Top 5 Publishers Putting Fort Worth on the Literary Map

Fort Worth has a small but real publishing scene. The two established publishers based in the city that we could verify are TCU Press, the university press at Texas Christian University, Writers of the West and Wild Horse Media Group, home of Eakin Press. Both publish mainly Texas and Western subjects. Beyond them, many authors work with author-services companies based outside the city, where the author pays for editing, design and distribution and keeps control of the book.

These options work in very different ways. Book publishers in Fort Worth differ in what they publish, whether they accept direct submissions, who pays for production, how books are distributed and how much they disclose publicly. This guide compares them on the same criteria and explains how to decide which route fits your manuscript.

This guide is published by Writers of the West, which is one of the companies discussed below. We have therefore used the same publicly verifiable comparison criteria for every company and identify information that could not be independently verified. Companies are listed alphabetically, not ranked.

Fort Worth Book Publishers at a Glance

Everything in this table comes from each company’s own website or another primary source (linked in the profiles below). “Not publicly disclosed” means we couldn’t find it published, not that it doesn’t exist.

Publisher	Location	Publishing model	Editing	Distribution	Pricing public?	Focus
TCU Press	Based in Fort Worth (Texas Christian University)	University press; selects and acquires titles	Not publicly disclosed	Member of the Texas Book Consortium, distributed through Texas A&M University Press	No author fees published	Texas and Southwest history, literature and culture
Wild Horse Media Group (Eakin Press, NorTex Press, Wild Horse Press)	Based in Fort Worth	Independent press; also offers custom publishing and consulting	Not publicly disclosed	Not publicly detailed; a 2015 interview named Amazon as its main outlet	Not publicly listed	Texas, Texana, the West and rodeo; Eakin not currently accepting fiction or children’s titles
Writers of the West	Based in Houston; works with Fort Worth authors remotely	Author-funded (author-services company)	Yes (proofreading, line and developmental editing)	Amazon only up to 50+ platforms depending on package; libraries and bookstores from mid-tier packages	Yes	Authors who want to fund production and keep their rights

Information checked September 2026. Publishers change their policies, so confirm details with each company before submitting or paying.

Book Publishers Serving Fort Worth Authors

Search for “book publishers near me” or “publishing companies near me” from Fort Worth and you’ll find dozens of listings, many of them companies with no presence in the city. We’ve included only the Fort Worth-based publishers we could verify from primary sources, plus our own company, clearly labeled as based elsewhere.

TCU Press

TCU Press is the university press of Texas Christian University and has been publishing in Fort Worth since 1947. It describes itself as an academic publisher of books “of scholarly, intellectual, and artistic merit,” with its traditional strength in Texana and Southwestern history, literature and culture.

• What it is: A university press. It acquires and develops the books it publishes, choosing which manuscripts to take on.
• What it publishes: Series including the Texas Tradition Series (classic Texas literature), the Chisholm Trail Series (Texas history and culture), Chaparral Books for Young Readers (historical fiction), the Texas Biography Series and the Texas Poet Laureate Series, plus fiction, photography and coffee-table books.
• Distribution: A member of the Texas Book Consortium, distributed through Texas A&M University Press.
• Pricing: No author fees are published.
• Submissions: TCU Press posts submission guidelines on its website. Read them and look at its recent catalogue before sending anything.
• May suit: Authors with a well-researched book about Texas or the Southwest, including history, biography and regional literature, who want a selective publisher and are prepared for a longer acceptance process.

Sources: Texas A&M University Press consortium profile · TCU Press submission guidelines

Wild Horse Media Group (Eakin Press, NorTex Press, Wild Horse Press)

Wild Horse Media Group is a Fort Worth publisher founded in 2005. In 2013 it acquired Eakin Press and NorTex Press, and Eakin moved from Waco to Fort Worth. Eakin Press itself dates to 1979 and brought more than 1,000 titles to the group. Wild Horse Press focuses on the history of rodeo and the American West.

• What it is: An independent press with three imprints. It also offers custom publishing and consulting, saying it can take “a book project from start to finish, or simply serve as a consultant.”
• What it publishes: Texas and Texana titles, Western and rodeo history, and regional nonfiction. Eakin Press states it is “not accepting fiction or children’s titles at the present time.”
• Distribution: Not detailed on its current website. In a 2015 interview, the company named Amazon as its primary outlet and described using print-on-demand.
• Pricing: Pricing is not publicly listed, including for custom publishing.
• Submissions: Eakin Press accepts email inquiries with “a brief description of the book, your background, why you think the book is important and how you can assist with marketing the book.”
• May suit: Authors of Texas history, regional nonfiction or Western and rodeo subjects. Ask up front whether an offer is a traditional contract or a custom (author-paid) project, since the company does both.

Sources: Wild Horse Media Group · Eakin Press author inquiry · Eakin Press news · Writers’ League of Texas Q&A (2015) · Handbook of Texas

Writers of the West

Writers of the West, the publisher of this guide, is a BBB-accredited author-services company based in Houston. It is not located in Fort Worth; it works with Fort Worth authors remotely. Its services for local authors are outlined on its Fort Worth publisher page.

