Editor’s Notes

Greetings readers,

This month's issue features three poems. Hope you enjoy them. We're in the process of finalizing the summer issue of the Bywords Quarterly Journal and its launch on July 15. I'm pleased to announce our musical guest will be the fabulous Neil Gerster.

Some sad news this week from Bywords supporter Mother Tongue Books. They have decided to close after 18 years of business. Starting June 22, they will have events every Friday to celebrate the store and to spend time with customers and authors. There are many ways you can show support to Mother Tongue Books. Find out more at their site: celebratemothertongue.ca. Thank you, Evelyn and Laura for providing copies of the BQJ to your customers at no charge and for your constant kindness and friendship to the Ottawa literary community.

On the flip side, here's some great news from another Bywords supporter indie bookstore, Collected Works. They are participating in Save The Bookstore, a day to show your support for bookstores across North America on June 16th. Collected Works has a stellar line up of readers throughout the day, starting from 10 am until 5 pm. Drop by, buy a few books, get the authors to sign them. This has been a bad year for indie bookstores in Ottawa: Nicholas Hoare, After Stonewall, and Mother Tongue. We can't afford any more bookstore closings in this city. The good news is that Octopus Books is bucking the trend, having opened a second store at 251 Bank Street.

Poetry is alive and well in our Nation's Capital. It is more important than ever to support local poets by seeking out their work in bookstores and libraries and ordering it through bookstores. With summer already here, despite the fact that it doesn't officially start until June 21, now is the time to stock up on poetry titles to take to the cottage.

Thanks to our selection committee:

Janie Beriault
Pamela Mosher
Kemisha Newman
Sarah-Grace Ross
Carol A. Stephen

If you have comments, questions, suggestions or a cure for my flu, please e-mail me at amanda@bywords.ca.

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Amanda Earl