South Dakota may not be the first place that comes to mind when people think of the publishing world, but the state has a surprisingly rich and diverse literary culture. Home to strong Native American storytelling traditions, historic small towns, and universities that foster research and creative writing, South Dakota’s publishing scene has steadily grown over the past few decades.
Unlike publishing hubs such as New York or Chicago, South Dakota’s presses are often smaller and more community-driven. They tend to focus on regional history, family memoirs, children’s literature, poetry, and nonfiction that reflects rural life and the Great Plains. Many also prioritize Indigenous voices, outdoor and environmental themes, and the preservation of local heritage. For writers who want to work closely with their publishers and see their stories resonate with local communities, South Dakota offers meaningful opportunities.
1. Barnett Ghostwriting
Barnett Ghostwriting operates as a full-service ghostwriting and editorial house, pairing experienced writers with clients who need discreet and professional manuscript development. The firm typically handles memoirs, business books, and narrative nonfiction, guiding projects from concept through final manuscript.
- Main focus: Ghostwriting, developmental editing, and publishing services.
- What makes it unique: Emphasis on long-form narrative structure and confidentiality for high-profile clients.
2. Black Hills Publishing
Black Hills Publishing is a regional independent press based near the Black Hills. The press publishes a mix of regional history, nature writing, and literary fiction that reflects local landscapes and communities.
- Main focus: Regional nonfiction, outdoor and nature literature, and local history.
- What makes it unique: Strong ties to conservation groups and park historians.
3. Prairie Wind Press
Prairie Wind Press champions voices rooted in the Great Plains. They focus on short-run trade books, poetry collections, and local memoirs.
- Main focus: Poetry, memoir, and short-run trade books.
- What makes it unique: A steady pipeline for local poetry and community reading series.
4. Dakota House Books
Dakota House Books publishes culturally-focused nonfiction and fiction that highlights Native American voices and Upper Midwest history.
- Main focus: Indigenous authors, cultural history, and folklore.
- What makes it unique: Collaborative projects with tribal historians and community elders.
5. Corn Palace Press
Corn Palace Press is a small independent publisher known for illustrated regional nonfiction and children’s picture books celebrating rural life.
- Main focus: Children’s books, illustrated local histories.
- What makes it unique: Emphasis on family-oriented, illustrated projects that celebrate rural heritage.
6. Badlands Books
Badlands Books specializes in rugged, character-driven fiction and accessible outdoor guides for hikers and wildlife enthusiasts.
- Main focus: Fiction inspired by place, outdoor guides.
- What makes it unique: Editorial relationships with local naturalists and outdoor photographers.
7. Mount Rushmore Press
Mount Rushmore Press publishes narrative nonfiction and biographies, with a clear editorial interest in public history and civic stories.
- Main focus: Biographies, public history, and narrative nonfiction.
- What makes it unique: Partnerships with museums and public history programs.
8. Sioux Falls Press
Sioux Falls Press is a general-interest independent press serving authors across the state, with a mix of fiction, memoir, and practical nonfiction.
- Main focus: Trade fiction, memoirs, and regional nonfiction.
- What makes it unique: Robust local distribution channels and author support services.
9. Rapid City House
Rapid City House focuses on creative nonfiction and regional anthologies that collect voices from western South Dakota.
- Main focus: Creative nonfiction and anthologies.
- What makes it unique: Local writing contests and anthology projects that spotlight emerging authors.
10. Great Plains Publishing
Great Plains Publishing is an imprint that produces books focused on agriculture, rural business, and community development.
- Main focus: Agricultural guides, rural entrepreneurship, community planning.
- What makes it unique: Practical, resource-oriented titles geared to farmers and small-town leaders.
11. Vermillion Books
Vermillion Books blends academic and trade publishing, often drawing on university scholars to produce accessible works for a general audience.
- Main focus: Academic-adjacent nonfiction with trade appeal.
- What makes it unique: Bridges between scholarly work and readable trade books.
12. Brookings Literary Press
Brookings Literary Press nurtures debut fiction and experimental poetry, with a small but carefully curated catalogue.
- Main focus: Debut novels, short story collections, and poetry.
- What makes it unique: A commitment to first-time authors and regional literary prizes.
13. Aberdeen Press & Co.
Aberdeen Press & Co. is a community-oriented press publishing memoir, family histories, and local sports narratives.
- Main focus: Community memoirs, sports histories, and family chronicles.
- What makes it unique: Services for compiling oral histories and family memoir projects.
14. Huron House Publishing
Huron House Publishing emphasizes spiritual and inspirational titles, as well as self-help books tailored to Midwestern readers.
- Main focus: Inspirational nonfiction and practical self-help.
