Small press
Coach House Books
Fiction, Diverse and BIPOC voices, Literary fiction
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Coach House Books
Coach House Books reads poetry, literary fiction and select nonfiction by email, mostly from Canadian authors. Fiction and poetry send the complete manuscript with a letter comparing it to two Coach House titles; nonfiction sends a proposal and outline. Drama is closed, and it does not publish genre fiction or cookbooks.
Coach House Books is a Toronto publisher founded in 1965 that publishes innovative poetry, literary fiction, drama and select nonfiction. It publishes primarily Canadian authors and especially encourages submissions from members of diverse communities.
Fiction and poetry writers email the complete manuscript with an introduction letter comparing it to at least two Coach House books and a literary CV. Poetry must be book length, at least 60 pages. Nonfiction writers send a brief proposal and outline with a sample. Coach House is not considering drama until further notice, and it does not take books already published with an ISBN.
What Coach House Books is looking for
- Innovative poetry of at least 60 pages
- Literary fiction
- Select nonfiction
Publishes
- Diverse and BIPOC voices
- Fiction
- Literary fiction
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
Specialties
- Literary fiction
How to submit to Coach House Books
From its own guidelines- Fiction or poetry: prepare the complete manuscript, an introduction comparing it to two or more Coach House titles and a literary CV.
- Nonfiction: prepare a brief proposal and outline, a literary CV and a sample.
- Email everything as one file.
- Expect a reply in several months; simultaneous submissions are fine.
Is Coach House Books right for your book?
A good fit if
Literary writers and poets, mainly Canadian, whose work is formally adventurous.
Look elsewhere if
Writers of children's books, cookbooks, fantasy, romance, memoir, mystery, science fiction or self-help, and playwrights for now.
Books published by Coach House Books
Well-known titles- The Dainty MonstersMichael Ondaatje
- Journeying and The ReturnsbpNichol
Questions about Coach House Books
Does Coach House Books accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Yes. Coach House reads poetry, literary fiction and select nonfiction by email, with no agent needed. Fiction and poetry need the complete manuscript, an introduction comparing it to two Coach House books and a literary CV. Nonfiction sends a proposal, outline and sample.
What does Coach House Books not publish?
Coach House does not publish children's books, cookbooks, fantasy, historical romance, memoir, mystery, science fiction or self-help. It is not considering drama until further notice and does not take single poems, chapbooks or books already published with an ISBN. Check the publisher's own page for any change before you submit.
Do I need to be Canadian to submit to Coach House?
Coach House publishes primarily Canadian authors, partly because of grant rules, but it sets no strict citizenship requirement. It especially encourages writers from diverse communities. Make sure your manuscript fits its innovative literary list before you send it. Send exactly what the guidelines ask for, and keep a note of the date.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
