Editor’s Notes

Greetings, Readers.

Welcome to the September issue of Bywords.ca. This month we have two poems for you to enjoy by local Ottawan, Ronald Seatter, and former Carleton University student, Paddy Scott.

As the weather cools, I am heartened by the addition of a new warm place for readings in Ottawa, the second hand book store, Black Squirrel Books, in the Glebe. You may have noticed that this wonderful bookstore has become the home of the Tree Reading Series. Also In/Words is now holding its writing circle evenings there. Apparently soon BSB will be renovating its downstairs area to house more books and hold events. Welcome Black Squirrel!

Soon the Ottawa International Writers Festival will post its programme for the autumn edition, which includes our annual John Newlove Poetry Award, now in its eleventh year. I will provide more details in October, but I can tell you that the recipient of the award and the honourable mentions have been informed and are sworn to secrecy. Our musician, James Missen, the Companionship Registry, has been booked and the chapbook of our previous winner, Rob Thomas, is in its final stages of preparation. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the event, which I will be hosting once again this year.

And of course we wouldn't have an award if it were not for our judges every year-this year's judge was Toronto poet Camille Martin-the City of Ottawa who graciously provides our funding, our selectors, who vote on the poems each month, and those of you who send us poems for consideration and the Writers Festival with its organizers and volunteers. The John Newlove Poetry Award Reading and Ceremony is our chance to offer thanks to all of you with a big party full of music, poetry and lovely frocks.

A new poetry series, the Sawdust Reading Series, will hold its first event in mid-September at the Pour Boy on Somerset West. SRS hosts two features, one of whom is chosen through a contest. Take a look in the Bywords.ca news under contests to find out how you can apply to read at future events.

The Tree Reading Series began its new season with two featured readers, a workshop, and an open mic. Remember that this series holds its readings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

Celebrate Leonard Cohen's 80th birthday with the gang at the University of Ottawa in late September with music and poetry.

The A B Series begins its new year with readings by Erín Moure and Sandra Ridley in early October.

The spoken word community has been busy over the summer and continues at its energetic pace with various events throughout the City, even extending into Lanark County.

The Ottawa Storytellers Association has a full programme, including a new series, Tellers at the Well, which takes place in Hintonburg.

ChiOttawa offers speculative fiction at Maxwells on Elgin a few times a month.

Octopus Books and Beachwood Books both have launches and book talks.

The Ottawa Public Library holds an authors' series each autumn.

A group of former In/wordians have formed an accord and will be going on a tour that includes Ottawa in early October.

Arc Poetry Magazine will host a reading of the poets shortlisted for its Archibald Lampman Award in early October.

Acclaimed poet Phil Hall is the University of Ottawa's Writer-in-Residence this autumn. He will be reading, along with Mark Goldstein at a Factory Reading Series event in early October.

The City is ablaze with literary heat. Take part.

Thanks to our selection committee this month:

Beth Ann Hubbert
Fiona Mitchell
Pamela Mosher
Kemisha Newman
Claudia Coutu Radmore
Carol A. Stephen
JC Sulzenko

If you have comments, suggestions, a cup of hot spiced rum to offer, please contact me at amanda@bywords.ca.

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Amanda Earl