So, you've polished your masterpiece to perfection? You've written a shining query letter that will captivate even the toughest reader? You're ready to take the next step and find a publisher?
Well, practice your patience and prepare for the most nerve-wracking experience ever. Remember that most authors, even the most successful ones, get rejected many times before they are offered a contract. The industry is very subjective, so make sure you've pinpointed your target audience and genre before choosing a publisher. This list is mainly for Young Adult authors.
Quirk: Think Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. This company is owned by Random House, and therefore has fantastic distribution. I was actually very surprised that they didn't require an agent, but this may be because so few books are quirky enough to make the cut. Don't go sending them anything mainstream! If your book thinks outside of the box, then I highly recommend submitting to them. They are very fast with their initial response (I think it took three hours), and will let you know their decision within two months.
Curious Fox: These guys publish fiction for both teens and children. Though they're a small press, their books have won many awards and boast great covers (which is all that matters, right?). If you haven't heard anything after three months, assume it's a 'no', since they won't comment on unsuccessful submissions. Still, a great and reputable choice!
Fledgling: This is a Scottish publisher, and they take special interest in debut authors and those with a Scottish setting or characters. Again, they are trustworthy and have good distribution, and they'll give you a yes or no answer within six weeks.
Strident: One of their most notable books is DarkIsle, which just sold its rights to Delacorte Press. Their books have won many awards, and are geared towards both teens and children. I think they're currently not accepting submissions because of a backlog, but make sure to keep checking back!
Black Bed Sheets: If your genre is horror, then this is the place for you! Don't be daunted by the confusing website, they are a genuine and well-known publisher. They will look at other genres, but focus mainly on horror.
Medallion: For a small press, this house had distribution extraordinaire, awesome covers, and a glowing reputation. What makes them stand out is that they have a category solely devoted to YA fiction written by authors who are under nineteen! So far, they are the only publisher I've found who do this. They'll respond with a yes or no within a couple of months.
Hachette Australia: This is an umbrella company for many well-known imprints, including Little, Brown (the Twilight Saga), and Orbit. This was another one which surprised me by opening submissions to everybody, and I'm not sure if it's only the Australian branch, but don't worry: you don't have to live in Australia to submit. Definitely give this one a shot, since some very big authors have signed with them and you're guaranteed to get excellent service. If they haven't responded in three weeks, then assume it's a no.
Lycaon: A smaller Canadian press with gorgeous covers. They start out with e-books only, and release print copies after one year. They're very pleasant to deal with, and answer any questions within a day or so, plus their response time is fast at only two to four weeks for a final decision.
John Hunt: These are the guys I signed with! They have many many imprints, and the YA one is Lodestone. Their response time is unbelievable, initially at only twenty-four hours, with a contract decision in only two weeks, The ONLY thing to watch for is that there are four levels of contracts, the latter two of which call for a substantial subsidy (you have to pay). I was fortunate enough to be offered a traditional royalty-paying level, but keep in mind there is that possibility.
Also, try Jolly Fish, Piccadilly, and Polis.
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