Quattro Books

Quattro Books is a Canadian independent publisher based in Toronto, Ontario. Established in 2006 by Allan Briesmaster, John Calabro, Beatriz Hausner and Luciano Iacobelli, the press grew out of the founders' involvement in Toronto WordStage, a reading series that they collectively operated from 2006 to 2008. Its publishing program has focused on poetry and novellas by both established and emerging Canadian writers. The press has positioned itself around the literary novella, using the phrase “Home of the Novella” to express a distinctive editorial identity in a Canadian market where short novels can occupy an ambiguous space between conventional fiction categories. Alongside novellas, Quattro publishes poetry collections and has developed a catalogue associated with contemporary Canadian literary culture. Authors connected with the press include George Fetherling, Christopher Levenson, Binnie Brennan, Brenda Niskala, Rocco de Giacomo, Carole Giangrande, Sky Gilbert, Michael Wex, Gianna Patriarca, Gale Zoë Garnett, David Silverberg, Susan McCaslin, Lisa Young and Jim Christy. Ownership changed in 2014, when Allan Briesmaster and Luciano Iacobelli became the sole owners. John Calabro subsequently left the company to become co-executive director of the Inspire! Toronto International Book Fair, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from November 13 to 16, 2014. The change separated Quattro's ownership structure from the earlier four-founder arrangement while retaining links to Toronto's literary and reading-event community. Quattro also operates the annual Ken Klonsky Novella Contest, which supports the development of novella-length fiction and has recognized writers including Carole Giangrande, Terri Favro, Adam Pottle and Binnie Brennan. The press received notable external recognition in 2014 when Christopher Levenson's Night Vision was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for poetry. Quattro's known scope, author roster and contest activity identify it as a Canadian literary small press rather than a mass-market or general trade publishing conglomerate.

Quattro Books began in Toronto in 2006 as a small Canadian literary press founded by Allan Briesmaster, John Calabro, Beatriz Hausner and Luciano Iacobelli. The founders were also associated with Toronto WordStage, a reading series they collectively ran between 2006 and 2008. This connection placed the press within Toronto's literary-event ecosystem from its earliest years and helped establish an identity rooted in author readings, poetry and independent literary publishing. The press's catalogue has concentrated on two principal forms: poetry and the literary novella. Although it publishes writers at different stages of their careers, Quattro's mandate gives particular attention to encouraging the development and readership of the novella. Its “Home of the Novella” description functions as both a marketing phrase and an editorial statement, distinguishing the press from larger publishers with broader commercial lists. The catalogue has included work by Canadian writers such as George Fetherling, Christopher Levenson, Binnie Brennan, Brenda Niskala, Rocco de Giacomo, Carole Giangrande, Sky Gilbert, Michael Wex, Gianna Patriarca, Gale Zoë Garnett, David Silverberg, Susan McCaslin, Lisa Young and Jim Christy. A significant organizational change occurred in 2014. Allan Briesmaster and Luciano Iacobelli became the sole owners of Quattro Books. John Calabro left the company to accept the position of co-executive director of the Inspire! Toronto International Book Fair, an event held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from November 13 to 16, 2014. Beatriz Hausner was part of the original founding group, while the 2014 ownership change marked a move away from the initial four-person ownership arrangement. Quattro's role in Canadian literary culture has also been expressed through the annual Ken Klonsky Novella Contest. The contest is intended to encourage novella writing and has counted Carole Giangrande, Terri Favro, Adam Pottle and Binnie Brennan among its previous winners. It complements the press's publishing mandate by identifying and promoting work in the form most closely associated with its public identity. The press achieved a notable point of recognition in 2014 when Christopher Levenson's Night Vision was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for poetry. This recognition brought attention to one of Quattro's poetry publications and demonstrated that the press's activities extend beyond novella fiction. Overall, Quattro Books is best understood as a Toronto independent press whose editorial profile combines poetry, Canadian literary fiction and active support for the novella form.

• 2014

  Ownership changes

  [1]Quattro Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Allan Briesmaster and Luciano Iacobelli become the sole owners of Quattro Books; John Calabro leaves for a leadership role at the Inspire! Toronto International Book Fair.

• 2014

  Night Vision receives Governor General's Award shortlist recognition

  [1]Quattro Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Christopher Levenson's Quattro-published poetry collection Night Vision is shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for poetry.

• 2008

  Toronto WordStage period ends

  [1]Quattro Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The founders' documented collective operation of the Toronto WordStage reading series concludes.

• 2006

  Quattro Books is founded

  [1]Quattro Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Allan Briesmaster, John Calabro, Beatriz Hausner and Luciano Iacobelli establish the Toronto-based Canadian small press.

• 2006

  Toronto WordStage period begins

  [1]Quattro Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The founders collectively operate the Toronto WordStage reading series, linking the new press to a local literary-events community.

An independent Canadian literary press with a particular editorial emphasis on poetry and the development and popularization of the novella.

• Poetry publishing · 2006

  Poetry collections

  Quattro Books publishes poetry by Canadian writers at both emerging and established stages. The poetry list forms one of the press's two central editorial areas and includes Christopher Levenson's Night Vision, which was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for poetry in 2014.

• Fiction publishing · 2006

  Literary novellas

  Literary novellas are the defining focus of Quattro Books' publishing program. The press describes itself as the “Home of the Novella” and states that its mandate includes fostering the development and popularity of the form. Its novella activity is supported by the annual Ken Klonsky Novella Contest.

• Ken Klonsky Novella Contest

  Canada

  An annual contest operated by Quattro Books to encourage novella writing and support the literary form central to the press's identity. Previous winners cited in reference material include Carole Giangrande, Terri Favro, Adam Pottle and Binnie Brennan.

  Outcome. The contest has produced a recurring platform for recognizing novella writers and reinforces Quattro's “Home of the Novella” positioning.

  Source

• 2014

  Consolidation of ownershipStrategy

  Background

  Quattro Books had originally been founded and operated by four individuals connected with Toronto WordStage.

  Action taken

  Allan Briesmaster and Luciano Iacobelli became the company's sole owners. John Calabro departed to become co-executive director of the Inspire! Toronto International Book Fair.

  Aftermath

  The press continued under the ownership of two of its original founders, while Calabro pursued a separate leadership role in Toronto's book-fair sector.

  Source

1. 1Quattro Booksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Quattro Books official websitequattrobooks.ca