Editor’s Notes

Dear Readers,

I hope you're enjoying the event-filled month. From poetry to fiction to spoken word to mystery and kid lit, there's something on the calendar for you and the members of your family.

This month's issue features three writers: two current and one former resident. In various ways, I suppose you could say that the three poems deal with redemption, form and the quest for understanding of the self.

For those of you in Ottawa or planning a visit, hope you can make it to our fall launch on November 21. It's going to be a good afternoon of music and poetry. One of the things I love about Bywords readings is that they are celebrations. Often new writers are reading their work for the first time. And one of these writers may be the next recipient of the John Newlove Poetry Award. Not to mention the fabulous music, this time around by singer/songwriter Kevin Grant, and the kind and nurturing environment that is the Dusty Owl Reading Series. Beer, poetry, friends, music and owls. What more could you ask for.

Speaking of the award, we had a wonderful celebration and reading at the Ottawa International Writers Festival on October 25 at the beautiful Southminister United Church. The turn out was excellent and all our readers and our musical guest gave their all. Each reader also read a poem by John Newlove as is the custom each year. I was gratified to hear the poet's work celebrated and remembered once again. Our winner, Winter Fedyk is working on her chapbook to be ready for the next reading in October next year at the Festival. We thank Jason Camlot, our judge for the 2009/2010 award. I'm very pleased to announce that the judge for the 2010/2011 award is Angela Rawlings. Angela's book "Wide slumber for lepidopterists " (Coach House, 2006) made its mark as an excellent combination of imagination, word and sound play.

A special thank you goes out to the editors of the John Newlove Poetry Award Chapbook series who, year after year, help to make the chapbooks we publish great along with the Newlove winners themselves. This years' chapbook, "The Glass Jaw" by Marcus McCann, is available at the Bywords online store.

Finally thanks to the selection committee who vote on the poems each year and to the selection committee this month

Gwen Guth
Megan McGrath
Christine McNair
Kemisha Newman
Claudia Coutu Radmore
Carol A. Stephen
JC Sulzenko

I hope to see you at upcoming events this month and wish you all a wonderful November.

If you have comments, suggestions, questions or coffee laced with Kahlua, please e-mail me at amanda@bywords.ca.

Amanda Earl