AELAQ WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Board of the Association of English Language Publishers of Quebec is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Varkonyi as its new Executive Director. She is succeeding Julia Kater who has done a superb job of coordinating the Association for the past two years.

Formerly the publisher of Maisonneuve magazine, Jennifer brings a wide range of experience and talent to the position.  The AELAQ represents and promotes Quebec publishers of English-language books, and it publishes the Montreal Review of Books three times a year. The Association is a regional affiliate of the Association of Canadian Publishers.

For information: Keith Henderson  aelaqpresident@gmail.com

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We’re looking for a new Executive Director

The Association of English-language Publishers seeks a well-organized Executive Director with strong people skills. The Executive Director is responsible for establishing and executing major goals and objectives for the organization as created and approved by The Board. Responsibilities include member services, website updates, relations with government funding bodies, bookkeeping (Simply Accounting), and co-ordination of a major publication.

To be successful in this role you will need to be bilingual and have excellent planning and budgeting skills, written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work as part of a team. Familiarity with office software programs is required. This is a part-time position at 25 hours per week.

Apply to: aelaqpresident@gmail.com

Deadline: August 17, 2015

AELAQ reading fund covers honoraria and travel costs for public readings across Canada

PUBLIC READINGS BY AUTHORS PUBLISHED BY MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PUBLISHERS OF QUEBEC

Funded by The Canada Council for the Arts

The Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ) is accepting applications from eligible organizations to support readings by writers who have been published by its members.

The program is open to public presenters throughout Canada, including but not limited to ongoing reading series, libraries, bookstores, and literary festivals. See below for details on the program, eligibility criteria, and application procedure.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
(For a downloadable version of these guidelines, please click HERE.)

Through this program, the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec – with a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts – will issue honoraria and reimburse travel costs for public readings by writers published by members of the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec. The normal Canada Council rates apply, with a 20% supplement due to the fact that anglophone writers in Quebec are members of an official language minority. As such, AELAQ pays the author a $300 honorarium per full (solo) reading or a $150 honorarium per half (joint) reading. We also reimburse travel expenses up to the following maximums:

For up to three full readings per trip: For up to six half readings per trip:
First reading: $480 First two readings: $360
Second reading: $480 Second two readings: $360
Third reading: $360 Third two readings: $240
Total maximum covered: $1,320 Total maximum covered: $960

Organizations that intend to organize four readings or more (i.e., a tour, as defined by the Canada Council) may request up to $1,400 as a contribution toward travel costs, accommodation, and per diem.

For destinations located above the 55th parallel and remote parts of the country, organizations can ask for doubled travel amounts with a written and detailed justification of related costs.

  • The host organization is responsible for the author’s accommodations and meals.
  • Readings are limited and will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • All readings must be completed by March 31, 2015.
    Host organizations must send copies of advertisements and promotional materials by email to admin@aelaq.org as soon as they become available. All publicity materials must acknowledge the financial assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts through the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec and must feature both organizations’ logos.

Please note: The Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ) does not reimburse reading fees and travel expenses to hosts or festival organizations. AELAQ will reimburse authors directly, after the event has taken place and upon receipt of the author’s reading report and invoice form with original itemized receipts. Under this program, we cannot reimburse any travel expenses from outside of Canada.

ELIGIBILITY

Host organizations/Venues/Formats:

To be eligible for funding, the reading(s) must be held in a publicly accessible venue (library, bookstore, festival location, etc.) and advertised to the community at large.

This program cannot fund conferences, workshops, roundtable discussions, fundraising events, or book prizes. This program also cannot fund readings for which honoraria and travel costs are funded by another Canada Council program.

Eligible Authors/Books:

  • Invited writers must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
  • Writers must have published at least one eligible book with a member of the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec. An eligible book is one that the writer has written in one or more of the following literary genres: novels, short stories, poetry, drama, children’s and young adults’ literature, graphic novels or literary non-fiction.
  • Literary translators are eligible provided they give a joint reading with the original writer of an eligible translated book.
  • The author, the book, and the publisher must be eligible for Canada Council funding.

A sample list of eligible authors is available HERE.

Ineligible Authors:

  • Authors whose publications include only self-published books or works in anthologies, literary magazines, web publications, community newspapers, free or student newsletters, or newsletters of associations or other organizations.
  • Authors who sit on the board of AELAQ for the period during which the host organization has applied for funding.
  • Authors who are administrators, directors, or volunteers with the host organization.
  • Authors who fill a professorial position at a post-secondary institution serving as a host organization.

HOW TO APPLY

The host organization must contact and arrange a date with an author before applying for funding. For help contacting a Quebec author published by an AELAQ member, write to admin@aelaq.org. Once an author and date have been secured, download and complete the APPLICATION FORM and submit it to AELAQ.

The completed application form must be received at least THREE (3) weeks in advance of the reading date.

Once your application has been approved, confirmation letters will be sent to both you and your requested author. NO FUNDING IS CONFIRMED UNTIL THE HOST HAS RECEIVED A BOOKING CONFIRMATION FORM FROM AELAQ.

To download a PDF version of these guidelines, click here.

