The Porcupine's Quill

The Porcupine's Quill is an independent Canadian publishing company based in Erin, Ontario. It publishes contemporary Canadian literature across poetry, fiction, short stories, literary criticism, art, and books connected with printing and book arts. The press is owned and operated by Tim and Elke Inkster, a husband-and-wife publishing team whose work has made the company a notable part of Canada's independent literary and book-design culture. The company began in 1974, when The Porcupine's Quill was incorporated in Toronto as the production arm of Press Porcépic. Its first published title was Brian Johnson's Marzipan Lies, issued in 1975. During its early years, Tim Inkster drew on contacts from the University of Toronto to publish poetry and other writing by emerging authors, including Ed Carson and Brian Henderson. This early orientation toward literary discovery became a continuing feature of the press. The company published fiction by writers who later became established figures in Canadian literature, including Jane Urquhart, Steven Heighton, Andrew Pyper, Mary Swan, Russell Smith, Gil Adamson, Elizabeth Hay, Michael Winter, and Annabel Lyon. In poetry, by contrast, its list has included recognized poets such as Margaret Avison and P. K. Page. The Porcupine's Quill has developed a reputation for combining literary selectivity with a strong interest in the physical form of the book. Unlike many trade publishers, it carries out much of its printing and binding in-house. Its production has used a twenty-five-inch Heidelberg KORD press, acid-free Zephyr Antique laid paper, and sewn bindings produced with a 1907 Smyth National Book Sewing machine. This approach emphasizes durability, craftsmanship, and the relationship between typography, paper, illustration, and text. Tim Inkster has also demonstrated elements of the printing and binding process through online videos. The press's authors and books have received substantial recognition. Don Coles's Forests of the Medieval World won the Governor General's Award for Poetry in 1993, while his later collection Kurgan won the Trillium Book Award in 2000. Ian Colford's short-story collection Evidence received the Margaret & John Savage First Book Award and was also associated with shortlists for the Thomas H. Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize and the Danuta Gleed Literary Award; it received a silver Independent Publisher award. Sheree-Lee Olson's Sailor Girl received a bronze Independent Publisher award. The press has also been recognized in Canadian book-design competitions for works including Tony Urquhart's Off the Wall, The Essential P. K. Page, and G. Brender à Brandis's A Wood Engraver's Alphabet. In addition to books, The Porcupine's Quill prints The Devil's Artisan, a biannual magazine devoted to printing and book arts in Canada. This magazine complements the press's publishing program and reinforces its identity as both a literary house and a craft-oriented printing operation. The Inksters' contribution to Canadian publishing was formally recognized in 2008, when both were appointed Members of the Order of Canada. The company remains an active independent press centered on Canadian writing, author development, literary backlist stewardship, and carefully produced physical books.

The Porcupine's Quill originated in 1974, when it was incorporated in Toronto as the production arm of Press Porcépic. The press's first book, Brian Johnson's Marzipan Lies, appeared in 1975. Tim Inkster was central to the company's formation and early publishing activity, drawing on literary contacts developed during his years at the University of Toronto. Among the early writers associated with the press were poets Ed Carson and Brian Henderson. The company developed as a distinctly Canadian independent literary publisher. It became particularly known for publishing fiction by emerging writers who later achieved prominence in Canadian literature. Its list has included Jane Urquhart, Steven Heighton, Andrew Pyper, Mary Swan, Russell Smith, Gil Adamson, Elizabeth Hay, Michael Winter, and Annabel Lyon. In poetry, the press published established figures including Margaret Avison and P. K. Page. This combination of emerging fiction and recognized poetry gave the publisher a role both in introducing new voices and in sustaining important literary work. The Porcupine's Quill's reputation rests not only on editorial selection but also on production. The company differs from many Canadian trade publishers by undertaking much of its printing in-house. Its reported equipment and methods include a twenty-five-inch Heidelberg KORD press, acid-free Zephyr Antique laid paper, and sewn signatures produced on a 1907 Smyth National Book Sewing machine. These practices are intended to create sturdy, durable books and reflect the press's interest in bookmaking as a material craft. Tim Inkster has also made instructional videos showing aspects of the printing and binding process. The press has published books that received major Canadian literary and design recognition. Don Coles's Forests of the Medieval World won the Governor General's Award for Poetry in 1993, and his Kurgan won the Trillium Book Award in 2000. Ian Colford's Evidence won the Margaret & John Savage First Book Award and was connected with shortlists for the Thomas H. Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize and the Danuta Gleed Literary Award. The collection also received a silver Independent Publisher award, while Sheree-Lee Olson's Sailor Girl received a bronze award. Design recognition in the Alcuin Society of Vancouver's Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada included Off the Wall by Tony Urquhart, The Essential P. K. Page, and A Wood Engraver's Alphabet by G. Brender à Brandis. The Inksters' publishing work received national recognition in 2008, when Tim and Elke Inkster were appointed Members of the Order of Canada. The company also publishes The Devil's Artisan, a biannual magazine focused on printing and book arts in Canada. This periodical extends the press's role beyond conventional literary publishing and aligns with its emphasis on typography, illustration, paper, binding, and the history of Canadian print culture. Operating from Erin, Ontario, The Porcupine's Quill remains an independent press owned and operated by Tim and Elke Inkster. Its established identity is built around contemporary Canadian writing, support for authors, preservation of literary and artistic work, and technically distinctive physical production.

