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Nova Scotia’s literary scene thrives thanks to the work of its independent publishers, who bring local voices, histories, and stories to readers across the province and beyond., From small presses preserving regional heritage, to publishers championing new and diverse perspectives, these companies play a vital role in shaping Atlantic Canada’s cultural landscape. Here’s a closer look at some of the publishers keeping Nova Scotia’s stories in print. 

Breton Books

Breton Books is a Canadian publisher imprint located in Wreck Cove, Cape Breton Island, that operates under the broader umbrella of Cape Breton Books. It was founded by Ronald Caplan, a publisher, writer, and folk historian who created Cape Breton’s Magazine in 1972, and later established Breton Books to preserve and celebrate regional culture. Breton Books specializes in works that document the history, folklore, people, and cultural life of Cape Breton Island and the surrounding areas. 

Fernwood Publishing

For over 30 years, Fernwood has published scholarly academic, literary, and general readers. Since their establishment in 1991, they have published over 900 titles. Their books analyze exploitation and oppression, while amplifying struggles seeking to transform a harmful status quo. Their motto is “critical books for critical thinkers”. Fernwood Publishing is politically driven, not profit driven, meaning they can take risks in publishing radical analysis and underheard voices.

Formac Publishing

Formac Publishing was established in 1977. They publish books for avid readers, travelers, and educators, while specializing in regional nonfiction, and children’s fiction. At Formac, their goal is to publish meaningful books of social value that represent everyone. 

Gaspereau Press

Gaspereau Press is a Canadian publishing company known for its commitment to creating beautifully designed and carefully crafted books, particularly in the genres of poetry and fiction. Founded in 1997, this publishing house is unique for its in-house printing and binding capabilities, utilizing a mix of traditional and modern techniques. 

MacIntyre Purcell Publishing

Since 2004, MacIntyre Purcell Publishing has published award winning books across Canada, the United States and South Korea. They value good ideas, writers, and writing, focusing their efforts on publishing only 5-8 titles a year to ensure the highest quality. 

Moose House Publications

Moose House Publications was founded in 2019, by best-selling author Brenda Thmpson. She founded it to publish material written in or about rural Nova Scotia. Their ethos is to serve folks who are writing materials that excite and compel them, even though it might not have a large-enough potential market to attract larger publishers. Moose House’s goal is to build up their catalogue with entertaining, challenging, eye-opening stories, plays, essays, and book-length explorations into subjects of local interest. 

New World Publishing

New World Publishing is a small, eclectic company founded in 1995 to produce books “that make a difference in people’s lives.” Since their beginning in 1995, they had prioritized using the maximum amount of recycled/post-consumer waste material available, and are now able to say that their current editions use 100% recycled content. They focus on titles that are intended to help people with their lives (health, wellness, safety, and self-esteem). Additionally, they limit their production to 8 titles annually to ensure quality production.

Nimbus Publishing

Nimbus publishes a broad range of genres, including children’s picture and fiction books, non-fiction, history, nature photography, current events, biography, sports, and cultural issues. They are the largest Canadian-English language publisher east of Toronto, and produce more than 50 new titles a year. In addition to publishing, Nimbus does distribution for numerous Atlantic publishers, making them the biggest book distributor on the east coast of Canada. 

Pottersfield Press

Founded in 1979, and located at Lawrencetown Beach, Pottersfield Press specializes in books about Atlantic Canada with a focus on Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian. They also publish a wide range of fiction and nonfiction titles in the areas of history, biography, health, environment, poetry and books about the sea. 

Askance Publishing

First established in Cambridge, UK in 2011, Askance Publishing is now firmly rooted in Canada, with many of its contributing authors from both Canada and the UK. Askance has published more than a dozen titles in multiple formats, including some best-selling fiction, and widely respected non-fiction. 

Bradan Press

Founded in 2016, Bradan Press’s mission is to connect readers worldwide with Gaelic and celtic languages and cultures. They are dedicated to providing cultural resources about Gaelic in French, as well as in English, and Gaelic to Nova Scotia students and educators. 

Boularderie Island Press

Boularderie Island Press is a Cape Breton-based publisher that mainly focused on producing books by authors from Cape Breton and mainland Nova Scotia. They run on both a hybrid and traditional publishing model. This means that authors contribute to the cost of book production, and, in return, receive a larger share of book sales. 

Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute

The DBDLI is an African Institute, dedicated to creating educational change and genuine opportunities for learners and communities of African ancestry. They believe that educational research is vital to achieving this vision. Therefore, they conduct and disseminate learnings from this research to provide policy analysis that can inform policymakers and the general public on how to best improve educational opportunities and outcomes for Nova Scotian learners of African descent. 

Nevermore Press

Nevermore Press seeks to engage people creatively, emotionally, and physically through beautifully crafted, meaningful books and other printed ephemera. Their passion for writing, ideas, art, and design informs their multidisciplinary approach to acquiring and producing content, allowing them to engage with work regardless of its genre. 

Purple Porcupine Press

Purple Porcupine Press is a boutique Atlantic Canadian publishing house dedicated to books with heart and stories with soul. They believe in the power of honest storytelling to heal, inspire, and unite. Their mission is to publish books rooted in love, guided by integrity, and built on trust – stories that speak to the heart and honour the truth of human experience. 

SSP Publications

SSP Publications began business in 2006, the successor to SS Publications, an extremely popular Atlantic Canadian gold guide. Since then, SSP has expanded to publish a diverse selection of non-fiction, including books about Nova Scotia history, PEI historic architecture, biographies, art books, calendar, and other guide books.

OC Publishing

OC Publishing, founded in Halifax in 2016 by award-winning author Anne Louise O’Connell, is a hybrid publisher dedicated to helping writers bring their stories to life. They guide authors through every step of the publishing process from writing and editing to design, production, and building an author platform. Publishing across genres such as mystery, memoir, historical fiction, YA, and children’s books, OC combines professional expertise with personalized mentorship. With a strong commitment to accessibility, they are a Global Certified Accessible publisher, ensuring their ebooks reach the widest possible audience.

HARP Publishing

HARP Publishing, The People’s Press is an independent, multi-media publisher based in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, dedicated to the healing arts and arts for health equity. Founded by arts-in-health practitioners John Graham-Pole and Dorothy Lander, HARP publishes books, zines, music, theatre scripts, and more to inspire creative expression and community connection. As a social enterprise, its mission is rooted in advancing health, education, and social justice while amplifying voices that promote care, equity, and reconciliation.

Somewhat Grumpy Press

Somewhat Grumpy Press, founded in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 2020, is a hybrid publisher offering flexible, à la carte services for both fiction and non-fiction authors. From manuscript review and editing to formatting, cover design, and distribution, they support writers at every stage of the publishing journey. A member of the Independent Book Publishers Association and the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association, the press is committed to professional standards and transparent, author-friendly practices. With a focus on creating entertaining and enlightening books, Somewhat Grumpy Press helps authors bring their stories to life while retaining their rights and creative control.

Whether they’re releasing debut novels, reprinting beloved classics, or producing books that capture the province’s unique identity, Nova Scotia’s publishers ensure our stories find their way into the world. Supporting them means supporting the writers, artists, and communities that make our literary culture so rich.