Over 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, culture and heritage 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 any of the protest rallies, 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 Canada and around the world.

Hybrid publisher, OC Publishing of Halifax, also attracts submissions from here and internationally. The owner is an outstanding promoter of authors in this region, both online and in person. And for those authors wishing 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 my shelves by Nova Scotian authors of children’s and adult’s fiction, non-fiction and poetry have been nominated for, or have received provincial, national and international awards.

Years ago, the Head of the Reference Department in the Patrick Power Library (SMU) provided staff with a tour of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and the Legislative Library–both located on the second floor of Province House. I enjoyed the tour very much, especially since our librarian pointed out to me the books related to my great-grandfather A.W. Savary’s years of historical research. The History of the County of Annapolis, including old Port Royal and Acadia….by the late W.A. Calnek is one that my great-grandfather had edited and completed. After the author’s death, a family member asked my great-grandfather if he would read through Calnek’s papers and memoirs and compile them into a publishable supplement. The Supplement to the History of the County of Annapolis sits next to the first, “correcting and and supplying omissions in the previous volume.” 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 to Arts, Culture and Heritage sectors of our economy? I don’t think so!