Turnstone Press
Turnstone Press is a Winnipeg-based independent Canadian literary publisher founded in 1976, operating the Turnstone Press (literary fiction, poetry, non-fiction) and Ravenstone (genre fiction) imprints with 300+ titles and domestic-only distribution through trade partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersWinnipeg, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Turnstone Press does
Turnstone Press is a Canadian independent literary publisher founded in 1976 and headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The company operates a dual-imprint model: Turnstone Press publishes literary fiction, literary non-fiction, and poetry, while its 1998-established subsidiary imprint Ravenstone publishes genre fiction including mysteries, thrillers, noir, speculative fiction, cli-fi, and urban fantasy. Across both imprints the publisher has produced over 300 titles, primarily by Canadian authors and landed immigrants, with recurring award recognition including ReLit, Aurora, High Plains, and Manitoba Book Awards. Its catalogue spans poetry collections (Flyway, The World Is Mostly Sky, Black Umbrella), urban fantasy series (Thunder Road Trilogy), and sci-fi novels (Pale Grey Dot, Bounty).
The business model is straightforward trade publishing. Revenue is generated through one-time book sales via two channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce on turnstonepress.com (processed through PayPal, with free shipping on orders over $75), and wholesale/trade distribution through Canadian Manda Group (sales representation) and LitDistco (fulfillment). Booksellers receive standard trade discounts of 40% on orders of 5+ titles and 20% on orders of 4 titles, with standing orders at 20%. Unit pricing on individual titles ranges roughly $18-$24. The company maintains 1-10 employees, has no disclosed external funding, and operates as a privately held Manitoba corporation with no parent company or institutional backing. Marketing is conducted through organic content including the website blog, author interview series (Quatrain Questions, My Studio, Behind the Page), and active social media presence across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and Goodreads, supplemented by author events and literary festival participation.
Turnstone Press firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Turnstone Press
- Legal name
- Turnstone Press Ltd.
- Website
- https://turnstonepress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Turnstone Press is a Winnipeg-based independent Canadian literary publisher founded in 1976, operating the Turnstone Press (literary fiction, poetry, non-fiction) and Ravenstone (genre fiction) imprints with 300+ titles and domestic-only distribution through trade partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Turnstone Press is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winnipeg
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Turnstone Press business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Turnstone Press generates revenue through the sale of published books directly to consumers via their e-commerce website and through trade distribution to bookstores and wholesalers.
- Trade/Wholesale Distribution: Books are sold to booksellers and institutions at trade discounts through Canadian Manda Group and LitDistco distributors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail book pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Turnstone Press product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Turnstone Press is a Canadian independent literary book publisher based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, founded in 1976. It publishes poetry, fiction, literary criticism, and non-fiction under the Turnstone Press imprint, and mysteries, thrillers, noir, speculative fiction, and cli-fi under its Ravenstone genre-fiction imprint launched in 1998. The company has built a catalog of 300+ titles by emerging and established Canadian writers, sold through its own e-commerce site and Canadian trade distribution channels.
Product overview
Turnstone Press is a Canadian literary publisher with nearly 50 years of history, operating two distinct publishing imprints: Turnstone Press publishes literary fiction, literary non-fiction, and poetry, while Ravenstone (established 1998) publishes genre fiction including mysteries, thrillers, noir, speculative fiction, and climate fiction (cli-fi). The company publishes Canadian authors and landed immigrants with over 300 titles in print. Their portfolio includes award-winning poetry collections such as Flyway and The World Is Mostly Sky, urban fantasy series like the Thunder Road Trilogy, science fiction novels including Pale Grey Dot, and literary fiction. Turnstone Press also produces author interview series including My Studio, Quatrain Questions, and Behind the Page.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ravenstone: An imprint of Turnstone Press that publishes mysteries, thrillers, cli-fi, and speculative fiction.
Products and services
- Turnstone Press imprint
- Ravenstone imprint
- Pale Grey Dot
- Thunder Road Trilogy Three-book genre-fiction series published under the Ravenstone imprint, sold as individual print titles and as a set through the publisher's bookstore and trade channels.
- Bounty A standalone cli-fi title listed as a notable book in the publisher's catalog, available as a physical book through the publisher's storefront and trade distribution.
- A Road Map for Finding Wild Horses A standalone poetry collection listed as a notable book in the publisher's catalog, sold through the publisher's e-commerce site and Canadian trade distribution.
