Major publishing house
Running Press (Running Press Book Publishers)
Children's, Cookbook, Nonfiction
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Running Press
Running Press does not take unsolicited manuscripts or queries. It follows Hachette Book Group policy, so you need a literary agent to submit. Writers without an agent should look for one before approaching this imprint.
Running Press was founded in 1972 and is based at 123 South Broad St in Philadelphia, with a New York office too. It is a Hachette Book Group imprint in the Workman Running Press Group. It publishes in lifestyle and pop-culture categories such as licensed properties, humor, food, crafts, performing arts, children’s and young adult titles. Its imprints include Running Press Adult, Running Press Kids, RP Studio, RP Minis and RP Mystic.
Submissions are agent-only today. Running Press does not take unsolicited manuscripts or queries, in line with Hachette policy, and its contact page gives no submission guidelines. Instead, it refers readers to the Hachette Book Group FAQ. If you want to publish with Running Press, work with a literary agent who can send your project to its editors on your behalf.
What Running Press is looking for
- Licensed properties and pop-culture titles
- Humor, food and crafts
- Performing arts
- Children's and young adult titles
- Paper goods such as journals and notecards (RP Studio)
Publishes
- Children's
- Cookbook
- Nonfiction
- Young adult
Readers
- Adult
- Young adult
How to submit to Running Press
From its own guidelines- Read the Hachette Book Group FAQ linked from the Running Press contact page.
- Find literary agents who represent lifestyle, pop-culture or children's books.
- Query those agents rather than Running Press directly.
- Let your agent submit your project to Running Press.
Is Running Press right for your book?
A good fit if
Running Press suits agented authors with lifestyle, humor, food, craft, pop-culture, children's or young adult projects.
Look elsewhere if
Writers without an agent should look elsewhere, because Running Press does not take unsolicited manuscripts or queries.
Running Press imprints
Which take submissions| Imprint | Direct submissions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Running Press Adult | Not stated | |
| Running Press Kids (RP Kids) | Not stated | |
| RP Studio | Not stated | Paper goods such as journals and notecards (launched fall 2018) |
| RP Minis (Running Press Miniature Editions) | Not stated | |
| Avalon Travel | Not stated | Listed in the Running Press Group on the Kristin Kiser leadership page |
| RP Mystic | Not stated |
Questions about Running Press
Does Running Press accept unsolicited manuscripts?
No, Running Press does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or queries. As a Hachette Book Group imprint, it follows Hachette policy, so submissions need to come through a literary agent. Its contact page gives no submission guidelines and refers readers to the Hachette Book Group FAQ. Find an agent before you try to reach this publisher.
How do I submit to Running Press?
You submit through a literary agent. Look for agents who represent books in its categories, such as humor, food, crafts, pop culture, children's or young adult titles. Query those agents with your project. If an agent signs you, that agent can pitch your work to Running Press editors, since the imprint does not take queries from writers directly.
What does Running Press publish?
Running Press publishes lifestyle and pop-culture books, including licensed properties, humor, food, crafts, performing arts, children's and young adult titles. A 2018 release put its output at close to 200 new titles a year. Its imprints include Running Press Adult, Running Press Kids, RP Studio for paper goods, RP Minis and RP Mystic.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
