Palimpsest is defined as a piece of writing on which the original text has been effaced to make room for later writing, but which traces remain. Metaphorically, it refers to something that is altered but still bears the visible traces of its history. Palimpsest Press is a publishing company that takes its inspiration from the new and the old in its production processes, combining the best of the modern digital age, along with historical techniques like letterpress printing and foil stamping. Great attention is paid to book design and the quality of paper. Our poetry titles are printed on richly textured zephyr laid and have coloured end sheets. Besides its trade book production, Palimpsest also publishes hand bound limited edition chapbooks made with specialty papers. Chapbook covers and ephemera are handset on a Gordon old style platen press. All this supports our belief that the book should be an object of beauty and inspiration.

Palimpsest Press publishes culturally significant work that is eclectic, artistic and discerning. We publish poetry in both trade and limited editions, and select nonfiction titles that deal with poetics, the writing life, art, aesthetics, photography, design, cultural criticism and biography. Magpie Books, our children’s imprint, publishes poetry in picture book format and juvenile and YA fiction, focusing on books that spark a child’s imagination and encourage original thinking. Established in 2000, Palimpsest Press is distributed by LitDistCo, with sales representation through the Literary Press Group, and is a member of the Association of Canadian Publishers. It is our belief that small presses build literary communities and create audiences. Palimpsest Press is committed to discovering and fostering new talent, supporting established writers, and ensuring our trade books are kept in print. By publishing in a wide variety of formats, and in beautiful editions, Palimpsest has attracted many critically acclaimed and award-winning authors such as Aislinn Hunter, Christian Bök, Elisabeth Harvor, Kate Braid, Shawna Lemay and Steven Heighton. Shawna Lemay’s Calm Things was nominated for the Wilfred Eggleston Award, and in 2010 Ariel Gordon won the John Hirsch Award for most Promising Manitoba Writer and in 2012 won the Aqua Books Lansdowne Poetry Prize for her collection Hump.

We marked our 10th anniversary in 2010, and the newly incorporated Palimpsest Press opened its renovated studio/ office space to the public. We are now able to offer services such as graphic design, letterpress, bookbinding, and printing to small businesses and other publishers. This diversification of our revenue stream allows us to survive in a competitive and limited market, while exploring our passion for design and book arts. Our overarching mission is the publication of high quality Canadian books and we remain true to our roots as a regional publisher with a national vision.

Please help support the continuation of small presses by buying their books. You can purchase our books at national retail chains and independents or through our online bookstore. Palimpsest now offers services such as graphic design, letterpress, printing and bookbinding. For small businesses and publishers, Palimpsest can design books, catalogues, brochures, postcards, business cards, press releases and more. For the individual, Palimpsest offers letterpress services for invitations and hand binding of unique gifts, such as albums and collections of poetry or letters. We offer a variety of services and would be happy to discuss the options with you.

Staff