The time for holiday shopping has begun. If you’re one of those people who are far more organized this year than I am, consider this a list of add-ons. If you also haven’t gotten started, and you have no ideas, I have a lot of them. Rather than give you specific books, I bring you publishing houses. These are my favorite small and independent horror publishers. I hope you find something for everyone on your list–or your own wishlist! I’m not judging.
If you don’t love their books (you will), you’ll love their personality. Bad Hand Books has been incredibly vocal about their mission and ethics and that isn’t stopping any time soon. They also have absolute powerhouse titles. Check out the table of contents on their anthologies, you’ll see what I mean.
Is someone you’re shopping for not a horror reader? That’s okay! Crooked Lane still has horror titles (including a winter anthology) so it is making the list, but they also have a section labeled “cozies”. This one should help round out your shopping. They’re one I’m watching for more horror.
Dark Matter INK
This is the first publisher I ever reviewed an ARC for, and I’m still reading the books they put out. Clearly there is a reason I keep going back. I promise I’m not just including them because I have a story in an anthology of theirs—you can’t buy it yet so you know I’m being honest.
This is a fun one! Not only is this a publisher, it’s also a whole thing. A store, a discord, a podcast… it’s a fun space. And they work with some incredible authors. And because they are also an independent bookstore, you can find plenty of titles from other publishers not featured here.
I found this publisher because they work a lot with Philip Fracassi. If you don’t want to take that as your recommendation, though, the way they sort their catalog is really cool. Their horror section, for example, comes in four levels—kind of like a scoville rating. This makes it a great way to tailor your gifts!
This is the press responsible for two of my favorite discoveries this year: Crossroads by Laurel Hightower and The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper. If you don’t choose one of those two (and you should, they’re amazing and really short), they have my trust with the rest of their catalog.
I love this publisher so much that I have already purchased every single one of their 2025 titles. I don’t know if I could give a more glowing endorsement than that. Check out their VHS series for a fun and easy gift set, get chapbooks as (protected) stocking stuffers, or purchase literally anything. You can’t go wrong.
I wish I remembered which store, and which app, but a rival for best endorsement: an independent bookstore saying all of their horror sales were Tenebrous Press. Definitely look at their Split Scream series, there are some awesome authors represented.
There you have it, eight indie publishers to check out this holiday season—and every season. This list could have easily been double this size, so let me know your favorite that I didn’t highlight. And if you want to consider a book subscription box instead of making any choices, I’ll recommend two here as a bonus: Night Worms and Aardvark Book Club. I’m subscribed to both of these and I look forward to them every month.
Happy holidays!
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