Book*hug

Book*hug, formerly known as BookThug and also referred to as Book*hug Press, is an independent literary press based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2003 by Jay MillAr, the press initially developed a reputation for publishing experimental poetry and other formally adventurous writing. Over time, its list expanded to encompass contemporary literary fiction, literary nonfiction, literature in translation, and poetry by both emerging and established writers. The press operates within Canada’s independent literary publishing sector, where small and specialized houses often play an important role in supporting innovative writing that may not fit the commercial priorities of larger publishers. Book*hug’s publishing program has been associated with contemporary Canadian literature and with authors working across experimental, poetic, and boundary-crossing forms. Its catalogue includes books intended for literary readers, critics, festivals, bookstores, libraries, and the broader prize and review ecosystem. A notable recognition for the press came with Phil Hall’s Killdeer, which won the Governor General’s Award for English-language poetry in 2011. The award gave wider visibility to Book*hug’s publishing program and demonstrated the press’s role in bringing critically recognized Canadian poetry to readers. In 2018, the company changed its name from BookThug to Book*hug Press. The change was connected to concerns about the controversial nature of the word “thug” and questions surrounding cultural appropriation. The rebranding preserved continuity with the press’s earlier identity while establishing Book*hug as its public-facing name. Jay MillAr remains identified as the founder and a current co-publisher, working alongside Hazel Millar. Jenny Sampirisi is identified as a former managing editor. Book*hug’s present identity is that of an active independent literary press with a broad contemporary list, rather than a mass-market publisher or a general-interest media conglomerate.

Book*hug was founded in Toronto in 2003 by Jay MillAr. The press began with a concentration on experimental poetry, establishing an editorial identity centered on innovative forms, contemporary voices, and literary work that could sit outside conventional commercial publishing categories. Its early activity placed it within Canada’s independent and small-press literary culture, where specialized publishers support writers whose work may be formally ambitious, hybrid, or otherwise difficult to position in the mainstream market. As the press developed, its scope broadened beyond experimental poetry. Book*hug came to publish contemporary literary fiction, literary nonfiction, literature in translation, and poetry by both emerging and established writers. This expansion allowed the press to maintain its original association with experimental writing while offering a wider range of contemporary literary books. The resulting list reflects the role of an independent literary house: identifying distinctive authors, developing specialized editorial programs, and circulating books through literary audiences, bookstores, libraries, reviews, festivals, and awards. One of the press’s significant milestones was its publication of Phil Hall’s Killdeer. The book won the Governor General’s Award for English-language poetry in 2011, one of Canada’s prominent literary honors. The recognition brought attention to both the author and Book*hug’s role as publisher, reinforcing the press’s standing in Canadian poetry and demonstrating that a small independent house could publish nationally recognized work. The company was originally known as BookThug. In 2018, it adopted the name Book*hug Press. According to the available reference account, the renaming followed controversy about the word “thug” and a question concerning cultural appropriation. The change was therefore both a branding decision and a response to cultural and representational concerns surrounding the former name. The new identity retained a visual and conceptual connection to the original name while avoiding the contested term. Jay MillAr is identified as the founder and current co-publisher, with Hazel Millar serving as co-publisher. Jenny Sampirisi is recorded as a former managing editor. No public information in the supplied reference material establishes a parent corporation, stock-market listing, financial scale, or a separate corporate owner. Book*hug is best understood as an active, independent Canadian literary press whose principal activity is the acquisition, editing, publication, and distribution of contemporary books.

• 2018

  The press adopts the Book*hug Press name

  [1]Book*hugen.wikipedia.org

  BookThug changed its name to Book*hug Press amid controversy concerning the word “thug” and questions about cultural appropriation.

• 2011

  Killdeer receives the Governor General’s Award

  [1]Book*hugen.wikipedia.org

  Phil Hall’s Killdeer, published by the press, won the Governor General’s Award for English-language poetry.

• 2003

  BookThug is founded in Toronto

  [1]Book*hugen.wikipedia.org

  Jay MillAr founded the literary press in Toronto, initially with a focus on experimental poetry.

An independent Toronto literary press focused on contemporary, experimental, and critically engaged writing, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and literature in translation.

• Poetry publishing · 2003

  Poetry

  Poetry is the press’s foundational and most clearly established publishing area. Book*hug began with an emphasis on experimental poetry and continues to publish contemporary poets, including both emerging and established writers. Its poetry list is associated with formally innovative, critically engaged, and sometimes boundary-crossing work.

• Fiction publishing

  Literary fiction

  Book*hug publishes contemporary literary fiction as part of its expanded catalogue. These books sit within an independent literary program rather than a mass-market fiction list, complementing the press’s interest in distinctive voices and ambitious writing.

• Nonfiction publishing

  Literary nonfiction

  The press’s nonfiction program covers contemporary literary nonfiction. This category broadens the house beyond poetry and fiction while preserving its focus on writing with literary, critical, or formally distinctive qualities.

• Translated literature publishing

  Literature in translation

  Book*hug includes literature in translation among its publishing areas, allowing the press to present contemporary writing from outside its original language context to English-language readers.

• Poetry collection

  Killdeer

  Phil Hall’s Killdeer is a notable Book*hug title and an award-recognized example of the press’s poetry publishing. It won the Governor General’s Award for English-language poetry in 2011.

• 2018

  Rename BookThug as Book*hug PressStrategy

  Background

  The former name became controversial because of concerns about the word “thug” and a question about cultural appropriation.

  Action taken

  The press changed its public name to Book*hug Press.

  Aftermath

  The rebrand established Book*hug as the press’s current identity while maintaining continuity with its independent literary publishing program.

  Source

• 2018

  BookThug renamed Book*hug Press[1]Book*hugen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Toronto literary press changed its name to Book*hug Press in response to controversy surrounding the word “thug” and questions about cultural appropriation.

• 2011

  Phil Hall’s Killdeer wins the Governor General’s Award for English-language poetry[1]Book*hugen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Book*hug published Phil Hall’s Killdeer, which received the Governor General’s Award for English-language poetry.

1. 1Book*hugen.wikipedia.org