Leadership
Kirby, Founder/Publisher.
Current Advisory: Fan Wu. Jim Johnstone. brandy ryan. Hoa Nguyen.
Dale Martin Smith. Kate Sutherland. Ralph Kolewe. Jessica Hiemstra. Shannon Bramer.
A bit about us
KFB started out as a bookcart in Kensington Market selling used books in support of a community library, then moved into Rick’s Cafe to become Canada’s all-poetry bookshop, and springboarded into publishing shortly thereafter. We are inspired by a number of small presses including [not limited to] Ugly Duckling Presse, The Blasted Tree, noir: Z, Gap Riot, Coach House, Wave.
What excites us
Always pleases to see a poet’s work well-served by the publisher. The beauty of the book in hand. At KFB, we serve the poet and the book. And, small press books are getting way prettier.
Community
KFB has been entirely organically built by/with/in our community. Our byline is we’re “Powered by Poets,” which is how we thrive, in support of one another.
Current Global Crisis Impact
Black Lives Matter. Forefronting marginalized voices. Attention must be paid. Forging creative paths to meet current challenges/changes.
NOT YOUR BEST No.1
Edited by ERIC SCHMALTZ
This series was birthed by the notion of just how tiresome [and arbitrary] “Best of” contests and prizes are ‘the price of the ticket,’ when we simply want to support/recognize/encourage Good Work. Fuck your ‘best.’
PRATHNA LOR 7,2 (wQr What Queer Reading imprint)
Edited by FAN WU
This slim little volume is one I return to most often, which launched KFB’s BIPOC LGBTQQIP2SAA imprint along with CODY CAETANO’s Pleasure Dome Poems.
BALLAD OF BERNIE “BEAR” ROY
CORY LAVENDER
The first of KFB’s new pamphlet series, Fall 2020.