Inspired by the enduring magic of books, we cultivate and distribute exceptional publishing that is instantly recognizable for its spirit and creativity. Our collaborations spark the passions of adults and children worldwide, encouraging them to explore, connect, and see things differently.

Chronicle Books is committed to publishing authors, illustrators, and creators of diverse backgrounds and points of view. We enjoy collaborating with authors to further our work as a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and collaborative publishing house.

To encourage submissions from a wide range of potential authors, Chronicle Books has an open submissions policy. We accept unagented submissions of any projects suited to our list, from brilliant books to innovative gift products.
Before sending projects to us, please read the following guidelines carefully.

• Adult Trade Submissions
• Children’s Submissions (picture books, middle grade, or young adult)
• Portfolio Submissions (freelance illustrator, photographer, or other visual artist guidelines)
• Freelance Writer Submissions 

 

Adult Trade Submissions

Chronicle Books publishes a wide range of nonfiction books on our adult trade list, in categories such as cooking, fine art, design, photography, pop culture, fashion, beauty, home décor, personal relationships, and more. We also publish innovative formats, such as interactive journals, decks, games, stationery, and much, much more. Please note: We do not acquire adult fiction.

Please make sure to familiarize yourself with our publishing before you pitch!

General Guidelines

• We currently accept submissions by email only, which can be sent to submissions@chroniclebooks.com.
• Please attach your proposal to your email as a single Word file or PDF, and keep the file under 5MB or less to ensure delivery. Outside links and downloads may not be opened due to security risks.
• Please allow six months for the editors to review a proposal.
• Given the volume of proposals we receive, we cannot ensure that we will be able to personally respond to each submission unless we are interested in pursuing the project.
• Because we currently only accept digital submissions, we are not responsible for any materials that are mailed to our physical location.

What to Include in Your Proposal

• A one-page cover letter giving a brief description of the project and why you think Chronicle Books should publish it. If your proposal is a simultaneous submission, please indicate this in your cover letter.
• Any available sample content to give us a clear picture of the project; this may include an outline, introduction, sample illustrations or photographs, sample captions, sample recipes or cards, and/or sample chapters.
• An analysis of the potential readership for the book. Who is the consumer? Include a list of similar titles that are already available on the market, including the publisher, date of publication, and a brief explanation of how your project differs.
• An author/illustrator/photographer biography that includes any publishing credits or credentials in the field. 

Children's Submissions

Our children's division publishes books that encourage creativity, curiosity, and connection in kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens.

General Guidelines

• Our submission inbox is open for a limited time, May 3–17, 2026.
• We currently accept submissions by email only: childrenssubmissions@chroniclebooks.com
• Please attach any additional materials to your email as Word Documents or PDFs.
• Please note that we do not publish any materials created or assisted by AI, including but not limited to text, illustration, and design elements.
• We only accept one submission per author at a time.
• We do not accept submissions for books that have been previously published in English.
• While we review each project we receive, given the volume of submissions, we will not be able to respond to every submission.

What to Include in Your Proposal

• A brief cover letter describing your project in the body of your email.
• In your cover letter, please include two or three examples of published children's books that are similar to yours in theme and age range – this helps us better understand where you see your book fitting into the children's book market.
• Any additional materials as specified in the category guidelines below.

Submission Categories

While we publish a wide range of titles, at this time we are only seeking manuscript submissions in the following categories. Please read these guidelines carefully.

Board Books (ages 0–3)
Please submit a manuscript of up to 100 words. Illustrations are not needed, but feel free to include art notes if needed to understand the text. Author-illustrators may include sample illustrations in a PDF.

Picture Books (ages 4–8)
Please submit a manuscript of up to 1,000 words for fiction and 2,000 words for nonfiction. Illustrations are not required, but feel free to include art notes if needed to understand the text. Author-illustrators may include sample illustrations in a PDF.

Chapter Books with Series Potential (ages 6–9)
Please submit a manuscript of up to 12,000 words for the first book, along with brief descriptions of at least two additional books in the series.

Middle Grade Nonfiction (ages 8–12)
Please submit a proposal, one to three sample chapters, and a full outline of the project. Your proposal should include a list of comparable titles already in the market with similar subject matter.

Middle Grade Novels (ages 8–12)
Please submit a manuscript of up to 50,000 words and a one-page synopsis. If you are an illustrator and envision artwork in your book, please include sample illustrations or up to three spreads with artwork in place in a PDF.

Graphic Novels (ages 6–18)
We are seeking submissions from author-illustrators only across three categories:

• Early Readers with Series Potential (ages 6–9, up to 64 pages): Please submit up to five sample spreads with either final art or sketches in a PDF, plus a synopsis or outline of the full story, and brief descriptions of at least two follow-up books.
• Middle Grade (ages 8–12, up to 304 pages): Please submit up to ten sample spreads with either final art or sketches in a PDF, plus a synopsis or outline of the full story.
• Young Adult (ages 12–18, up to 304 pages): Please send up to ten sample spreads with either final art or sketches in a PDF, plus a synopsis or outline of the full story.

Young Adult
We are only accepting graphic novels in the young adult category at this time, not prose novels or novels in verse.