McFarland and Company Publishers

McFarland & Company Publishers
USA – Non-fiction, General Interest, Pop Culture

mcfarlandbooks.com
mcfarlandbooks.com/author-resources
proposals@mcfarlandpub.com

McFarland & Co., one of the leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest, non-fiction books, is also well-known for its pop-culture titles. Founded in 1979, McFarland titles are known as adventurous in range and a reliable source. McFarland publishes 280 new titles every year.

McFarland & Company, Publishers, was founded in the spring of 1979 by Robert McFarland Franklin. McFarland is located in Jefferson, North Carolina, a small Appalachian town in the northwestern corner of the state (close to both Tennessee and Virginia).

The McFarland staff has largely been from Appalachia, and McFarland would not have been a success without the people of Ashe County, North Carolina, and its neighboring counties.

McFarland would also not be where it is today without libraries. Robert Franklin came from a family of librarians, went to library school himself, and later became an ALA council member.

McFarland and Company Submissions

Unsolicited submissions okay. No agent required.

Submissions from both authors and literary agents are invited. The simplest, fastest way to contact them is by email.

If you know the editor already, contact them directly. If not, send your proposal to: proposals@mcfarlandpub.com.

McFarland welcomes proposals for non-fiction manuscripts on a wide variety of subjects, but are not limited to the following: popular culture and performing arts (especially film, television, dance, gaming), mythology, folklore, military history (especially Vietnam War combat memoirs, World War II and Civil War), international studies, health topics, sports (especially baseball, boxing, American football), automotive (and planes, trains, and bicycles), literary studies (including both classic and genre fiction, mystery, SF, fantasy, horror), medieval studies, women’s and gender studies, and interdisciplinary studies about race and culture.

With rare exceptions (usually connected to a scholarly purpose), they do not publish fiction or poetry. McFarland does not publish children’s books, inspirational works, cookbooks, diet or self-help books, religious or political tracts, or exposés.

Imprints

Exposit Books

Exposit Books combines popular topics such as true crime with a serious approach. Exposit welcomes proposals for non-fiction manuscripts on a wide range of true crime subjects, not limited to the following: murder, serial killers, heists, robberies, abductions, kidnappings, missing persons, con artists, hoaxes, deceptions, organized crime and espionage. In addition to true crime, Exposit welcomes proposals for unique books about sexuality, the paranormal, cryptozoology, death, grave hunting, forteana and other curiosities. expositbooks@mcfarlandpub.com

Toplight Books

Toplight Books strives to help readers improve or understand their body, mind or spirit. Therefore, Toplight hopes to work with authors that seek to make a difference in lives and communities (and even the world). Toplight welcomes proposals for uplifting and positive manuscripts on a wide range of subjects not limited to the following: psychology and mindfulness, religious studies and spirituality, coping with chronic pain and chronic stress, alternative health treatments, hiking, fitness, yoga, dance, aging, neurodiversity, sleep, dreams, nature, leadership, chemical sensitivity, parenting, relationships, travel, and health memoirs. toplightbooks@mcfarlandpub.com

Authors may submit their work three different ways: with a query letter, a full proposal, or even (if the manuscript is complete and you’re confident, a finished manuscript with cover letter.

McFarland 2025/2026 titles

– Life Could be a Dream by Jerry Wasserman
– Voices of Opera 1950s-70s by Tony Villecco
– The Last Real Showgirl by Diane Christiansen
– The First Confederate Soldier by Robert Davis
– In Hot by Joseph Hutton, Jr.

Acquisitions

(See REAL WRITER’S MARKET)

Editorial Directory

(See REAL WRITER’S MARKET)

See if your boot fits in with these McFarland titles.

McFarland & Co.
Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
USA

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