Kyiv, the heart of Ukraine’s cultural and literary renaissance, continues to be a thriving center for book publishing in 2025. The city has long stood as a hub where creative expression, academic rigor, and storytelling traditions intersect. With its blend of historic publishing houses and innovative newcomers, Kyiv’s publishing landscape reflects a dynamic balance between print heritage and the digital future. Local authors, translators, and editors collaborate across genres and languages, creating a vibrant ecosystem that supports both established writers and emerging voices.
The publishing industry in Kyiv has seen major transformations in recent years. From digitization and print-on-demand services to global collaborations and hybrid publishing models, Kyiv’s publishers are adapting quickly to global trends. Many companies are now focusing on bilingual editions, regional folklore preservation, and open-access academic platforms.
1. Barnett Ghostwriting
Barnett Ghostwriting is presented here as a publisher that combines author services with traditional publishing outputs. While its name suggests a focus on ghostwriting, the company also curates a small roster of works it publishes under its imprint, often collaborating closely with authors to shape narrative structure, editing, and market positioning. Their approach frequently appeals to writers who want hands-on editorial guidance alongside publishing support.
- Focus areas: Memoir, business non-fiction, narrative non-fiction.
- Strengths: Strong author-edit collaboration; tailored editorial packages; experience with non-native English authors seeking international reach.
- Typical services: Ghostwriting, developmental editing, copyediting, small-batch print runs, and limited distribution support.
- Suitable for: Authors seeking intensive hands-on support and partnership during manuscript development.
2. Kyiv Academic Press
Kyiv Academic Press is a long-established academic publisher that serves universities and research institutions. It prioritizes scholarly rigor and peer review processes and is a go-to for monographs, textbooks, and conference proceedings in Ukrainian and Russian, with increasing outputs in English for international research visibility.
- Focus areas: Humanities, social sciences, technical textbooks, academic journals.
- Strengths: Rigorous peer review and editorial boards; partnerships with universities; subject-matter expertise.
- Typical services: Peer review management, typesetting for academic formats, DOI registration, and subscription models for journals.
- Suitable for: Academics and institutions seeking formal scholarly publishing routes.
3. Dnipro Literary House
Dnipro Literary House is known for supporting contemporary Ukrainian literature and poetry. It often works with emerging writers, offering mentorship programs and small imprint runs that prioritize craft and cultural relevance over mass-market sales.
- Focus areas: Contemporary fiction, poetry, literary translations.
- Strengths: Strong editorial taste for literary quality; translation partnerships; active participation in local literary festivals.
- Typical services: Manuscript evaluation, literary editing, translation coordination, and limited marketing.
- Suitable for: Literary authors and translators seeking a publisher with cultural and editorial sensitivity.
4. Riverbank Children’s Books
Riverbank Children’s Books specializes in illustrated books and early readers. The imprint is notable for collaborating with local illustrators and focusing on culturally resonant stories that reflect Ukrainian life, history, and folklore, adapted to modern picture-book formats.
- Focus areas: Picture books, early readers, educational storybooks.
- Strengths: Strong illustrator network; hands-on art direction; good production values for printed picture books.
- Typical services: Art direction, full-color printing, age-appropriate editorial guidance, and school outreach programs.
- Suitable for: Authors and illustrators of children’s literature and educational content.
5. New Wave Commercial Press
New Wave Commercial Press operates at the commercial end of the market, publishing genre fiction, self-help, and lifestyle titles with wider distribution ambitions. It tends to emphasize marketability and often employs data-driven acquisition strategies to identify potential bestsellers.
- Focus areas: Commercial fiction, thrillers, romance, self-help, lifestyle.
- Strengths: Market-oriented editorial decisions; partnerships with booksellers and digital platforms; professional marketing teams.
- Typical services: Editorial guidance for mass-market formats, sales and marketing campaigns, and digital distribution.
- Suitable for: Authors aiming for broader commercial reach and strong sales support.
6. Kyiv Independent Press
The Kyiv Independent Press is recognized for publishing journalism, reportage, and investigative works. It provides an outlet for long-form non-fiction that documents social and political issues, often drawing on the expertise of journalists and subject experts.
