Editor’s Notes

Greetings Readers,

I hope you enjoy this month's issue with poems by previously published poets Reid Cooper and 2005 John Newlove Poetry Award recipient Melissa Upfold, and newcomer Ramesh Dohan.

In September, members of the Bywords.ca team participated in the AIDS Walk for Life and raised $720 for Pink Triangle Services. Thank you to my fellow team members Charles Earl and Pamela Mosher for walking and raising money, and a big thanks to those of you who sponsored us.

We have three events coming up before the next issue: the 2011 John Newlove Poetry Award at the Ottawa International Writers Festival on October 22, the Ottawa Small Press Book Fair on November 5 and the launch of the fall Bywords Quarterly Journal on November 6. I hope to see you at all of these events.

And speaking of the Ottawa International Writers Festival, it begins on October 20 and runs to October 25. We have two annual literary festivals in this city: the Writers Festival, which takes place in the fall and spring, and the newest addition VERSeFest, a poetry festival which occurs in the spring. As a literary enthusiast in this city, it is important that you support these festivals. You can attend events, become a member, volunteer or promote them. Or do all of those things. These festivals are the product and culmination of years of planning and co-operation between Ottawa's myriad literary organizations and local, provincial and federal agencies. They bring world-renowned writers to our capital, introduce audiences to local writers, promote Ottawa's thriving literary scene, and enrich our culture. They receive notice outside of Ottawa and therefore help others to know that the city has a vibrant literary community. By supporting them, you help to ensure their viability for years to come, and you ensure that we will continue to attract excellent writers to our city. If you want to live in a flourishing cultural capital, support these festivals. The Writers Festival has a great line up this fall. I hope you'll join Bywords in offering your support to the festival. You'll have a great time and a book shelf full of wonderful riches.

Thanks to this month's selection committee:

Janie Beriault
Gwen Guth
Megan McGrath
Emily Monks-Leeson
Pamela Mosher
Kemisha Newman
Claudia Coutu Radmore
Sarah-Grace Ross
Carol A. Stephen
JC Sulzenko

If you have comments, questions, suggestions or a basked full of honey crisp apples to offer, please e-mail me at amanda@bywords.ca.

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Amanda Earl