Editor’s Notes

Hi Readers and Contributors,

Hope you are all enjoying the excitement of an eventful literary spring after a hard cold winter. This month's issue features poetry by Newlove award winner, Melissa Upfold, Newlove shortlisted poet, Rhonda Douglas, and two poets whose work will have the opportunity to be considered for the first time, Luminita Suse and Mikaël Phipps. In addition, we also have Catharine Carroll's excellent write-up of the Bywords Spring Reading which took place in April.

I hope you have the chance to read the latest issue of the Bywords Quarterly Journal, which marks the beginning of the BQJ's sixth year of publication. Isn't it amazing how fast the time goes.

To realize that we've started our sixth year of running Bywords.ca and the BQJ is very satisfying. Bywords has given me such a great opportunity to learn about and enjoy being part of the literary community here. I have some exciting ideas for the long term life of Bywords, the second, as we say. And I am looking forward to what the future brings. Thanks to all of you for your support and friendship along the way.

Lots of events coming up this month, including the return of former Arc editor and well-known poet, John Barton to Ottawa when he is featured reader at the Dusty Owl on May 18, spoken word events, mystery, poetry readings, Ottawa International Writers Festival events and more. Enjoy it all before it's time for the summer slow down.

Thanks to this month's selection committee:

Andrew Faulkner, Stéphanie Lafleur, Marcus McCann, Pearl Pirie, and Victoria Vernell.

If you have comments, suggestions or friendly pats on the back, please e-mail me at editor@bywords.ca.

Amanda Earl