Book Publishers in Georgia Accepting Submissions
Every Georgia publishing house below was checked on its own website in October 2026: who is open, who needs an agent, what to send and how long replies take.
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
Top Georgia publishers accepting submissions
These Georgia publishers are open now and take work directly from authors. Each note explains the fit and how to submit.
1University pressUniversity of Georgia Press
Athens, GeorgiaAcademic, Fiction, Literary fiction
Takes free book proposals by email in Athens, with poetry, short fiction and literary nonfiction coming in through its contests and series.
Reply: Not stated
2University pressMercer University Press
Macon, GeorgiaAcademic, Art and Photography, Fiction
A Macon press for Southern studies, fiction, poetry, memoir and religion. Email a proposal with two sample chapters to its director.
Reply: About 24 weeks
3Small pressSmyth & Helwys
Macon, GeorgiaChristian, Academic, Nonfiction
Publishes books for church life and ministry. Email books@helwys.com with a description, bio and sample chapters.
Reply: Not stated
4Small pressParlyaree Press
Atlanta, GeorgiaFiction, Independent, LGBTQ+
An Atlanta literary press for fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry. Paste your query and first 10 pages into an email.
Reply: 12 to 16 weeks
5Small pressClarity Press
Atlanta, GeorgiaNonfiction, History, Independent
Takes email queries for nonfiction on global justice, human rights and geopolitics, and replies only if interested.
Reply: Not stated
6Independent publisherTop Shelf Productions
Marietta, GeorgiaComics, Fiction
Reads comics with at least 10 to 20 finished, inked and lettered pages, sent as a link or photocopy.
Reply: Not stated
7University pressUNG Press
Dahlonega, GeorgiaAcademic, Fiction, History
Takes scholarly, creative nonfiction and textbook proposals by email, with New South fiction read in summer.
Reply: Not stated
All Georgia publishers
Filter by what you write and how you want to submit. Open publishers come first; every card shows when we last checked it.
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Small pressClarity PressNonfiction, History, IndependentAtlanta, GeorgiaOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Clarity Press accepts email queries for nonfiction on global justice, human rights and geopolitics. Send a synopsis, bio and annotated table of contents to claritypress@usa.net. The Atlanta press replies only if interested.No agent neededSend: Email query with synopsis, bio and annotated TOC; no attachmentsEmailReply time not statedest. 1988View profile →Small pressFrederic C. Beil, PublisherFiction, History, IndependentSavannah, GeorgiaOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Frederic C. Beil does not accept unsolicited manuscripts but reads queries by mail with a stamped return envelope. The Savannah publisher covers history, biography and fiction and also offers an assisted self-publishing service.No agent neededSend: Query letter by mail with SASE; no unsolicited manuscriptsPostReply time not statedest. 1982View profile →University pressMercer University PressAcademic, Art and Photography, FictionMacon, GeorgiaOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Mercer University Press is open to unagented authors with no fees. You send a proposal with at least 2 sample chapters, or the entire manuscript, to Director Marc Jolley by email or post. Expect a few weeks for a proposal and up to six months for a full manuscript.No agent neededSend: Proposal + 2 sample chapters by email or postEmail, Post24 wks replyest. 1979View profile →Small pressParlyaree PressFiction, Independent, LGBTQ+Atlanta, GeorgiaOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Parlyaree Press accepts email queries for literary fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry. Paste a query, synopsis, bio and first 10 pages into the email. The Atlanta founded press pays royalties, offers no advances and reads in three to four months.No agent neededSend: Query, synopsis, bio and first 10 pages in the email bodyEmail12 to 16 wks replyest. 2023View profile →Small pressSBL PressAcademic, Christian, NonfictionAtlanta, GeorgiaOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026SBL Press accepts scholarly biblical studies proposals through its series editors. Send a letter, proposal, CVs and one or two sample chapters. The Atlanta based press of the Society of Biblical Literature reviews in up to four months.No agent neededSend: Letter, proposal, CVs and 1 or 2 sample chapters to the series editorEmail16 wks replyView profile →
