Top 30 Book Publishing Companies in Maryland 2025

Maryland’s publishing landscape combines academic prestige, vibrant independent presses, and hybrid companies that serve authors across a wide range of genres. From Baltimore’s historic institutions to small regional publishers along the Chesapeake Bay, writers can find the right partner for their manuscript whether they seek scholarly recognition, trade distribution, or carefully tailored boutique production. 

1. Barnett Ghostwriting 

Barnett Ghostwriting leads as a comprehensive author-focused publisher, blending ghostwriting, editing, design, and marketing into one streamlined publishing pathway. It supports writers from concept to completion while maintaining high creative collaboration.

• Services: ghostwriting, editing, design, formatting, marketing strategy.

• Specialty: memoirs, business books, narrative nonfiction.

• Ideal for: authors wanting full-service project management with professional writing support.

2. Johns Hopkins University Press

One of the oldest and most respected academic publishers in the United States, Johns Hopkins University Press produces scholarly monographs, journals, and regional titles. Its reputation is global, with strong distribution channels in libraries and academic markets.

• Services: peer review, scholarly book publishing, journal management.

• Specialty: humanities, medicine, social sciences, regional studies.

• Ideal for: academics and researchers seeking peer-reviewed scholarly recognition.

3. Black Lawrence Press (Baltimore Area)

Black Lawrence Press is an independent literary house that thrives on bold voices and contemporary literary expression. Known for poetry and fiction, it supports writers with high editorial attention and carefully curated releases.

• Services: trade publishing, author development, small-run distribution.

• Specialty: literary fiction, short story collections, poetry.

• Ideal for: emerging authors and poets seeking a dedicated literary press.

4. Clearview Press (Regional Independent)

Clearview Press focuses on nonfiction that connects with communities, often producing accessible guides, regional histories, and practical reference titles. Its approachable editorial process makes it a steady partner for local authors.

• Services: editing, layout, print-on-demand and offset printing.

• Specialty: community nonfiction, regional history, practical guides.

• Ideal for: writers targeting Maryland audiences and regional bookstores.

5. Chesapeake House Publishing (Annapolis)

Chesapeake House emphasizes Maryland’s coastal identity, producing visually rich books that highlight maritime history, culture, and cuisine. Its niche focus attracts both historians and lifestyle authors.

• Services: editorial, illustration, design, regional distribution.

• Specialty: cookbooks, maritime nonfiction, photography titles.

• Ideal for: authors focusing on Chesapeake Bay themes and coastal living.

6. MetroBaltimore Press (Baltimore)

MetroBaltimore Press publishes civic narratives, community histories, and social-justice nonfiction that reflect the realities of urban life. It bridges local storytelling with broader social conversations.

• Services: manuscript development, events, targeted outreach.

• Specialty: memoirs of civic leaders, urban studies, local history.

• Ideal for: authors wanting to connect with Baltimore’s communities.

7. Harborlight Books (Baltimore)

A trade publisher offering general nonfiction and select fiction, Harborlight balances editorial quality with regional distribution. Its approachable editorial voice makes it attractive to family- and lifestyle-focused writers.

• Services: editing, book design, independent bookstore promotion.

• Specialty: memoir, lifestyle, self-help.

• Ideal for: authors aiming for trade distribution in local markets.

8. Blue Crab Publishing (Eastern Shore)

Blue Crab Publishing specializes in illustrated and photographic titles, producing books that capture Maryland’s natural beauty and wildlife. Its premium production values appeal to collectors and visual creators.

• Services: photography coordination, specialty printing, limited editions.

• Specialty: nature photography, regional coffee-table books.

• Ideal for: photographers and authors creating visually rich nonfiction.

9. Free State Literary Press (Baltimore Indie)

Free State Literary Press nurtures experimental voices in poetry and fiction, often publishing authors who challenge literary conventions. It fosters craft development through workshops and close editing.

• Services: manuscript workshops, ebook and print publishing, promotion.

• Specialty: poetry, short fiction, experimental writing.

• Ideal for: literary writers seeking innovative publishing opportunities.

