It is so interesting to note that for a considerable number of authors across the country, the very act of publishing their work automatically means securing contracts with the traditional publishers only. Now, you may wonder that why in today’s digital age where self-publishing is literally in your own hands, someone would still go through the tiring route of traditional publishing! In short, the question is that what makes traditional publishing in India so appealing to so many authors across the country, that too in the modern era of publishing? There is no doubt that the publishing industry in India has grown multi-fold in the recent years and this industry is now catering to a much vast and diverse audience. However, reaching even to a small chunk of the reading audience in India is not an easy task and this is where the traditional publishers are trusted more than anyone else. Well, the method of traditional publishing in India may not look cool to everyone but it has its own advantages, which we certainly cannot ignore!

Yes, it is indeed difficult to go through the steps of traditional publishing, right from the initial step of crafting a perfect query letter to the period of review and response from the publisher can be infuriating for many of the authors. But, getting published traditionally is the game of patience, which ultimately leads to a path where countless doors are opened for the authors, once they secure the contracts. Now, traditional publishing companies offer a wide range of services to the authors like professional editing, wide-scale distribution, marketing and industry credibility, making them an attractive choice for those looking to establish a lasting writing career. In this article, we will explore the concept of traditional publishing, how it functions, what makes it an ideal choice, how the authors can approach the traditional publishing companies, some fascinating facts about the traditional publishing and finally, a list of the Top 20 Traditional Publishing Companies in India.

What Is Traditional Publishing? 

In simple words, traditional publishing involves a partnership between an author and a publishing house, where the publisher assumes the financial and the logistical burdens of bringing a book to market. This process typically begins with an author submitting a query letter or manuscript to a literary agent or directly to a publisher. If accepted, the publisher handles the editing, design, printing, distribution and the marketing, in exchange for a percentage of the book’s sales in the form of royalties. Traditional publishing offers authors the advantage of professional expertise, established distribution networks and marketing support, which can significantly increase a book’s visibility and reach.

What Makes Traditional Publishing An Ideal Choice

Traditional publishing offers several distinct advantages, primarily centred around the expertise and resources that established publishing houses provide. One significant benefit is the professional support that the authors receive, encompassing editing, proofreading, cover design and marketing. These publishers employ their teams of experienced individuals who specialise in each of these areas, ensuring a high-quality finished product. Furthermore, traditional publishers have established distribution networks, granting authors access to physical bookstores and wider market reach, which is often difficult for self-published authors to achieve. Financial advantages also exist, as the traditional publishers typically cover the upfront costs of publication and may even offer the authors an advance on royalties. This financial backing can alleviate the burden on authors, allowing them to focus more on their writing. 

Finally, the validation and the prestige associated with being traditionally published can significantly enhance an author’s credibility and open countless doors to further opportunities within the literary world.

How Can Authors Approach The Traditional Publishers

Apparently, approaching the traditional publishers in India is not as simple as approaching the self publishing houses. Since, the traditional publishers do not entertain the authors directly on call (unless the author is well-established and recognised) and they are indeed difficult to reach. Hence, taking your work to them requires a certain set of steps, which the authors are often needed to follow in order to get their work published traditionally.

The steps to approach the traditional publishers are mentioned as follows —

3.1 Research the Right Publisher: 

Authors should identify the publishers that specialise in their genre like fiction, non-fiction, academic, children’s books, etc.

3.2 Prepare a Strong Book Proposal: 

This should include a well-written manuscript, a synopsis, a target audience analysis, and a marketing plan.

3.3 Submit Through Literary Agents: 

Many top publishers only accept submissions through literary agents, who represent authors professionally.

Top 10 Literary Agents In India to Book Publish Traditionally

3.4 Direct Submission: 

Some publishing houses allow direct manuscript submissions through their websites or editorial teams.

3.5 Attend Literary Festivals & Networking Events: 

Meeting publishers at literary events and book fairs can increase an author’s chances of getting noticed.

3.6 Follow Submission Guidelines: 

Each publishing house has specific submission guidelines that authors must follow to ensure their manuscript is considered.

Undoubtedly, approaching a traditional publishing company requires high amount of patience and persistence, however the wait is worth it since, the benefits of a well-published book can be immense!

Also Read: How to Publish a Book in India: Traditional, Self Publishing and Hybrid Publishing

Facts About Traditional Publishing

Now, if you have clearly made up your mind to continue moving on the paths of traditional publishing, then you must be aware of some of the fascinating facts about this method of publishing. 

Some of the thought-provoking facts about the traditional publishing companies are mentioned as follows —

• Only a Small Percentage of Manuscripts Get Accepted: Traditional publishers receive thousands of submissions from the authors each year, but only less than 5% make it to print.

• It Can Take 1-2 Years for a Book to Be Published: Unlike self-publishing, which is usually faster, traditional publishing is a lengthy process involving the steps of  rigorous editing and production.

• Traditional Publishers Own the Copyright for a Limited Time: Authors usually sign a contract giving the publisher exclusive rights for 5 to 10 years, after which they may regain control.

• Advances Aren’t Guaranteed: While some authors receive advance payments, not all the publishing houses offer upfront compensation.