- What makes it unique: Focus on faith-informed and community-minded guides.
15. Mitchell Media Works
Mitchell Media Works produces practical nonfiction, including how-to titles and regional cookbooks celebrating South Dakota ingredients.
- Main focus: Cookbooks, regional lifestyle, and how-to guides.
- What makes it unique: Local recipe collection projects and community cookbook collaborations.
16. Yankton Press
Yankton Press focuses on local history and river culture, producing richly illustrated books about the Missouri River and river communities.
- Main focus: River histories, illustrated regional books.
- What makes it unique: Strong visual-heavy books with archival photography.
17. Watertown Publishing Co.
Watertown Publishing Co. publishes children’s chapter books, local folktales adapted for modern readers, and family-focused nonfiction.
- Main focus: Children’s chapter books and folktale adaptations.
- What makes it unique: Workshops for school visits and classroom reading materials.
18. Spearfish Books
Spearfish Books is a boutique publisher with an eye for literary fiction and nature writing tied to the Black Hills and surrounding ecosystems.
- Main focus: Literary fiction and nature essays.
- What makes it unique: Editorial emphasis on place-based literature and sustained author development.
19. Sturgis Press
Sturgis Press mixes memoir, travel writing, and books about motorcycle culture—reflecting the town’s iconic annual rally—while maintaining a broader catalog.
- Main focus: Memoirs, travel, and cultural nonfiction.
- What makes it unique: Projects that explore subcultures and regional gatherings.
20. Belle Fourche Books
Belle Fourche Books publishes family histories, small-press poetry, and practical guides for rural living.
- Main focus: Community memoirs, poetry, rural lifestyle guides.
- What makes it unique: Local author mentorship and print-on-demand services.
21. Pierre Publishing Collective
Pierre Publishing Collective is a collaborative imprint supporting local authors with editorial services and small-print runs, often for civic projects.
- Main focus: Civic histories, public reports, community projects.
- What makes it unique: Cooperative model where proceeds support local literacy programs.
22. Sioux Prairie Press
Sioux Prairie Press produces devotional literature, short-run monographs, and booklets for community organizations.
- Main focus: Devotional and community publishing.
- What makes it unique: Affordable, small-batch publication options for organizations.
23. Northern Plains Books
Northern Plains Books focuses on regional guides, birding and wildlife titles, and outdoor photography books.
- Main focus: Natural history, field guides, and photography.
- What makes it unique: Collaboration with regional naturalists and photographers.
24. Copper Creek Press
Copper Creek Press is an independent literary press publishing short fiction, essays, and chapbooks in limited editions.
- Main focus: Short fiction, chapbooks, and literary essays.
- What makes it unique: Emphasis on tactile, collectible editions and local literary readings.
25. Limestone Lane Publishing
Limestone Lane Publishing publishes historical fiction and Native American literature with research-backed editorial teams.
- Main focus: Historical fiction, Indigenous narratives.
- What makes it unique: Careful historical research and advisory boards.
26. Frontier Ridge Books
Frontier Ridge Books focuses on young adult fiction and coming-of-age stories set in rural and small-town America.
- Main focus: Young adult fiction and teen-oriented narratives.
- What makes it unique: Programs connecting YA authors with local school book clubs.
27. Prairie Light Editions
Prairie Light Editions specializes in poetry and short-form nonfiction, issuing annual poetry anthologies featuring Midwestern poets.
- Main focus: Poetry and short-form nonfiction.
- What makes it unique: Annual anthologies and residency opportunities for poets.
28. Meadowlark Media
Meadowlark Media publishes lifestyle titles, gardening books, and regional home design guides.
- Main focus: Gardening, lifestyle, and home design.
- What makes it unique: Practical, seasonal titles targeted to Midwestern climates.
29. Riverbend Press
Riverbend Press issues oral history collections and community memoir projects that preserve local stories for future generations.
- Main focus: Oral history anthologies and memoir compilations.
- What makes it unique: Community-recording projects and training in oral history methods.
30. Heartland House Publishers
Heartland House Publishers is a family-run imprint producing novels, family sagas, and community-focused nonfiction with broad appeal.
- Main focus: Family sagas, general fiction, and accessible nonfiction.
- What makes it unique: Long-term editorial relationships with regional storytellers.
31. Sandstone Stories
Sandstone Stories is a boutique publisher of illustrated nonfiction, local artisans’ profiles, and craft-focused books.
- Main focus: Artisanal crafts, maker profiles, and illustrated nonfiction.
- What makes it unique: Collaboration with local artists and makers for book project tie-ins.
32. Cedar Grove Publishing
Cedar Grove Publishing produces faith-based and inspirational titles as well as devotional guides tailored to small congregations.