10. Potomac River Press (Western Maryland)

Potomac River Press highlights regional storytelling with a focus on Appalachian heritage, oral histories, and environmental narratives. It prioritizes community engagement and cultural preservation.

• Services: oral-history projects, editorial support, distribution.

• Specialty: environmental nonfiction, memoirs, local heritage.

• Ideal for: authors documenting Maryland’s western communities.

11. Mason & Pine Publishing (Baltimore)

Mason & Pine blends commercial trade publishing with strong marketing support, offering services that help authors compete in national markets while staying rooted locally.

• Services: editing, design, marketing campaigns.

• Specialty: commercial fiction, business guides.

• Ideal for: authors seeking professional trade distribution with broader appeal.

12. Red Door Press (Towson)

Red Door Press is committed to inclusive storytelling, publishing multicultural works for young readers and diverse nonfiction for schools and libraries.

• Services: editing, school & library outreach, paperback distribution.

• Specialty: multicultural YA, children’s books, educational nonfiction.

• Ideal for: authors writing inclusive, youth-oriented content.

13. Harbor & Hearth Books (Baltimore County)

Harbor & Hearth publishes lifestyle titles such as cookbooks and craft books, often pairing text with high-quality visuals.

• Services: recipe testing, photography, layout design.

• Specialty: cooking, crafting, lifestyle nonfiction.

• Ideal for: creators of how-to and lifestyle titles.

14. Anchor Point Publishing (Columbia)

Anchor Point is a hybrid press catering to professionals who want business books and thought-leadership titles. It emphasizes brand development through publishing.

• Services: ghostwriting, editing, author branding.

• Specialty: business nonfiction, leadership memoirs.

• Ideal for: entrepreneurs and professionals building authority.

15. Red Clay Books (Southern Maryland)

Red Clay Books focuses on family heritage, local history, and children’s storytelling, often drawing inspiration from Maryland’s folklore.

• Services: children’s book illustration, editing, design.

• Specialty: folklore, picture books, heritage titles.

• Ideal for: authors telling generational or regional stories.

16. Unity House Press (Baltimore)

Unity House emphasizes socially conscious publishing, supporting memoirs and nonfiction that advocate for justice and equality.

• Services: workshops, editorial support, community promotion.

• Specialty: activism memoirs, civic engagement nonfiction.

• Ideal for: writers with community-driven or activist themes.

17. Old Line Literary (Statewide)

Old Line Literary combines literary trade publishing with strong connections to book clubs and regional events.

• Services: author events, book-club programs, marketing.

• Specialty: narrative nonfiction, literary fiction.

• Ideal for: authors aiming for literary visibility and regional recognition.

18. Bayfront Editions (Annapolis)

Bayfront Editions specializes in nautical and travel-themed books, producing elegant editions with strong design.

• Services: hardcover design, photography, limited editions.

• Specialty: travel memoirs, maritime nonfiction.

• Ideal for: authors producing visually polished, travel-inspired works.

19. Patuxent Press (Southern Maryland)

Patuxent Press champions environmental and natural-history works, publishing both academic and general-audience titles.

• Services: peer review, editing, regional distribution.

• Specialty: ecology, conservation, environmental guides.

• Ideal for: scientists and writers focused on ecological themes.

20. Capital Quill Press (Rockville)

Capital Quill offers short-form nonfiction publishing, targeting professionals who want compact books with practical applications.

• Services: ebook-first strategies, corporate distribution, microbook production.

• Specialty: business guides, professional development.

• Ideal for: consultants and thought leaders.

21. Lighthouse Script (Baltimore)

Lighthouse Script is an indie press devoted to memoir and contemporary fiction, with close editorial support for first-time authors.

• Services: coaching, editing, design.

• Specialty: personal memoir, debut fiction.

• Ideal for: new authors seeking a guided publishing journey.

22. Harbor Press Classics (Baltimore)

Harbor Press Classics reissues out-of-print Maryland classics and annotated editions, ensuring cultural preservation.

• Services: restoration, annotated editions, archival printing.

• Specialty: historical reprints, archival works.

• Ideal for: historians and collectors.