• Marketing Support Varies: Well-established authors receive more marketing support than the debut writers, who may have to promote their books independently.

• International Rights Can Be Sold Separately: Some Indian books that were published traditionally have been translated into multiple languages and sold in the international markets as well.

• Majority of the Bestsellers are Traditionally Published: Most of India’s best-selling titles (e.g., Amish Tripathi’s Shiva Trilogy or Chetan Bhagat’s Half Girlfriend) were published through the traditional publishing houses only.

Also Read: Top 10 Book Editing Services in India – Comprehensive Guide

Top 20 Traditional Publishing Companies In India

Primarily, it is the network of a traditional publishing company that gives it an edge over the other publishers. Traditional publishing is very much about having deep connections in the literary world so that the books of the authors can easily reach to a vast network of the bookstores. Authors love to work with those publishers who ensures the availability of their books to a wide range of the bookstores.

So, let us go over the ‘Top 20 Traditional Publishing Companies In India’ who had earned much reputation over the years, in the publishing ecosystem —

Penguin Random House

Founded in the year 1985, Penguin Random House is one of India’s leading traditional publishing company and is home to some of the most well-known names in fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, across different genres.

• Some of the notable authors whom the company had represented includes the names of Ruskin Bond, Ravi Subramanian, Amitav Ghosh and Anita Nair.

• Submission guidelines: https://www.penguin.co.in/community/publish-with-us/ 

Jaico Publishing House:

Founded in the year 1946 by Mr. Jaman Shah, Jaico Publishing House is one of country’s oldest and the most reputed publisher. Jaico Publishing House was India’s first publisher of paperback books in the English language. 

• Some of the notable authors represented by them include Robin Sharma, Deepak Chopra, The Dalai Lama and Osho.

• Submission guidelines: https://www.jaicobooks.com/publish-with-us/ 

Hachette India

Founded in the year 2009, Hachette India is the Indian arm of Hachette UK, which is the second largest trade publishing company in the world, and is itself owned by Hachette Livre, France’s largest publisher and part of the Lagardere Group.

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Samit Basu, Tavleen Singh and Amit Varma.

• Submission guidelines: https://www.hachetteindia.com/Home/Submissions 

Aleph Book Company: 

Founded in the year 2011 by David Davidar in partnership with R. K. Mehra and Kapish Mehra, Aleph Book Company is an award-winning publishing firm based in New Delhi. The company has twice won the prestigious Publisher of the Year award. Its authors have won or been shortlisted for a slew of international and Indian literary prizes.

• Some of the notable authors represented by Aleph Book Company include Vikram Seth, Khushwant Singh and General V. K. Singh. 

• Submission guidelines: https://www.alephbookcompany.com/submission/ 

HarperCollins Publishers India:

Founded in the year 1992, HarperCollins Publishers India have been awarded ‘Publisher of the Year’ thrice in recent years and the company is known for having an eye for the debut writing that goes on to win accolades.

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Satya Nadella, Kiran Nagarkar, Sidney Sheldon and Tarun Tejpal.

• Submission guidelines: https://harpercollins.co.in/publish-with-us/ 

Rupa Books

Founded in the year 1936, Rupa Books is one of the oldest traditional publishing company in the country. Moreover, the company is known for publishing the works of some of the top personalities of India.

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Chetan Bhagat, Cyrus Broacha, Dr. S. Jaishankar and Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. 

• Submission guidelines: https://rupapublications.co.in/how-to-publish 

Bloomsbury India

Founded in the year 2012, Bloomsbury India upholds Bloomsbury Publishing’s tradition of publishing books of the highest quality in Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s, Academic, Business and Education by both Indian and international authors. 

• Some of the notable authors represented by Bloomsbury India are J. Sai Deepak, Anand Ranganathan and Shiv Khera. 

• Submission guidelines: https://www.bloomsbury.com/in/help/contact-us/ 

Simon & Schuster

Founded in the year 1924, Simon & Schuster publish and distribute fabulous books in India across a broad range of fiction, non-fiction and children’s categories under their local and international imprints.

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Ashok Banker, Kaushik Basu, Priya Sahgal and Kevin Missal.  

• Submission guidelines: https://www.simonandschuster.co.in/c/ss-india-submissions 

Srishti Publishers & Distributors

Founded in the year 1997 by Mr J. K. Bose, the company stands for creation and was set up with the objective of creating a unique set of books that provide unmatched reading pleasure to people across the country. The core objective of our company is to provide a platform to first-time writers – young in age and at heart. 

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Anuj Tiwari, Nishant Kaushik, P. C. Balasubramanian and Ajay Pandey.     

• Submission guidelines: https://www.srishtipublishers.com/contact-us/ 

Manjul Publishing House

Founded in the year 1999, Manjul Publishing House has a full-fledged book-distribution division based in New Delhi, which services bookshop/bookseller accounts spread across the length and breadth of India.  

• Some of the notable authors represented by Manjul Publishing House includes the names of Akash Banerjee, Deepa Naval, Kingshuk Nag and Lalitha Iyer.   

