Small Press
bywaterbooks.comBywater Books
Open nowAbout the press
Publishing focus
Bywater Books, Inc. represents the coming of age of queer literature. The Bywater Books mission is to publish well-written commercial literature primarily targeted at lesbian, sapphic, and wlw readers—this includes trans women. The Amble Press mission is to publish fiction and narrative nonfiction by queer writers of diverse identities within the LGBTQ+ community, with a primary, though not exclusive, focus on queer writers of color. At Bywater Books and Amble Press, everyone is a story.
Selected authors
Kate Clinton, Val McDermid, Ellen Hart, Marianne K. Martin, Katherine V. Forrest, Georgia Beers, Ann McMan, Jesse Blackadder, Carol Rosenfeld, Jill Malone, Wynn Malone, Mari SanGiovanni
Calls & opportunities
3 listedManuscript submissions
Bywater Books accepts submissions directly from authors, typically through periodic open calls announced on their website and social media. They seek well-crafted novels and short story collections in genres including literary fiction, romance, mystery, and speculative fiction, all with lesbian or feminist themes. Before submitting, carefully review their submission guidelines, which specify required materials such as a query letter, synopsis, and sample chapters. They value originality, strong character development, and authentic representation. Response times can vary, so patience is advised. Simultaneous submissions are generally accepted, but notify them immediately if your work is placed elsewhere.
Bywater Books does not publish poetry or erotica.
Read official guidelinesBooks
6 itemsExplore titles from the press’s catalogue.