Dundurn Press

Dundurn Press
Founded1972
FounderKirk Howard
Country of originCanada
Headquarters locationToronto
DistributionUTP Distribution (Canada)
Ingram Publisher Services (US)
Lightning Source (UK)[1]
Key peopleMeghan Macdonald (Publisher), Chris Houston (Operations), Kathryn Lane (Associate Publisher)
ImprintsDundurn, Rare Machines, Castle Street Mysteries, Hounslow, Simon and Pierre, Boardwalk Books, Sandcastle Books, Natural Heritage, Napoleon and Co., Blue Butterfly, Thomas Allen Publishers
No. of employees20+[2]
Official websitewww.dundurn.com

Dundurn Press is one of the largest Canadian-owned book publishing companies of adult fiction and non-fiction.[3] The company publishes Canadian literature, history, biography, politics and arts. Dundurn has about 2500 books in print, and averages around one hundred new titles each year.[4] Dundurn Press was established in 1972 by Kirk Howard.[5] In 2009, Dundurn forged a co-publishing partnership with the Ontario Genealogical Society, and in 2011, Dundurn purchased Napoleon & Company and Blue Butterfly Books.[6][7] In 2013, Dundurn acquired Thomas Allen Publishers, the publishing branch of Thomas Allen & Son Limited.[8] Thomas Allen & Son Limited is a Canadian book distributor, and remains Canada's oldest family-owned and operated distributor, having been in continuous operation for over 90 years.[9][10] Dundurn Press authors include Lincoln Alexander, Linda McQuaig, Ted Barris, Michael Coren, Xue Yiwei, and Austin Clarke.

In January 2019, Howard sold Dundurn Press to a consortium of Canadian technology investors. They hired Kwame Scott Fraser as Publisher, and Howard became Publisher Emeritus.[11] Acquiring editor Russell Smith launched a new imprint for literary fiction and memoir called Rare Machines.[12][13]

Kirk Howard died of Parkinson's Disease in June of 2023. [14]

In February 2024, Fraser changed roles within the firm, and Meghan Macdonald was named Publisher. [15]

  1. ^ "Distributor". Dundurn Press. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  2. ^ Dundurn. "Our History". Dundurn website. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Snapshot: Dundurn Press founder and publisher Kirk Howard". Quill & Quire. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  4. ^ Association of Canadian Publishers
  5. ^ Slopen, Beverley (20 January 1993). "Dundurn Press marks 20th birthday". The Toronto Star. pp. E16. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  6. ^ Spencer, Jason. "Dundurn establishes J. Patrick Boyer imprint". Quill & Quire. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Site Profile: Dundurn Press". Open Book Ontario. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  8. ^ Dundurn Press Buys Canadian Thomas Allen Publishers
  9. ^ Thomas Allen Publishers
  10. ^ "Quill & Quire, January 19, 2012".
  11. ^ Dundurn Sold to Group of Tech Entrepreneurs
  12. ^ "Rare Machines". Dundurn Press.
  13. ^ ""A Distinctive Voice" Editor Russell Smith on Dundurn Press's New Rare Machines Imprint". open-book.ca. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  14. ^ "Dundurn Press founder Kirk Howard dies". Publisher's Weekly.
  15. ^ "Meghan Macdonald promoted to Publisher". Quill and Quire.