Dundurn Press: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 83: | Line 83: | ||
While Dundurn focuses on publishing Canadian authors and stories, the press aims to spread their Canadian culture to those all over the world. Dundurn aims to share their stories and enlighten, entertain, and satisfy their readers. Dundurn calls their press and books a “home” for underrepresented voices. The press is welcoming to all and shares their community and passion for Canadian literature, culture, and life. | While Dundurn focuses on publishing Canadian authors and stories, the press aims to spread their Canadian culture to those all over the world. Dundurn aims to share their stories and enlighten, entertain, and satisfy their readers. Dundurn calls their press and books a “home” for underrepresented voices. The press is welcoming to all and shares their community and passion for Canadian literature, culture, and life. | ||
== Overview == | == Projected Overview == | ||
Dundurn Press has made a lot of progress as an independent publisher, growing through acquisitions, authors, and new releases. Dundurn continues its mission of spreading Canadian history and culture through its books and authors. Their recent releases include ''Under the Full and Crescent Moon'' by Aamir Hussain, ''Be a Good One'' by Dalton McGuinty, ''Oxford Soju Club'' by Jinwoo Park, ''Ethics on Trial'' by Janice E. Parente, and many more incredible books that dive into Canadian stories, culture, politics, and life. Dundurn is keeping up to date through their social media handles and through their recent blog posts on their website. Overall, Dundurn Press is headed in the right direction when it comes to making their mark as one of Canada's largest independent publishers. | Dundurn Press has made a lot of progress as an independent publisher, growing through acquisitions, authors, and new releases. Dundurn continues its mission of spreading Canadian history and culture through its books and authors. Through their recent addition of the Rare Machines imprint, Dundurn is also able to publish a more diverse range of books for their audiences. | ||
Their recent releases include ''Under the Full and Crescent Moon'' by Aamir Hussain, ''Be a Good One'' by Dalton McGuinty, ''Oxford Soju Club'' by Jinwoo Park, ''Ethics on Trial'' by Janice E. Parente, and many more incredible books that dive into Canadian stories, culture, politics, and life. | |||
Dundurn is keeping up to date through their social media handles and through their recent blog posts on their website. Overall, Dundurn Press is headed in the right direction when it comes to making their mark as one of Canada's largest independent publishers. | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 06:35, 7 October 2025
Dundurn Press was founded in 1927 by Kirk Howard, who was a Canadian book publisher. The press is located in Toronto, Ontario. Currently, Dundurn is one of the largest independent publishers in Canada. Dundurn publishes a variety of different Canadian authors, supplying people with Canadian history, literature, and culture.
Mission and History
Dundurn Press was named after the Dundurn Castle, located near where Kirk Howard grew up. Dundurn started out as a small press, supplying readers with books on Canadian history. Over time, Dundurn grew to acquire multiple, smaller presses, including:
- Hounslow Press (1991)
- Simon & Pierre (1991)
- Boardwalk Books (1991)
- Natural Heritage Books (2007)
- XYZ Publishing (2008)
- Napoleon & Company (2010)
- Blue Butterfly Books (2011)
- Thomas Allen Publishers (2013)
These acquisitions allowed Dundurn to become one of the largest independent publishers in Canada.
Dundurn Press is also in charge of Rare Machines, their literary fiction imprint. Rare Machines was launched in 2021, supplying readers with literary and hybrid fiction. Some of Dundurn's Rare Machine books include: Eris (June 2024) by Larry Gaudet, Amaranthine Chevrolet (May 2025) by Dennis E. Bolen, and A Song for Wildcats (May 2025) by Caitlin Galway. There are many more incredible Rare Machine books published through Dundurn Press, available on their website under the Rare Machines tab.
Dundurn’s mission is to supply readers with Canadian entertainment and history, focusing on their motto: “Read with us. These are your stories.”
Structure
Dundurn was founded by Kirk Howard. After his recent death in 2023, ownership has since passed to Kwame Scott Fraser and his team: Chris Houston, Kathryn Lane (Senior Editor), Graham Matthews (CFA, CPA, Chief Financial Officer), and Meghan Macdonald (Chief Publishing Officer). The press has 25 employees spanning across five teams: Accounting & Administration, Editorial, Production & Design, Sales/Marketing/Publicity, and the Board of Directors.
