10 Years of Metonymy Press
By Brooke Lee
Back in the summer of 2014, in the wake of the now-defunct Queer Between the Covers book fair, Ashley Fortier and Oliver Fugler set out to establish a press that would not only respond to the need for more English-language queer books in Montreal, but one that would generate synergy as well as equitable collaboration between its authors, editors, and artists. Today, Metonymy Press, Montreal’s beloved queer and feminist indie publisher, is still going strong, with April 26th, 2025 marking the ten-year anniversary of its debut publication She Is Sitting in the Night: Re-visioning Thea’s Tarot by Oliver Pickle – the first of its seventeen books published to date. Fast forward a decade, and recent releases include Metonymy’s first anthology El Ghourabaa: A queer and trans collection of oddities edited by Samia Marshy and Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch, and Grace Kwan’s poetry debut The Sacred Heart Motel.
But what does metonymy mean? While the word comes from Ancient Greek, literally translating to “change of name,” there’s no better adage for a literary press than “the pen is mightier than the sword,” which uses “pen” and “sword” as metonyms (or symbols) for the written word’s triumph over violence or force. Likewise, Metonymy Press seeks to empower its authors by prioritizing their autonomy in the publishing process: Another reason behind the name Metonymy, as offered by Oliver’s partner Devon, was for its similarity to the very word autonomy. With this non-hierarchical and transparent method, a unique collaboration then emerges where authors are actively involved in editorial decisions (for example, choosing titles and cover art), and are supported each step of the way with a guided DIY approach.
Metonymy’s resulting catalogue is one that highlights diverse voices and empowers authors and artists who live in the margins by encouraging their agency and self-determination. It’s the press where Trish Salah (Lyric Sexology Vol. 1, 2017) and H Felix Chau Bradley (Personal Attention Roleplay, 2021) have paved the way for greater visibility of trans and non-binary authors in Canadian literature. It’s also where local artists create cover designs that add new dimensions with openness in collaboration, such as Shanice Nicole’s Dear Black Girls (2021) illustrated by multidisciplinary artist Kezna Dalz. And while Metonymy prioritizes first-time authors, many of its books have received significant acclaim: For instance, The Good Arabs (2021) by Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch won the 2022 Grand Prix du livre de Montréal, a particularly impressive feat considering that this was only the second time an English-language book won the prize since its inception in 1965.
Located in the Parc-Ex neighbourhood of Montreal – in the same building as the similarly socially-oriented organizations Brique par Brique and Agir Montréal – Metonymy continues to fulfill its mandate of intersectional solidarity, with a multidisciplinary approach to literature (many of its authors are also performance artists and musicians). But since indie presses tend to be more niche and experimental, thus taking on more literary risks, certain challenges emerge, such as achieving cultural cachet while maintaining authentic values. There is also the ever-present possibility of authors being approached with contracts from larger publishing houses, not to mention rising paper and shipping costs.
Nonetheless, queer, feminist values and accessibility remain at the forefront of Metonomy’s operations. Most of the press’ books are commercially available in PDF and EPUB formats, and digital access for select titles is also available through the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) and Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA). Additionally, Metonymy hosts the Unruly Writers Club, a collective fronted by disability justice advocate Aimee Louw, which provides writers with unstructured but guided writing sessions in a positive and supportive environment. In terms of cultural accessibility, Metonymy has even transcended international borders, selling books in the United States, United Kingdom, Mauritius, and Indonesia to name a few. Kai Cheng Thom’s Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars (2016) has been translated into French and Japanese, and has also been released by Young Zubaan, an imprint of the New Delhi-based independent feminist publishing house Zubaan. As well, the book (in English) caught the attention of Emma Watson, who selected it in 2019 for her feminist book club, Our Shared Shelf.
Though Metonymy currently works with four book distributors, for local deliveries one might still be able to spot co-founder Oliver Fugler biking books over to Montreal customers, true testament to the press’ DIY tradition.
Speaking of local happenings, as part of the Suoni Per Il Popolo festival, Metonymy will be throwing an anniversary party! Head to Casa del Popolo on Sunday, June 22 for 10 Years of Metonymy Press: A Cabaret (doors open at 7:30 pm and the show starts at 8 pm). Tickets are on sale now: $15 or PWYC, no one will be turned away. The show will be hosted by Kama La Mackerel and Kai Cheng Thom, featuring performances from H Felix Chau Bradley, Shanice Nicole, Trish Salah, Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch, and jiaqing wilson-yang. In addition to the cabaret, Metonymy is currently offering four thematic Anniversary Book Bundles with a selection of the press’ titles.
When it comes to social progress, no matter how much ground we gain, the fight for equality must persist. Especially during this tumultuous time of overt discrimination against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, honouring ten years of Metonymy Press sends a message of resilience, solidarity, and courage. Metonymy’s achievements are proof that embracing a collective mindset does not mean compromising values for the sake of profit or longevity— that success and ethics can co-exist, and that the pen is truly more powerful than the sword.
Brooke Lee (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor in Montreal who writes fiction under the pen name River Lee. For more info, visit her website at riverleewriter.ca.
Illustration by Keet Geniza.