Book Publishers in Pennsylvania Accepting Submissions
Every Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania publishers accepting submissions
These Pennsylvania publishers are open to submissions and most accept work from authors without an agent. Each note tells you who the press suits and how to reach it.
- 1
Penn State University Press
A good match for scholarly nonfiction in history, religion, art and even comics. Send a brief query email to the acquiring editor for your field, then a proposal that follows its guidelines.
Reply: Not stated
- 2
Penn Press
Penn Press welcomes proposals from authors without an agent when the book fits its editorial program. Read its Proposal Submission Guidelines page, then contact the acquiring editor for your field.
Reply: Not stated
- 3
Temple University Press
Temple suits both scholarly and general nonfiction. You send your proposal straight to the acquiring editor for your subject, by email if you can.
Reply: Not stated
- 4
Schiffer Publishing
Schiffer covers art, photography, history and picture books. Email your proposal to proposals@schifferbooks.com with two sample chapters from the middle of the book, and expect a reply within 12 weeks only if it is interested.
Reply: About 12 weeks
- 5
Lehigh University Press
Lehigh is a fit for humanities and social science scholarship. Email its proposal form, one sample chapter and a brief CV to lup@lehigh.edu. There are no fees.
Reply: About 2 weeks
- 6
JPS
JPS publishes Jewish scholarship and nonfiction, including books for children. Email a proposal with one or two sample chapters to the editor-in-chief, and note that it does not publish fiction, cooking, poetry or memoir.
Reply: Not stated
- 7
Banner of Truth
Banner of Truth is based in Edinburgh and appears here for its US office in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It takes Reformed Christian manuscripts from authors who agree with its doctrinal statement, sent with its guidelines form.
Reply: Not stated
All Pennsylvania 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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Traditional publisherBanner of TruthChristian, Nonfiction, Religion and SpiritualityEdinburgh, Pennsylvania, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026The Banner of Truth Trust is open to unsolicited manuscripts from authors who agree with its Reformed doctrinal statement. Complete its Manuscript Submissions Guidelines Form and email it to info@banneroftruth.co.uk with 2 to 3 sample chapters or the full manuscript.No agent neededSend: Guidelines form + 2 to 3 sample chapters or full manuscript by emailEmailReply time not statedView profile →
Independent publishing companyCasemateNonfiction, Academic, HistoryPennsylvania, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Casemate Publishers takes military history proposals from authors without an agent through an online form. It does not want full manuscripts or modern fiction, and it aims to update you within two months.No agent neededSend: A proposal through its online form; no full manuscriptOnline form8 wks replyest. 2001View profile →
Independent publishing companyJPSChildren's, Academic, HistoryMelrose Park, Pennsylvania, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026The Jewish Publication Society (JPS) is open to book proposals in Jewish scholarship and nonfiction. You email a proposal with one or two sample chapters to the editor-in-chief at msimkovich@jps.org. It does not publish fiction, cooking, poetry or memoir.Send: Proposal + 1 or 2 sample chapters by emailEmailReply time not statedest. 1888View profile →
University pressLehigh University PressAcademic, Business, HistoryBethlehem, Pennsylvania, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Lehigh University Press is open to scholarly proposals from unagented authors in the humanities and social sciences. You email its proposal form, one sample chapter and a brief CV to lup@lehigh.edu. It typically replies within about two weeks. There are no fees.No agent neededSend: Proposal form + 1 sample chapter + brief CV by emailEmail2 wks replyest. 1985View profile →University pressPenn PressAcademic, NonfictionPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Penn Press welcomes book proposals from authors without an agent in fields that fit its editorial program. Read its Proposal Submission Guidelines page, then contact the acquiring editor for your field.No agent neededSend: Book proposal per its guidelines, to the editor for your fieldReply time not statedView profile →
University pressPenn State University PressAcademic, Art and Photography, ComicsUniversity Park, Pennsylvania, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Penn State University Press is open to proposals from authors without an agent. Send a brief query email to the acquiring editor for your field first, then a proposal that follows its guidelines. It does not take unrevised dissertations.No agent neededSend: Query email to the editor first, then a proposalEmail, PostReply time not statedView profile →
Independent publishing companySchiffer PublishingChildren's, Art and Photography, HistoryAtglen, Pennsylvania, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Schiffer Publishing is open to proposals from authors without an agent. Email your proposal to proposals@schifferbooks.com or send it by post, with two sample chapters from the middle of the book. Schiffer replies within 12 weeks only if interested.No agent neededSend: Proposal + 2 middle sample chapters by email or postEmail, Post12 wks replyView profile →
University pressTemple University PressAcademic, NonfictionPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, USOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Temple University Press is open to proposals from unagented authors of scholarly and general nonfiction. You send a proposal straight to the acquiring editor for your subject, by email (preferred) or by post.No agent neededSend: Proposal + sample material to the subject editor by email or postEmail, PostReply time not statedView profile →
Major publishing houseRunning PressChildren's, Cookbook, NonfictionPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, USAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Running 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.Send: Agented submissions onlyReply time not statedest. 1972View profile →
Independent publishing companyWhitaker HouseChristian, Fiction, MemoirNew Kensington, Pennsylvania, USClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Whitaker House does not review unsolicited manuscripts or proposals. It reads work only when one of its representatives asks for it or a recognized source sends it. An agent can help but is not required.Send: By invitation: proposal, synopsis and manuscriptEmail, PostNo reopening date given24 wks replyest. 1970View profile → 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.
