Los Angeles is synonymous with the entertainment industry, the home to Hollywood, celebrities and a glitzy lifestyle portrayed and celebrated all over the world and in the media. But LA is also the home to a thriving book publishing community, and many of the publishers in Los Angeles are independent and therefore do not require an author to be represented by a literary agent in order to get in touch.
Unlike the New York City book publishing scene dominated by the “Big 5” including Hatchette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster — LA is instead replete with author-friendly small presses willing to help new and aspiring authors.
These LA publishers are all well-established and respected but because the average author doesn’t immediately think of Los Angeles as the epicenter of book publishing, the competition isn’t nearly as fierce in LA versus New York City. So if you’re a new author or one without a huge platform, seeking the help of a Los Angeles based publisher makes a lot of sense.
I’ve compiled a list of the best book publishers in Los Angeles that you can contact on your own, without the help or representation of a literary agent. You’re free to contact each publisher directly.
MindStir Media
With a location on Sunset Boulevard, MindStir Media caters to authors looking to self-publish, but with the help of professionals, often called hybrid publishing because of the combination of self-publishing and traditional publishing offered. In fact, Hollywood Life praised MindStir Media as the top hybrid publisher in America. MindStir is partnered with Mariel Hemingway, an award-winning actress and the granddaughter of the legendary Ernest Hemingway. The company also has ties with Kevin Harrington, one of the original Sharks from Shark Tank. MindStir offers author services such as mentoring from a bestselling author, celebrity endorsements, book design, editing, publishing, distribution and marketing & publicity services.
MindStir Media was founded in 2009 and has been featured in major publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance and more. MindStir is a major sponsor of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
MindStir Media Review
Summary
“A lot of great people are using it. It’s a quality company. They’ve won awards, I’m not even kidding. And they can expertly produce an eye-catching, high-quality book and market it …MindStir Media, these are quality people. You get a good-looking book …It will change your life, I can promise you that. Check out MindStir Media.”
Prospect Park Books
Prospect Park Books is a California native, publishing beautiful print and digital books with wit, creativity, and intelligence. The titles focus on fiction, mysteries, cooking/food, humor, and regional/gift titles, and we work with authors, designers, and artists who are outside of the New York mainstream.
Red Hen Press
Red Hen Press is an American non-profit press located in Pasadena, California, and specializing in the publication of poetry, literary fiction, and nonfiction. The press is a member of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, and was a finalist for the 2013 AWP Small Press Publisher Award.
Wonderwell Press
Wonderwell Press provides world-class editorial, book production, distribution, and book marketing services for leading experts, prolific creators and visionary brands in our three signature publishing programs. Our books are traditionally distributed to the trade by Publishers Group West in the US, and Publishers Group Canada. The company’s books have ranked on national bestseller lists, been translated into multiple languages, and won peer-reviewed awards.
CaryPress International Books
CaryPress International Books officially started in July of 2013, co-founded by John Sparks, Maggie Bassett, and Dr. Durdanah Y. Starns, they decided to create a company that was different from what they had experienced in the book publishing industry. Since then CaryPress has branched out into several other services related to book publishing, including ghostwriting and book marketing.