Are you an author in Jamaica? Are you searching for publishing houses across the island? Below we’ve featured 4 top book publishers in Jamaica.
1. Ian Randle Publishers
A Jamaica-based company, Ian Randle Publishers was founded in 1991. Its president, Ian Randle, has over 40 years of experience in the field, thus being able to gain extensive knowledge regarding the U.S. and British book industries as well. They are known for publishing fine books on the Caribbean, and are considered to be the trailblazer when it comes to academic and scholarly books in the area. Their bestsellers are on the topics of politics, sociology, history, gender studies, and on current issues in the Caribbean.
Recently, their interest has expanded, now including cooking, music, art, biography, literature and poetry as well. The book categories available on their website also include other genres, such as crime and justice.
As it is a renowned publishing company from Jamaica, it is not simple to persuade them into producing your book – they do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, therefore you have to fill-out and send an author questionnaire if you’re interested in working with them. If they want to collaborate with you, their representatives will contact you later on.
2. The University of the West Indies Press
A not-for-profit organization, the University of the West Indies Press was founded in 1992 and has since become popular for publishing books regarding 14 academic disciplines. Their most representative topics are Caribbean cultural studies, Caribbean history and literature, political science, gender studies, and education.
With over 350 books in print available, the press has an editorial committee composed of both local and international scholars who approve the manuscripts. Among others, some of its main purposes are that of improving and supporting the publication of Caribbean scholarship and research, of providing Caribbean scholarship worldwide in a cost-effective environment, and of promoting the University’s reputation by empowering its scholarly community.
The topics of interest vary widely, and you can find them here in alphabetical order. They include psychology, legal studies, environmental studies, economics, and others. There is also a General Interest category, where you can find titles such as “Grounds for Tenure”, by Barbara Lalla, and “Dying to Better Themselves”, by Olive Senior.
If you want to collaborate with the University of the West Indies Press, there are several aspects which you have to read about first. Luckily, their Submission Guidelines are available online.
3. Kingston Publishing
Kingston Publishing is a company that provides a wide range of services – traditional publishing or self-publishing, they are able to help you during either of these processes, depending on your personal preference. Founded in 2016, the team of this company is aware of the hardships which you can go through in the industry, and they are ready to make all the necessary efforts in order for your book to be successful.
In terms of genres, their main interests consists of romance, suspense, romantic suspense, thriller, mystery, fantasy, paranormal, young adult, literary fiction, and others. From what they mention, it seems like they are willing to publish any book that has potential, so even if yours does not fit the named genres, you can still try to contact them. However, they do have a few topics which they refuse to publish – bestiality, pedophilia, incest, rape, and any other theme that promotes discrimination or abuse.
Are you interested in finding out more? You can send your manuscript here – once it is reviewed, you will receive a response in 7-10 business days.
4. LMH Publishing Limited
Formerly known as Kingston Publishers, this company started its activity in 1999. One of the most renowned general and educational book publishers from the Caribbean region, LMH Publishing has extended significantly in time – even though they are located in Kingston, Jamaica, they also have an office in New York City, which is handled by Zebra Productions, and they have co-published several writings with overseas publishers. For instance, one of their most successful travel books, “Jamaica in Pictures”, was co-published with Casa Editrice Bonechi, from Italy.
They distribute their books in Jamaica and in the wider Caribbean, the U.K., Europe, and in the United States. This is possible because of their collaboration with Turnaround Publisher Services and with Lightning Source, but also because they sell their products online, in both print and eBook format.
Their preferred genres are numerous, including fiction, non-fiction, cooking, children’s books, education, travel, and culture. They also specialize in the culture, history, and impact of Jamaica on the rest of the world. Even though their range of interests is wide, they do not neglect their initial purpose – that of producing educational material. In order to achieve this, they have collaborated with the Trinidad Ministry of Education and with the Ministry of Education Youth and Information.
If you’re thinking about submitting your manuscript, they offer details regarding this process in the FAQ section. However, if there is anything you want to know first, you can contact them here.
Are there any other book publishers in Jamaica that should be on this list? If so, please tell us about them in the comments section below.
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