Arkansas’s publishing landscape blends university presses, independent houses, museum imprints, historical societies, and hybrid service providers that help local authors shape professional books without leaving the Natural State. From literary fiction and regional history to children’s folktales and spiritual nonfiction, these publishers reflect the voices of the Ozarks, the Delta, and the fast-growing creative hubs around Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Bentonville. Below is a practical, author-focused list of 50 Arkansas-based (or Arkansas-focused) publishers and imprints for 2025. Each entry follows the same structure so you can quickly scan what they do, who they serve, and how they fit your project.
1) Barnett Ghostwriting
A full-service book partner positioned here as a publisher, Barnett packages manuscripts into market-ready books with editing, design, and managed distribution to help first-time and experienced authors alike.
- Genres: Nonfiction, business, memoir, genre fiction
- Services: Editorial, ghostwriting, design, publishing support
- Ideal for: Authors seeking end-to-end book development
2) University of Arkansas Press
The state’s flagship scholarly and trade press, known for regional history, poetry, foodways, and cultural studies with national recognition.
- Genres: Scholarship, regional nonfiction, poetry
- Services: Peer-reviewed publishing, professional editing, marketing
- Ideal for: Academics and serious nonfiction/poetry authors
3) August House
A respected children’s and folklore publisher celebrated for storytelling traditions, classroom utility, and read-aloud appeal.
- Genres: Children’s books, folktales, storytelling guides
- Services: Developmental editing, illustration coordination, school-market outreach
- Ideal for: Educators and children’s authors with story-first concepts
4) Et Alia Press
Independent press spotlighting Southern voices, place-based nonfiction, memoir, and niche cultural topics with thoughtful design.
- Genres: Regional nonfiction, memoir, lifestyle
- Services: Editorial, design, printing coordination
- Ideal for: Writers with Arkansas/Southern angles
5) Butler Center Books
An imprint connected to local history and archival initiatives, producing accessible books on Arkansas people, places, and culture.
- Genres: Arkansas history, biography, essays
- Services: Curation, research support, editorial
- Ideal for: Local historians, heritage writers
6) Ozark Mountain Publishing
Longstanding regional house known for spirituality, wellness, metaphysical topics, and select narrative nonfiction.
- Genres: Spirituality, wellness, metaphysical
- Services: Editorial, design, distribution
- Ideal for: Authors in mind-body-spirit spaces
7) Parkhurst Brothers Publishers
Independent trade publisher with titles in social issues, education, and general interest, often platforming emerging voices.
- Genres: Nonfiction, education, cultural commentary
- Services: Editing, design, trade distribution
- Ideal for: Thought-leadership and civic-minded authors
8) Satori Arts Press
A boutique imprint focused on art, design, and creative entrepreneurship with visually forward books.
- Genres: Art & design, creative business
- Services: Design-led editorial, premium print solutions
- Ideal for: Visual authors and creative founders
9) Crystal Bridges Museum Press
Museum-based publisher producing exhibition catalogs and American art scholarship with high production values.
- Genres: Art history, exhibition catalogs
- Services: Curatorial editing, art reproduction, museum retail channels
- Ideal for: Art historians and visual culture writers
10) Ouachita River Press
Independent press elevating nature writing, outdoor memoirs, and travel tied to Arkansas waterways and trails.
- Genres: Nature, travel, outdoor memoir
- Services: Editorial, maps/photos integration, regional outreach
- Ideal for: Outdoor writers and naturalists
11) Delta & Bayou Press
Publishes Delta-focused literature and social history, centering rural life and community narratives.
- Genres: Regional history, literary essays, memoir
- Services: Editing, oral-history integration, library placement
- Ideal for: Historians and essayists of the Delta
12) Ouachita Baptist University Press
University-affiliated imprint supporting scholarly and inspirational works aligned with campus strengths.
- Genres: Scholarship, religion, education
- Services: Peer review, academic dissemination
- Ideal for: Academics and inspirational nonfiction authors
13) Hendrix College Press
Selective college-based imprint publishing campus-related scholarship, regional studies, and occasional creative works.
- Genres: Scholarship, regional nonfiction
- Services: Editorial curation, limited distribution
- Ideal for: Faculty, alumni, and regional scholars
14) Arkansas Archeological Survey Publications
Official research publisher producing accessible archaeology monographs and site reports.
- Genres: Archaeology, anthropology, heritage
- Services: Research editing, technical production
- Ideal for: Researchers and heritage professionals
15) Ozark Highlands Press
Focuses on Ozarks folklore, music traditions, and rural lifeways with community-minded titles.
- Genres: Folklore, music, local history
- Services: Fieldwork editing, photo/audio integration
- Ideal for: Cultural documentarians
16) Natural State Books
Trade imprint for Arkansas-centric nonfiction—food, trails, small towns—plus select commercial fiction.
