Editor’s Notes

Greetings readers,

This issue contains two poems for you to enjoy. Tis the season to curl up in front of the fire and read poems or venture out to the various literary events happening in Ottawa. I expect you to attend the 2015 Bywords John Newlove Poetry Award on October 26, taking place as part of the Ottawa International Writers Festival's fall edition. We will launch "Heel," the chapbook of last year's award recipient, Matthew Walsh, hear the music of Marie-Josée Houle, and meet this year's honourable mentions and award winner. This is the night we celebrate Bywords, its editors, contributors and all who go into making Bywords what it is. It's also the night that we remember the fine poetry of John Newlove, a poet who lived in Ottawa for the last twenty years of his life. We'll hear a few of his poems in the course of the evening.

Other poetry events at the Festival include a poetry cabaret featuring three out of town poets, the Al Purdy A-Frame Celebration, which includes the 2013 John Newlove Award recipient, Rob Thomas, a conversation with 2008 John Newlove Award judge, George Bowering and Arc Poetry Magazine's celebration of spoken word. There are also a host of fiction and nonfiction readings and interviews taking place at the Fest. You'd be advised to pick up your tickets and passes soon.

Thanks to our selection committee this month:

Robert Martin Evans
Jason Lamantia
Anne LeDressay
Fiona Mitchell
Kemisha Newman
Leslie Smith
Carol A. Stephen
JC Sulzenko

And please join me in welcoming the newest member of our committee, Wes Babcock. Wes is a former Ottawa resident and poet who has had work published by Bywords in the past.

If you have suggestions, comments or anything that doesn't include pumpkin spice to offer, please e-mail me at amanda@bywords.ca.

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Amanda Earl