NEWS FROM THE ACORN PRESS!
The Acorn Press is moving on to the next chapter.
The Charlottetown-based Press, which has been publishing books about Prince Edward Island by Prince Edward Islanders since 1994, has a new owner as of August 5, says current owner Laurie Brinklow.
"I'm delighted to be handing over the Press to Terrilee Bulger. Terrilee grew up in Sherwood, so knows the Island. She's been working in the industry and knows what she's getting into. I couldn't be happier that Islanders' voices and stories will continue to be heard through Island-published books. And she brings strong marketing skills that will take Acorn to the next level."
Bulger has a strong background in books. She started her career in books at the former Charlottetown bookstore, the Bookbrowser, in 1987. After seven years of bookselling, she moved to Ottawa to work in book publishing, where she worked as sales rep and publicist for a number of publishers, including Firefly, Key Porter Books, Raincoast, and Douglas and MacIntyre, to name a few. She moved back to the Martimes in 2000 and is currently the Sales Manager for Nimbus Publishing in Halifax. Bulger has also just completed her studies with the Society of Management Accountants and is expected to be a Certified Management Accountant in September. Purchasing the Acorn Press is the next big step for Bulger, who is committed to keeping the press an Island press. She says, "I want to keep The Acorn Press focused on publishing books for and about Prince Edward Island. It is important to me that island writers continue to be published here."
Brinklow founded the Press in 1993 after receiving the original logo as a birthday present from the then Director of Institute of Island Studies Harry Baglole. Brinklow learned the publishing business from Libby Oughton at Ragweed Press, before becoming Publishing Coordinator for Island Studies Press, and later an editor/writer at University of Prince Edward Island. She leaves the Island later this summer to pursue another passion, Island Studies. She begins a PhD program at the University of Tasmania's School of Geography and Environmental Studies in Hobart, Tasmania.
Since Acorn's first book, An Island Christmas Reader by David Weale, Acorn has published over 50 titles, including poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and children's books. Acorn's stable of authors includes Poets Laureate John Smith, Frank Ledwell, and Hugh MacDonald; UPEI professors Richard Lemm, Shannon Murray, Brent MacLaine, Deirdre Kessler, Godfrey Baldacchino, and Sean Wiebe; photographers John Sylvester, Anna Karpinski, and Juliet Wilson; Acadian historian Georges Arsenault; comedian Lorne Elliott; children?s writers Jordan McIntyre, Gerry O'Brien, David Weale, and Jacqueline MacKay; several members of the PEI Writers? Guild, including Joseph Sherman, Judy Gaudet, and Michael Hennessey; members of Brinklow?s writing groups, including Margie Carmichael, Orysia Dawydiak, Kathleen Hamilton, Beth Janzen, Dianne Morrow, and Elaine Hammond; and well-known community figures Bud Ings, Hilary MacLeod, Boyde Beck, Jane Ledwell, Betty Howatt, Gerry Steele, Catherine Edward, Donnie Doyle, Judy McCann-Beranger, and George Wright. Acorn also co-published books with several community organizations.
In addition to publishing Island writers, Acorn showcases Island artists wherever possible, on book covers and in children's picture books, including Dale McNevin, Karen Gallant, Brenda Whiteway, Barry Jeeves, Brian Burke, Brenda Jones, Catherine Miller, and Nigel Roe.
Acorn's bestselling title is The True Meaning of Crumbfest written by David Weale and illustrated by Dale McNevin, with over 18,000 copies in print. Two Christmases ago, Bud Ings' first book, Mud, Sweat and Tears: Tales from a Country Vet, sold out its first print run of 2,000 in three weeks; Dr. Ings is now working on a sequel.
Acorn authors and friends have been invited to drop in to the Churchill Arms Thursday, August 5, anytime between 4 and 6 p.m., to meet Terrilee. Everyone is welcome.
NEW BOOKS:
