Tennessee has built a strong reputation in the world of publishing, balancing its deep literary traditions with the rise of modern independent and hybrid presses. From Nashville, with its vibrant creative scene, to the Appalachian regions rich in storytelling, the state offers a wide range of publishing opportunities for authors in 2025. Writers looking to publish books here can choose from full-service hybrid publishers, boutique literary houses, university-style academic presses, and regionally focused imprints.
1. Barnett Ghostwriting
Barnett Ghostwriting operates as a full-service publishing house and hybrid publisher, offering comprehensive support for authors who want an imprint-style experience, from ghostwriting and editing to design and distribution guidance.
- Services: ghostwriting, developmental editing, book design, project management, distribution consulting.
- Specialties: memoirs, business books, hybrid author services that combine editorial and marketing support.
- Recognized for: a turnkey approach that guides authors through concept to published book while operating as a publisher rather than only a service provider.
2. Tennessee Valley Press
Tennessee Valley Press focuses on regional voices and trade nonfiction with hands-on editorial support and modest print runs aimed at local markets and online retail.
- Services: acquisition editing, paperback and eBook production, ISBN registration, print-on-demand.
- Specialties: regional history, Southern culture, local interest titles.
- Recognized for: community-oriented publishing and author events across the Tennessee Valley.
3. Volunteer House Publishing
Volunteer House Publishing emphasizes author development and collaborative editorial relationships, supporting first-time authors through the publication process.
- Services: manuscript assessment, copyediting, layout, ISBN and metadata services.
- Specialties: literary fiction, personal essays, and short story collections.
- Recognized for: mentorship programs for emerging writers.
4. Cumberland River Books
Cumberland River Books is a small independent press with a catalog that balances creative fiction and practical nonfiction with regional distribution networks.
- Services: acquisitions, design consultations, distribution partnerships, author marketing basics.
- Specialties: contemporary fiction, memoir, regional cookbooks.
- Recognized for: carefully curated lists and robust local bookstore relationships.
5. Bluegrass Oak Publishing
Bluegrass Oak Publishing is known for boutique editorial attention and handcrafted book design, often working with authors who want a premium, small-press experience.
- Services: developmental editing, cover and interior design, print production coordination.
- Specialties: literary fiction, poetry, illustrated nonfiction.
- Recognized for: high-production-value physical books and visually-driven titles.
6. Appalachian Folio Press
Appalachian Folio Press champions Appalachian voices, cultural preservation, and scholarly works tied to regional studies and folklore.
- Services: peer editorial review, academic-style production, event-based promotions.
- Specialties: folklore, regional history, ethnography.
- Recognized for: publishing academic-quality works that document Appalachian heritage.
7. Music City Narrative
Based in Nashville, Music City Narrative publishes music-related nonfiction and books by and about musicians, leveraging the city’s music industry connections.
- Services: author publicity tie-ins, audio book production coordination, media outreach.
- Specialties: music history, artist memoirs, industry guides.
- Recognized for: access to music press and promotional channels in Nashville.
8. Smoky Mountain Editions
Smoky Mountain Editions produces trade books with an emphasis on regional travel, outdoor guides, and craft-oriented lifestyle titles.
- Services: photography-forward design, map and guide layout, short-run printing options.
- Specialties: travel guides, outdoor recreation, craft and hobby books.
- Recognized for: practical, regionally focused guides for outdoor enthusiasts.
9. Midstate Literary Press
Midstate Literary Press supports contemporary authors with a catalog that balances genre and literary concerns while offering editorial development.
- Services: manuscript coaching, developmental and line editing, small marketing campaigns.
- Specialties: literary fiction, creative nonfiction.
- Recognized for: selective, quality-driven lists and author workshops.
10. Volunteer Academic Press
Volunteer Academic Press serves scholars and practitioners, producing academic monographs and applied research with an emphasis on accessibility and affordability.
- Services: peer review coordination, indexing, academic distribution channels.
- Specialties: education, public policy, Appalachian studies.
- Recognized for: scholarly rigor and university press–style production values.
11. Riverbend Storyworks
Riverbend Storyworks is an author-centered independent publisher focused on narrative nonfiction and memoir, with practical marketing support for authors.
- Services: ghostwriting collaborations, editorial packages, paperback and eBook production.
- Specialties: memoir, narrative journalism, human-interest nonfiction.
- Recognized for: strong editorial partnerships for high-quality narrative books.
