your name, phone and email.
- If you illustrate, gather up to 10 images in one PDF.
- Submit through Submittable once a call opens, and send it to no other publisher at the same time.
- Allow up to 20 weeks for assessment.
Is Magabala Books right for your book?
A good fit if
Magabala suits Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and illustrators who are ready to submit when the next open call is announced.
Look elsewhere if
Non-Indigenous authors should look elsewhere, as should anyone with a textbook. Manuscripts under consideration by other publishers are not accepted, and no open call is running now.
Books published by Magabala Books
Well-known titles- Wandering GirlGlenyse Ward
- Mayi: Some Bush Fruits of the West KimberleyMerrilee Lands, 1987
Questions about Magabala Books
Does Magabala Books accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Not right now. Magabala takes submissions only during open calls, and none is open at present. When a call opens, it accepts work only from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, storytellers and illustrators, and you do not need an agent. It considers collaborations if Indigenous collaborators contribute at least 50% of the text from inception. It does not take textbooks.
How do I submit to Magabala Books?
Wait for an open call, then submit through Submittable with your name, phone number, email and manuscript as a Word document. Picture book manuscripts need no illustrations unless you are also the illustrator. Illustrators can send up to 10 images in one PDF. Do not send a manuscript that is under consideration by other publishers, since Magabala does not accept simultaneous submissions.
How long does Magabala Books take to reply?
Assessment can take up to 20 weeks. Approved titles then go to the Board of Directors before editing, which runs from 6 months to 2 years. Magabala generally pays creators a 10% royalty, split as 5% each for the author and illustrator of a picture book, with payments made twice a year. Plan for a long lead time from submission to finished book.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
- Checked on the publisher's own site
