The Small Press Book Fair celebrated the role of independent publishers in shaping Canadian literature, during this year’s Toronto International Festival of Authors.

More than 19 presses across Ontario met with readers and local authors at the Harbourfront Centre event, which was part of the TIFA programming.

Since its establishment in 1980, TIFA has been recognized as one of the most celebrated literary festivals globally, running for 11 days this year, according to the TIFA official website.

The founders from Gap Riot Press and Anstruther Press were among the publishing outlets that attended the event, Sept. 21. These small presses promote inclusivity and creativity by giving opportunities to emerging writers.

Gap Riot Press: supporting women and non-binary writers

At the fair, the people behind small presses had a chance to show their works to readers. One of the small presses featured was Gap Riot Press, a small press run collaboratively by women.

Kate Siklosi, founding editor of Gap Riot Press, said she and her team noticed the literary landscape in Canada is insular. “In order to get something published in Canada, you kind of have to go to a white guy to do it.” 

They aimed to change that, and Gap Riot Press, founded in 2017, is the result.

“Our focus is on Canadian writers and specifically on women and folks who identify as women and non-binary,” Siklosi said.

Gap Riot Press publishes at least one debut author each season to support new writers exploring their ideas, with their books available for purchase on their online website and at various literary events and festivals.

Siklosi said the fundamental role of small presses is to give debut writers some exposure and visibility for their work. One of the main differences between small presses and major publishers is the niche works they publish. Gap Riot Press focuses on what Siklosi described as experimental and genre-blurring literature.

Anstruther Press: a press for the poets

Another small press featured at the fair was Anstruther Press. The press publishes poetry exclusively.

Jim Johnstone, the editor-in-chief, said small presses are great for poets, as they allow for the opportunity to take risks with their poetry.

“Poetry in itself is a risk and something that’s not traditionally very represented by major publishers because there’s not a lot of money in poetry, even for big or well-known poets,” Johnstone said.

In small presses like Gap Riot Press and Anstruther Press, writers have the freedom to experiment and write what they want, pushing boundaries and creating their own niches that major publishers tend to overlook. They also promote inclusivity by seeking voices that are underrepresented.

Anstruther Press is open year-round for submissions from BIPOC, deaf, and disabled writers, and they have an editorial board consisting of six members from across Canada.

Johnstone said, “The reason for having people in different places is so that they can discover writers in their community and near them. We’re always on the lookout for local writers, Canadian writers who are publishing first books.”

Working for small presses is also a collaborative process that allows for constructive feedback. Siklosi said a good practice among small presses is helping one another and supporting writers in refining their ideas, compared to major publishers, which tend to accept what you already have, rather than helping to hone writers’ work.

“There’s just such a diverse array of practice in small press that I think is so important to literary culture in Canada,” she said.

Johnstone said the literary community has seen very positive changes over the 20 years he has been involved. “It feels like right now is an exciting time and a fairly inclusive time.” He believes the literary community should be a welcoming space for everyone. 

Putting small presses on the map — literally

A small press is generally defined as a publishing house with annual sales below a certain level or that publishes a limited number of works each year within a niche market.

Unlike major publishers such as Penguin Random House Canada, which releases over 500 books annually, small presses often publish fewer than 10 titles per year.

Small presses market their books through their online websites, local independent bookstores, and literary events and festivals, such as the Small Press Book Fair.

Small presses are found all over Canada. Siklosi created an interactive small press map where users can explore the small presses in Canada by province. She said the idea behind the map is to show that the arts are thriving outside major cities like Toronto, and to provide “more eyes on the fuller picture of small press production in Canada.”

The Small Press Book Fair is important for presses like Anstruther Press and Gap Riot Press, as it allows publishers to gain visibility and sell their books. For Siklosi, events like this are vital for local publishers and authors to have a space to share their work and come together as a community around small presses.

“It’s a labour of love,” Siklosi said, when talking about pursuing small press work. “People do it because they love it, and they can’t imagine not doing it. It builds community and amplifies writers and voices that we need to hear more from.”