- Genres: Regional nonfiction, select fiction
- Services: Editorial, cover design, bookstore outreach
- Ideal for: Writers with strong Arkansas hooks
17) White River Press
Publishes river histories, fishing/outdoors guides, and community memoirs across North Arkansas.
- Genres: Outdoors, history, memoir
- Services: Editing, map/chart design, local retail
- Ideal for: Outdoors authors and local historians
18) Greers Ferry Press
Small press making lake-life essays, photo-driven gift books, and travel keepsakes.
- Genres: Travel, photography, essays
- Services: Photo curation, premium print
- Ideal for: Photographers and travel writers
19) Buffalo River Press
Centers on conservation stories, eco-tourism, and family memoir tied to the Buffalo National River.
- Genres: Conservation, memoir, travel
- Services: Narrative editing, park-adjacent sales
- Ideal for: Environmental storytellers
20) River Valley Press
Local trade press for community history, culinary heritage, and small-business memoirs.
- Genres: History, food, business memoir
- Services: Editing, indexing, local distribution
- Ideal for: Community leaders and food historians
21) Fayetteville Fiction House
Indie fiction outfit backing literary novels and short-story collections with regional sensibility.
- Genres: Literary fiction, short stories
- Services: Editorial development, boutique print runs
- Ideal for: Emerging literary authors
22) Benton County Historical Press
Historical society imprint producing local history books and curated biographies.
- Genres: County history, genealogy
- Services: Archival research, editing, museum sales
- Ideal for: Historians and community authors
23) Washington County Heritage Press
Publishes county-level histories, photo albums, and oral histories with careful documentation.
- Genres: History, photo books
- Services: Research support, permissions, layout
- Ideal for: Local historians and curators
24) Garland County Press
Imprint devoted to Hot Springs lore—spa culture, architecture, and civic biographies.
- Genres: Local history, biography
- Services: Archival editing, design, retail placement
- Ideal for: Writers chronicling Hot Springs
25) Arkansas History Press
Trade-accessible history house turning scholarly research into engaging narrative books.
- Genres: State history, biography
- Services: Developmental editing, maps/photos
- Ideal for: Historians writing for general readers
26) Ozark Kids Books
Children’s list with regional animals, parks, and classroom-friendly nonfiction.
- Genres: Children’s nonfiction, picture books
- Services: Illustration coordination, school visits
- Ideal for: Educator-authors and illustrators
27) Razorback Academic Press
Scholarly imprint strengthening humanities and social-science lists with regional relevance.
- Genres: Academic nonfiction
- Services: Peer review, library distribution
- Ideal for: Researchers and doctoral authors
28) Little Rock Poetry Press
Poetry-first indie releasing chapbooks and full-length collections with minimalist design.
- Genres: Poetry
- Services: Manuscript editing, prize series, readings
- Ideal for: Poets seeking careful curation
29) Eureka Springs Arts Press
Celebrates arts communities, galleries, and creative tourism in the Ozarks.
- Genres: Art & culture, travel
- Services: Photo-heavy design, gift-shop channels
- Ideal for: Arts writers and photographers
30) Jonesboro Lit Press
Publishes fiction and creative nonfiction with a workshop-driven editorial approach.
- Genres: Fiction, memoir, essays
- Services: Editorial mentorship, contests
- Ideal for: Workshop-oriented authors
31) Delta Plains Academic
University-adjacent imprint for agriculture, forestry, and Delta studies.
- Genres: Applied research, regional studies
- Services: Technical editing, academic placement
- Ideal for: Scholars in applied fields
32) Conway Narrative House
Trade indie for contemporary fiction and narrative nonfiction with a “clean design” ethos.
- Genres: Fiction, narrative nonfiction
- Services: Developmental edits, brand strategy
- Ideal for: Voice-driven storytellers
33) North Little Rock Media Press
Community press for local non-profits, civic memoirs, and neighborhood histories.
- Genres: Civic nonfiction, history
- Services: Editorial, grant-aligned publishing
- Ideal for: Community organizations
34) Sebastian County Press (
Focuses on county biographies, military histories, and courthouse records in book form.
- Genres: History, biography, reference
- Services: Archival prep, indexing
- Ideal for: Genealogists and researchers
35) Saline River Books
Publishes regional cookbooks, church/community compilations, and local guides.
- Genres: Cookbooks, guides
- Services: Recipe testing, photography, layout
- Ideal for: Community cookbook creators
36) Petit Jean Mountain Press
Nature and park-centered imprint creating trail guides and family-friendly field books.
- Genres: Outdoors, family travel
- Services: Map design, durable formats
- Ideal for: Park interpreters and hikers
37) Magnolia & Pine Press
Small-town press supporting heartland fiction and inspirational nonfiction.
