Weber County Writing Center's Wasatch Front Publishing Guide: The Writer's Radar
- spokemaster1
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
Every writer reaching the end of a manuscript hits the same major milestone: figuring out where to send it. To help local and independent authors navigate the complex layout of the regional market, the Weber County Writing Center is launching The Weber County Writing Center's Wasatch Front Publishing Guide: The Writer's Radar, your ongoing guide to publishers across the Wasatch Front, what they are actively looking for, what they avoid, and the insider quirks you need to know to get yourself and your manuscript noticed.
For our inaugural volume, we are highlighting three major regional independent presses right in our northern Utah backyard.
Publishing Company Name: Gibbs Smith
The Quick Pitch: A major regional powerhouse famous for visually stunning, high-market cookbooks, lifestyle guides, and beloved children's board books.
📍 Location: Layton, UT
🟢 What They Accept:
Nonfiction Emphasis: High-end interior design, architecture, cookbooks, arts and crafts, gift books, and general or western humor.
Children’s Literature: Board books (like their famous BabyLit series), picture books, and children's activity books (under 15,000 words).
🔴 The Hard Nos:
They do not accept standard unsolicited adult fiction, romance, sci-fi, or standard poetry.
No physical paper submissions through the mail (they will be recycled).
💎 Pertinent Insider Tips:
The Visual Focus: If illustrations or photos are core to your book, you must attach a PDF sample (under 3 MB) right in your initial pitch email.
The Ghost Policy: They only respond if they are interested. If you don’t hear back within 12 weeks, it’s a pass.
🔗 Action Link: Submissions are handled directly via email at debbie.uribe@gibbs-smith.com.
Publishing Company Name: Torrey House Press
The Quick Pitch: A premier independent, non-profit literary press publishing exceptional work at the intersection of complex human stories, western landscapes, and environmental advocacy.
📍 Location: Salt Lake City, UT
🟢 What They Accept:
Fiction: Literary fiction, contemporary/nontraditional westerns (urban, queer, etc.), climate-fiction ("cli-fi"), horror, speculative fiction, magical realism, and short story collections.
Nonfiction: Environmental journalism, creative nonfiction, deeply reported memoirs, and essay collections focusing on a strong connection to "place".
🔴 The Hard Nos:
They do not accept children's books, middle-grade fiction, or early readers.
They have a strict no AI-generated work policy.
💎 Pertinent Insider Tips:
Submission Formatting: For fiction and essay collections, they expect a full manuscript uploaded right away via Submittable. For narrative nonfiction, send a query letter first.
The Values Alignment: Your submission package must include a specific statement explaining how your book fits the intersectional mission of Torrey House Press.
🔗 Action Link: Submissions are processed exclusively online via their Submittable manager page.
Publishing Company Name: Future House Publishing
The Quick Pitch: An independent digital and physical press focused on fast-paced, community-driven speculative fiction that keeps readers turning pages.
📍 Location: Provo, UT
🟢 What They Accept:
Speculative Fiction: Science fiction (space opera, cyberpunk, soft sci-fi), fantasy (high fantasy, urban fantasy), and paranormal thrillers.
Youth Fiction: Middle-grade sci-fi and fantasy adventures.
🔴 The Hard Nos:
They do not accept historical fiction, historical biographies, experimental literary fiction, or erotica.
💎 Pertinent Insider Tips:
Series Potential: Future House loves series potential. If your book is a standalone with no room for growth, it's a tougher sell. Ensure your query pitches a larger world.
Structure and Pacing: They skew heavily toward tight plotting, active narrative movement, and high stakes—perfect for speculative writers who lean into deep internal logic and clear worldbuilding.
🔗 Action Link: Check their open reading periods directly at [FutureHousePublishing.com/submissions](https://FutureHousePublishing.com/submissions).
The Writer's Radar Quick Takeaways
Before you submit to any regional press along the Wasatch Front, ensure you have checked these three boxes:
Format Check: Are your standard fonts, margins, and headers completely up to date with modern citation standards (MLA/APA format conventions for manuscripts)?
The Core Pitch: Can you explain why your book belongs to a Utah-based publisher specifically?
Submission Windows: Always click the Action Links right before hitting send to verify their current active reading status.
Struggling to fine-tune your synopsis, structure your manuscript's worldbuilding logic, or polish your query letter? Connect with a certified independent tutor on the WCWC Platform today to get your draft completely market-ready.
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