Wayfarer Books, we believe poetry is the language of the earth. We think words—like rivers through wild places—can change the shape of the world. We publish poets and writers and renegades who stand outside of mainstream culture—poets, essayists, and storytellers whose work might withstand the scrutiny of crows and coyotes, those who are cryptic and floral, the crepuscular, and the queer-at-heart. We are more than just a publisher but a community of writers. Our mission is to produce books that can serve as a compass and map to all wayfarers through wild terrain.

Understanding the Structure of Our Company & Where to Send Your Work

> Wayfarer Books (Traditional Independent Publisher) >> Full-length Works Only 

Wayfarer Books recently announced that it has expanded its ecosystem by acquiring the long-standing independent publisher Homebound Publications. All titles from Homebound Publications will now be transferred to Wayfarer Books, which is distributed by Ingram and offers titles on a print-to-order model with standard trade terms and full returnability. Homebound Publications and Wayfarer Books have historically operated as sibling presses. This merger, initiated by Founder Connor Wolfe, aims to bolster the author communities of both imprints as they navigate the challenges ahead together.

Wayfarer Books follows a traditional publishing model with the following key features:

• Royalty Rates: We pay authors anywhere from 8-12% of the list price on print; 25% on eBook; 25% on Audiobook.
• Formats: We release our titles in various formats, including paperback, ebook, audiobook, and hardcover.
• Global Reach: Our titles have a global distribution network through Ingram, ensuring widespread availability.

> Outpost Press (Hybrid-model Publishing Imprint) >> Full Length Works > Hybrid Structure

Outpost Press is our latest imprint, offering a hybrid publishing route for authors who are willing to share the financial investment in their projects.

> Wayfarer Magazine >> Short Works and Serialized Content Only

Wayfarer Magazine is our flagship publication! Our magazine is now on Substack (exclusively) and each year we offer an annual “Best Of” featuring the best of our online content in a 5.5 x 8.5, 200pp, Full-color, Trade Paperback book.

Note on Diversity

Wayfarer Books and its imprints are firmly rooted in our vision of a compassionate, inclusive, and educated society, which we strive to promote through our publications. We are committed to progressive values, including support for LGBTQIA+ rights, trans rights, decolonization, women’s rights, reproductive rights, non-violence, climate change science, freedom of speech, and the affirmation that Black Lives Matter.

Editor’s Note on Tone and Direction: We are seeking titles with a special focus on the intersection of the natural landscape and the interior landscape. Authors representative of the work we seek would be: Barry Lopez, Black Elk, Red Pine, Joanna Macy, Gary Snyder, David Abram, Mary Oliver, Annie Dillard, Joy Harjo, Jack Kerouac, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Walt Whitman, John Muir, Terry Tempest Williams, Jim Harrison, John O’Donohue, Bell Hooks, Joan Didion, Dianne D. Glave, Adrienne Rich, Allen Ginsberg, June Jordan, Patti Smith, Wendell Berry . . . 

General Notes on Submissions

> Currently, we only accept submissions via Submittable.

A Few Things to Know

We are an independent publisher dedicated to releasing avant-garde works during a volatile market period. On average, we receive over 4,000 submissions annually. However, with our current budget, we can only publish 15-20 titles each year. This results in thousands of high-quality projects being declined solely due to financial constraints.

We expect our authors to actively participate in marketing their titles. Authors should be prepared to engage in various marketing activities, including maintaining a presence on at least one social networking site, seeking interviews, participating in virtual events, networking with fellow poets, and building relationships with independent booksellers and local libraries.

We gladly accept simultaneous submissions. 

Response Time

We are currently backlogged and closed to unsolicited submissions. The next reading period is November – December 2024.

Expect an answer within 6-8 Months. We look forward to reading your work!

