Coteau publishes and promotes examples of the best fiction, poetry, drama and young readers’ fiction written in Canada. We are one of only a few publishers in the country who work in all these genres, as well as producing regional and creative non-fiction. Our lists contain many Saskatchewan and prairie writers, and we continue to publish many first-time authors every year (which means, frequently, extraordinary editing time and costs). Coteau provides substantive editing for its publications, and quality production values in all cases, assurances of quality that make a great deal of difference to the present success and the future careers of our writers.
Coteau Books is a registered non-profit production cooperative. Our current eight-member Board owns the press cooperatively, donating a great deal of volunteer time to operations. Coteau is contracted with Canadian publisher/distributor Fitzhenry and Whiteside (F&W) to undertake Canadian and US sales and distribution for Coteau Books and for our agencies. We also have distribution in Australia (John Reed) and New Zealand (Jay Books). We are a “regional press” in terms of our geographical location only, not in terms of our editorial and marketing reach, or in the availability of our books.
Brief History
Coteau Books, the book publishing division of the Thunder Creek Publishing Cooperative, was incorporated in June of 1975, by four Saskatchewan writers with Moose Jaw roots – Bob Currie, Gary Hyland, Barbara Sapergia and Geoffrey Ursell. The original goal of Coteau Books was to provide an outlet for the Saskatchewan poetry that wasn’t finding a home with publishing houses elsewhere in the country. Coteau quickly added fiction to that mandate, and within its first two years had published two definitive anthologies — Number One Northern covered Saskatchewan poetry to the mid-seventies, and Sundogs did the same for short stories.
Coteau opened its operational office in Regina, and hired its first managing editor, in the early 1980s. Our staff now includes eight full and part time positions, and offices in Regina and Saskatoon.
Coteau titles have been awarded the Governor General’s Award for Poetry in 1995 (Voice, by Anne Szumigalski) and for Fiction in 2002 (A Song for Nettie Johnson, by Gloria Sawai). Significantly, we’ve been finalists for the Governor General’s award seven times, in fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature; we’re one of only a few publishers who can claim nominations in so many genres – and the majority of these nominations have been for their authors’ first books. Our growing list of award citations can be found on this web site.
Mandate
Coteau Books’ current mandate is:
• to publish and present to the world market Canadian literary writing, with an emphasis on Saskatchewan and prairie writers
• to establish an active program of developing and publishing works of young readers’ fiction which demonstrate literary excellence as well as portraying understanding between people and the value of community
• to present new voices and works of literary excellence to the world market by developing new writers and fostering and furthering the careers of established writers
• to maintain quality in publications and activities, and expand the promotion and distribution of Canadian books, by encouraging professionalism in staff, board, and the publishing industry.
Acknowledgements
Coteau gratefully acknowledges, for their ongoing financial assistance to our publishing program: the Saskatchewan Arts Board; the Canada Council for the Arts; the Book Publishing Industry Development Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage; the Association for the Export of Canadian Books; the Cultural Industries Development Fund of Saskatchewan Culture, Youth and Recreation; the City of Regina Arts Commission; SaskCulture; and the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation.
These public support measures demonstrate a confidence in the value of what Coteau, and other literary publishers, contribute to our society. It is a confidence that is well repaid. As an integral part of the culture of this country, writers and publishers contribute to our understanding of ourselves and our lives, our consideration of the concerns of our time, and our entertainment and enjoyment of the life we've helped to create. As do others, Coteau Books provides concrete economic benefits as well, and creates jobs. Coteau Books does its part to ensure that many more voices in the collective chorus of who we are as a people will continue to be heard.