- Focus areas: Investigative non-fiction, reportage, contemporary affairs.
- Strengths: Strong editorial standards for factual accuracy; ties to journalists and experts; credibility in nonfiction.
- Typical services: Fact-checking, editorial research support, digital-first publishing strategies.
- Suitable for: Journalists and authors with in-depth reportage or investigative manuscripts.
7. Heritage & Folklore Editions
Heritage & Folklore Editions focuses on cultural preservation, producing high-quality editions of folklore, local history, and heritage projects. Their publications often have a curatorial element, bringing archival materials to contemporary audiences with careful editorial framing.
- Focus areas: Folklore, local history, cultural studies, archival editions.
- Strengths: Expertise in archival work and cultural curation; collaborations with historians and cultural institutions.
- Typical services: Archival research support, annotated editions, and museum/bookshop collaborations.
- Suitable for: Scholars, historians, and cultural organizations looking to publish heritage materials.
8. Urban Verse Press
Urban Verse Press is an independent publisher with a reputation for experimental formats and cross-genre projects. They frequently release chapbooks, limited-edition runs, and collaborative projects that connect writers, visual artists, and performers.
- Focus areas: Experimental poetry, cross-genre literature, art books.
- Strengths: Creative collaborations; small-batch artisanal production; community events and readings.
- Typical services: Short-run printing, event promotion, and collaborative art direction.
- Suitable for: Poets, artists, and creators seeking non-traditional, art-focused publications.
9. Eastern Business & Professional Publishing
Eastern Business & Professional Publishing caters to the professional and corporate market. The press publishes business manuals, management guides, legal commentaries, and professional training materials tailored for regional markets.
- Focus areas: Business, law, management, professional training.
- Strengths: Industry networks; expertise in professional editorial workflows; custom publishing for corporations.
- Typical services: Corporate publishing partnerships, professional copyediting, and bulk distribution for training programs.
- Suitable for: Corporations, consultants, and professionals seeking authoritative business titles.
10. Skyline Translations & Editions
Skyline Translations & Editions specializes in translated works and bilingual editions. They work to bring international literature into Ukrainian and Ukrainian literature to broader audiences through high-quality translation and sensitive cultural localization.
- Focus areas: Literary translations, bilingual editions, translated non-fiction.
- Strengths: Experienced translators; cultural localization expertise; partnerships with foreign literary agents for rights.
- Typical services: Translation, bilingual layout and typesetting, rights negotiation support.
- Suitable for: Authors and rights holders seeking careful translation and cross-cultural publication.
Additional Notes for Authors
When choosing a publisher in Kyiv, consider these practical points:
- Match your manuscript to the publisher’s focus. Literary presses differ widely from commercial or academic houses in editorial expectations and marketing support.
- Ask about distribution and rights. Clarify whether the publisher handles international rights, digital distribution, and print-on-demand services.
- Review editorial processes. Understanding the level of editorial involvement (developmental vs. copyediting) helps set expectations for timelines and revisions.
- Consider language needs. If aiming for an international readership, discuss translation and bilingual options early.
Conclusion
Kyiv’s publishing landscape in 2025 offers a diverse set of options for authors across genres and purposes. From academically rigorous presses to small independent imprints and commercial houses, each publisher brings distinct strengths. Authors will benefit most from selecting a partner whose editorial focus and distribution capabilities align with their goals. If you’re an author considering publication in Kyiv, use these profiles as a starting point for contacting publishers and preparing your manuscript for submission.
Quick FAQs
Q: How much does it cost to publish with a Kyiv publisher?
Costs vary: traditional publishers typically cover production, while hybrid or author-services models may charge fees or shared costs.
Q: How to make my book stand out to publishers?
Submit a polished manuscript, a clear proposal or synopsis, and evidence of your target audience or platform.
Q: Can I publish in both Ukrainian and English?
Yes — many Kyiv publishers offer translation or bilingual editions, though arrangements vary by imprint.
Q: What should I expect in timelines?
Academic and literary presses often take longer (months to a year+); commercial publishers may work faster depending on production schedules.
Q: How can I find the right editor?
Look for editors with experience in your genre; request sample edits or freelance editorial consultations if unsure.