News about the press can be found under the “blog” tab on their website. Recently, Akin Akinwumi joined the press’s acquisitions team as of September 4, 2025.
Editorial Staff
The Dundurn Press's editorial staff is made up of Elena Radic (Managing Editor), Janna Green (Project Editor), Kathryn Lane (Senior Editor), Russell Smith (Acquisitions Editor), and Nicholas Freer (Editorial Assistant).
Elena Radic
Radic is the current Managing Editor for Dundurn Press and has worked previously as Dundurn’s project editor. Radic has past experience as a self-employed freelance editor and proofreader and a staff member at Oxford University Press.
Janna Green
Green is the current Project Editor at Dundurn press. She also works as a Localization Editor at IXL Learning. Green has had various experiences working for Top Hat, KBRS, and Oxford University Press.
Kathryn Lane
Lane works as the Associate Editor for Dundurn Press, and in the past held the position of Editorial Director at the press. Currently, Lane is a self-employed freelance editor and she received her publishing certificate at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Smith is a novelist and the Acquisitions Editor for Dundurn Press. Some of his works include How Insensitive (1994) and Confidence (2015). Smith worked as a freelance reporter and cultural commentator, having been published in various journals, including the New York Review of Books, Toronto Life, and The Walrus.
Nicholas Freer
Freer is currently the Editorial Assistant for Dundurn Press. He also worked as a freelance editor at House of Anansi Press and works as a freelance copyeditor at Lancaster House Publishing. Freer holds a certificate in publishing at Ryerson University.
Publishing Program
Dundurn publishes a variety of books with many different genres. Their most common book genres include: Fiction, non-fiction, Canadian history, memoir & biography, politics, sports, true crime & mystery, and lifestyle. The press primarily publishes Canadian literature and authors, sticking to their deep rooted connection to Canadian history and culture.
Notable Authors and Titles
Notable authors of Dundurn Press include: Lincoln Alexander (Go to School, You're a Little Black Boy), Linda McQuaig (The Sport and Prey of Capitalists), Ted Barris (Days of Victory), Michael Coren (The Rebel Christ), Xue Yiwei (Celia, Misoka, I), and Austin Clarke (Choosing His Coffin).
Recent bestsellers of Dundurn Press include: Corporate Control (May 2025) by Nora Loreto, The Drive Across Canada (May 2025) by Mark Richardson, Oxford Soju Club (September 2025) by Jinwoo Park, and Bad Juliet (August 2025) by Giles Blunt. Each of these books are connected to Candian culture, whether through the author's background or through the topics discussed in their books.
Corporate Control, by Nora Loreto
Corporate Control is the second book in Loreto's series, following The Social Safety Net. The book dives into the corporate dominance in Canada, exploring ideas around Canadian politics, economy, and society. Loreto is a Canadian author, currently living in Quebec City. The book was published in May 2025, and is available in paperback, PDF, and ePub through the Dundurn Press website.
The Drive Across Canada, by Mark Richardson
Richardson's book discusses the story and history of the Trans-Canada highway. He shares his own journey of his drive across one of the longest highways in the world. Richardson is a Canadian author, currently living in Cobourg, Ontario. The Drive Across Canada was published in May 2025, and is available in paperback, PDF, and ePub through the Dundurn Press website.
Oxford Soju Club, by Jinwoo Park
Oxford Soju Club is Park's first novel. The book follows different stories of Korean immigrants, a thrilling mystery novel that dives into their lives which have been effected by the Korean diaspora. Park is a Korean Canadian author, currently living in Montreal. His book was published in September 2025, and is available in paperback, PDF, and ePub through the Dundurn Press website.
Bad Juliet, by Giles Blunt
Blunt's novel Bad Juliet is a thriller about a young tutor and his love interest, a woman affected by her traumatizing experience during the Lusitania disaster. Blunt is a Canadian author who grew up in North Bay, Ontario, and currently lives in Toronto. Bad Juliet was published in August 2025, and is available in paperback, PDF, and ePub through the Dundurn Press website.
