The Porcupine’s Quill (PQL) is an award-winning, small artisanal press specializing in select collections of poetry, literary fiction and creative non-fiction from Canadian authors, both new and well-known.
Formerly operating independently out of Erin in Wellington County, ON, PQL used 20th-century offset printing technology to create books resembling 19th-century letterpress publications. PQL continues to publish under the auspices of Gordon Hill Press (GHP) since having been acquired by GHP in 2023, “with PQL continuing its legacy of literary excellence and beautiful production values, and GHP continuing its emphasis on innovative writing and invisible disability”.
PQL also published a biannual journal of the printing arts, The Devil’s Artisan (DA), with issues released in spring/summer and fall/winter. The journal continues to operate independently, with printer Tim Inkster at the helm. Digital issues are sadly no longer available on the DA website, but with some luck print editions can still be found at antiquarian bookstores or libraries. The origins of the journal go back to 1980.
Recognized with awards for their books, book design and publishing efforts, PQL’s catalogue includes the early works of now-famous Canadian authors like Jane Urquhart, Russell Smith and Elizabeth Hay, to name a few. Read more about them, as well as how to submit a manuscript, here.
(Photo credits: The Porcupine’s Quill.)
What we like about this publisher
We love the 19th century letterpress aesthetic of their original publications, and we’re happy to see a press that’s so dedicated to preserving the printed word in such an artistic and elegant way. It’s heartening to see their efforts acknowledged, not just with book awards, but accolades for book design and publishing.
We also appreciate that their mandate includes publishing the works of both emerging and established authors, with the early works of new writers potentially becoming the seed of a distinguished collection of titles from acclaimed wordsmiths. (Written by C.M.)
Ideas for where you can go from here:
- Discover the books of The Porcupine’s Quill.
- Take a look at their recently launched books. Maybe there’s a new title that catches your eye…
- … or a book launch event to attend.
We love publishing houses because they inspire us to appreciate what it takes to bring books to life. Appreciating what it takes to bring books to life allows us to celebrate the printed word. Celebrating the printed word is part of the flourishing offline life Young W helps you discover: by exploring WRITING and the other 8 pillars of Arts & Letters, including those you may be hesitant to try.
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