During the age of information that has exploded with the growth of the internet and continues to balloon, it’s not often that you see many people with a book in their hands as opposed to a phone or tablet. But publishing houses in Canadaand around the world still play an important role in what we read, whether it’s in hard-cover, paperback, or on a screen.
Every province in Canada has several reputable publishing houses that are perfect for adding new content to the desks of reading consumers, and Newfoundland is no exception. Canadian writershave great options to get their new material published for either personal pride or for mass consumption.
With that in mind, here are some of the biggest book publishing companies in Newfoundland that as a writer, you can bring your content to so you can see your work in print.
Breakwater Books
Since 1973, Breakwater Books has given a clean lane to preserving the history and culture of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the rest of the Maritime Provinces. While they still take pride in the preservation of the local culture, the publisher has expanded its role to include high-quality literature with up to about 16 new titles released per year in many genres.
From children’s picture books to teen fiction to educational reading, poetry, and non-fiction, if you are a writer with certain interests, this is a company that is supportive of the literary arts in many forms.
Although they have focused on written works by writers local to the Maritime region and subject matter that brings the region’s cultural flare to the forefront of the content, authors from many parts of Canada and internationally have been included as part of the company’s stable of great published works.
Boulder Publications
One of the leading names in the Newfoundland publishing industry today is Boulder Books. After opening its doors in 2002, Boulder Books has offered a wide range of books from field guides to historical pieces, and fiction. In fact, their 2017 publication by Jenny Higgins called, Newfoundland in the First World War, won the Newfoundland and Labrador Book Award. As well, Boulder won the Best Atlantic-Published Book Award in 2010 for Birds of Newfoundland: Field Guide by Ian Warkentin and Sandy Newton. These and other awards have given Boulder a reputation for publishing great quality books that are highly regarded in and outside of the Maritimes.
This continued evolution of publishing books of such great calibre has built Boulder Books’ reader base for their Newfoundland authors and those from other parts of the country and the world.
Boulder Books has the support of the Canadian government as well as the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry, and Innovation. All this support comes from the Publishers Assistance Program.
Flanker Press
Flanker Press has operated as Newfoundland and Labrador’s most active trade book publisher since 1994, averaging 20 new works per year with a focus on local non-fiction and historical fiction. That’s despite starting out as a part-time business as the success of the publishing company has focused on providing great publishing services both locally and regionally to writers, and to actively promote Newfoundland writers to the rest of Canada and internationally.
Near the end of 2004, Flanker Press launched a new division called Pennywell Books. This new imprint holds an array of works from literary fiction for both adults and teens to short stories, and they pride themselves on being one of the leading children’s book publishers in Canada.
Pedlar Press
For more than just published Newfoundland books, Pedlar Press offers known and emerging authors from across the countrythe opportunity to display their innovative novel writing, poetry pieces, and art books.
The focus of Pedlar Press is on the innovative and risk-taking side of writing and artistry. Their reputation for supportive and collaborative relationships with their writers has grown since their inception in 2011, and their passion for modern and contemporary Canadian literature is evident as they promote content that is both culturally significant and challenging to standard views on life and art
In its beginnings, Pedlar Press was run by one woman out of her home’s basement office and although it has not grown to employ many individuals, over 100 publications have been released by this company. The goal remains the same for Pedlar Press, as is has from the start, to publish books that challenge views and are artistically imaginative.
An Author’s Choice of Book Publishing Companies in Canada
From budding writers in Newfoundlandto experienced writers in Yukon and everywhere in between, Canadian literary artists havesome great publishing houses to call upon for their written works. The right option not only provides an outlet to introduce a writer’s material to the world but also supports them through their writing efforts while promoting great Canadian literature.
Now, with the help of the information age, it’s easier than ever to find the right publisher for your written work. Visit a publisher’s website to see the kinds of books they typically publish and view their terms and conditions. On top of that, you can have the opportunity to speak to a publishing executive about calculating printing costs. Choosing a publisher that does not offer the right services for your particular style of writing or they have a narrow specialized focus can lead to frustration in terms of cost and support. For this reason, a little research on your part is necessary to find the ideal publishing option.
With these excellent choices available to you, and more, every author from across the country can certainly find a great publishing company to help bring their newly written books to life. So this list of the top Newfoundland book publishing companies is a perfect way to start your search as a Canadian author.