Small press
Lookout Books (University of North Carolina Wilmington)
Fiction, Diverse and BIPOC voices, Literary fiction
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Lookout Books
Lookout Books reads agented submissions in any genre on a rolling basis. Its editors also solicit writers, such as those published in Ecotone, and it is currently looking for a work of fiction.
Lookout Books is a publishing imprint in Wilmington, North Carolina, tied to the creative writing department at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and to Ecotone magazine. Faculty and students in the UNC Wilmington MFA program produce its books. It publishes one book a year, rotating among fiction, nonfiction and poetry. It focuses on books traditional publishing might overlook, such as work by emerging writers and historically underrepresented voices.
Submissions come through literary agents. Lookout is always open to agented submissions in any genre, and the editor and publisher read them on a rolling basis. The editors also solicit writers, including those published in Ecotone. For its next title, the imprint is currently looking to acquire a work of fiction. No direct submission form or address for writers is listed.
What Lookout Books is looking for
- Fiction, nonfiction and poetry, with the genre rotating each season
- A work of fiction for the next title
- Books that traditional publishing might overlook
- Emerging writers and historically underrepresented voices
Publishes
- Diverse and BIPOC voices
- Fiction
- Literary fiction
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
Specialties
- Literary fiction
How to submit to Lookout Books
From its own guidelines- Work with a literary agent who can send your manuscript.
- Have your agent submit to Lookout Books, which reads agented work on a rolling basis.
- Consider placing work in Ecotone, since the editors solicit writers published there.
- Watch the Lookout website for news on the genre it is acquiring.
Is Lookout Books right for your book?
A good fit if
Lookout Books suits agented writers of literary fiction, nonfiction or poetry, especially emerging or underrepresented voices. Writers already published in Ecotone may also fit.
Look elsewhere if
If you do not have an agent, Lookout lists no direct submission route, so a press with an open reading period may be a more practical place to start.
Questions about Lookout Books
Does Lookout Books accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Lookout Books reads agented submissions in any genre, and the listed route runs through a literary agent. The editor and publisher read agented work on a rolling basis. The editors also solicit writers, including those published in Ecotone magazine. No direct submission form or address for writers is listed, so working with an agent is the clearest way in.
How do I submit to Lookout Books?
You submit to Lookout Books through a literary agent, who sends the manuscript for rolling review by the editor and publisher. The imprint is always open to agented submissions in any genre and is currently looking to acquire a work of fiction for its next title. Writers published in Ecotone may also be solicited by the editors.
What does Lookout Books publish?
Lookout Books publishes one book a year, rotating among fiction, nonfiction and poetry each season. It focuses on books traditional publishing might overlook, such as work by emerging writers and historically underrepresented voices. The imprint is tied to the University of North Carolina Wilmington creative writing department and Ecotone magazine, and MFA faculty and students produce its books.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
