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Acorn Press celebrates its thirtieth anniversary in business; an opportune moment to plan for the future, and to look back a few years—to how it all began.

By Marjorie Simmins

Picture the scene: 2010 and two members of the Atlantic Publishing Marketing Association are sitting beside each other at the same table during APMA’s yearly AGM in Halifax; they had been talking earlier and now, with the meeting in full swing, they’re discreetly communicating by … napkin.

“How much?” says the napkin that Terrilee Bulger, the sales manager at Nimbus Publishing, slides over to Laurie Brinklow, owner of Acorn Press.

Brinklow writes a figure, slides the napkin back to Bulger. Bulger nods. “Okay.”

Not long after, Bulger became the proud owner of Prince Edward Island’s only trade publisher, Acorn Press, founded by Brinklow in 1994.

That’s Dr. Laurie Brinklow, now.

“Yes, that’s right,” laughs Brinklow. “That conversation really happened. I wanted to do a doctorate in island studies and that meant some international travel. So as much as I loved the work, I couldn’t keep on as the publisher at Acorn. I’d put the word out generally, and Terrilee said she was interested. I was delighted. I knew the press would be in good hands.”

An assistant professor at the Institute of Island Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), as well as a poet, writer, and editor, Brinklow has long been fascinated by the history and cultures of island life around the world. But career-wise, publishing books came first.

“When I first moved to PEI from Vancouver Island on the West Coast, I worked at Ragweed Press as the managing editor,” says Brinklow. “It eventually went out of business in 1990, but by then I knew that publishing was in my blood.”

The name of the press was a considered choice.

“The red oak is PEI’s provincial tree,” says Brinklow. “And you know—from the tiny acorn grows the mighty oak tree.” Brinklow was also thinking of PEI’s own Milton Acorn, a Governor General award-winning poet.

The early years were financially challenging, but exhilarating, too, she says.

“So many people helped with reading the manuscripts, editing, and design,” says Brinklow. “In general, we were supported not only by the artistic community but by the whole island. It was so exciting to give voice to PEI authors. Stories need to be echoed back to people for them to feel pride and purpose, and a sense of identity. It’s so important to see yourself reflected in literature.”

Born and raised on Prince Edward Island, Terrilee Bulger knew all about the rich history and literary culture of PEI, and how important Acorn Press, the island’s only trade publisher, was to the island’s writers and residents, and readers beyond its borders, too. Acquiring Acorn Press, after working in the book industry since she was fifteen years old, and completing a commerce degree in business, along with accreditation as a chartered account, seemed an obvious choice.

Only two years later, in 2012, Bulger would say yes again, and acquire Nimbus Publishing with business partner, Heather Bryan. Nimbus is now the largest English-language publisher east of Toronto.

Sometimes a deep breath and an affirmative answer can change the course of your life in the most extraordinary ways.

“With Acorn, we started with Riptides, a fiction anthology,” says Bulger, “and did that for two years.” The anthologies offered work by island-born writers and newcomers, showcasing stories about out-migration and immigration.

Acorn now publishes 12 books a year in many genres.

“I feel we have to do a variety of genres for the readers on the island,” says Bulger. “At Christmas, for example, I’d like people to be able to buy a book on-island for everyone on their shopping list. People love to buy gifts from home, about home.”

Bulger is grateful for the hard work and commitment of Acorn Press staff member Tracy Belsher, who helms the press in Charlottetown, aided by a roster of freelance professionals within the community.

The press’ mandate remains unchanged, says Bulger.

“Books by PEI writers about PEI.” On a personal note, she says, “For me it’s more about connection to PEI culture, keeping PEI stories alive.”

Bulger is also determined to keep broadening the diversity of voices the press publishes.

“There are still a lot of doors to open,” she says. “We need more diverse stories, and underrepresented voices.”

Brinklow agrees. “There has been so much change since 1994. The island is much more multi-cultural. There are so many great new writers out there. I applaud what Terrilee is doing.”

“We’ve navigated some stormy waters in recent years,” says Bulger. “From COVID on, the complications were something else. But we made it. It’s so important to get PEI’s stories out to the world. Who knows, maybe one of these years, we’ll even find the new L. M. Montgomery.”

MARJORIE SIMMINS is a journalist, author, and teacher who specializes in personal narratives and biographies.

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