6 Underground Book Publishers You Need to Have On Your Radar
As with most art, you have to truly search to find the most meaningful and interesting pieces out there. Writing is no different. If you want to find the best books and the best publishers, look beyond the most popular to independent, underground book publishers. Finding independent presses is easier said than done, so we put together this list of the underground book publishers that you need to check out:
Feral House
This independent press focuses on breaking the mold by publishing books with unexpected and thought-provoking topics. They are unique for an independent press as they focus on putting out non-fiction that other publishers don’t want to touch, but need to be put out in the world.
Their impressive catalogue includes a collection of stories of the father of the “American Grotesque”, a historical look into the death metal and grindcore scenes, stories of real-life vampires, and even more that covers topics that you won’t believe.
For readers, Feral House is your chance to expand your worldview to places you won’t expect. We suggest going through their long index of books to see what catches your eye.
For writers and agents, Feral House is offering an opportunity to cover topics that other publishers would deem as unpublishable, while connecting your non-conventional book with the right audience.
Deathless Publishing
This new publishing company, located in Detroit, MI, launched in 2024 with a goal in mind: Putting out writing that is art, not just entertainment. They started this off by publishing the literary fiction novel Being Human, Then Decaying by J.B. Exte.
The name speaks to their ethos. The idea being that one becomes deathless through art, with writing being no exception. By focusing on publishing writing that is truly meaningful, coming from deep in the mind and soul of the author, Deathless is able to put out novels that reflect this ideal.
EnvelopeBooks
EnvelopeBooks was founded in 2020 on an idea: “What is a book but a letter from a writer to a reader?"
Since then, they have made their mark as a generalist publisher with their dedication to covering a wide-range of topics with books that are branded in their recognizable envelope-like covers.
They are a micro-publisher that puts out both fiction and non-fiction that values originality of thought above all else. They are one of the hottest new publishers in the market, so check them out before they really blow up, time is running out!
Headpress
This Mancunian book publisher has a rich history, being originally founded to release a limited run of a film from a cult German director. The profits from that run were then used to launch a magazine. From that, the book publishing arm of the company was founded.
This history is reflected in the topics that their published books cover. With Headpress, you can expect to read about everything from conspiracy theories to pulp literature to true crime, and more.
Their decades of experience as an independent press have given them a deep library for you to find a topic that speaks to you.
Unnamed Press
Founded in 2014, this LA-based publishing press has their sites set across the globe. Unnamed Press’s interest in international and unrepresented authors has proven to be a success.
With fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, Unnamed Press has been able to put out books that challenge the status quo while garnering top reviews.
In a spectacularly creative decision, they even have corresponding vinyls to go with some of their books and poetry collections.
Quirk Books
Entertaining, engaging, and unconventional; Quirk Books lives up to their name. Their truly quirky books are available for adults and children.
While many underground publishers focus on unique memoirs or artsy literature, Quirk Books focuses on providing true fun. With impressive sales and awards to back them up, this approach has proved to be a success.
Their full library is an absolute must to check out when building out your book collection.