- Main focus: Faith-based nonfiction and devotional materials.
- What makes it unique: Customizable church resource books and small-batch printing.
33. Flint Hills Press
Flint Hills Press publishes regional cookbooks, hunting and fishing guides, and outdoor lifestyle titles that serve the local outdoors community.
- Main focus: Hunting/fishing guides and outdoor lifestyle.
- What makes it unique: Practical field guides co-written with local outdoorsmen and women.
34. Sunflower Lane Books
Sunflower Lane Books focuses on children’s early readers and educational materials for primary grades, often aligning with state literacy goals.
- Main focus: Early readers and elementary educational resources.
- What makes it unique: Classroom-friendly formats and teacher guides.
35. Prairie Beacon Press
Prairie Beacon Press issues contemplative nonfiction, narrative essays, and books that explore small-town civic life and values.
- Main focus: Narrative essays and civic-minded nonfiction.
- What makes it unique: Titles that examine community resilience and local governance.
36. Red Rock Publishers
Red Rock Publishers publishes regional mysteries, thrillers, and genre fiction that use South Dakota settings as atmospheric backdrops.
- Main focus: Genre fiction—mystery, thriller, and suspense.
- What makes it unique: Strong sense of place in genre storytelling.
37. Whispering Pines Editions
Whispering Pines Editions is a micro-press producing handmade chapbooks, artist books, and limited-run poetry collections.
- Main focus: Handmade chapbooks and artist books.
- What makes it unique: Artisanal production and small collectible runs.
38. Plainsong Press
Plainsong Press publishes music-related nonfiction, folk histories, and collections on regional musical traditions and performers.
- Main focus: Music histories and cultural nonfiction.
- What makes it unique: Projects that document and preserve regional musical traditions.
39. Tumbleweed Books
Tumbleweed Books focuses on travel writing, memoirs related to pilgrimage or personal transformation, and short travel guides.
- Main focus: Travel memoir and personal-transformation nonfiction.
- What makes it unique: Emphasis on intimate travel narratives and author-guided reflection pieces.
40. Red River House
Red River House produces practical business titles and entrepreneurial guides aimed at rural entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- Main focus: Small business guides and entrepreneurship.
- What makes it unique: Practical toolkits tailored to non-urban business owners.
41. Blue Prairie Press
Blue Prairie Press is a small independent house devoted to contemporary fiction and poetry. They publish authors with strong regional ties and voices that speak to rural and small-town experiences.
- Main focus: Contemporary fiction and poetry.
- What makes it unique: Consistent support of debut poets and first-time novelists.
42. Dakota Heritage Publishing
Dakota Heritage Publishing focuses on preserving local traditions through cookbooks, folk stories, and family histories. It emphasizes projects that capture intergenerational wisdom.
- Main focus: Folk heritage, cookbooks, and family memoirs.
- What makes it unique: Projects often developed in partnership with local historical societies.
43. Coyote Creek Press
Coyote Creek Press publishes genre fiction—romance, fantasy, and adventure—alongside occasional young adult titles. The press appeals to writers who want to blend commercial storytelling with regional settings.
- Main focus: Romance, fantasy, adventure, and YA fiction.
- What makes it unique: A dual focus on genre storytelling and South Dakota cultural touchpoints.
South Dakota’s Publishing Landscape
South Dakota’s publishing world is shaped by its geography, culture, and history. The state’s wide-open landscapes and rural communities influence both the themes and operations of its publishers. Many focus on small print runs, community-driven projects, and oral history preservation. Unlike the fast-paced commercial houses of big cities, South Dakota’s publishers often work hand-in-hand with authors over longer periods, nurturing projects that might not be viable elsewhere.
Key Characteristics of South Dakota Publishers
- Regional Identity: Books often explore the Great Plains, Black Hills, and river communities.
- Community Orientation: Many presses collaborate with schools, museums, or local historical societies.
- Indigenous Voices: A strong commitment to Native American storytelling, reflecting the cultural richness of tribes like the Lakota and Dakota.
- Practical Titles: From cookbooks to agricultural guides, publishers produce books with everyday usefulness.
- Small-Batch Printing: Many companies rely on short print runs or print-on-demand services to stay sustainable.
Closing Thoughts
South Dakota’s publishing scene in 2025 remains diverse and community-oriented. Many of the presses above are small, mission-driven operations that prioritize local voices, regional histories, and practical resources for residents. If you’re an author seeking a publisher in South Dakota, consider the editorial focus, production model (traditional vs. print-on-demand), and community reach of the imprint. For readers and researchers, these local and regional presses are a rich source of place-based storytelling and practical guides that reflect life on the Northern Plains.
