Baraka Books
Baraka Books is a privately held, Quebec-based independent English-language book publisher founded in 2009, releasing political non-fiction, history, and fiction, and operating the QC Fiction imprint to translate Quebec literature into English for international readers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersMontreal, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Baraka Books does
Baraka Books (legally Livres Baraka Inc.) is a privately held, Quebec-based English-language book publisher founded in 2009 by Robin Philpot. Operating from Montreal with a five-person team, the firm publishes creative and political non-fiction, history and historical fiction, and fiction, with a stated editorial focus on progressive perspectives and Quebec-related subject matter that is often underserved by mainstream anglophone publishing. The publisher runs two distinct lines: the main Baraka Books imprint and the QC Fiction sub-imprint, founded in 2015 by Peter McCambridge to bring contemporary Quebec literature into English translation.
The business model is traditional independent trade publishing. Baraka Books acquires and produces books, sells physical copies ($19.95–$29.95 CDN) and digital editions (PDF/EPUB at ~$19.99 CDN) directly through its own e-commerce storefront, and distributes through online retailers, physical bookstores, and — for QC Fiction titles — Independent Publishers Group (IPG) across North America. International reach is extended via translation rights sales to foreign publishers such as Verlag Edition AV (German) and Briefing Press (Taiwanese). Operating economics are supplemented by public funding from SODEC, Canada Council for the Arts, Canada Book Fund, and Quebec tax credit programs, which underwrite translation and publishing activity.
Backed by an editorial track record including a 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize shortlist, multiple Governor General's Literary Award finalist nominations for translation, a 2025 International Rubery Book Award, and a 2025 Foreword Indies Silver for Autobiography & Memoir, the firm continues to publish steadily into 2026 with a slate of roughly ten new titles across political non-fiction, memoir, and translated fiction.
Baraka Books firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Baraka Books
- Legal name
- Livres Baraka Inc.
- Website
- https://barakabooks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Baraka Books is a privately held, Quebec-based independent English-language book publisher founded in 2009, releasing political non-fiction, history, and fiction, and operating the QC Fiction imprint to translate Quebec literature into English for international readers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Baraka Books industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Literary & Classics Publishing (MPAJAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Biography, Memoir & Narrative Nonfiction Publishing (MPAJAAAI)
Keywords
Where Baraka Books is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montreal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Baraka Books business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Sale of physical books and digital formats (PDF/EPUB) directly through the company website and through distribution partners to consumers and retailers. One-time purchase model with no subscription component.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Physical paperback books |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Digital books (PDF/EPUB) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Baraka Books product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Baraka Books is a Quebec-based independent English-language book publisher that commissions, edits, produces, and sells original works of creative and political non-fiction, history and historical fiction, and fiction. Through its QC Fiction imprint founded in 2015, it specializes in translating and publishing contemporary Quebec novels into English for international readers. The company sells physical paperback books and digital PDF/EPUB editions directly to readers via its website and through wholesale and retail distribution channels.
Product overview
Baraka Books is a Quebec-based English-language book publisher that operates two distinct publishing lines: Baraka Books (the main imprint) publishes creative and political non-fiction, history and historical fiction, and fiction; while QC Fiction (a sub-imprint founded in 2015) focuses exclusively on bringing the best of Quebec literature in English translation to international readers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- QC Fiction: An imprint of Baraka Books founded in 2015 by Peter McCambridge, dedicated to publishing the very best of a new generation of Quebec storytellers in flawless English translation.
Products and services
- Baraka Books (Main Publishing Imprint) The main Baraka Books imprint publishes creative and political non-fiction, history and historical fiction, and fiction in English for general readers. Titles are produced as physical paperbacks and digital PDF/EPUB editions and sold directly through the Baraka Books website and through wholesale and retail distribution channels across North America and internationally.
- QC Fiction Imprint QC Fiction is a sub-imprint of Baraka Books dedicated to commissioning and publishing English translations of contemporary Quebec novels for international readers. Titles are distributed across North America by Independent Publishers Group and the line has produced multiple Governor General's Literary Award for Translation finalists.
