Blue Butterfly Books consolidates with Dundurn

(Toronto, June 1, 2011) — Blue Butterfly Books, now in its fourth year as an independent Canadian publisher of fiction and non-fiction, is today consolidating book publishing operations with Dundurn.

     The announcement, made jointly by Kirk Howard, president and publisher of Dundurn, and J. Patrick Boyer, president of Blue Butterfly Books, is widely applauded as a “good news” story in these days of so many bleak setbacks in the book industry.

Dundurn president Kirk Howard and Blue Butterfly president Patrick Boyer share a microphone at the June 1 launch of Dan Dowhal's new novel Flam Grub, with Dundurn associate publisher and editorial director Michael Carroll smiling through from behind.

Credit: Jodi Franklin

     “For almost four decades Dundurn has helped define Canada for Canadians through its ambitious publishing program,” says Boyer. “My prior association with the company as an author and my high regard for Kirk Howard over the years convince me this consolidation will be a winning ticket for all concerned, a new opportunity for Blue Butterfly authors, and additional strength for Dundurn. There is a lot of goodwill here.”

     Titles in progress with Blue Butterfly will transition to Dundurn. Boyer will become “editor-at-large” at Dundurn to acquire major new titles in Canadian politics and history that Dundurn will publish with the identifier “A J. Patrick Boyer Book.”

     “I have been saying for a long time that the future of the Canadian book publishing industry has to be in consolidation so we can compete with the big foreign-owned companies now operating in our country,” says Howard, who is also president of the Organization of Book Publishers of Ontario.

     “The fit between Blue Butterfly and Dundurn is perfect for all concerned. I have long admired Patrick Boyer’s skills and accomplishments,” adds the Dundurn publisher. “It will be great fun to work with him to see what contribution we can make to the country’s ongoing national literature.”

     Boyer got his start in the publishing business as a linotype operator and printer at age 14. His law practice, before he was elected a Member of Parliament in 1984, involved book publishing. He has been a university professor, an on-air television host, and the head of major public policy organizations from the Couchiching Institute to the Pugwash Commission. An author of some 20 books, Boyer has served on the national council of The Writers’ Union of Canada.

     Established in 1972 by Kirk Howard, Dundurn began primarily as a small publisher of Canadian history, military history, politics, current affairs, and biography. Since then Dundurn has expanded its original mandate and now features as well an award-winning list of mysteries, literary fiction, young people’s fiction, and coffee table gift books, along with a variety of other genres. The company has grown over the years through the acquisition of numerous small publishers. More recent acquisitions include the English-language imprint of Montreal’s XYZ Publishing, and in March 2011, Napoleon & Co. Dundurn now publishes over one hundred titles per year, making it one of the largest Canadian publishers.