Sheree Fitch (author of Monkeys in My Kitchen, Toes in My Nose and others), Monica Graham (author of Fire Spook: The Mysterious Nova Scotia Haunting, In the Spirit: Reflections on Everyday Grace and others), and Linda Little (author of Grist, Scotch River and others) will attend the Books Start Here campaign event, hosted by the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association.
The goal of the campaign is to communicate the news that the vibrant local publishing industry is ready to grow, and to convince the provincial government to support the industry at levels matching other provinces.
Other authors and publishers attending the event include Sheldon Currie (author of Glace Bay Miner’s Museum, Down the Coal Town Road and others), Errol Sharpe (author/publisher, Fernwood Publishing), and John MacIntyre (author/publisher, MacIntyre Purcell Publishing).
Books Start Here was launched in February in Halifax at an event that attracted more than 200 people, with Canada’s new poet laureate, George Elliott Clarke lending his support. Other events have been held in areas around the province with authors speaking about the importance of local publishing.
Organizers are encouraging the provincial government to include measures in the 2016 budget that implement promises of consultation and support made in the 2015 budget. Publishers are interested in expanding production, marketing and sales in order to generate more local jobs and higher profiles for Nova Scotia authors across Canada and internationally.
Books Start Here will take place at the Antigonish Town and County Library on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the regional book trade. Several regional publishers will also be on hand with books for purchase.
