Four Atlantic Publishers – Formac, Acorn, Breakwater, and Goose Lane – are looking for authors

The Summer Between Us by Andre Fenton
published by Formac

Formac Publishing Company

5502 Atlantic Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3H 1G4

http://www.formac.ca/

Note: You can hang out and chat with quick brown foxes and vixens on my Facebook page (here). Also please check out my new Facebook Page and please Like it here. ~Brian

Formac Publishing is actively soliciting manuscripts from Canadian authors. Their publishing program includes a variety of subjects that focus on projects related to Mi’kma’ki / the Maritime provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island). 

More specifically, this includes:

Regional histories

Regional and souvenir cookbooks

Regional travel and adventure guides

Regional nature guides

Regional commentary and policy books that emphasize contemporary social and political issues in the Maritimes

Regional photography books

Biographies of prominent historical figures with regional connection(s)

Dyslexic-friendly middle-grade fiction

Children’s picture books with Maritime interest

Authors are often subject experts, but all titles are intended for the general reading public, the home cook, and the come-from-away traveler.

Like everyone else, Formac is “committed to publishing underrepresented stories and encourages submissions by racialized and marginalized writers.”

They are actively accepting new book proposals and will carefully consider all submissions that fall within their publishing mandate.

Submit your proposals to: formaceditorial@formac.ca

Address it to “Acquisitions Editor and 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. Full submission guidelines here.

Formac is also actively seeking illustrators for graphic novel and nonfiction projects. Interested artists should:
Prepare a PDF or Word document with 3–4 single works as a sample. These samples should give a clear idea of your distinctive style and/or  show us the breadth of styles you work within. Name the document as such: YOUR NAME_SAMPLE

Email submissions@lorimer.ca

Attach your sample and CV. Full guidelines for artists here.

Kira's Crossing by Orysia Dawydiak
published by Acorn

Acorn Press

Charlottetown, PEI

https://www.acornpresscanada.com/

Acorn Press has a mandate to encourage the literary culture of Prince Edward Island by publishing “Books about Prince Edward Island by Prince Edward Islanders.” Acorn publishes adult fiction and nonfiction, plus children’s chapter books and picture books. Acorn partners with Nimbus Publishing (www.nimbus.ca) for distribution; their books can be found internationally and throughout Canada

If you have a manuscript that fits these guidelines, be sure to send your manuscript by regular post.

For fiction and nonfiction, send an outline, and a couple sample chapters demonstrating your writing. In your cover letter explain why you’re qualified to write this book {especially for nonfiction}. Include a list of past publications and/or prizes, as well as suggested markets for the book.

If you are submitting a proposal for nonfiction, include a list of possible illustrations (e.g., maps, photos, artwork).

For poetry, submit your manuscript in its entirety (no more than 100 pages). In your cover letter, be sure to include a list of past publications and/or prizes.

For Children’s Chapter Books, send an outline, and a couple sample chapters demonstrating your writing. In your cover letter explain why you’re qualified to write this book. Include a list of past publications and/or prizes, as well as suggested markets for the book.

For children’s picture books, submit your manuscript in its entirety. It is not necessary to submit illustrations. In your cover letter, be sure to include a list of past publications and/or prizes.

Submit by mail to:

Acorn Press
P.O. Box 22024
Charlottetown, PE C1A 9J2

e-mail: info@acornpresscanada.com

Full guidelines here.

The Ewe Who Knew Who Knit You
by Cara Kansala, published by Breakwater

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 and nonfiction, commercial fiction and nonfiction, poetry, drama, art and photography, cookbooks, and children’s books. Their mandate is to publish the stories and authors of Newfoundland and Labrador, but they’re  also interested in books by authors from across the country.

Like everyone else, Breakwater is committed to representing “equity-seeking communities and strongly encourages submissions from Black writers, Indigenous writers, and writers of colour, from Deaf artists and those with disabilities, as well as authors from underrepresented regions and communities.”

