With some 140 Canadian book publishers to choose from, let alone those in other countries, it can be a challenge for a writer to decide where to send their manuscript first.
That’s why it’s good to know a publishing company exists that’s particularly interested in receiving submissions from Yukoners.
Perhaps best known for the Raincoast Chronicles, a series of anthologies about BC coastal history and culture, Harbour Publishing is based on BC’s Sunshine Coast and has published over 400 titles since it was established in 1974.
Harbour may also be known to residents North of 60 as the company that took over former Yukon publisher, Lost Moose, four years ago.
Thanks to Harbour, some Lost Moose books are still going strong, including Whitehorse Hikes and Bikes, a new edition of which was published in the spring.
“We are keeping the Lost Moose imprint going because we like to identify the Yukon, because it’s of interest and a market area we want to promote,” explained Howard White, who owns Harbour Publishing with his wife, Mary.
“Our long-term plans are to build and deepen the Lost Moose list in pretty well all genres. We naturally find that non-fiction is more popular but we are certainly very impressed with the fertility of the Yukon imagination and the amount of good material that comes out of such a small population,” said White, who is interested in receiving poetry and novel submissions as well as non-fiction.
“We find that a Yukon book that’s directed at a Yukon indigenous audience will sell as much as a book to a Canada-wide audience.”
Books published by Harbour under the Lost Moose imprint include Wood Spoken by Whitehorse poet Erling Friis Baastad and Hills of Silver by Dr. Aaro E Aho which is about the Keno Hill mine.
“We have been keeping a list of Yukon books and we would like to do more,” said White. “We are always interested in looking at something even if it seems a long shot.”
White pointed out that Harbour promotes its books all over North America. “Harbour is well-established in the south and across Canada and the US so if a book has an interest beyond the Yukon we are able to make the most of that,” said White, who is himself an award-winning writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, articles and essays.
Harbour is also keen to promote books in the Yukon. Vivien Lougheed, for example, author of the popular Kluane National Park Hiking Guide was in Haines Junction and Whitehorse last month to publicize her new book, Understanding Bolivia: A Traveller’s History.
Each year, Harbour receives about 1,000 unsolicited manuscripts but only publishes 20 books.
However, Yukon writers sending in their manuscripts may well have an advantage: White evidently understands what’s special about the territory.
“Everyone who’s ever touched the Yukon never forgets and becomes a devotee,” he said. “I’m very interested in doing more Yukon books and I would love to hear from anyone up there.”
