Small press publishers thrive in Windsor

Windsor's small presses are thriving in a changing publishing world.

That's the messages from two attendees of the annual Bookfest Windsor, touted as the only literary festival in southwestern Ontario.

Dan Wells is the publisher of Biblioasis and Aimee Dunn is the publisher of Palimpsest Press, specializing in poetry.

Both will be panelists at 'Windsor's Small Presses' held at the Capitol Theatre Thursday, as part of the festival.

Still a market

Even though some of the biggest publishing houses in the world are struggling to survive, Wells and Dunn said there is still a market for their material.

"It's going really well," said Dunn. The publishing world is very giving. They're wiling to help you out, give you tips and advice. There isn't a sense of competition like you would expect. It's more a sense of community."

Dunn has only owned Palimpsest for the last two years, though the company was established in 2000.

Windsor a big reason for small press success

"Things are only getting better for us," said Wells, who established Biblioasis in 2004. "Windsor has a big role to play in this. For us, the U.S. market has been a big part of our growth. Whereas most Canadian publishers have ignored the U.S., traditionally, we immediately went into the U.S. market and it has contributed to our growth. And I think that's a Windsor thing."

The publisher puts out 16-20 books each year.

Wells said book sales do matter, but the publisher has never placed "economic pressure" on their literary list. That's why Biblioasis also publishes commercial books, according to Wells.

"I think [Windsor] could become a publishing centre, as well as an artistic and cultural centre," he said.

Not without struggles

Palimpsest published about five books a year and admits it's harder to get into the bookstores as a small publisher.

"We really focus on developing relationships with independent bookstores across the country," said Dunn. "That comes with getting authors from across the country, too."

CBC's Tony Doucette will be hosting a 'Writing for Young Readers' panel Saturday Oct. 25 at 3 p.m.

CBC's Asha Tomlinson will be at Books and Brunch on Sunday.