According to Lingoda, over 80 million people speak French as a native language, while there are 190 million secondary speakers in the world.
Combine that with the consistent reading habits of the French (more than 80% of French people read at least one book in 2020), and you’ll see that the French market is full of opportunity.
But if you’ve written a book in French, who should you send it to? In this post, we’ve compiled a list of 30 reputable French publishers who are currently accepting manuscrits so you can find a home for your book.
French Publishers Accepting Unsolicited Submissions
Below is a list of French publishers currently accepting unsolicited submissions (you don’t need a literary agent to submit your manuscript).
1. Au Diable Vauvert
Au Diable Vauvert is a French publishing house open to all genres, and since its founding in 2000 has published French fiction, foreign fiction, poetry, comic books, and more by a diverse range of French authors and international literary figures.
Submission Guidelines: audiable.com/contacter-editeur/
2. Le Tripode
Le Tripode was founded in 2013, following the split of Attila into two publishing houses. Each year, they publish over 20 books in various categories, including French fiction, foreign fiction, and illustrated books.
Submission Guidelines: le-tripode.net/maison#manuscrit
3. Le Nouvel Attila
Le Nouvel Attila was also born as a result of the Attila split. They aim to find books by marginalized writers, and publish French fiction, foreign fiction, and graphic novels.
Submission Guidelines: www.lenouvelattila.fr/manuscrits-et-contacts/
4. Philippe Rey
Philippe Rey was founded in 2002 and currently boasts a catalog of over 250 titles, including French fiction, foreign fiction, art books, and essays. Note that they prefer hard copies of manuscripts to be mailed to their physical address, rather than digital copies.
Submission Guidelines: www.philippe-rey.fr/unepage-equipe-contact
5. Éditions Finitude
Éditions Finitude was founded by a bookseller couple in 2002, after opening a shop in Bordeaux. They only accept mailed-in manuscripts, and specify that they do not wish to receive any books in the following categories: poetry, theater, spirituality, children’s literature, science fiction, fantasy, sentimental literature, personal development, practical books, cooking, or regionalism.
Submission Guidelines: www.finitude.fr/index.php/contact/
6. Groupe Eyrolles
Groupe Eyrolles specializes in professional books, including books on business management, IT, and construction, and in recent years expanded their scope to include photography, gardening, art, graphics, astronomy, personal development, and more.
Submission Guidelines: www.editions-eyrolles.com/InfoDiverses/contactez-nous
7. Les Humanoïdes Associés
Les Humanoïdes Associés is a French publisher specializing in comics and graphic novels, especially those in the science fiction genre.
Submission Guidelines: www.humano.com/divers/
8. Nathan
Nathan has 44 imprints and specializes in literature, education, and reference books. Since 1883, Nathan has been a leading name in the European early childhood education market.
Contact: www.nathan.fr/learningmaterials/contact
9. Editions Du Rouergue
Since 1993, Editions Du Rouergue has specialized in publishing high-quality illustrated books and fiction.
Submission Guidelines: www.lerouergue.com/envoyer-votre-manuscrit
10. Flammarion
Flammarion publishes quality fiction, as well as books on art, photography, lifestyle, cooking, home and garden, social sciences, biographies, and medical reference books.
Submission Guidelines: editions.flammarion.com/Contacts
11. Presses de la Cité Place des Editeurs
Founded in 1943, Presses de la Cité Place des Editeurs specializes in literary fiction, adventure, police novels, science fiction, memoirs, and war novels.
Submission Guidelines: www.lisez.com/presses-de-la-cite/contactez-nous/
12. Editions Stock
Editions Stock is one of the oldest publishers in France. Since 1708, they’ve produced French and foreign literary fiction, commercial fiction, thrillers, biographies, and essays on politics, history, philosophy, psychology and current affairs. Note that they only accept electronic submissions.
Submission Guidelines: www.editions-stock.fr/contactez-nous
13. Le Dilettante
Founded in 1972, Le Dilettante publishes around 12 books per year and is considered one of the finest French publishers of contemporary fiction.
Submission Guidelines: www.ledilettante.com/proposer-un-manuscrit/
14. Syros
Based in Paris, Syros is a French publisher that specializes in young adult and teen fiction.
Submission Guidelines: manuscrits.syros.fr/syros/
15. L’Atalante
L’Atalante publishes fantasy and science fiction. Please note that they only accept manuscript submissions from May 1 – 31.