Companies that use Baraka Books
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Baraka Books technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Baraka Books partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Librairie n'était-ce pas l'étéminorMontreal bookstore partnered with Baraka Books for launch events, including the launch of Dear Haider by Lili Zeng in June 2024.
- Verlag Edition AVminorGerman publisher acquired rights to publish The Raids by Mick Lowe in German, planned for Frankfurt Book Fair 2020 when Canada was Guest of Honour.
- Briefing Press (And Publishing Ltd., Taipei City)minorTaiwanese publisher acquired Chinese-language rights (Taiwan) to Stephen Gowans' Washington's Long War on Syria.
- Independent Publishers Group (IPG)coreIndependent Publishers Group handles North American distribution for QC Fiction imprint titles, making books available through retail and wholesale channels across North America.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Baraka Books competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Freehand Books: Calgary-based independent literary publisher of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction; comparable as a small Canadian indie literary house with grant-supported operations.
- ECW Press: Toronto-based independent publisher of literary fiction, non-fiction, and pop culture titles; comparable in business model as a Canadian indie with strong trade distribution and award track record.
- Coach House Books: Canadian independent literary publisher known for poetry, fiction, and translated works; comparable in scale, independent ownership model, and reliance on Canadian public-arts funding.
- Linda Leith Publishing: Montreal-based English-language independent publisher focused on literary fiction, essays, and Quebec culture; the closest geographic and thematic direct peer to Baraka Books / QC Fiction, and former employer of Baraka Fiction Editor Leila Marshy.
- NeWest Press: Western Canadian independent publisher of literary fiction, drama, and translated works; comparable scale and grant-funded independent model with a similarly curated, mission-driven list.
- Guernica Editions: Toronto-based independent publisher specializing in literary fiction, poetry, and translated works, including Quebec voices in English; direct peer as a small Canadian indie with strong translation focus.
- Talonbooks: Vancouver-based independent literary publisher of poetry, drama, and politically engaged fiction and non-fiction; comparable as a Canadian indie with a mission-driven, progressive catalogue and similar public-funding reliance.
- V\u00e9hicule Press: Long-running Montreal-based independent English-language literary publisher with a comparable mix of fiction, essays, translation, and politically engaged non-fiction; the most direct competitor in the same city and literary niche.
Broad incumbents
- House of Anansi Press: One of Canada's largest independent literary publishers with a much broader list and backlist; broader incumbent that overlaps with Baraka's literary-fiction and progressive-non-fiction categories but at significantly greater scale.
Regional players
- Drawn & Quarterly: Montreal-based independent publisher of literary comics and graphic novels; comparable as a Montreal-based English-language indie with strong translation program and award pedigree, but operating in an adjacent format.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Baraka Books social profiles
Digital presenceBaraka Books financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Baraka Books leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Baraka Books funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Baraka Books 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 Baraka Books
What does Baraka Books do?
Baraka Books is a Quebec-based independent English-language book publisher that commissions, edits, produces, and sells original works of creative and political non-fiction, history and historical fiction, and fiction. Through its QC Fiction imprint founded in 2015, it specializes in translating and publishing contemporary Quebec novels into English for international readers. The company sells physical paperback books and digital PDF/EPUB editions directly to readers via its website and through wholesale and retail distribution channels.
Is Baraka Books a public or private company?
Baraka Books is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Baraka Books founded?
Baraka Books was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Baraka Books based?
Baraka Books is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Baraka Books make money?
One revenue line is on record: book Sales.
Who are Baraka Books's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Freehand Books, ECW Press, Coach House Books, Linda Leith Publishing, NeWest Press, Guernica Editions, Talonbooks and V\u00e9hicule Press. House of Anansi Press is listed as a broad incumbent. Drawn & Quarterly is listed as a regional player.
Does Baraka Books have an API?
No public API is recorded for Baraka Books.
What industry is Baraka Books in?
Baraka Books's product category is Independent Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAC, Literary & Classics Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJAAAI, Biography, Memoir & Narrative Nonfiction Publishing. Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.