• Submission guidelines: https://manjulindia.com/PublishWithUs.aspx 

Roli Books

Founded in the year 1978, Roli Books has been synonymous with pathbreaking and quality publishing. Roli Books is the only Indian publisher to own a chain of bookshops, CMYK, in over six locations in the country, including the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai. 

• Some of the notable authors whom the company had represented includes the names of Vir Sanghvi, Usha Gopinathan, Pramod Kapoor and Namita Gokhale.

• Submission guidelines: https://rolibooks.com/publish-with-us/ 

Pan Macmillan India

Founded in the year 2010, Pan Macmillan India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macmillan Publishers International Limited. Well, Pan Macmillan is part of the Macmillan Group, which operates in over 70 countries worldwide.  

• Some of the notable authors represented by them include Jeffery Archer, Aditya Sinha, Amitabh Pandey and Neel Sinha.

• Submission guidelines: https://panmacmillan.co.in/submissions 

Juggernaut

Founded in the year 2015, Juggernaut Books was set up by publishing veteran Chiki Sarkar. The company started with the vision of creating a publishing company that was nimble, cutting-edge, bold and independent, one which was known for its intelligence and its fabulous ideas.

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Sourav Ganguly, Abhijit Banerjee, Tahira Kashyap and Twinkle Khanna.

• Submission guidelines: https://www.juggernaut.in/pages/get-published 

Speaking Tiger

Founded in the year 2014 Speaking Tiger Books is one of India’s most acclaimed independent publishing companies. The company publishes fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama from South Asia and the rest of the world, with a strong emphasis on new voices and diversity.

• Some of the notable authors represented by Speaking Tiger include Nayantara Sahgal, Jerry Pinto, Mark Tully and Gulzar. 

• Submission guidelines: https://speakingtigerbooks.com/submissions/ 

Lifi Publications

Founded in the year 1958, LiFi Publications is an altogether new, academically motivated venture of the House of DKs. The company aims to focus exclusively on the literary works of fiction. The name ‘LiFi’ itself is meant to signify ‘Literary Fiction!’

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Lopa Mukherjee, Adwitiya Borah, Vibha Batra and Kulpreet Yadav.

• Submission guidelines: http://lifipublications.com/Contact_Us.html 

Purushottam Publishers

Founded in the year 2009, the company is dedicated to fostering a love for learning through high-quality, meticulously crafted publications. As a leading independent publishing house headquartered in Kolkata, India, Purushottam Publishers offer a diverse portfolio of books spanning various disciplines.

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Chitra Raghavan, Dr. Surjendu Dey, Dibyendu Biswas and Dr. Mahua Das.

• Submission guidelines: https://purushottam-publishers.com//contact 

APK Publishers

Founded in the year 2008 by Prashant Karhade and Anagha Karhade, APK Publishers is a young and dynamic publishing house based in Pune, India. It is the only ‘truly English’ publishing house and one of the very few publishing houses with a mission of helping first-time writers.   

• Some of the notable authors represented by APK Publishers are Anuja Patil, Pooja Bhide, Virendra Rajput and Vivek Gadre. 

• Submission guidelines: https://www.apkpublishers.com/about-us-5/ 

Om Books International

Founded in the year 1965, Om Books International has grown to become a renowned name in the publishing industry. With an unwavering dedication to fostering new voices and promoting established authors, the company has consistently brought readers a wide range of genres.

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Kamala Das, Ishaa Vinod Chopra, Kunal Kapur and Manish Behl.  

• Submission guidelines: https://www.ombooksinternational.com/publish-with-us/ 

Niyogi Books

Founded in the year 2004, Niyogi Books is an internationally reputed publishing house with several titles and they always strive to give equal emphasis on both the textual content and visuals within their illustrated books.  

• Some of the notable authors represented by them are Aparajita Dutta, Sanjeeva Pandey, Shefali Tripathi Mehta and Nilima Sinha.     

• Submission guidelines: https://niyogibooksindia.com/contact-us/  

Petals Publishers

Founded in the year 2013, the company operates with a mission to provide quality, creative and visionary publishing services and with a motive of serving the literary industry by all means.  

• Some of the notable authors represented by Petals Publishers includes the names of Vinit K. Bansal, Deepak Kumar, Manisha Koushik and Neelam Saxena Chandra.   

• Submission guidelines: https://petalspublishers.com/traditional-publishing 

Conclusion

In conclusion, traditional publishing remains a prestigious and rewarding route for those authors who are seeking credibility, professional support and broad readership. Despite all the challenges such as longer publication times and competitive selection processes, traditional publishing offers extensive marketing, distribution and editorial expertise. Furthermore, India’s top traditional publishing companies continue to shape up the literary industry, ensuring that great stories reach the right audience. Self publishing in India is easier for the authors when they want to take full control over publishing process. Whether an author is a debut writer or an established name, these publishing houses play a pivotal role in their success. For aspiring authors, securing a deal with one of these publishers is a significant milestone, ensuring that their stories are well-told, widely read and professionally published.

Written By NEEL PREET – Author of the Books, Voice From The East (2016); Journey With Time Place And Circumstances (2018) & Indian Defence Files (2021).