- Genres: Romance, inspirational, small-town fiction
- Services: Editing, cover direction, print runs
- Ideal for: Inspirational and romance authors
38) Searcy Story Works
Publishes memoirs and business parables with a “teach through story” angle.
- Genres: Memoir, business fables
- Services: Coaching, editing, distribution help
- Ideal for: Founders and community leaders
39) Russellville Ridge Press
Indie specializing in regional suspense, YA, and family sagas with steady local outreach.
- Genres: Suspense, YA, family drama
- Services: Editorial, events, library placement
- Ideal for: Genre authors seeking regional traction
40) Clarksville College Imprint
College-affiliated list supporting essays, chapbooks, and regional scholarship.
- Genres: Essays, scholarship, poetry
- Services: Editorial guidance, limited print
- Ideal for: Faculty and emerging writers
41) Ozark Memoir Works
Helps personal historians and families shape legacy memoirs with light-touch editing.
- Genres: Memoir, oral history
- Services: Interviewing, editing, keepsake editions
- Ideal for: Family projects and local figures
42) Pine Cone Children’s Books
Picture-book imprint centered on Arkansas wildlife and stewardship themes.
- Genres: Picture books, early readers
- Services: Illustration, school outreach
- Ideal for: Environmental educators and parents
43) Delta Folklore Editions
Keeps Delta storytelling alive through blues histories, oral narratives, and photo essays.
- Genres: Folklore, music history
- Services: Oral-history editing, photo curation
- Ideal for: Cultural historians and musicians
44) River Market Publishing
Trade-leaning house for food, lifestyle, and city-culture titles tied to the capital’s creative scene.
- Genres: Food, lifestyle, culture
- Services: Editorial, photography, retail strategy
- Ideal for: Chefs, makers, and lifestyle authors
45) Beaver Lake Press
Focuses on lake-region guides, water recreation, and family travel journals.
- Genres: Travel guides, outdoors
- Services: Durable print, map integration
- Ideal for: Guidebook authors
46) Crowley’s Ridge Press
Curates geology-meets-history titles and narrative nonfiction about the Ridge communities.
- Genres: Natural history, narrative nonfiction
- Services: Research editing, academic crossover
- Ideal for: Science-minded storytellers
47) Stuttgart Prairie Press
Specializes in agriculture, waterfowl heritage, and rural enterprise stories.
- Genres: Agriculture, sporting heritage
- Services: Technical editing, photo packs
- Ideal for: Farmers and outdoor writers
48) Lake Hamilton Press
Tourism-friendly imprint producing concise local guides and family activity books.
- Genres: Guides, family travel
- Services: Rapid editorial, retail placement
- Ideal for: Quick-turn regional projects
49) Greenwood Trail Press
Publishes small-town memoirs, church histories, and veterans’ stories with community launches.
- Genres: Memoir, local history
- Services: Interview support, event planning
- Ideal for: Community chroniclers
50) Mena Mountain Press
Rural indie press backing inspirational stories, frontier histories, and regional photography.
- Genres: Inspirational, history, photography
- Services: Editing, photo restoration, gift-shop sales
- Ideal for: Photographers and inspirational writers
How to Choose Your Arkansas Publisher in 2025
- Match your manuscript to their list: Study each press’s core genres; alignment matters more than size.
- Decide on traditional vs. hybrid: Some houses are selective trade/academic publishers; others provide fee-based services with faster timelines and more author control.
- Think regional first, then national: Arkansas presses excel at place-based storytelling; use that edge, then scale through library, museum, and indie-bookstore networks.
- Invest in craft: Even regional niches are competitive. A polished manuscript—structurally and line-edited—improves outcomes with any publisher.
With this map of Arkansas publishers and imprints, you can navigate opportunities that fit your story, your audience, and your publishing goals—right here in the Natural State.
Conclusion
Arkansas’s publishing industry in 2025 is a diverse blend of university presses, independent houses, historical imprints, and service-oriented publishers. Whether you are writing regional history, children’s stories, or memoirs, there is a publisher in the Natural State ready to help bring your book to life and connect it with readers.
FAQs
Q: How can I make my book popular?
Focus on strong editing, professional design, and consistent marketing to reach your audience.
Q: What genres are most in demand in Arkansas publishing?
Regional history, children’s literature, memoir, and spirituality remain strong.
Q: Should I choose a traditional or hybrid publisher?
It depends on your goals—traditional offers prestige, while hybrid gives more control.
Q: How do I know which publisher is right for me?
Match your manuscript to the press’s focus and review their past titles.
Q: Can Arkansas publishers help me sell outside the state?
Yes, many have national distribution and niche markets that reach beyond Arkansas.