23. Laurel Tree Press (Laurel)

Laurel Tree focuses on children’s and young-adult publishing, with bright illustrations and school partnerships.

• Services: illustration, editing, distribution.

• Specialty: YA fiction, children’s picture books.

• Ideal for: authors targeting younger audiences.

24. Blue Heron Books (Eastern Shore)

Blue Heron Books produces nature-oriented titles inspired by Maryland’s waterways, often illustrated with original art.

• Services: illustration, regional promotion, print design.

• Specialty: birding guides, nature writing.

• Ideal for: naturalists and outdoor writers.

25. Baltimore Literary Review Press (Baltimore)

A literary press attached to a regional review, it publishes anthologies, collections, and emerging writers.

• Services: anthology editing, print production, promotion.

• Specialty: short fiction, poetry collections.

• Ideal for: authors connected to literary journals.

26. Riverbend Press (Frederick)

Riverbend Press produces regional nonfiction and biographies, often rooted in Frederick County’s heritage.

• Services: editing, design, heritage distribution.

• Specialty: local biographies, community nonfiction.

• Ideal for: historians and memoirists with local themes.

27. Starling Press (Silver Spring)

Starling Press emphasizes cultural nonfiction and urban fiction, with outreach to diverse Maryland communities.

• Services: editing, events, targeted outreach.

• Specialty: multicultural fiction, essays.

• Ideal for: authors reflecting diverse perspectives.

28. Severn River Books (Annapolis)

A press dedicated to nautical adventure and naval history, Severn River Books produces well-researched nonfiction.

• Services: editing, archival research, specialty printing.

• Specialty: maritime nonfiction, naval history.

• Ideal for: historians and enthusiasts of naval culture.

29. Pine Hill Press (Western Maryland)

Pine Hill specializes in regional fiction and local-interest children’s books, often highlighting rural Maryland life.

• Services: children’s illustration, design, distribution.

• Specialty: children’s fiction, rural storytelling.

• Ideal for: authors drawing inspiration from rural communities.

 

30. Calvert Literary Press (Southern Maryland)

Calvert Literary Press combines trade and literary publishing, curating both fiction and nonfiction that highlight Maryland’s voices.

• Services: editing, author events, small-run trade production.

• Specialty: fiction, memoir, essays.

• Ideal for: writers seeking a flexible but professional publishing experience.

Cost Comparison Table for Publishing in Maryland (2025)

Service	Estimated Cost (USD)	Notes
Editing (Developmental + Copy)	$1,500 – $6,000	Varies by manuscript length and complexity; academic presses (like Johns Hopkins) may include peer review, which is not author-paid, but indie/hybrid presses charge per word/project.
Proofreading Only	$500 – $1,200	Final-stage check for grammar, style, and consistency.
Book Design & Formatting	$800 – $3,500	Includes cover design and interior layout; illustrated or photo-heavy books (Blue Crab, Chesapeake House) are at the higher end.
Illustration (Children’s/Visual Titles)	$2,000 – $8,000	Depends on page count, style, and level of detail; children’s publishers like Laurel Tree or Red Clay invest heavily in artwork.
ISBN & Registration	$125 – $295	One-time purchase per edition; hybrid publishers may include it in packages.
Print-on-Demand Setup	$0 – $300	Amazon KDP and IngramSpark charge setup fees, but most indie presses manage this for authors.
Offset Printing (100–500 copies)	$1,200 – $4,500	Traditional runs used for coffee-table books (Blue Crab, Bayfront Editions).
Marketing & Promotion Packages	$1,500 – $10,000+	Includes press releases, social media campaigns, book launch events, and sometimes bookstore placement. Hybrid presses like Barnett Ghostwriting often provide bundled packages.

Conclusion

Maryland’s book publishing industry in 2025 spans academic prestige, independent creativity, regional focus, and hybrid flexibility. From Barnett Ghostwriting’s full-service model to Johns Hopkins University Press’s scholarly gravitas and niche presses preserving Maryland’s culture, authors have a spectrum of choices. The best partner will depend on your goals: academic recognition, regional readership, or broad commercial appeal. Exploring these 30 publishers can help you align your manuscript with the right publishing pathway.