Coteau Books

Coteau Books was a small nonprofit literary press based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Established in 1975 by Bob Currie, Gary Hyland, Barbara Sapergia, and Geoffrey Ursell, it was created in response to the limited opportunities available to Saskatchewan writers, particularly first-time authors. The press developed into an important regional and national Canadian publisher, combining a Saskatchewan identity with a publishing program that drew authors from across the country. Coteau’s list covered several literary categories, including adult fiction, poetry, short fiction, nonfiction, and books for young readers. Over time, its young-readers program became a substantial and high-profile part of the business. The press was known for publishing both emerging and established Canadian writers, and its authors included Mark Abley, Linda Aksomitis, Sharon Butala, Warren Cariou, Archie Crail, Deborah Ellis, Connie Gault, Wendy Phillips, Armand Garnet Ruffo, Linda Smith, Anne Szumigalski, Curtis Gillespie, and Duncan Thornton. At its larger scale, Coteau published approximately 16 books per year. Its distribution reached Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, while internet sales and rights representation extended the availability of its titles to readers and publishers in other parts of the world. The press therefore functioned as both a Saskatchewan cultural institution and a contributor to the broader Canadian literary ecosystem. Coteau’s publishing record was recognized through numerous Canadian literary-award nominations and wins. Its titles were shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Awards seven times across four genres, an unusually strong record for a press of its size. Gloria Sawai’s short-story collection A Song for Nettie Johnson won the Governor General’s Literary Award for English-language fiction in 2001, becoming one of the press’s most prominent achievements. After more than four decades of operation, Coteau Books closed its doors and entered bankruptcy protection in February 2020. The closure ended the active operation of a press whose principal contribution had been to create publishing opportunities for Saskatchewan and Canadian writers, while also building a nationally recognized list of literary and young-readers titles.

Coteau Books was founded in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1975 by Bob Currie, Gary Hyland, Barbara Sapergia, and Geoffrey Ursell. The founders perceived a lack of publishing opportunities for Saskatchewan writers, especially authors seeking to publish their first books. Coteau was established as a nonprofit literary press to address that gap and to give regional writing a stronger institutional platform. Although its origins were closely connected with Saskatchewan, Coteau did not remain a narrowly local publisher. It expanded its author list to include writers from across Canada and developed a varied program encompassing fiction, poetry, short fiction, nonfiction, and books for children and young adults. The young-readers list became an important and high-profile element of the press's publishing activity. Authors associated with Coteau included Mark Abley, Linda Aksomitis, Sharon Butala, Warren Cariou, Archie Crail, Deborah Ellis, Connie Gault, Wendy Phillips, Armand Garnet Ruffo, Linda Smith, Anne Szumigalski, Curtis Gillespie, and Duncan Thornton. As the press grew, it published roughly 16 books annually. Coteau's distribution network covered Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Its books could also reach readers internationally through internet sales, and the press represented publication rights for many of its titles in markets around the world. This combination of regional mission and national distribution allowed Coteau to support Saskatchewan literary culture while participating in Canadian publishing more broadly. Recognition from Canadian literary institutions became a significant part of Coteau's history. The press had books shortlisted for or winning a range of national literary awards. Its titles were named Governor General's Literary Award finalists seven times in four genres, an uncommon achievement for a publisher of its relatively small scale. The strongest individual milestone came in 2001, when Gloria Sawai's short-story collection A Song for Nettie Johnson won the Governor General's Literary Award for English-language fiction. Coteau continued operating for more than forty years, maintaining its role as a nonprofit press and a venue for Canadian literary and young-readers publishing. In February 2020, it closed its doors and entered bankruptcy protection. The closure marked the end of the press as an active publishing organization, but its historical importance rests in the opportunities it created for Saskatchewan and Canadian writers and in the award-recognized list it built over its lifetime.

• 2020

  The press closes and enters bankruptcy protection

  [1]Coteau Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Coteau Books closes its doors and enters bankruptcy protection in February, ending its active operations.

• 2001

  Gloria Sawai wins a Governor General's Literary Award

  [1]Coteau Booksen.wikipedia.org

  A Song for Nettie Johnson, Sawai's short-story collection published by Coteau, wins the Governor General's Literary Award for English-language fiction.

• 1975

  Coteau Books is founded in Regina

  [1]Coteau Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Bob Currie, Gary Hyland, Barbara Sapergia, and Geoffrey Ursell establish the nonprofit press to create more publishing opportunities for Saskatchewan writers, particularly first-time authors.

A nonprofit Canadian literary press with strong Saskatchewan roots, focused on publishing Canadian writers across adult literary genres and books for young readers.

• Fiction

  Adult literary fiction

  Coteau published Canadian literary fiction by both emerging and established writers. Its adult fiction program formed part of the press's broader mission to give Canadian authors, including writers from Saskatchewan, access to a dedicated literary publisher.

• Poetry

  Poetry

  Poetry was one of the literary categories represented on Coteau's list. The press's poetry publishing contributed to its identity as a Canadian literary house rather than a publisher limited to commercial genres.

• Fiction

  Short-story collections

  Coteau published collections of Canadian short fiction, including Gloria Sawai's A Song for Nettie Johnson. That collection won the 2001 Governor General's Literary Award for English-language fiction, making short fiction one of the press's most visibly successful areas.

• Children's and young-adult publishing

  Young-readers books

  The press developed a substantial and high-profile young-readers element within its publishing program. These books extended Coteau's audience beyond adult literary readers and became an important part of its national publishing profile.

• 2020

  Closure and bankruptcy protectionOther

  Background

  After more than four decades as a nonprofit literary press, Coteau Books ceased active operations in February 2020.

  Action taken

  The press closed its doors and entered bankruptcy protection.

  Aftermath

  Coteau's publishing operations ended, leaving its historical contribution to Saskatchewan and Canadian literature as its principal legacy.

  Source

1. 1Coteau Booksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Coteau Books profilecanadacouncil.ca