Four publishers in Atlantic Canada seeking books for adults and children

Nimbus Publishing

3360 Strawberry Hill
Halifax, NS  B3K 5A9

https://nimbus.ca/

Established in 1978, Nimbus is the largest English-language publisher east of Toronto. They publish, over forty books a year.

In nonfiction, they’re looking for biography, art, history, science and nature, political and social issues, folklore, sports, guidebooks, cookbooks, photographic books.

They also publish children’s fiction and nonfiction, books for babies, through young adult.  

Under their Vagrant imprint, Nimbus also publishes four to six books of fiction for adults each year. They are looking for stories with broad appeal and writing that is modern and innovative. They’re dedicated to supporting Atlantic Canadian writers, and as such first consideration will be given to manuscripts written by Atlantic Canadians.

Vagrant is primarily interested in works of literary and historical ficton, mystery and regionals interest. Mostly, they’re looking for novels, but will consider collections of short fiction.

General submission guidelines here. Submit to Nimbus online here. Submit to Vagrant online here.

 

Formac Publishing Company

Halifax, Nova Scotia

http://www.formac.ca/

Formac is actively acquiring new books. Its publishing program focuses on nonfiction for adults and fiction and nonfiction for kids.

For adults, Formac is especially seeking books with a Maritime regional focus travel guides, history, biography, natural history, Maritime Provinces politics, and regional cookbooks and cookbooks with a fresh/healthy focus.

For children, Formac is particularly seeking submissions to its First Novels series.

First Novels follow a primary character through realistic and humorous tales with themes kids can relate to such as teasing, friendship, diversity and bullying. These beginner chapter books are for children just starting to read on their own, and are accompanied with ten black-and-white illustrations. Main characters are the same age, or slightly older than the reader (grades 1-4, ages 6-9). The word count runs around 4,000. Prospective writers are encouraged to read First Novels such as the Morgan or Lilly series to get a sense of what they’re looking for.

Formac also publishes The Dreadful Truth series: humorous histories for kids in grades 3–8, ages 8–13.

In nonfiction, Formac publishes Canadian History and Nature books for kids.

When submitting a proposal, please include a cover letter describing your book idea, a brief outline (either an annotated table of contents or a chapter-by-chapter summary), a writing sample, a schedule for completion of your work, an estimate of its final word count, and your resume.

Mail your proposal to:

Acquisitions Editor
Formac Publishing Company Limited
5502 Atlantic Street
Halifax, NS  B3H 1G4

See their full submission guidelines here.

 

Breakwater Books

1 Stamp's Lane, PO Box 2188
St. John's, NL  A1C 6E6

https://www.breakwaterbooks.com/

Breakwater Books publishes Canadian literary fiction, commercial fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s books. While they publish books by authors from across the country, they’re particularly interested in the stories and authors of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Breakwater publishes four books of fiction each year, predominantly literary fiction, but sometimes they publish compelling crime and suspense thrillers.

They also publish novels for young adults.

In nonfiction, Breakwater generally publishes four titles each year. They look for nonfiction works written with a literary flair while making a strong argument based on meticulous research. Breakwater’s nonfiction focuses primarily, though not exclusively, on the people and history of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Breakwater publishes contemporary poetry by authors who have usually published extensively in established literary journals and magazines.

Breakwater only publishes one or two children’s titles each year.

Full submission guidelines here.

 

Goose Lane Editions 

500 Beaverbrook Court, Suite 330
Fredericton, NB E3B 5X4

https://gooselane.com/

Goose Lane Editions specializes in high quality Canadian literary fiction, poetry (published under their icehouse poetry imprint), and creative nonfiction. The company considers submissions from outside Canada only when the author is Canadian and the book is of extraordinary interest to Canadian readers. Goose Lanes does not publish books for children or for the young adult market.

Goose Lane publishes works by both established and up-and-coming Canadian authors. Many new authors have previously contributed to distinguished literary journals and magazines such as the Fiddlehead, Antigonish Review, New Quarterly, Malahat Review, and Maisonneuve; newspapers such as the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Telegraph Journal, and the Ottawa Citizen; magazines such as MacLean’s, Walrus, Geist, Canada's History, Reader's Digest and Toronto Life; or broadcasters such as CBC, Radio-Canada, and PBS. In sum, many of them have had long and distinguished careers in periodical publishing before they began to publish in book form.

Submit fiction here.

Submit nonfiction here.

Submit poetry here.

Full submission guidelines here.

 

Kids Can Press editor Kathleen Keenan

If you’re interested in meeting an agent and in getting published, don’t miss our online How to get Published workshop Saturday, March 6, with Alice Speilburg of the Speilburg Literary Agency (see here).

Beyond that, Brian’s schedule continues to take shape...

Online: Writing and Revising, Saturday, February 6.  Details here.

Online: Writing for Children and for Young Adults workshop with Kids Can Press editor Kathleen Keenan, Saturday, Feb 27 (see here), and Saturday, April 24, with Orca Books editor Liz Kemp, Saturday, April 24. Details to come, but if you’re interested, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca to reserve your spot.

Online: How to Write a Bestseller, with New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, Saturday, April 3.  Details here.

Online: How to Build Your Novel, with author Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, Sunday, April 11. Details here.

Online: Beginning Right – How to open your novel, Saturday, May 15. Details here.

Spring classes:

Online: Welcome to Creative Writing, an introductory, low pressure course to get the creative juices flowing. Thursday evenings, April 15 – June 24 {no class May 27}. Details here.

Online: Writing Personal Stories, nine weeks of creativity and fellowship. Thursday afternoons, April 15 – June 24 {no class May 27}. Details here.  

Online Writing Kid Lit and Young Adult Fiction weekly Wednesday evenings, April 21 – June 16. Details here.

Writing retreat:

Algonquin Park: Writing Retreat at Arowhon Pines Resort, an island of luxury in the middle of a wilderness. Friday, May 28 – Monday, May 31.  Details here.

For more details or to register for any workshop, retreat or weekly class, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See Brian’s complete current schedule here, including online and in-person writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in Algonquin Park, Alliston, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Jackson’s Point, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Southampton, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.