- Flyway A standalone poetry collection listed as a notable book in the publisher's catalog, sold through the publisher's e-commerce site and Canadian trade distribution.
- Once Removed A standalone literary fiction title listed as a notable book in the publisher's catalog, sold through the publisher's e-commerce site and trade distribution.
- Just Satire A standalone non-fiction / literary criticism title listed as a notable book in the publisher's catalog, sold through the publisher's e-commerce site and trade distribution.
- Black Umbrella A standalone poetry collection listed as a notable book in the publisher's catalog, sold through the publisher's e-commerce site and Canadian trade distribution.
- Venue 13 A standalone debut novel listed as a recent notable book in the publisher's catalog, available as a physical book through the publisher's storefront and trade distribution.
- The Tenant A standalone novel listed as a recent notable book in the publisher's catalog, available as a physical book through the publisher's storefront and trade distribution.
Companies that use Turnstone Press
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Turnstone Press technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Turnstone Press partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- LitDistcocoreTrade distribution partner for Turnstone Press and Ravenstone books in Canada. Handles fulfillment to bookstores and institutions across Canada.
- Canadian Manda GroupcoreTrade sales representation with regional sales reps who promote Turnstone Press and Ravenstone titles to bookstores and institutions.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Turnstone Press competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- House of Anansi Press: Established Canadian literary publisher with a broader catalog across literary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, providing a comparable but larger-scale reference point operating in the same Canadian literary market.
- Dundurn Press: Canadian independent publisher with a broader catalog across literary and commercial fiction, non-fiction, and children's books, providing a larger-scale Canadian independent peer operating in adjacent categories.
- McClelland & Stewart: Historic Canadian literary publisher now part of Penguin Random House Canada, representing the dominant incumbent in Canadian literary publishing and a key competitive reference point for independent Canadian literary houses.
Direct peers
- Porcupine's Quill: Small Canadian literary press with a similar scale and focus on literary fiction, poetry, and finely produced trade books, including a comparable commitment to Canadian authors and craft production values.
- Biblioasis: Canadian independent literary publisher based in Windsor, Ontario, publishing literary fiction, poetry, and translation with a similar small-press commitment to literary quality and Canadian author focus.
- Coach House Books: Canadian independent literary publisher based in Toronto publishing poetry, fiction, and literary non-fiction with a similar small-press aesthetic, commitment to literary excellence, and comparable scale to Turnstone Press.
- Arsenal Pulp Press: Canadian independent literary publisher with comparable focus on literary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, often featuring diverse and progressive voices, similar in scale and editorial sensibility to Turnstone Press.
- Cormorant Books: Canadian independent publisher publishing literary fiction and non-fiction with a similar small-press model and Canadian author focus, comparable in scale and category positioning.
- ECW Press: Canadian independent publisher publishing literary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction with a comparable mix of literary and genre titles and a similar Canadian market focus.
- Douglas & McIntyre: Canadian independent publisher with a comparable focus on literary and non-fiction titles by Canadian authors, similar in scale and category focus to Turnstone Press.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Turnstone Press social profiles
Digital presenceTurnstone Press financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Turnstone Press leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Turnstone Press subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Turnstone Press funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Turnstone Press M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Turnstone Press
What does Turnstone Press do?
Turnstone Press is a Canadian independent literary book publisher based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, founded in 1976. It publishes poetry, fiction, literary criticism, and non-fiction under the Turnstone Press imprint, and mysteries, thrillers, noir, speculative fiction, and cli-fi under its Ravenstone genre-fiction imprint launched in 1998. The company has built a catalog of 300+ titles by emerging and established Canadian writers, sold through its own e-commerce site and Canadian trade distribution channels.
Is Turnstone Press a public or private company?
Turnstone Press is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Turnstone Press founded?
Turnstone Press was founded in 1976. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Turnstone Press based?
Turnstone Press is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Turnstone Press make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are trade/Wholesale Distribution.
Who are Turnstone Press's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are House of Anansi Press, Dundurn Press and McClelland & Stewart. Direct peers are Porcupine's Quill, Biblioasis, Coach House Books, Arsenal Pulp Press, Cormorant Books, ECW Press and Douglas & McIntyre.
Does Turnstone Press have an API?
No public API is recorded for Turnstone Press.