Editor’s Notes

Happy summer days, readers.

This issue features the work of one poet, Kathryn Hunt. Kate is an active member of the Ottawa literary community, being one of the co-ordinators of the Dusty Owl Reading Series, and the editor of the Dusty Owl Quarterly, not to mention her fine karaoke performances at the post reading Karaoke at Swizzles.

The Bywords summer reading falls the day after this issue goes live, so stay tuned for a detailed report from Catharine Carroll next month. The reading features the music of Scott Edmonds, and the poetry of those published in the summer issue of the Bywords Quarterly Journal. As a special treat, we will also hear from a few of the students who took Jesse Ferguson's week-long poetry workshop this spring through the University of Ottawa Enrichment programme for elementary and high school students. Thanks to the wonderful support of the City of Ottawa, Bywords was able to publish some of their poems in the summer issue of the BQJ. To purchase, go to the Bywords online store, or one of the many bookstores listed on the BQJ page.

Speaking of bookstores, Bywords was invited recently to sell BQJs at Ottawa's newest used bookstore, the Bytown Bookshop on Arlington. The store is located in a beautiful old house with floor to ceiling shelves full of treasure. Richard, the owner, says he will make sure to keep the store stocked with Canadian poetry.

We've had some great events this past month, including the Tree's hot poets reading and the Factory Reading Series, featuring Monty Reid and Stephanie Bolster. The summer is slowing down a bit, but I'm sure August will heat up with more sizzlers, and the fall is looking exciting with plans for the tenth anniversary of the Ottawa International Writers Festival being finalized. Bywords will hold our John Newlove Poetry Award celebration at the festival. I'll provide more information on this event in the upcoming months.

Thanks once again to the readers, poets, bookstores, magazine shops, sponsors and friends of Bywords. Your kind words and support keep us motivated.

Thanks to this month’s selection committee:

Kelly Clarke, Jesse Ferguson, Megan McGrath, Kemisha Newman, Sarah Ruffolo, Victoria Vernell, and Betty Warrington-Kearsley.

If you have advice, compliments, or questions about Bywords, please drop me a line: editor@bywords.ca. See you on a cool patio, sipping sweet tropical drinks.

Amanda Earl