Mid-size
Black & White Publishing
Children's, Cookbook, Fiction
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Black & White Publishing
Black & White Publishing is open to unagented nonfiction proposals by email. Send a one-page proposal covering your background and a book summary. Unsolicited fiction is accepted only in announced windows, which are currently closed, and no reply within six months means no.
Black & White Publishing is a mid-size publisher founded in 1999 and based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is part of Bonnier Books UK. The house publishes general nonfiction, biography, sport and humor, fiction, young adult and children’s books. Its YA and New Adult imprint, Ink Road, moved into the Bonnier Books UK Children’s Trade division in March 2025 and is not covered by these guidelines. The office says it is moving soon.
For nonfiction, you email a one-page proposal, on one side of A4, covering your background and a summary of the book. Proposals sent by post are not accepted. Receipt may not be acknowledged, and if you hear nothing within six months you should assume the house will not take it forward. Unsolicited fiction is only considered in announced windows, which are currently closed. Agents may still email as usual, including with fiction.
What Black & White Publishing is looking for
- Celebrity memoirs and humor
- Sports books with a UK and Ireland focus
- Lifestyle, gift and activity books
- Food and drink
- Scottish and Irish nonfiction
- Nature and wild places
Publishes
- Children's
- Cookbook
- Fiction
- Memoir
- Nonfiction
- Young adult
Readers
- Adult
- Young adult
How to submit to Black & White Publishing
From its own guidelines- Check that your nonfiction book fits one of the listed areas.
- Write a one-page proposal (one side of A4) covering your background and a summary of the book.
- Email it to submissions@blackandwhitepublishing.com, not by post.
- If you hear nothing within six months, assume the house will not take it forward.
- For fiction, watch the submissions page and social media for announced windows.
Is Black & White Publishing right for your book?
A good fit if
Black & White suits unagented nonfiction authors whose book sits squarely in one of its listed areas, such as sport, food and drink or Scottish nonfiction. Agented fiction writers can also submit through their agent.
Look elsewhere if
Look elsewhere if your book falls outside the listed nonfiction areas, is written in a language other than English or is unagented fiction outside an announced window. Proposals by post are not accepted.
Black & White Publishing imprints
Which take submissions| Imprint | Direct submissions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ink Road | Not stated | YA and New Adult imprint; moved into Bonnier Books UK's Children's Trade division (announced 27 March 2025). Not covered by B&W submission g |
| Itchy Coo | Not stated | Scots language imprint for children; not mentioned in submission guidelines. |
Questions about Black & White Publishing
Does Black & White Publishing accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Only for nonfiction, and only as a one-page proposal by email. Black & White has not accepted unsolicited fiction manuscripts online since 31 October 2019, except during announced windows, and the fiction window is currently closed. Agents may still email submissions as usual, including fiction. Titles outside the listed nonfiction areas will not be considered.
How do I submit to Black & White Publishing?
Email a one-page proposal, on one side of A4, to submissions@blackandwhitepublishing.com. Cover your background and a summary of the book. First check that the book fits one of the listed areas, such as celebrity memoir, sport, food and drink or Scottish nonfiction. Proposals by post are not accepted, and the house does not publish work in languages other than English.
How long does Black & White Publishing take to reply?
Black & White asks you to allow up to six months. If you have no reply in that time, you should assume the house will not take your proposal forward. Receipt of your email may not be acknowledged, so a lack of early contact does not mean your proposal was lost. Plan other submissions with that six month window in mind.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
