Mortimer: Former XPress-ite

Bunkhouse Press provides a sanctuary for non-conformist writers who have either been ignored or overlooked by other publishers. "Nature abhors a vacuum," says Bunkhouse's head man, Ken Sproule, "and a vacuum exists when you have a multitude of creative souls and a finite number of places and products on which they can express themselves."

In this case, writers Alex Mortimer and Barbara Sibbald were all set to see their manuscripts printed with another local press. When the publisher backed out, Mortimer and Sibbald were left stranded. That's when Mortimer approached Sproule with the idea to start up an independent press.

"I was talking to Ken," says Mortimer, a former XPress columnist and a long-time local musician, "and said, 'I have two manuscripts [which became Mortimer's The Quitter and Sibbald's Regarding Wanda] ready to go and I know a guy who has a good book about jazz [Jim Reil's Now's the Time] ready to go as well. If you ever wanted to start an indie press - we're good to go.'"

The Quitter, by Alex Mortimer (Bunkhouse), 282 pp.

"Alex approached me with the idea," Sproule adds, "not necessarily because he felt I was literary, although he knew I was fairly well read, but simply because he deftly calculated that I might be game. He is quite the firestarter! I would have to say without him there would be no Bunkhouse." With three titles under their arms, the Bunkhouse doors were opened to the public.

It didn't take the misfits long to find a home. The three titles have received favourable reviews, and The Quitter (a hilarious and surprisingly poignant collection of narratives about Mortimer's attempts to find something he's good at) and Regarding Wanda were both nominated for an Ottawa Book Award in 2007. That works out to about a 66 per cent shooting percentage in hockey (and Senators' sniper Dany Heatley would love to have those numbers).

Sibbald: Finds home in Bunkhouse

Sproule's reaction to this early success is refreshingly restrained and easygoing compared to the precious and pompous attitude that frequently characterizes the literary world. "One hallmark," says Sproule, "is that we do not take ourselves all that seriously - at least not yet. Even being nominated for a few awards was really the cause for more joking and kibitzing."

Meantime, as Sproule works on getting more funding and increasing distribution, Bunkhouse is preparing for an eventful 2008. "All of our presently published authors have stuff in the can and I have two books that I'm working on - one of them a kids' book," says Sproule. "I expect to have at least five books in print in 2008, which is enormously exciting and a tad unnerving."

Regarding Wanda, by Barbara Sibbald (Bunkhouse), 163 pp.

In a city where arts and culture is too often ignored and sorely unappreciated, the birth of Bunkhouse Press is refreshing and inspiring. "We simply have no interest or time to make the scene just for the scene's sake. We're here to write books, print books, get books out there, that's all," says Sproule. "We are here for the long haul, I don't care if it takes five or 10 years to get the books we want. So be it."

And they should be okay. If Charlie-in-the-box, an ostrich-riding cowboy, a flying lion and the rest of the misfit toys could find homes, then there's hope for the unique voices from the Bunkhouse.

Bunkhouse Press
For more info: www.bunkhousepress.com; (613) 224-8682

 
 

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