Editor's Notes

Greetings Dear Readers,

This month’s issue features wild lilies, feasts of kibbeh, blood moons, a night of oleander and wine, love and carpet burns, a shawl picked up by the wind, and softness. There is a celebratory nature to the issue. I hope you enjoy it and find ways to celebrate the pending autumn and the new slant of light that turns everything golden.

Speaking of celebrations, our annual celebration of the poetry of John Newlove will take place on October 1, as part of an evening of poetry and hybridities. The evening begins with the twenty-first annual John Newlove Poetry Award with music by Princess Unlucky, who plays the harp and sings, the chapbook launch of Nnadi Samuel’s Biblical Invasion BC via audio, the announcement and reading of the poems by the winner and honourable mention. After the Newlove Award, the City of Ottawa’s new poets laureate for 2024-2026, Véronique Sylvain and David O'Meara, will give their first official readings, and finally I will be joined onstage by dear friends Sandra Ridley and Christine McNair, and we will read from recent collections. The event will be in-person at Club Saw, which is an accessible space, and livestreamed for those of you who are not in town. Thanks to the Ottawa International Writers Festival for hosting us again this year, to the City of Ottawa for its support, to our editors, and to Ottawa’s wonderful literary community. I think this is going to be a stellar evening and I hope to see you there!

Thanks to our selection committee this month:

Jesse Aubin
Chris Johnson
Sarah Kabamba
Andrew Lafleche
Margo Lapierre
Stephanie Mason
Kemisha Newman
Jade Riordan
Marjorie Silverman
Carol A. Stephen
JC Sulzenko

If you have questions, comments, suggestions, concerns or a good recipe for tandoori chicken to offer, please contact me at amanda@bywords.ca.

Amanda Earl
Managing Editor

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