The Donovan Street Press Team Grows, Author Allan Hudson, and More Nova Scotian Publishers
Set me Like a Seal Upon Thy Subtitle
Being the tenth edition of Assorted Nonsense, the official newsletter of Donovan Street Press.
The Donovan Street Press Team Grows
Introducing Jenn deLagran — Business Manager
I’m pleased to announce the addition of Jenn DeLagran to the Donovan Street Press Inc. team.
Jenn (MBA) is a business and financial analyst with over twenty-four years experience in some of Canada's largest companies. Currently employed by one of Canada’s top financial institutions, Jenn’s experience in business casing and financial modeling is a key asset to the future growth of Donovan Street Press Inc. She has a passion for writing and helping fellow authors achieve their publishing dreams.
Welcome aboard Jenn!
Interview with Author Allan Hudson
I went to the Sackville Farmer’s Market a few weeks ago and met fellow scribe Allan Hudson. Allan consented to be interviewed for this newsletter and I am most grateful for his responses:
Joe: Can you give me a brief bio of yourself and your career as a writer?
Allan: Growing up in South Branch, I was encouraged to read from an early age by my mother who was a school teacher. I live in Dieppe with my wife Gloria. I have enjoyed a lifetime of adventure, travel and use the many experiences as ideas for my writing. Presently retired from the work force, I am an author of action/adventure novels, historical fiction and a short story collection. My short stories – The Ship Breakers & In the Abyss – received honourable mention in the New Brunswick Writer’s Federation competition. I have stories published on commuterlit.com, The Golden Ratio and his blog – South Branch Scribbler.
Joe: Tell me a bit about your books and stories. What do you love about them, and what compelled you to write them?
Allan: My early writing was mainly thrillers as it is a genre I’ve always enjoyed so the Drake Alexander Adventure series was created. Wall of War remains one of my favourite books because even though it was the second story I wrote, it was the one I was always thinking about writing. It is not about war, but the discovery of a monument to war by the Inca. I love historical fiction as well. I have been a big fan of Bryce Courtenay and that led me to try HF. As a result, The Alexanders was born. Father is also one of my favourites stories.
Joe: What have you learned about the craft of writing that you wish you had known when you first started?
Allan: In the early stages of writing and especially in my first book, I used way too much detail and a lot of readers told me so. Some still accuse me of too much but I try to have readers see things as clearly as I do. I have toned it down to an acceptable level. (I think)
Joe: What's your favourite book by a writer other than yourself that you think more people ought to know about?
Allan: This is a tough one for me as I have met so many wonderful indie authors in the Atlantic provinces whose books I enjoy tremendously but Shibumi by Trevanian will always remain at the top of my list of books to read. If I could only keep one book from my collection, it would be that one. It has all the elements of a story I love. Danger, intrigue, friendship, love and much more.
Joe: What are your thoughts on the state of publishing today?
Allan: There are so many books, so many publishers, at first publishing seemed overwhelming. Once I discovered self-publishing, I knew it was the way I wanted to proceed and it has been tremendously rewarding. I realize there is a stigma attached to self-publishing as there is a lot of poor quality which exists but I hire professionals to create the best product available, but as we know, it all boils down to the story. So much control with self-publishing and no one else making decisions regarding my story. I love it.
Joe: Where can people find your books?
Allan: My books can be purchased at Chapters in Dieppe, NB, Maritime Crafts in Shediac, NB and online at various outlets: Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, Draft2Digital, Apple Books and Google Books. They can be purchased directly from me as well by connecting on my website, www.southbranchscribbler.com. At book fairs around the province and various craft venues.
Joe: Thanks for answering my questions!
Allan: Thank you so much, Joe, for this opportunity to talk about my books. Much appreciated.
Nova Scotia Publishers
This is the fourth installment of my survey of publishers in Atlantic Canada. We’ve already covered publishers in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and half of the publishers in Nova Scotia. You can find those surveys in previous editions of Assorted Nonsense.
Today we’ll finish surveying Nova Scotia (NS) publishers.
I found 13 publishers in Nova Scotia (not counting imprints belonging to those 13 publishers). We will look at the final six of those publishers today.
Moose House Press
Based in Granville Ferry, Nova Scotia, Moose House Press publishes “books written in, or about, rural Nova Scotia.
Moose House Press was founded by author Brenda Thompson in 2019. I love what she says on their website:
“The press serves folks who are writing material that excites and compels them, even though it might not have a large-enough potential market to attract larger publishers.”
I would say that Donovan Street Press Inc. shares a similar sentiment.
They don’t have major distribution, distributing via IngramSpark and the usual online outlets such as Amazon, but they are a member of the Atlantic Publisher’s Marketing Association. If they receive public funding, they don’t say so.
They don’t appear to publish science fiction and fantasy, or at least don’t advertise that they do.
New World Publishing
New World Publishing is a small, eclectic company founded in 1995 operating out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. They publish “books that make a difference in peoples' lives,” publishing a maximum of 8 books annually. Their books are “intended to help people with their lives (health, wellness, safety and self-esteem) and/or include historical, artistic and cultural themes related to the Atlantic region.
