NorthWord Issue 31 Launch a Celebratory Success

NorthWord Literary Magazine’s launch event for Issue 31 was a vibrant celebration of poetry, community, and connection, bringing together around 40 attendees at the Fort McMurray International Airport’s (FlyYMM) Observation Area. With a record turnout, the afternoon was filled with heartfelt readings, lively conversation, and literary appreciation.

Guests enjoyed poetry readings from several writers featured in Issue 31, as well as special appearances by local poets who shared their own original works. It was inspiring to hear voices both new and familiar come together in celebration of this edition’s powerful theme: Isolation.

A highlight of the event was a thoughtful and engaging conversation between this issue’s guest editor, Steve Reeve, and Greg Bennet, guest editor for the upcoming Issue 32. Together, they offered attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the editorial process—how selections were made, why the theme Isolation was chosen for this issue, and how the pieces in the issue resonated on a personal and collective level.

Families and young readers also had plenty to enjoy, with colouring pages, word searches, and crossword puzzles available, and thanks to our event partner, FlyYMM, we were able to provide delicious charcuterie trays from All Things Charcuterie.

The event also saw a successful book sale, raising over $145 with an additional donation of $130 (totalling $275) in support of NorthWord’s continued efforts to showcase literary talent from across the region. Guests were able to take home copies of Issue 31 hot off the press—and many picked up extra to share with friends, family, and colleagues.

Missed the event? Don’t worry! We’ll be sharing videos of the readings and highlights on our social media pages. Be sure to follow us @northwordmagazine for those updates and more ways to stay connected to your local literary community. Also, throughout the month of April, which is National Poetry Month, we are sharing a poem from one issue each day and encourage others to share their poetry as well.

And don’t forget—submissions are still open for Issue 32, themed Catharsis. We welcome poetry, prose, and artwork from writers and artists of all backgrounds. The deadline is April 30, so get your work in soon! Submissions can be sent to northword@hushmail.com.

To explore past issues, submit your work, or learn more about what we do, visit our website: www.northwordmagazine.com