Free guidePublisher or self-publish?Traditional vs self-publishingNew YorkFor first-time authorsAuthorWings serviceA traditional deal costs nothing up front. It pays 7.5% on a paperback, often takes 2 to 4 years to reach shelves, and licenses your rights for the life of copyright.Per paperback: $4.99 self-published vs $0.96Free earnings calculator2 to 3 months vs 2 to 4 yearsCompare →Small pressSmyth & HelwysChristian, Academic, NonfictionMacon, GeorgiaOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Smyth & Helwys accepts proposals for books that serve the life and ministry of the church. Email books@helwys.com with a description, bio and sample chapters. The Macon publisher takes no sermons, poetry, children's books or dissertations.No agent neededSend: Proposal with description, bio and 2 to 3 sample chapters by email or postEmail, PostReply time not statedView profile →Independent publisherTop Shelf ProductionsComics, FictionMarietta, GeorgiaOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Top Shelf Productions accepts comic submissions with at least 10 to 20 finished, inked and lettered pages. Email a download link or mail a photocopy to its Marietta, Georgia PO box. It cannot reply to every submission.No agent neededSend: Download link or photocopy of 10 to 20 finished comic pagesEmail, PostReply time not statedest. 1997View profile →University pressUNG PressAcademic, Fiction, HistoryDahlonega, GeorgiaOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026UNG Press is open to unagented authors by email for scholarly work, creative nonfiction and textbooks. You send one email to ungpress@ung.edu with every requested document attached. It accepts New South literary fiction only from June through August each year.No agent neededSend: Proposal or query with sample chapter by emailEmailReply time not statedView profile →University pressUniversity of Georgia PressAcademic, Fiction, Literary fictionAthens, GeorgiaOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026University of Georgia Press is open to unagented authors. You send an initial inquiry or proposal by email to its acquisitions editors, and that standard route is free. Poetry, short fiction and some literary nonfiction go through contests and a series on Submittable, each with its own window.No agent neededSend: Inquiry or proposal by email; contests through SubmittableEmail, SubmittableReply time not statedView profile →Mid-sizePeachtreeChildren's, Fiction, Middle gradeAtlanta, GeorgiaAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Peachtree Publishing does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or picture book dummies. Its staff reviews only work queried through a literary agent or materials it has asked for. It publishes picture books to young adult.Send: Through a literary agent onlyThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 1977View profile →Free callTalk to a publishing advisorFirst-time authors, Every genreNew YorkOpen to every authorAuthorWings serviceNot sure whether to query publishers or publish yourself? A publishing specialist reviews where your book is now and points you to the right next step.No agent neededSend: Nothing. Bring your questionsVideo call30 min, freeBook a call → Free guidePublisher or self-publish?Traditional vs self-publishingNew YorkFor first-time authorsAuthorWings serviceA traditional deal costs nothing up front. It pays 7.5% on a paperback, often takes 2 to 4 years to reach shelves, and licenses your rights for the life of copyright.Per paperback: $4.99 self-published vs $0.96Free earnings calculator2 to 3 months vs 2 to 4 yearsCompare →Assisted self-publishingAuthorWingsEvery genre, Authors in GeorgiaNew YorkOpen to every authorAuthorWings servicePublishes your book in your own name on Amazon and 6 more stores. Nobody approves or rejects your book. You keep 100% of royalties and rights.No agent neededSend: Your manuscript, at any stageOnline form, Call5 to 30 days to go livefrom $249See plans →EditingBefore you submitEvery genreNew YorkOpen to every authorAuthorWings serviceMost publishers here ask for your opening chapters. Get them marked up by an editor first, whichever route you take.For publishers or self-publishingSend: Your opening pagesOnline form$49 sample editGet a sample edit →Free toolBook Publishing Cost CalculatorEditing, Cover, Formatting, SetupNew YorkOpen to every authorAuthorWings serviceSee what self-publishing your book would cost before you talk to anyone. Enter your word count and pick the services you need.No email neededSend: Your word countOnline tool60 secondsPrice my book →Free callTalk to a publishing advisorFirst-time authors, Every genreNew YorkOpen to every authorAuthorWings serviceNot sure whether to query publishers or publish yourself? A publishing specialist reviews where your book is now and points you to the right next step.No agent neededSend: Nothing. Bring your questionsVideo call30 min, freeBook a call → What do Open, Closed and Agent needed mean?
- Open now: the publisher's own site says it is reading submissions today, in at least one genre listed.
- Closed: not reading new submissions right now. We show the reopening date when the publisher gives one.
- Agent needed: it only reads manuscripts sent by a literary agent.
Submit with confidence
Four checks before you send anything to a publisher, whichever list you use.
