THE OTTAWA REVIEW OF BOOKS

Here are a few useful links for the National Capital Region's Literary Scene 

 

 

Local Publishers

 

Deux Voiliers Publishing - Organized as a writers-plus collective, DVP is a new generation publisher. It seeks to match and surpass traditional publishers in producing high quality works of fiction accessible to readers everywhere. 

 

Loose Cannon Press - Loose Cannon Press is a small publishing house that offers new authors an easy bridge between a manuscript and a completed book. By using print-on-demand technology it offers economical set-up fees and a fair percentage of return on sales.

 

Renaissance Press - Renaissance Press was founded in May 2013 by a group of friends who wanted to publish and market with a new business model different from most traditional publishers.

 

Bundoran Press - Bundoran Press publishes quality science fiction novels and anthologies.

 

Oberon Press - During its long history Oberon has launched the careers of some of Canada’s best-known writers: writers like David Adams Richards, Wayne Johnston, W.P. Kinsella and Rohinton Mistry. 

 

Borealis Press - Borealis Books, a division of Borealis Press Ltd., was founded in 1972 to encourage and publish new Canadian writers who demonstrate talent and potential for significant growth (e.g. Carol Shields, Giorgio Di Cicco, Cyril Dabydeen, Kenneth Radou, Guy Vanderhaeghe, among others).

 

Vents d'Ouest - Maison de littérature générale, les Éditions Vents d’Ouest se consacrent essentiellement à l’édition d’œuvres littéraires. Elles ont pour mandat de développer, de promouvoir et de diffuser une littérature authentique de haute qualité, tant à l’échelle régionale que nationale, en plus d’agir comme animateur culturel dans la région de l’Outaouais. .

 

BAICO - Baico is committed to running its publishing house with a high degree of integrity.  Its mission is to not only publish unknown writers who would otherwise not have an opportunity to have their work published, but also seeks to help authors reap financial benefits that is greater than what the industry usually offers.

 

Buschek Books - The mandate of Buschek Books is to publish quality manuscripts by new and established writers. The focus is largely poetry and English translations of poetry by Canadian authors, as well as Canadian translations of international poets, often done as bilingual editions. 

 

Chaudiere Books - Originally launched in 2006, Chaudiere Books was re-launched in August 2013. 

 

 

Literary Festivals/Collective Book Readings/Book Fairs

 

Ottawa Writersfest  and Ottawa International Writers Festival - These two affiliated festivals take place twice annually. The first focuses on Canadian writers and the second brings in international writers. 

 

CAN•CON - or more completely The Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature, is a periodic science fiction and fantasy convention in Ottawa put on by The Society for Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature.

 

Chiaroscuro Reading Series - The Chiaroscuro Reading Series is open to the public and offers readings from authors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Readings take place in Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and an expanding number of Canadian cities.

 

Plan 99 Reading Series - The “Plan 99 Reading Series” is committed to bringing the best in contemporary Canadian literary talent to Ottawa. Now in its 14th year, it continues to host an exceptional reading series by inviting Canada’s finest poetry and fiction writers, both emerging and established, to Canada’s capital. 

 

The Magical Evening with Canadian Authors  - Launched in Ottawa in April 2013, MECA is one of the most successful collective book readings series in Canada. It brings together established writers such as Saleema Nawaz (2013 Hugh McLennan Award Winner), Nancy Richler (2012 Giller Prize Finalist) and George Elliott Clarke (Toronto's Poet Laureate) with emerging writers such as Caroline Vu (Palawan Story - reviewed in the ORB), Claudio Gaudio (Texas - Quattro Press) and Ottawa's Sonia Saikaley (The Lebanese Dishwasher). Two MECAs have been held in Ottawa, and MECA is scheduled to return to Ottawa in 2015. The next MECA will be held in Toronto on September 21, just after Word on the Street.