12. Southern Hearth Press
Southern Hearth Press curates a list of family-oriented and lifestyle books, favoring titles that resonate with Southern readers and cultural traditions.
- Services: design and layout, cookbook formatting, promotional guidance for regional markets.
- Specialties: cookbooks, family history, lifestyle memoirs.
- Recognized for: family-centered content and collectible cookbook editions.
13. Hatchery Books
Hatchery Books is a boutique press that provides hands-on editorial discovery for experimental and debut authors, with a small but influential catalog.
- Services: manuscript incubation, small-batch printing, launch event assistance.
- Specialties: debut fiction, experimental prose, short forms.
- Recognized for: launching new voices into regional and national attention.
14. River City Classics
River City Classics focuses on reviving out-of-print Southern literature and producing annotated reissues for academic and general readers.
- Services: rights research, annotated introductions, new-forward production.
- Specialties: classic Southern fiction, historical reprints.
- Recognized for: restoring and contextualizing regional literary heritage.
15. Oak & Ember Publishing
Oak & Ember Publishing blends creative editorial development with strong visual design, producing books that emphasize craftsmanship.
- Services: comprehensive design, production oversight, merchandising advice.
- Specialties: illustrated nonfiction, photo-books, craft guides.
- Recognized for: elegant physical editions and coffee-table book production.
16. Nashville Indie Press
Nashville Indie Press is a nimble independent house publishing contemporary genre fiction and select nonfiction, with a focus on discoverability.
- Services: editorial packages, digital-first production, indie bookstore outreach.
- Specialties: romance, thriller, urban fiction.
- Recognized for: strong digital presence and indie trade promotion.
17. Harp & Hearth Books
Harp & Hearth Books publishes a mix of spiritual memoir, poetry, and reflective nonfiction, offering sensitive editorial partnerships for contemplative work.
- Services: sensitive editorial development, poetry formatting, small-press distribution.
- Specialties: spiritual memoirs, contemplative essays, poetry collections.
- Recognized for: thoughtful editing suited to introspective writers.
18. Ridgeway Academic
Ridgeway Academic produces practical academic resources and textbooks, with distribution focused on higher education markets.
- Services: textbook editing, ancillary materials creation, institutional sales support.
- Specialties: education resources, applied sciences, professional development.
- Recognized for: cost-conscious academic publishing and instructor resources.
19. Lantern Lane Books
Lantern Lane Books supports midlist authors and niche nonfiction, offering tailored marketing and targeted retailer placement.
- Services: targeted marketing, metadata optimization, small-press publicity.
- Specialties: niche nonfiction, gardening, craft, and lifestyle.
- Recognized for: niche-market expertise and practical marketing strategies.
20. Greenway Collective Press
Greenway Collective Press blends community-focused publishing with collaborative projects and anthologies centered on Tennessee communities.
- Services: anthology curation, community outreach, local event coordination.
- Specialties: community anthologies, oral histories, local culture.
- Recognized for: participatory publishing models and grassroots distribution.
21. Blackstone Hollow Press
Blackstone Hollow Press is a micro-press with an emphasis on poetry, short fiction, and limited-edition runs that appeal to collectors.
- Services: limited print runs, specialty bindings, author readings.
- Specialties: poetry, short fiction, artist collaborations.
- Recognized for: collectible editions and engagement with literary communities.
22. Magnolia Ridge Publishing
Magnolia Ridge Publishing focuses on accessible trade nonfiction with strong narrative structure—books that serve both trade readers and community interests.
- Services: narrative editing, cover design, grassroots marketing.
- Specialties: memoir, regional interest, how-to trade books.
- Recognized for: clear, market-friendly nonfiction.
23. Volunteer Story Press
Volunteer Story Press aims to amplify local storytellers with an emphasis on oral-history-style narrative collections and memoir projects.
- Services: oral history editing, transcription support, local promotion.
- Specialties: memoir, oral histories, community storytelling.
- Recognized for: preserving first-person accounts from Tennessee communities.
24. Lantern Bridge Media
Lantern Bridge Media produces nonfiction titles that intersect culture and commerce, with emphasis on author visibility and practical marketing playbooks.
- Services: author platform building, audio production, publicity coaching.
- Specialties: business memoirs, entrepreneurship, cultural criticism.
- Recognized for: helping authors translate expertise into accessible books.