• What it is: An author-services company. The author pays for production and keeps ownership.
• What it publishes: Fiction and nonfiction across genres, in ebook, paperback, hardcover and, on higher packages, audiobook. Ghostwriting is also available as a separate service.
• Services: Editing (proofreading, line and developmental), cover design, formatting, ISBN and distribution, with optional marketing.
• Distribution: Packages range from Amazon only to 50+ platforms, with library and bookstore distribution from the Gold package up.
• Pricing: Published. Publishing packages run from $699 to $5,999, and payment plans are available.
• Rights: States that authors keep 100% of their rights and royalties.
• May suit: Authors who want a professionally produced book on their own timeline and are prepared to pay for production rather than wait for a publisher to acquire it.

Sources: Writers of the West pricing · BBB profile

Traditional, Independent or Publishing-Service Company?

Fort Worth publishing companies and the companies serving the city don’t all do the same job, which is why search results can look confusing. There are three broad models.

Traditional publishing. The publisher selects and acquires manuscripts and generally bears the cost of producing the book. In return, the contract sets which rights the publisher licenses, how royalties are calculated and for how long. Terms vary from contract to contract.

Independent and small presses. Smaller presses, including university presses, usually publish within a defined focus, such as a region, a genre or a subject. Their submission policies vary: some take proposals year-round, some open submissions only at certain times and some don’t accept certain categories at all. Eakin Press, for example, currently isn’t taking fiction or children’s books.

Author-funded, hybrid and author-services companies. The author pays for some or all of the production, such as editing, design, formatting and distribution. Contracts, ownership, distribution and exactly what’s delivered vary widely, so they need careful reading before you pay.

No model is right for every book. A selective press can bring credibility and a catalogue built around your subject, while an author-services company gives you speed and control at your own cost.

How to Compare Book Publishers in Fort Worth

Whichever model you’re considering, these checks separate a sound publisher from a risky one.

Check the publisher’s books

Can you find real books it has published? Are they sold through legitimate retailers under the publisher’s name or imprint? A credible publisher shows a catalogue you can verify, not just cover images on its own website.

Understand what you’re paying for

If the company charges authors, get a written list of what’s included: editing (and at what level), cover design, interior formatting, ISBN, which distribution channels, marketing, and how many revisions. Two packages at the same price can deliver very different books.

Understand rights and royalties

Who owns and controls the book depends on the agreement, not on the type of publisher. Read how long any rights are licensed for, which formats and territories they cover, how royalties are calculated and how you can get your rights back. If a contract is unclear, ask for clarification in writing or have it reviewed before signing.

Check distribution

“Available to bookstores” and “on bookstore shelves” are not the same thing. Listing a title with a distributor or in a catalogue means stores can order it. It does not guarantee that any store will stock it. Ask exactly which channels your book will be listed in.

Look for pricing transparency

If you’ll be paying, you should know the full cost and what it buys before committing. Be cautious of offers that only reveal prices after a sales call or add fees once work has started.

Ask what happens after publication

Find out who controls the retailer accounts and metadata, how corrections or price changes are handled, whether marketing continues after launch and what support you’ll get if something goes wrong.

Fort Worth Resources for Authors Considering Publication

A few local resources are worth knowing before you choose a publisher.

• Fort Worth Public Library: regular writing meetups and periodic Writers Workshops on writing and getting published. Useful for feedback before you submit anywhere.
• DFW Writers’ Workshop: a weekly read-and-critique group in Grapevine whose members have published more than 350 books traditionally. Its annual DFWCon conference includes pitch sessions with literary agents.
• Trinity River Book Festival: a Fort Worth festival showcasing North Texas writing, with registration for authors and publishers. It’s a good place to meet local presses and see what they publish.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Worth Publishers

Are there book publishers in Fort Worth?

Yes. The main publishing companies in Fort Worth are TCU Press and Wild Horse Media Group (Eakin Press, NorTex Press and Wild Horse Press), and both are based in the city. Both focus mainly on Texas, Southwestern and Western subjects.

How do I find a publisher for my book in Fort Worth?

Start with what you’ve written. If it fits a local press’s focus, read that publisher’s submission guidelines and send what it asks for. If it doesn’t, you can look beyond Fort Worth for a traditional publisher or literary agent, or publish through an author-services company or on your own.

Do I need to use a publisher located in Fort Worth?

No. Books are sold nationally through online retailers and distributors, so a publisher’s location doesn’t limit where your book sells. Local book publishers can still be a strong fit for regional subjects and local events.

How much does it cost to publish a book in Fort Worth?

With a traditional publisher, the publisher generally pays production costs. With an author-services company, the author pays, and costs depend on the services included. Some companies publish their prices and others don’t. Ours, for example, are listed publicly.

Should I pay a publisher to publish my book?

Paying to publish is a legitimate choice if you know exactly what you’re buying and you keep the rights you expect. Be wary of any company that won’t say what’s included, pressures you to commit quickly or presents itself as a traditional publisher while charging you fees.

How can I check whether a publishing company is legitimate?

Look for books you can buy from real retailers, a physical business address, clear contract terms and published pricing or a written quote. Check its Better Business Bureau record, and search industry watchdogs such as Writer Beware for complaints.

Choosing the Right Publishing Route

There’s no single best publisher for every Fort Worth author. The right choice depends on your manuscript and its subject, the publishing model you’re comfortable with, your budget, how much control you want and your distribution goals, as well as how much of the process you’re willing to handle yourself. If your book is about Texas or the West, the city’s two presses are worth approaching first. If it isn’t, or you want to publish on your own schedule, compare author-services companies on the criteria above before paying anyone.

Need help getting the book ready first? If you need a writer or an editor rather than a publisher, see our Fort Worth book writers and editors.