 

And Coming in 2015

 

Prose in the Park - A new initiative is underway to bring to Ottawa an outdoors literary festival/book fair, similar to Word on the Street. The initiative already has the support of the Ottawa Independent Writers, Deux Voiliers Publishing and the Ottawa Review of Books, and has attracted the interest of the main writers' groups in the National Capital Region. A planning committee will be set up shortly. In the meantime, interested groups and individuals can contact Prose on the Park organizers by e-mail at proseintheparkottawa@gmail.com or through the PiP planning website at http://deuxvoiliers.wix.com/prose-in-the-park.

 

 

Writers Associations in National Capital Region

 

Ottawa Independent Writers - With 125 members, the OIW is Ottawa's largest writers' group. The OIW serves the interests of all writers, from novice to seasoned scribe. Its members are involved in advertising, biography, business communications, children's literature, literary publicity, memoirs, translation, freelance writing, consumer affairs, drama, education, fiction and non-fiction, government, health, high technology, humour, magazines, music, mystery, journalism, novels, poetry, science, short stories, speculative fiction, speeches, screenwriting, travel and more.

 

Capital Crime Writers - Capital Crime Writers has grown to a group of over seventy members who meet on the second Wednesday of every month at Honeywell Boardroom at Ottawa City Hall (2nd floor). There is always a meet and greet from 7:00 to 7:15 PM, prior to every meeting with the meetings alternating each month between a writing workshop and a guest speaker. 

 

Ottawa Romance Writers Association - The ORWA is an affiliated chapter of Romance Writers of America. ORWA's mission is to promote excellence in the field of romance writing and to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy, dissemination of information, professional education, publications, and other appropriate activities, and to provide continuing support for writers within the romance publishing industry.

 

Ottawa Science Fiction Society - OSFS is the oldest operating science fiction club in Ottawa. Founded in 1977 and incorporated in 1979, it is a non-profit organization whose main purpose is the cultivation of interest in all aspects of science, science fiction, fantasy and comics.

 

Ottawa Story Tellers - The Ottawa Story Tellers promote the art of oral storytelling in the Ottawa community, to nurture and inspire both beginning and experienced storytellers, and to provide tellers and listeners of all ages with opportunities to come together to share and enjoy stories.

 

National Capital Region branch of Canadian Authors Association - The Canadian Authors Association is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit association dedicated to "writers helping writers. It provides information, support and opportunities for growth and development to its membership. The National Capital Region Branch gives members access to the benefits, resources and networking opportunities of CAA at the national level, as well as the initiatives and programs at the Branch level.

 

L'Association des auteures et auteurs de l'Ontario français - Fondée en 1988, l’Association des auteures et auteurs de l’Ontario français a pour mandat de faire rayonner la littérature franco-ontarienne et d’appuyer ses auteur.e.s membres, qui en sont les principaux porte-parole.

 

L'Association des auteures et auteurs de l'Outaouais - Le mandat de l'AAAO est de regrouper les auteurs et les auteures de l’Outaouais afin d’en constituer un bassin de ressources disponibles pour le public, en faire la promotion et  celle de leur oeuvre à l'échelle régionale, nationale et internationale, et ceci en facilitant la participation à des manifestations littéraires, tels qu'échanges et rencontres d'auteurs, publications, salons du livre, ateliers de formation, concours littéraires, résidences d’auteurs, sans exclure d'autres manifestations et activités qui pourraient répondre à ces fins.

 

Quebec Writers Federation - Probably the most dynamic writers association in Canada, the QWF is playing an increasingly prominent role in the life of the Quebec English-language literary community as an arts presenter and professional and community educator, as well as the representative of Quebec's English-language writers, including in the Gatineau/Outaouais area. The diversity of its activities reflects the diversity of its membership. Along with professional and emerging writers, the QWF includes those who have a personal interest in writing and many who have joined because they are interested in high quality literary events, activities and programs. 

 

 

TELL US ABOUT MORE USEFUL LINKS

 

Send us a line at ottawareviewbooks@gmail.com or use the contact form below if you wish us to list links to other literary websites.

 

There are some interesting on-line courses from the Australian College of Journalism.