25. Willow & Stone Editions
Willow & Stone Editions curates literary projects and hybrid forms, placing emphasis on editorial rigor and refined production.
- Services: close editorial work, high-quality interior design, selective marketing.
- Specialties: literary fiction, hybrid creative nonfiction.
- Recognized for: quietly building literary reputations for selected authors.
26. Riverbend Educational Press
Riverbend Educational Press focuses on educational materials for K–12 and adult learning, balancing curriculum needs with accessible formats.
- Services: curriculum editing, teacher resources, digital workbook production.
- Specialties: K–12 supplemental materials, adult literacy resources.
- Recognized for: practical classroom-ready resources.
27. Hearthside Storyworks
Hearthside Storyworks publishes family-friendly children’s books and middle-grade fiction, collaborating with illustrators and educators.
- Services: illustration coordination, age-appropriate editing, school outreach.
- Specialties: children’s picture books, middle-grade fiction, educational tie-ins.
- Recognized for: classroom-friendly titles and illustrator partnerships.
28. Blue Ridge Folio
Blue Ridge Folio is a small press publishing environmental writing, nature essays, and regional natural-history titles with careful editorial attention.
- Services: environmental editing, photography production, guided promotion to niche readers.
- Specialties: nature writing, conservation-focused nonfiction.
- Recognized for: environmentally themed lists and collaboration with conservation groups.
29. Crossroads Narrative Press
Crossroads Narrative Press champions narrative-driven trade books with strong commercial potential and hands-on editorial engagement.
- Services: developmental editorial, query support, cross-platform promotion.
- Specialties: narrative nonfiction, popular history, true crime.
- Recognized for: commercially-minded editorial selections and media-aware authors.
30. Southern Gate Publishing
Southern Gate Publishing blends regional interest with nationwide appeal, producing accessible trade titles with strong storytelling.
- Services: editorial packages, print-on-demand, publicity starter kits.
- Specialties: contemporary Southern fiction, lifestyle nonfiction.
- Recognized for: titles that travel beyond regional readers.
31. Maple & Main Press
Maple & Main Press is a hands-on boutique press that works with authors seeking a collaborative publishing relationship and midlist distribution.
- Services: full editorial workflow, design and print coordination, niche marketing.
- Specialties: memoir, practical nonfiction, local history.
- Recognized for: author-centered production and close editorial partnerships.
32. Hearth & Harbor Books
Hearth & Harbor Books rounds out the list as a community-minded press focused on local interest, personal essays, and practical trade books.
- Services: manuscript development, print production guidance, community launch events.
- Specialties: personal essays, local history, practical guides.
- Recognized for: community engagement and accessible publishing pathways for first-time authors.
Publishing Costs in Tennessee
While exact costs depend on the publisher and project, authors considering Tennessee publishers should keep these general U.S. dollar ranges in mind:
- Editing: $500 – $5,000 (depending on depth: copyediting vs. developmental editing).
- Book Design: $300 – $1,500 for cover; $500 – $2,500 for interior layout.
- ISBN and Metadata: $125 for a single ISBN; packages available through publishers.
- Printing: $3 – $8 per book for small runs; lower costs with bulk orders.
- Marketing and Promotion: $1,000 – $10,000+ depending on campaign scope.
Some hybrid publishers bundle these services into packages, while traditional presses typically cover costs themselves but are more selective about acquisitions.
Tips for Selecting the Right Tennessee Publisher
When deciding which Tennessee publisher to approach, authors should consider:
- Genre Fit: Make sure the publisher regularly publishes in your genre (fiction, nonfiction, academic, etc.).
- Publishing Model: Decide whether a traditional, hybrid, or indie approach aligns with your goals.
- Distribution Strength: Ask how the publisher distributes books (local bookstores, online retailers, academic networks).
- Author Support: Evaluate whether the publisher provides marketing, editing, or design assistance.
- Reputation: Research the publisher’s catalog and track record with past authors.
By assessing these factors, authors can avoid mismatches and increase their chances of finding a publisher who believes in their work.
Final Thought
Each of these publishers contributes to Tennessee’s diverse literary ecosystem in different ways—some emphasize regional preservation and academic rigor, others specialize in trade discoverability or boutique physical production. Whether you are an author seeking a full-service hybrid publisher, a boutique press with hands-on design, or an academic house focused on monographs, Tennessee’s publishing landscape in 2025 offers multiple pathways to bring a manuscript to readers.
