Submission Guidelines

Terrapage Press is open to submissions from both agented and unagented writers. We read every query we receive.

We are a small press, and we publish four to six titles per year. That means we say no far more often than we say yes — not because the work isn’t good, but because our list is deliberately limited. When we take on a title, we commit to it fully: editorial development, professional design, national distribution through Ingram, and a real marketing effort. We can only make that commitment to a small number of books each year.

What We’re Looking For

We are currently acquiring titles in narrative nonfiction, illustrated nonfiction, and literary fiction. We are drawn to work that is attentive, original, and willing to trust the reader’s intelligence. Strong voice matters more to us than platform. A compelling manuscript from an unknown writer will always beat a mediocre one from an established name.

For a detailed description of our editorial interests and the categories we do and don’t publish, see What We Publish.

How to Submit

Please send the following materials to submissions@terrapagepress.com:

  • Query LetterA brief letter introducing yourself and your work. Tell us what the book is about, why it matters, and why Terrapage Press is the right home for it. Keep it under one page.
  • SynopsisA synopsis of the complete manuscript (for prose) or a description of the collection’s themes and arc (for essays). Two to three pages is sufficient.
  • SampleThe first 25 pages of your manuscript. Please send as a PDF or Word document.
  • Brief BioA short author biography. Previous publications are welcome but not required — we are genuinely interested in debut writers.

What to Expect

We aim to respond to all queries within eight to twelve weeks. During high-volume periods, response times may be longer. If we are interested in your work, we will request the full manuscript. We do not charge reading fees, and we never will.

We welcome simultaneous submissions to other publishers — just let us know if your work is accepted elsewhere so we can close our file promptly.

A Note on Our Current Season

Terrapage Press is currently focused on the launch of our Spring 2026 debut title. We are reading queries and will continue to do so, but our acquisition pace for the Fall 2026 and 2027 lists will increase after launch. If you submit during this period, please allow additional time for our response.

Submit Your Manuscript