A Small Shop With a Big Heart
Operating from the small town of Sackville, New Brunswick, Gaspereau Press is one of Canada’s most innovative and tenacious literary presses. We publish a range of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, and our titles are known for their craft and beauty as physical objects as much as for the quality of the writing. Spanning fiction and poetry to belles lettres, memoir and natural history, the list reflects a rich diversity of ideas and styles.
Following the advice of printer and scholar D. B. Updike, our operating manifesto is to Make work better for its purposes than is commonly thought worthwhile. Our books are printed on a sensuous laid paper, and most are wrapped in a hand-printed letterpress jacket.
We believe that a book can do its best work in the world when all the details of its production – from editing to design to the printed object – are tended to with love and attention. After all, literature (which is the work of a book) is our best chance as a culture to be reminded of who we are, and what we have the potential to become.
No one values the care and attention that Gaspereau lavishes on its books more than its authors, and the Gaspereau Family is home to some of Canada’s best and brightest minds.
The press was founded in 1997 in the Annapolis Valley by Gary Dunfield and Andrew Steeves. Over the course of nearly three decades Dunfield and Steeves built a distinctive style of publishing that refused to compromise on the core belief in the importance of the book as a physical object. In 2026, after a 2-year mentorship and succession plan, Keagan Hawthorne took over as owner and publisher of the press, moving the whole operation to Sackville, New Brunswick, where the same spirit of bookmaking continues.
Publisher
Keagan Hawthorne is the owner and publisher at Gaspereau Press. He is responsible for selecting and editing manuscripts, as well as overseeing the design and production of books.
Originally from the wilds of Northern BC, Keagan studied Folklore and Engineering before making his way into publishing. He lives in Sackville, NB.
Publishing Assistant
Freddy Smith is involved in pretty much every aspect of the publishing workflow. From organizing and tracking inventory, making sure shipments get to customers on time, to assisting with production and printing, he keeps the Sackville shop ticking along.
Publicity and Marketing
Michael Goodfellow is responsible for managing the news coming out of the press. For our authors, he is the person to contact with information about events, reviews, publications, or any other news about yourself or your book.
Contact: promotions@gaspereau.com
Production Assistant
Magali Charron is the hands-on force that makes sure Gaspereau Press books go out into the world looking their best. From cutting paper to running a press to putting on wrappers, no book would be complete without her touch.
Series Editor – Acadian Literature in Translation
Geneviève Robichaud is a writer, translator, and educator based in Memramcook, New Brunswick, whose work bridges experimental poetics, literary translation, and critical-creative inquiry. Her co-translation of Aimee Wall’s We, Jane, published in French as Nous, Jane by Les Éditions Perce-Neige, received the John-Glassco Prize and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award in Translation (2025).
The Tantramar Barn
It’s not quite one of the iconic barns that dot the Tantramar hay fields, but Gaspereau Press is snug and warm in its temporary winter location.
We’re working on something top-secret and super exciting for a permanent home for the press, so be sure to check back here soon to see what’s coming down the tracks.
At the moment we are only open by appointment, but if you are passing through please drop us a line and see if we’re up for a visit.
By Foot:
We are open to visitors, but please get in touch before coming by since we’re not always at home.
Gaspereau Press
7 Fleet Street, Sackville, NB,
By Post:
Gaspereau Press
7 Fleet Street
Sackville, NB, E4L 0C4
By phone or ePigeon:
(506) 889-6561
And of course we’re on the internet in all the usual places:
Conduct Policy
What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you are saying.
Gaspereau Press has no time for bullying, harassment, small-mindedness, cold-heartedness, or assholery of any kind. No amount of talent makes up for bad behaviour. We consider the cardinal virtues to be kindness, compassion, and curiosity, and we expect everyone involved in the operations of the press – from the staff to the authors to our freelancers – to make these the basis of all personal interactions.
Submitting a manuscript to Gaspereau Press
Gaspereau Press is always open to submissions. We only accept paper submissions (electronic submissions are deleted unread), which can be mailed to the press at:
Editor/Gaspereau Press
7 Fleet Street
Sackville, NB
E4L0C4
Note: While you are welcome to send us your full manuscript, we’re happy to consider an excerpt that you feel is representative (to save on printing and postage). We’ll be in touch if we are intrigued and want to read more. We endeavour to respond to all submissions within six months of receipt. If you haven’t heard from us in that time feel free to reach out.
Editorial Interest
Gaspereau Press is always on the lookout for interesting new projects – literature that reminds us of who we are, and what we have the potential to become. We publish poetry, fiction, and literary non-fiction, with a preference for writing that is alive to the beauty and music of words.
Purchasing Gaspereau Press Books
Booksellers:
If you are looking to set up a wholesale account, please call us or email orders@gaspereau.com. We’re fully set up for EDI ordering through Bookmanager, PubNet, and other channels, and offer standard discounts and terms-of-trade. Drop us a line for details.
Individuals:
You can purchase our books directly from this website using the links at the top of the page. We also encourage you to support your local independent bookstore if you have one – if you don’t see our books on their shelves just ask, they can place an order for you.
Book Clubs can receive a 20% discount on orders of 5 or more copies shipped to a single location. Contact orders@gaspereau.com for more details.
If you need to make special arrangements for an order, or have more questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch!