Editor’s Notes

Greetings Readers,

This month's issue features poetry by two long term Ottawa residents and two former University of Ottawa students. The issue also features a review of Colin Browne's The Properties (Talonbooks, 2012) and an essay by rob mclennan about two related chapbooks: Miss Canada (Corrupt Press, 2012) and Miss Canada (International) (Bywords, 2012). The latter is in the John Newlove Poetry Award Chapbook Series and can be purchased in the Bywords.ca store.

We've had a busy fall with two back-to-back readings in late October and early November respectively: the 2012 John Newlove Poetry Award and the fall launch of the Bywords Quarterly Journal/Editors' Reading.

Congratulations to Jenna Jarvis, Abby Paige and Ramesh Dohan, winner and honourable mentions of this year's award. You can read more about the poets and their poems here. And thanks to our wonderful judge, Gary Barwin.

Next year's judge is Nova Scotian poet, Alice Burdick. She will be looking at poems published on the Bywords.ca site between September 2012 and August 2013, so dear poets, send us your poems! Thanks to the Ottawa International Writers Festival and Collected Works for their ongoing hospitality and welcoming venues for our readings, and to our sound magician, Dave O'Heare.

Our final event in 2012 is the Ottawa Small Press Book Fair on Saturday, November 17, 2012 where we will be selling copies of the remaining Newlove Award chapbooks (some are already sold out!), and the current and previous issues of the Bywords Quarterly Journal. Hope to see you there. As always, check the Bywords.ca events calendar for further information on this event and all literary events in the National Capital Region. The end of the year is brimming with fine events from readings to signings, workshops, talks and book sales.

Thanks to our selection committee:

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

If you have comments, suggestions or a single long macchiato to offer, please e-mail me at amanda@bywords.ca. Please say hello if you see me at one of the numerous literary events taking place in Ottawa this fall. I would enjoy chatting with fellow poetry enthusiasts.

For regular event updates, please follow us on Twitter or join our FaceBook fan page.

Sincerely,

Amanda Earl