I also understand that you were involved in the formation of Coteau Books. How important have local publishers been in developing your career, and the literary scene is Saskatchewan?
Three friends (Bob Currie, Barbara Sapergia and Geoffrey Ursell) and I started Coteau Books (named after the hills south-west of Moose Jaw) in 1975. We worked out of our homes for the first few years. Shipping was done from my place. Coteau is now one of the largest literary publishers of several on the prairies. Back in the early 1970s there were none. Many times, very knowledgeable people advised me and my friends to move to Toronto if we wanted to make it as writers. My friends and I may have lost something for staying here in that we may not be as well known nationally as we would have been had we moved, but we preferred to develop in our own place in our own way and to help others do the same. I stayed with Coteau for 12 years. In that time the literary scene has grown from a few isolated individuals getting published in a few small do-it-yourself booklets into one of the most vibrant in Canada. For a fuller explanation of how this scene grew read the essay “By Way of Background “
Related Questions
- I also understand that you were involved in the formation of Coteau Books. How important have local publishers been in developing your career, and the literary scene is Saskatchewan?
- Are there start-up costs involved in developing CIS in local schools?
- How is the Career Center involved with the local Chapter?