• 2008

  Order of Canada appointments

  [1]The Porcupine's Quillen.wikipedia.org

  Tim and Elke Inkster were appointed Members of the Order of Canada for their contributions to Canadian publishing.

• 2000

  Trillium Book Award

  [1]The Porcupine's Quillen.wikipedia.org

  Don Coles's Kurgan won the Trillium Book Award.

• 1993

  Governor General's Award recognition

  [1]The Porcupine's Quillen.wikipedia.org

  Don Coles's poetry collection Forests of the Medieval World won the Governor General's Award for Poetry.

• 1975

  First book published

  [1]The Porcupine's Quillen.wikipedia.org

  Brian Johnson's Marzipan Lies became the press's first published title.

• 1974

  Incorporation as a publishing production arm

  [1]The Porcupine's Quillen.wikipedia.org

  The Porcupine's Quill was incorporated in Toronto as the production arm of Press Porcépic.

An independent Canadian literary press that combines the discovery and development of writers with unusually hands-on printing, binding, and book-design practices.

• Poetry

  Poetry collections

  The press publishes contemporary poetry, including books by established Canadian poets such as Margaret Avison, P. K. Page, and Don Coles. Its poetry list forms one of the central parts of the publisher's literary identity and includes both individual collections and significant works by recognized authors.

• Fiction

  Literary fiction

  The Porcupine's Quill is associated with fiction by emerging Canadian writers who later became prominent. Its fiction program has included authors such as Jane Urquhart, Steven Heighton, Andrew Pyper, Mary Swan, Russell Smith, Gil Adamson, Elizabeth Hay, Michael Winter, and Annabel Lyon.

• Fiction

  Short-story collections

  Short fiction is part of the press's contemporary literary program. Ian Colford's Evidence is a notable example, receiving the Margaret & John Savage First Book Award and additional literary and independent-publishing recognition.

• Art and illustrated books

  Art and book-design titles

  The publisher produces art, illustrated, and book-design-related titles that take advantage of its interest in high-quality paper, typography, illustration, printing, and binding. Works such as Tony Urquhart's Off the Wall and A Wood Engraver's Alphabet have received Canadian book-design recognition.

• Magazine

  The Devil's Artisan

  The Devil's Artisan is a biannual magazine about printing and book arts in Canada. It complements the press's books by addressing the history, practice, and material culture of Canadian printmaking and book production.

• Maintain an in-house printing and binding modelStrategy

  Background

  The press has distinguished itself from many Canadian trade publishers through substantial in-house printing and binding activity.

  Action taken

  It uses dedicated printing and book-sewing equipment, acid-free paper, and sewn signatures to produce durable books with an emphasis on physical craftsmanship.

  Aftermath

  This production model became a defining part of The Porcupine's Quill's identity and connected its literary publishing program with Canadian book arts.

  Source

1. 1The Porcupine's Quillen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Porcupine's Quill official websiteporcupinesquill.ca