For more information about this program, please contact Julia Kater (admin@aelaq.org).

logo-canada-council-for-the-arts

AELAQ at the National Assembly of Québec

During the month of September, the National Assembly of Québec’s Committee on Culture and Education held special consultations and public hearings on the regulation of retail prices of new printed and digital books; the AELAQ was invited to present its views on the issue to the hearing committee. Board member Robin Philpot traveled to Québec City to speak with the committee on behalf of the AELAQ.

To read the report submitted to the committee by the AELAQ, please follow one of these links:

To watch the video of AELAQ’s presentation (in French), follow this link: assnat.qc.ca/fr/video-audio/AudioVideo-47753.html

Many other organizations related to Quebec’s book trade were invited to speak with the committee. All briefs submitted to the committee are posted online here.

COURS ÉCRIRE TON COURT screenwriting competition devoted to Quebec literature

The 2013 edition of SODEC’s COURS ÉCRIRE TON COURT screenwriting competition is exclusively devoted to the adaptation of Quebec literature. It presents a unique opportunity for up-and-coming screenwriters and directors who are eligible SODEC’s ‘Programme d’aide aux jeunes créateurs’ to develop a short film based on a literary work by a Quebec author. Selected applicants will benefit from professional mentoring, writing workshops, and ongoing discussions with established screenwriting professionals to develop their screenplay.

Projects must be submitted by individuals, not businesses or organizations. Applicants may submit only one project proposal. Projects may be submitted in French or English. Applications should include the first draft of a screenplay —with dialogue— for a short feature or animated film of 12 minutes or less, adapted from the work of a Quebec author.

Please consult the links below for more information:

Update on Lac-Mégantic Library

The project to revitalize Lac-Mégantic’s library is underway!

As many of you may know, the construction of a new building to house Lac-Mégantic’s library had begun before the devastating train derailment occurred. This new library building is almost complete, and library officials expect to take occupancy in September.

While the stinging loss of the community’s historical archives cannot be allayed, there is a great outpouring of support from the literary community to rebuild the library’s book collection. Because the central focus of Lac-Mégantic’s library is French-language literacy, library officials mainly want to rebuild their collection of French books but are pleased to receive some English books as well. Otherwise, financial contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Financial contributions can be made to the FONDATION DES AMIS DE LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE DE LAC-MÉGANTIC and are to be sent to one of the two following addresses:

  • 3558, rue Président-Kennedy, Lac-Mégantic, Québec G6B 2W5
  • 3974, rue Baie-des-sables, Lac-Mégantic, Québec G6B 1R6

Books may be sent to:

Distribution HMH
1815, avenue De Lorimier
Montréal (Qc) H2K 3W6
Att. : Monsieur Robert Cotton, directeur de l’entrepôt

Please indicate: Marchandise pour Lac-Mégantic

This information is also available on the Quill and Quire blog.

AELAQ Joins Support Effort to assist the Destroyed Lac-Mégantic Library

[English version follows]

Montréal, le 10 juillet 2013  L’AELAQ se joint à la solidarité envers la bibliothèque détruite de Lac-Mégantic

L’Association des éditeurs de langue anglaise du Québec (AELAQ) félicite les Éditions XYZ ainsi que les éditeurs de l’ANEL et les libraires de l’ADELF pour leur geste de solidarité envers la bibliothèque de Lac-Mégantic qui a été détruite. Aussi, l’AELAQ invite ses membres à participer généreusement pour aider cette municipalité à remettre sur pied une bibliothèque digne de ce nom.

Destination des livres :

Distribution HMH
1815, avenue De Lorimier
Montréal (Qc) H2K 3W6
Att. : Monsieur Robert Cotton, directeur de l’entrepôt

Indication : Marchandise pour Lac-Mégantic

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Montreal, July 10, 2013  – AELAQ Joins Support Effort to assist the Destroyed Lac-Mégantic Library

The English Language Publishers Association of Quebec (AELAQ) congratulates Les Éditions XYZ and fellow publishers in ANEL and booksellers in ADELF for their solidarity towards the Lac-Mégantic library which was destroyed in the explosion on Saturday, July 6. The AELAQ is also inviting all its members to contribute generously to help the town of Lac-Mégantic rebuild its library.

Please send books to:

Distribution HMH
1815, avenue De Lorimier
Montréal (Qc) H2K 3W6
Att. : Monsieur Robert Cotton, directeur de l’entrepôt

Please indicate: Marchandise pour Lac-Mégantic

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Association des éditeurs de langue anglaise du Québec / Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec
Julia Kater, directrice exécutive / Executive Director
admin@aelaq.org
514-932-5633

 

AELAQ has a new Executive Director!

A letter from AELAQ president, Simon Dardick, introducing our new ED:

“I am pleased to announce that Julia Kater, our new Executive Director, has begun work on our behalf. As you know, she is also the Publisher of the Montreal Review of Books, and the summer edition is just about ready to go to press.

“Julia was previously Coordinator of Communications and Membership Services at the Quebec Writers’ Federation. Please welcome her to our association. Julia can be reached at 514-932-5633 and at admin@aelaq.org.

Best wishes,

Simon Dardick,
President”