Submission Guidelines: www.l-atalante.com/contact/
16. Editions Payot & Rivages
Editions Payot & Rivages welcomes unsolicited online submissions. Please note that they do not publish poems or plays.
Submission Guidelines: www.payot-rivages.fr/payot/contact
17. Rageot Editeur
Rageot Editeur publishes fiction by contemporary French authors for children and young adults. They accept both print and digital submissions.
Submission Guidelines: www.rageot.fr/nous-contacter
18. Editions Télémaque
Since 2004, Editions Télémaque has specialized in fiction (particularly thrillers and fantasy), as well as nonfiction, including biographies, essays, the arts, and sciences.
Submission Guidelines: www.editionstelemaque.com/contact-auteurs/
19. Éditions Mango
Éditions Mango primarily publishes nonfiction aimed at health, wellness, and learning new skills, such as healthy cooking, sewing, or raising children.
Submission Guidelines: www.mangoeditions.com/proposition-manuscrits
Agent Required
The following publishers do not accept unsolicited submissions and require literary agents to submit on your behalf.
20. Hachette Livre
Hachette Livre is an international publisher and one of the Big Five. It was founded in 1826 by Louis Hachette as Brédif, a bookshop and publishing company, before becoming L. Hachette et Compagnie in 1846, and Hachette Livre in 1992.
Contact: www.hachette.com/contact/
21. Editions Gallimard
Éditions Gallimard is a subsidiary of Groupe Madrigall, the third largest French publishing group. They have a number of subsidiaries and publish primarily nonfiction.
Contact: www.gallimard.fr/Footer/Nous-contacter
22. Marick Press
Marick Press is based in Michigan and publishes 6-8 titles annually including literary novels, full-length short story collections, and poetry in Chinese, Swedish, Polish, French, Spanish, and English.
Submission Guidelines: marickpress.com/submissions
23. Librairie Mollat Editions
Librairie Mollat Editions specializes in books on the sciences, humanities, art, science, history, and illustrated books.
Contact: www.mollat.com/contact
24. Soleil
Soleil specializes in sci-fi and heroic fantasy comic books, working with artists from all over the world.
Contact: www.editions-soleil.fr/contact
25. Editions Didier
Editions Didier specializes in languages, science, and in French as a foreign language. Most of their books are for students and school-aged children.
Contact: www.editionsdidier.com/fr/contact
26. Éditions Zulma
Founded in 1991, Éditions Zulma is a small publisher of fiction and non fiction, French contemporary literature, and and translated literature (especially novels, short stories, and detective novels). Note that they only accept hard copies of manuscripts by mail.
Submission Guidelines: www.zulma.fr/contact/
27. Editions Jean-Claude Lattès
Since 1968, Editions Jean-Claude Lattès has specialized in French and foreign literary fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction, and thrillers. Their nonfiction works include popular science, history, psychology, health, essays, and current affairs.
Contact: www.editions-jclattes.fr/contactez-nous/
28. Le Pommier Editions
Le Pommier Editions specializes in books on science, nature, and nonfiction and fiction books for kids.
Contact: www.editions-lepommier.fr/le-pommier-contactez-nous
29. Bayard Editions Jeunesse
Bayard Editions Jeunesse is a children’s publisher that specializes in activity books, board books, novelty books, picture books, nonfiction, comics, novels, poetry, fairy tales, religious books, and audiobooks.
Contact: www.bayard-editions.com/nous-contacter
30. Libella
Libella is the independent owner of 7 imprints. They publish high quality trade books in fiction and nonfiction, creative arts, religious books, and illustrated art books.
Contact: www.libellagroup.com/contact
Who Is the Leading French Book Publisher?
Le Livre de Poche is considered the Penguin Random House of France. They are the number one paperback publisher in France, with more than a billion books sold since the company was founded in 1953.
Le Livre de Poche is 80% owned by Hachette-Livre. Since they are primarily a republishing house, they do not accept manuscripts.
Publishing in French
If you’ve written a book in French and are wondering what to do next, hopefully this list of French publishers will help you find the right home for your writing.
Be sure to carefully review the submission guidelines for each publisher, and, unless you’re specifically asked not to, include a compelling query letter that will show publishers exactly why they need your book.
If you’re interested in getting your book translated for foreign markets, check out our post on how to translate a book.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
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As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