They don’t work with a distributor, but I found this interesting:
Since 2015, we have had a sales person, Alex Boutilier, a superb writer of colonial history and an experienced salesman… who visits retail outlets from the spring to fall annually. Often he carries stock of our latest releases and best-sellers, so shipping can often be waived when purchasing from him at that time.
What a great idea! I hope Alex gets a decent cut.
They don’t appear to receive public funding. If they publish any science fiction or fantasy they don’t make it obvious.
Nimbus Books
Nimbus Books is the big player on the block in Atlantic Canada, “the largest English-language publisher east of Toronto.”
Well, until Donovan Street Press Inc. really gets going, anyway. :-)
Based in Halifax, NS, and publishing 50 books per year, Nimbus publishes cultural history, cultural and social history, sports, current events, biography, nature photography, fiction and children’s books.
They also act as a distributor for other publishers’ books.
They include the imprints Vagrant Press and Chocolate Lake.
Their catalogue does include fantasy, and possibly science fiction (I didn’t see any, but I didn’t browse their entire catalogue). They specifically state that they do not publish the following genres: self-help, religion, philosophy, drama, and erotica.
They are not currently taking submissions, only doing so during a specific window:
Please note that submissions are open from November 1, 2023, closing at 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2023—or, until we reach 200 submissions, whichever comes first.
I like that practice, and may consider that for Donovan Street Press Inc.
They receive “support from the Government of Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage” for their publishing activities.
Nevermore Press
Based in Lunenburg NS, this publisher publishes literary fiction, nonfiction, experimental, poetry, childrens, and visual content.
Nevermore Press was founded in 2018 “by editor and former civil rights lawyer Ernie Hadley and his wife/assistant editor Annie Mullins.” Tragically, just three years after founding the press, Ernie passed away. Fortunately, Jayme Spinks, Nevermore Press’s art director and production manager, was able to take over and keep the press going.
Their books have some pretty cool looking covers. Check out the cover for this one in particular.
And they do publish books that qualify as speculative fiction, or at least fantasy. Good on them.
They are not accepting unsolicited submissions. Nevermore Press has received funding from the Province of Nova Scotia’s Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, and the Canada Council for the Arts.
Northwest Arm Press
Based in Halifax, NS, these folks allegedly publish award-winning books promoting agricultural literacy to children.
However, their website is not functioning, nor can I find anything else about them online. Alas.
Pottersfield Press
This publisher was founded by author Lesley Choyce in 1979 in Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia.
Pottersfield Press publishes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and Atlantic Canadian interest books. At least some of their books, including Lesley Choyce’s latest, The Untimely Resurrection of John Alexander McNeil, definitely qualify as speculative fiction.
Pottersfield Press has received funding from the Canada Book Fund, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the province of Nova Scotia. Their books are distributed by Nimbus Publishing.
Somewhat Grumpy Press
Somewhat Grumpy Press operates out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It was founded in 2020, by author and artist DA Brown, but Brown then moved to Kingston, Ontario, handing the press over to technical and freelance writer Tim Covell.
They call themselves a hybrid publisher, by which they mean that they offer their services to help authors publish their own books. They do not accept submissions or pay authors. Really, they’re a vanity press.
Takeaways
I found 13 distinct publishers in Nova Scotia
However, only 11 of them appear to be operating (or at least have functioning websites).
One is a vanity press
There are some great publishers in Nova Scotia! Many of them receive public funding, and several have decent distribution
Although none of them specialize in publishing science fiction and fantasy, a handful do publish books that could qualify as such
Matt Watts Weighs in on Adventures in the Radio Trade
Full disclosure: I'm mentioned in this book. Quite favourably, too. But, even if Joe had slandered me, or not mentioned me at all, I'd still give Adventures in the Radio Trade five stars. Why? Because it's that good!
Joe is one of the funniest people I know and his humour shines through every page. His story is both compelling and engaging on the most basic of human levels. It's a wild, relatable tale, to any man, woman or child. I can't recommend this book enough. Read it and you will not be disappointed!~ Matt Watts
Thanks Matt!
Appearances
Last Saturday, March 9th, I attended an Easter/Spring craft fair in Truro, Nova Scotia with my daughter Erin, who illustrated the covers for two Donovan Street Press Inc. books. We sold six books and as usual made some new friends.
I’ll be at the Riverview Lion’s Club for the Athena’s Touch Craft Fair Saturday, March 23rd.
I’ll be at the Miramichi Market 345 McKenna Ave Miramichi between 12 noon and 4pm March 24th
And I’ll be Mother’s Day Market in Richibucto Saturday May 11th from 9am until 2pm.
Donovan Street Press Books (So Far!)
The Deer Yard and Other Stories
Podcasts (So Far)
This has been the tenth edition of Assorted Nonsense, the official newsletter of Donovan Street Press Inc.