A week ago, the Provincial PC Government of Nova Scotia cut financial support for the Publisher Assistance Program as well as for other community arts and culture programs across this province. As an independently published author, this decision doesn’t affect me personally. But it does affect many of my friends!
Unable to attend a protest rally yesterday, I gathered together the picture books, middle grade novels and young adult novels by Nova Scotian authors that I’ve been collecting over many years. Thanks to the dedication of local traditional publishers Nimbus Publishing and Vagrant Press, Formac Publishing Company as well as other great Canadian publishing houses from coast to coast to coast, these children’s books are being shared with readers across our country and the world.
Another option for writers is that provided by hybrid publisher, OC Publishing. The owner ably fulfills her role as publisher, and is also outstanding as a promoter of authors in this region.For those who wish to publish independently, Canadian owned Friesen Press, and U.S. owned IngramSpark/Lightning Source are both considered among the best in the way of offering guidance and assistance.
Several of the books on these shelves have been nominated for, or have received provincial, national and international awards. Like all those who rallied across the province yesterday, I had hoped full funding would be restored to help finance those who work in the arts and culture sectors of our economy. As each day passes, the Premier digs in his heels on this decision, and seems to have no intention of budging on the budget.
Years ago, with other Reference Department staff from the Patrick Power Library (SMU) I toured the Nova Scotia legislative library on the second floor of Province House. Our librarian pointed out to me the books related to my great-grandfather A.W. Savary’s years of historical research. One of them that my great-grandfather edited and completed was entitled History of the County of Annapolis, including old Port Royal and Acadia….by the late W.A. Calnek. After the author’s death, a family member asked my grandfather if he would read through Calnek’s papers and memoirs and compile them into a publishable supplement, which he did. As someone who spent much of his life researching and writing about Nova Scotia as well as representing Digby County in the first parliament of Canada (1867-1874), would he have approved of the Premier’s budget cuts? I very much doubt it!
P.S. I wish I’d had been able to gather all the other non-fiction and fiction books written by Nova Scotian adult authors to put on display, but perhaps another time!
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Peggy Pilkey, Author 