Never pay to be published
A traditional publisher pays you. If a company asks for money, it is a paid service.
Send exactly what they ask
Query, proposal or sample chapters: follow the format and word count to the letter.
Track every submission
Note the date, the reply time and whether no reply means no before you follow up.
Pennsylvania has a strong mix of university presses, faith publishers and independent nonfiction houses. This page lists 10 verified book publishers in Pennsylvania, and 8 are open to submissions right now. Many of them take proposals from authors without an agent, especially the university presses. Each listing is checked against the publisher's own site and shows whether the house is open, agent-only or closed. Use the picks and notes below to find a fit for your book, then confirm the current guidelines on the publisher's site before you send anything.
How to choose a Pennsylvania publisher
Start with your genre, not the map. Most presses on this page publish nonfiction, and several are university presses that want scholarly books with a clear audience. Penn State University Press, Penn Press, Temple University Press and Lehigh University Press all fit academic work, while Temple also takes general nonfiction. If your book is about art, photography or history, look at Schiffer Publishing. Casemate is another open option for history and memoir. For faith titles, compare JPS for Jewish scholarship and Banner of Truth for Reformed Christian books. Banner of Truth has its head office in Edinburgh and is listed here because of its US office in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Who is open, agent-only or closed
Most publishers on this page are open, and the university presses, Schiffer and Banner of Truth say they accept work from authors without an agent. Running Press is agent-only. It follows Hachette Book Group policy and does not take unsolicited manuscripts or queries, so you need a literary agent to reach it. Whitaker House is closed to submissions at the moment. The status on each listing is checked against the publisher’s own site, but policies change, so confirm the guidelines before you send.
What to send
Each press asks for something different, so follow its own instructions. Penn State wants a short query email to the right editor before a full proposal, and it does not take unrevised dissertations. Lehigh asks for its proposal form, one sample chapter and a brief CV. Schiffer wants two sample chapters from the middle of the book. JPS asks for one or two sample chapters with your proposal. Banner of Truth wants its Manuscript Submissions Guidelines Form with 2 to 3 sample chapters or the full manuscript. In every case, name the acquiring editor for your subject when the press lists one, and keep your pitch focused on who will buy the book.
Finding book publishers in Pennsylvania
When you search for book publishers in Pennsylvania, you find a lot of printers, vanity services and agencies mixed in with real publishers. Each listing in this directory is checked against the publisher’s own site. If you are looking for Philadelphia publishers or presses near Pittsburgh, check each listing’s guidelines rather than its address, since several of these houses take proposals by email. Filter by genre to narrow the list, then read the full profile before you submit.
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Questions authors ask
Answers use the live data on this page.
Which Pennsylvania publishers accept submissions without an agent?
Several do, including Penn State University Press, Penn Press, Temple University Press, Lehigh University Press, Schiffer Publishing and Banner of Truth. Each of these says it takes proposals from authors without an agent. Running Press is the main exception on this page, because it only accepts work through a literary agent. Check each publisher's own site for current guidelines before you send.
Do Pennsylvania university presses publish dissertations?
Not usually in their original form. Penn State University Press says it does not take unrevised dissertations, so you need to rework the manuscript into a book for a wider readership first. The other university presses here expect a proposal that fits their editorial program. Read each press's proposal guidelines and contact the acquiring editor for your field before you submit.
Why is Banner of Truth listed as a Pennsylvania publisher?
Banner of Truth appears here because of its US office in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Its head office is in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is open to unsolicited manuscripts from authors who agree with its Reformed doctrinal statement. You complete its Manuscript Submissions Guidelines Form and email it with sample chapters or the full manuscript. Confirm the current process on its site first.
Do Pennsylvania publishers charge fees to submit?
Lehigh University Press states plainly that there are no fees. As a rule, a traditional publisher pays you, not the other way around. If any company asks for money to publish your book, treat it as a paid service rather than a traditional deal. Read each publisher's own guidelines and any contract with care before you agree to anything.
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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 25 Oct 2026; next review November 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us.
