Hybrid Publishers - A Growing List

Hybrid Publishing is an emerging third option for authors uninterested or unable to either self-publish or trade publish. This method of publishing—also known as partnership publishing or copublishing—claims to foster the best of both the vanity and traditional, publishing paths. In actually, hybrid publishing generally encompasses everything in between, and thus means something slightly different to each publisher.
 
Some less adaptable to change dismiss hybrid publishing as a glorified vanity press, yet the option does rise above the pay-to-play fray in several ways. Here are some of the more prevalent attributes of a hybrid:

1. The author invests in part to the publication of their work (vanity-esqu)
2. The author receives a healthy portion of royalties (vanity-esqu)
3. The author benefits from organized marketing plans/teams and varying degrees of distribution (trade-esque)
4. The publisher often has a somewhat selective submissions process (trade-esque)
5. The publisher often handles editorial and design needs (trade-esque)

 
I took great interest in this realm of publishing, but was left wanting when searching for a listings page. So I decided I’d start one! Here is a small but growing list of hybrid publishers.
 
50+ Hybrid Publishers

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Name	Distribution	Notes (most notes are my opinion and can change)
3rd Coast Books	“Wordwide access to bookstores”	Prices listed on site
Abuzz Press	E-Books and POD	No startup fee, part of Booklocker.com
Advantage Media Group	“Online and Offline retail outlets”	Business books
Atthis Arts	-	Crowdfunding used to raise funds
Blue Sun Studio Publishing	-	-
Book Press Publishing	Amazon / KDP	-
Book Trope	No longer operating	Was not run by authors or literary pros. I believe their failure has no bearing on hybrids.
Boutique Quality Books (BQB)	E-Stores, POD, possible Brick and Mortar	Author pays production costs, BQB pays marketing and distribution costs
Boyle & Dalton	E-Stores and POD	They vet books, but are a division of Columbus Publishing Lab (who does not vet)
Busybird Publishing	-	Australia based micropublisher, also has a self-publishing arm
Build Buzz Launch	“Global distribution”	Non-fiction, Speakers
BX3	E-Stores and POD	Imprint of Burning Eye
Cardinal Rule Press	IPG	Children’s Books
Certa Publishing	E-Stores, POD	Christian Books
Christopher Matthews Publishing	“distributed on and offline worldwide”	Focuses on debut authors
Cincinnatus Press	E-Stores and POD	Makes no money unless you do
Deep River Books	Bookmasters Distribution (Wholesale and Retail)	Christian authors
EA Books	E-Stores, POD	Reads like a Vanity
E.L. MARKER	Online and Brick and Mortar	An imprint of WiDo
Entangled Publishing ,	Macmillion Dist (prefers to focus on e-stores)	Romance Fiction (has various imprints)
Evolve Publishing	AtlasBooks Distribution	Unique inspirational works
First Edition Design	E-Stores and POD	Focused on design technology
Fishbowl International	-	Contemporary Fiction
Fontnaux	-	Offers Advances, non-fiction, self-help only
Fruitbearer LLC	-	Christian Authors
Glass Spider Publishing	Amazon / KDP	-
Green Ivy Publishing	E-stores and POD	Very hands on, but very similar to a vanity.
Greenleaf Book Group .	Major in house distributor	Rumored to be a good experience but very expensive.
Gypsy Publications	Ingram, Baker and Taylor (E-Stores and POD)	YA, Children’s and Picture Books
Iguana Books	E-stores and POD	Based in Canada
Inkshares	Ingram and Independent bookstores	Crowdfunded. Once an author hits 250 preorders, they receive trade-esque publishing
Inkwater Press	E-stores, POD and some chains	Very similar to a vanity.
LifeTree Media	“Full scale in-store distribution”	Inspirational nonfiction
Little Creek Press	Amazon	Focuses heavily on design (no sci-fi, poetry or romance)
Mascot Books	E-Stores, Brick-and-Mortar, Audio	Fiction, nonfiction, children’s, and Cook books
MillerWords LLC	-	Very little info on website
Next Century Publishing	E-stores and POD	Reads like a Vanity and has numerous past complaints
Poseidon Books	E-Stores and POD	Australia. Offers authors 20% royalties
Possibilities Publishing	Not Mentioned	-
Random Publishing	-	Uninformative Website
Red Orchid Publishing	-	New Age, Poetry and Non-fiction
Resilient Publishing	E-stores and POD	Will invest more into the author as the author’s sales hit certain milestones
Samhain Publishing	-	Focuses on Romance and some Horror
Science Thrillers Media	Ingram and LS (E-Stores and POD)	Focuses on science themed fic and nonfic, offers trade deals
Secular Press	E-Stores and “traditional distribution channels”	Focuses on Secularists, Atheists and Humanists
She Writes Press	Ingram ISP (E-Stores and POD)	Has published over 400 female authors.
Something Or Other Publishing	“Distribution…on six continents”	Uses a crowdsourced voting system. 1000 votes gets publication, 2000 votes gets promotion etc.
Sourced Media Books	Ingram (E-Stores and POD)	Has a bestseller
Soul Fire Press	“distributed on and offline worldwide”	An NA YA division of Christopher Matthews Publishing
Spencer Hill Press ,	-	YA and Adult contemporary romance
Summerland Publishing	Some E-Stores, POD, some brick and mortar	May be outdated. Mentions Borders.
Sunacumen Press Inc	-	Only serves fiction writers, memoirs, poetry and short stories based in Southern California.
Trinity Matrix	“World’s largest distributor”	Website looks cool but has interesting typos
Unbound	-	Once crowdfunded, author receives trade-esque publishing.
Warren Publishing	E-Stores and POD	Has a few award winning titles
White and McLean Publishing	E-Stores	EU-Based.

* This list only includes those companies that self-proclaim (or has a published article referring to them) as a hybrid or partnership publisher. Also note that anything in quotes was taken directly from the website.
 
Okay, there you have it folks. If you’re considering hybrid publishing, be sure to submit to publishers who vet their submissions, who have distribution channels you could not obtain otherwise, and whose brand is more than a sales pitch.
 
If you know of any hybrid publishers not listed here, please let me know their name, link and possibly their distribution channels so I can add them to the list.
 
Happy publishing!