Formats
Dundurn publishes books in paperback, hardcover, and E-books (ePub). They also have a less common PDF format for a select few of their books.
The average price range of their books are from $24.99-$30.00, primarily for paperbacks. For hardcovers, the prices range from $30.99-$60.00. Their least expensive product is The Quarantine Review, Issue 11 edited by Sheeza Sarfraz and J.J. Dupuis, available in PDF and ePub for $1.99. Their most expensive product is Buildings Cities Life by Eberhard Zeidler, available as a multiple-component retail product and PDF for $465.00.
Brand Identity
The branding colors of Dundurn press are hot pink, white, and teal.
The press publishes all sorts of books, so each book has a unique cover design that is not consistent with the other books Dundurn publishes. The very diverse aesthetic of the press allows each book to stand out on their own. However, the trait that each book has in common is being written strictly by a Canadian author, which keeps the branding consistent.
Audience and Community
Dundurn Press has multiple social media handles, including Instagram (@dundurnpress) and Facebook (Dundurn Press). On their social media, Dundurn aims to promote their new releases, such as Hemo Sapiens (September 2025) by Emily Weedon, and Eerie Whispers (September 2025) by Brian Baker. They are consistent with making relevant posts and updates about their press, and they even have a blog on their website where new information about employment, authors, and books can be found.
Dundurn also promotes their books through The Dundurn Press Bookshop, located in Leslieville, Ontario. Recently, Dundurn Press has participated in the Brooklyn Book Festival 2025, connecting with more readers outside of Canada.
While Dundurn focuses on publishing Canadian authors and stories, the press aims to spread their Canadian culture to those all over the world. Dundurn aims to share their stories and enlighten, entertain, and satisfy their readers. Dundurn calls their press and books a “home” for underrepresented voices. The press is welcoming to all and shares their community and passion for Canadian literature, culture, and life.
Projected Overview
Dundurn Press has made a lot of progress as an independent publisher, growing through acquisitions, authors, and new releases. Dundurn continues its mission of spreading Canadian history and culture through its books and authors. Through their recent addition of the Rare Machines imprint, Dundurn is also able to publish a more diverse range of books for their audiences.
Their recent releases include Under the Full and Crescent Moon by Aamir Hussain, Be a Good One by Dalton McGuinty, Oxford Soju Club by Jinwoo Park, Ethics on Trial by Janice E. Parente, and many more incredible books that dive into Canadian stories, culture, politics, and life.
Dundurn is keeping up to date through their social media handles and through their recent blog posts on their website. Overall, Dundurn Press is headed in the right direction when it comes to making their mark as one of Canada's largest independent publishers.
Notes
- Dundurn. (2025, September 25). https://www.dundurn.com/
- Wikimedia Foundation. (2025, October 3). Dundurn press. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundurn_Press
- Wikimedia Foundation. (2025a, September 22). Kirk Howard. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Howard
- Publishing in Canada 2022: A Half Century at dundurn press. PublishersWeekly.com. (2022, September 23). https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/90392-publishing-in-canada-2022-a-half-century-at-dundurn-press.html
- Dundurn Press financials
- Dundurn Press 2025 company profile: Valuation, funding & investors | Pitchbook. (n.d.). https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/100315-36
- Dundurn press. Ontario Creates. (n.d.). https://www.ontariocreates.ca/success-stories/dundurn-press
- Janna Green - Localization Editor, Canada at IXL Learning. THE ORG. (n.d.). https://theorg.com/org/ixl-learning/org-chart/janna-green
- Wikimedia Foundation. (2025a, May 22). Russell Smith (writer). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Smith_(writer)
- Wikimedia Foundation. (2025a, May 22). Giles Blunt. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giles_Blunt
- Kirk Howard - President and publisher at Dundurn Press. (n.d.-b). https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kirk-howard-22b9919
- Wikimedia Foundation. (2025a, March 2). Dundurn Castle. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundurn_Castle