Breakwater publishes on average four books of fiction each year. They focus on literary fiction, but sometimes publish compelling crime and suspense thrillers, as well as novels for young adults. They do not publish science fiction or fantasy.

Generally, Breakwater also publishes four nonfiction titles each year. Breakwater’s nonfiction focuses primarily, though not exclusively, on the people and history of Newfoundland and Labrador. While the historical work they choose relies on meticulous research, we’re looking for writing that has a sense of style.

Breakwater’s contemporary poetry titles usually come from authors who have published extensively in established literary journals and magazines.

Breakwater’s drama titles are usually only those that have already been produced and staged by a professional theatre company. We rarely publish scripts that have not been produced.

Breakwater publishes approximately three children’s titles each year.

All manuscript submissions should be mailed to:

Breakwater Manuscript Submissions
P.O. Box 2188
St. John’s, NL  A1C 6E6

Include a one-page synopsis and a 20–30-page sample, unless it’s a children’s book, in which case you may wish to include the whole manuscript. Full submission guidelines here.

Goose Lane Editions  

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

https://gooselane.com/

Goose Lane Editions specializes in Canadian literary fiction, including novels and short story collections, poetry (which they publish under the icehouse poetry imprint), and creative nonfiction on subjects such as art, history, politics, biography, travel, nature, popular culture, and the big ideas of our time.

Goose Lane does not publish books for children or young adults, drama, personal memoirs, how-to books, mystery novels, fictional crime stories, or works of fantasy or science fiction.

Goose Lane does publish books with a distinctive flair and a clear, resounding voice and vision. They are interested in books that take the reader on an original journey that fascinates, resonates, and captivates.

Goose Lane publishes works by both established and up-and-coming authors. Many of the authors who publish with the Goose have 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 through this submission form here.

Submit nonfiction through this submission form here.

Include a synopsis or outline of your book and a sample of 30–50 manuscript pages (or 3–4 short stories). See full submission guidelines for fiction and nonfiction here.

Icehouse Poetry

Goose Lane Editions has a long history of publishing poetry. They issued their first collection of poetry in 1954 under the former Fiddlehead Poetry Books imprint. They now publish full-length poetry collections by new and established writers under the icehouse poetry imprint.

A full-length collection should be roughly 48-100 pages long. (Icehouse no longer publishes chapbooks.) Their definition of poetry is expansive and encompasses a broad range of aesthetics, ranging from lyric poetry to genre-busting experimentation. Most of all, they are interested in submissions that demonstrate a distinctive voice and vision.

Like everyone else, they “are particularly interested in submissions that draw upon lived experiences, perspectives, and aesthetic traditions — especially from Black, Indigenous, and other racialized writers, 2SLGBTQIA+ writers, and writers with disabilities.”

Icehouse only considers submissions by Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Many (although not all) of the poets who publish with Icehouse have contributed to literary journals and magazines such as the Fiddlehead, Antigonish Review, Arc, New Quarterly, Malahat Review, and Maisonneuve or have previously published part of their manuscript with a chapbook press.

Poetry submissions are open for three months each year, from April 1 to June 30.

Submit poetry through this submission form here.

Full guidelines for poetry submissions here.

Author Elizabeth Flynn will join us
for a "Finding Your Voice" workshop
Saturday, April 15, 2023. See here.

If you’re interested in publishing your book and in meeting a literary agent, join us for an upcoming How to Get Published workshop. See here.

And if you’re particularly interested in writing for children or for young adults, join us at an upcoming one-day Kid Lit workshop or weekly course. See here {and scroll down).

Best of all, join us for a weekly writing class. See here {and scroll down)

See details of all upcoming writing retreats, one-day workshops, and weekly classes here. 

Navigation tips: Always check out the Labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of postings. For book publishers in general, see here {and scroll down}. For children’s and young adult publishers, see here {and scroll down}.