Smaller Publishers

The number of smaller publishers will continue to grow as technology enables more people to complete the tasks involved in producing a book. Many people consider a publishing house an “Indie” press as long as it isn’t owned by one of the Big Five companies.

So in the world of Christian publishing, who are some of these smaller publishing houses? And by “smaller” I don’t mean that some of these are tiny (some are) but simply that they aren’t Big Five.

• Abingdon Press
• AMG – Living Ink Books
• B&H Publishing (a division of LifeWay Christian Resources)
• Baker Publishing Group
  • Bethany House
  • Revell
  • Baker Books
  • Baker Academic
  • Brazos Press
  • Chosen Books
  • Regal Books
• Barbour Publishing
• CrossRiver Media Group
• Crossway
• David C. Cook
• Ellechor Publishing House
• Enclave Publishing
• Guideposts
  • Summerside Press
• Harvest House Publishers
• HopeSprings Books
• Kregel Publications
• Lamp Post, Inc.
• Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
• Lion Fiction
• Lovely Christian Romance Press
• Mountainview Books
• NavPress
• New Hope Publishers
• Next Step Books
• Pelican
  • Harbourlight Books
  • White Rose Publishing
• Prism Book Group
  • Inspired
• Realms
• Rhiza Press
• River North
• Shade Tree Publishing
• Splashdown Books
• Urban Christian
• Whitaker House
• WhiteFire Publishing
• Write Integrity Press

I’m sure there are others! These are from the list of Recognized Publishers from the American Christian Fiction Writers group.

In order to be considered for ACFW’s Recognized Publisher List, a publisher must meet the following criteria:

1. The publisher publishes novels written from a Christian worldview in any Christian fiction genre (i.e. should not contain profanity, graphic sex, gratuitous violence or other objectionable material, and must otherwise conform to generally accepted standards of the CBA.)
2. All of the publisher’s fiction is Christian, or the publisher has an imprint devoted entirely to Christian fiction (in which case only the imprint will be recognized).
3. The author must not participate financially in the production or distribution of the book (including a requirement to buy books).
4. The publisher must pay royalties.
5. The publisher must have been in business at least one year, and have previously unpublished books of Christian fiction by at least two authors (other than the owners) in print over the past year.
6. The publisher’s books must show evidence of professional editing and cover art, and the content must reflect biblical principles.

I like these criteria. They are good ones for authors to keep in mind when evaluating any publishing house that you might like to work with.