The Homebound Poetry Prize / Since 2012

The deadline for entries is for the 2025 HBPP has passed. On August 15, 2025, we will announce one winner from the entries, a finalist, and honorable mentions. Wayfarer Books will publish the winning manuscript in April 2025. The winning author will be offered a royalty contract and publication in ebook, paperback, and audiobook. 

Enter the 2025 Poetry Prize >> Entries are now open for the 2025 Poetry Prize!  Deadline for Submissions is June 30, 2025. 

Entry Guidelines & Eligibility 

• To enter, the poetry collection must be previously unpublished. (A number of individual works may be previously published.)
• The entry fee is $30.00.*
• A limited number of individual poems may have appeared in print or online but the poet must hold sole rights to the work.
• Manuscripts must be in English and adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style 
• Multiple entries by a single author are wel­come but a sep­a­rate entry forms and fees must be paid for each entry.
• The manuscript must be no less than 48 and no more than 75 pages in length.
• Employees and authors of Wayfarer Books and its divisions are not eligible.

• The editorial staff at Wayfarer Books will judge the contest. The contest is not judged blind.

• All entries will be considered for publication. We routinely publish manuscripts chosen for honorable mentions when our annual budget allows.

• *Fee Waivers available for limited-income individuals. Write us at Wolfe@homeboundpublications.com.

Radically Authentic Prize for Trans & Non-binary Writers 

The Radically Authentic Prize for Trans & Non-binary Writers is published by Wayfarer Books.

Eligibility & Guidelines

• This prize is open to those who identify within the Transgender, Non-binary, and Gender non-conforming spectrum.*
• There is a reading fee of $20 for our volunteer editorial staff.**
• This prize is open to works of poetry, creative nonfiction, memoirs, and essay collections. (No fiction, please.)
• Poetry manuscripts should be no more than 90 pages.
• Prose manuscripts should be no more than 50,000 words.
• A single author may submit multiple entries but each entry must be separate. 
• To submit, the manuscript must be previously unpublished.
• A limited number of individual poems/excerpts may have appeared in print or online, but the author must hold sole rights to the work.
• Manuscripts must be in English and follow the Chicago Manual of Style guidelines.
• Deadline is January 10th (Annually). We announce the winner March 1st (Annually). Submissions are rolling.
• **Reading fee waivers are available for those with limited income. Write wayfarer@homeboundpublications.com

How are we defining “Transgender, Non-binary, and Gender non-conforming?”

We currently use the definitions as set forth by the HRC but are active participants in the evolution of language and identity. If you identify beyond the binary and do not see yourself represented below, please submit your work.

Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.

Non-binary is an identity embraced by some people who do not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Non-binary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between or as falling completely outside of these categories. While many also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do. Non-binary can also be used as an umbrella term encompassing identities such as agender, bigender, genderqueer, or gender fluid.

Gender non-conforming is an umbrella term referring to people who do not identify in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category. Some gender non-conforming people identify as non-binary, genderqueer, trans masculine, trans feminine, agender, bigender or other identities that reflect their personal experience. Some, but not all, gender non-conforming people identify as transgender.

Does the manuscript have to be about trans or/non-binary themes to qualify?

While we welcome all themes—especially those that highlight the experiences of marginalized communities—the material/themes of your entry do not need to be about the transgender/non-binary experience to be eligible.

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The namesake of the Radical Authenticity Prize is rooted in the work of our Founder, Connor Wolfe (they/them). To learn more about Connor, follow them on Instagram @the_wild_wolfe

Outpost Press

Outpost Press is our latest imprint offering a hybrid route for those authors who are willing to subsidize their own full-length project to help shoulder the financial investment in the project, allowing us to take on the project that would otherwise be impossible due to lean budgets. Wayfarer Books’ Hybrid Track is operated as a PTO/POD model; we print through Ingram and have wholesale availability to the trade retailers (Amazon, B&N, Indie Bookstores, etc.) via Ingram. And, as with all our imprints, We offer our titles at the standard terms expected by retailers from the larger houses (45% – 55% Discount and Full Returnability).