Check it on their own site
Guidelines change. Read the publisher's own submissions page on the day you send.
How to find a publisherNever pay to be published
A traditional publisher pays you. If a company asks for money, it is a paid service.
Spot a paid pressSend exactly what they ask
Query, proposal or sample chapters: follow the format and word count to the letter.
Format your manuscriptTrack every submission
Note the date, the reply time and whether no reply means no before you follow up.
Free submission trackerGeorgia's publishers are spread across Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Savannah and beyond. This page lists 10 verified book publishers in Georgia, and 9 of them are open to submissions now. You will find three university presses, faith and scholarly publishers, a literary press, a comics house and a children's publisher. Most of the open presses take work from authors without an agent. Each listing is checked against the publisher's own site. Use the picks and notes below, then confirm the guidelines on the publisher's site before you send anything.
How to choose a Georgia publisher
Georgia’s presses each have a clear focus. The University of Georgia Press, Mercer University Press and UNG Press cover scholarly and regional books, and all three also publish creative work. Parlyaree Press is the literary fiction and poetry option. Clarity Press publishes nonfiction on world affairs, and Top Shelf Productions publishes graphic novels.
Faith and scholarly publishers
Macon is home to Smyth & Helwys, which publishes Bible commentary, curriculum and books for church life. Atlanta is home to SBL Press, the Society of Biblical Literature’s press, which takes scholarly biblical studies proposals through its series editors. Mercer also publishes religious and philosophical studies.
Who is open, agent-only or query-only
Most publishers here are open to authors without an agent. Peachtree, the Atlanta children’s publisher, reviews only work sent by literary agents. Frederic C. Beil, Publisher in Savannah does not accept unsolicited manuscripts but reads mailed query letters with a stamped return envelope. Beil also offers an assisted self-publishing service, so make sure any offer you receive is a publishing contract. Some contests on this page, such as the Georgia Poetry Prize, charge entry fees, but the standard proposal routes are free.
Publishing companies in Atlanta and across Georgia
If you are looking for publishing companies in Atlanta, the options on this page include Clarity Press, Parlyaree Press, SBL Press and Peachtree, with Top Shelf in nearby Marietta. Book publishers in Macon, GA include Mercer University Press and Smyth & Helwys. Other Georgia publishing companies sit in Athens, Dahlonega and Savannah. Most take submissions by email, so you can send from anywhere. Confirm each publisher’s guidelines on its own site before you submit.
Tips before you contact Atlanta book publishers
Book publishers in Atlanta, GA and elsewhere in the state each want different materials, so read every guideline first. Several Atlanta book publishers reply only if interested, so note the date you send each query. If you are comparing a publishing house in Macon, GA with one in Atlanta, focus on fit rather than distance, since nearly all publishing companies in Georgia on this page take submissions by email.
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Questions authors ask
Answers use the live data on this page.
Which publishing companies in Atlanta accept unagented authors?
Clarity Press, Parlyaree Press and SBL Press all take work from authors without an agent. Clarity takes email queries for world affairs nonfiction, Parlyaree takes email queries for literary fiction, nonfiction and poetry, and SBL Press takes biblical studies proposals through its series editors. Peachtree, the Atlanta children's publisher, reads only agented work.
Are there book publishers in Macon, GA?
Yes. Mercer University Press and Smyth & Helwys are both in Macon. Mercer publishes Southern studies, fiction, poetry, memoir and religious studies, and takes proposals by email or post. Smyth & Helwys publishes books for church life and ministry and takes proposals by email at books@helwys.com or by mail.
Does the University of Georgia Press charge a fee?
Its standard book route is free: you email an inquiry and proposal to the acquisitions editors. Its contests work differently. The Georgia Poetry Prize charges an entry fee, and the Flannery O'Connor Short Fiction Award and the Crux series have their own windows on Submittable. Check the current terms before you enter.
Can I submit a picture book to a Georgia publisher?
Peachtree, the Atlanta children's publisher, reads only work sent through literary agents, so you need an agent there. The other Georgia publishers on this page focus mainly on adult books. UNG Press says it does not publish children's books, so check each publisher's list before you send a picture book.
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How we verify listings. We list traditional publishers only: no hybrid, vanity or paid self-publishing companies. Every listing is checked on the publisher's own website and rechecked every month. This page was last updated 26 Oct 2026; next review November 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us.
