About
The Evolution of a Good Story—Or, How the Heck We Got Here Without Having to Turn the Car Around
Chapter 1.0: (May 2009) Julie Wilson, with the help of her Twitter friends, reinvents herself as the Book Madam, offering personal book shopping services in an effort to hook up readers with a good book. She partners with Indigo and McNally Robinson for a series of successful contests designed to surprise and delight. There are many happy endings.
Chapter 2.0: (September 2009) Book Madam becomes a blog designed to discuss and critique contemporary publishing couched in a light-hearted (if knowledgeable) voice.
Chapter 3.0: (March 2010) Recognizing visitors crave a variety of voices and services, Julie Wilson (The Madam) acquires The Associates, a revolving door of publishing and media professionals dedicated to the celebration and survival of text and story. All are sociable and quickly become known as the kind of folk who would not only like you to succeed in your endeavours, they'd probably lend a hand in the effort.
Chapter 4.0: (March 2011) Book Madam Magazine is born, rebooting at its new home with new sections, editors, partners, and a workshop in which The Associates collaborate with authors, publishers, and organizers to create interesting and engaging content, in full view of the public. Sexeh.
Chapter 4.1: (May 2011) The Madam vows to celebrate advocacy and begins to spotlight literacy initiatives and pursues creative partnerships with like-minded individuals who are dedicated to both sharing stories and exploring the reasons why so many are withheld. A more personal voice appears in her writing.
Who we Are
The Madam: The Host of Happy Endings, Julie Wilson is a text fetishist and professional publishing fan. A past Online Content Manager for House of Anansi Press and past guest host of the CBC Book Club, she's also the literary voyeur behind the beloved online project Seen Reading and has recently begun her reign as Host/Producer at Canadian Bookshelf. Other afternoon delights include the Book Madam Breakfast Book Club and the bookishly Singular Events (both coming soon). When Wilson isn't interviewing authors, recording poets, dreaming large, or channeling the voice of Book Madam's cat-in-residence Oscar Pecaf, she can be heard spinning a weekly set each Friday as #djbookmadam. (Because you've had a long week and deserve some sweet musique to carry you into the weekend.)
The Partner: Kimberly Walsh joined Book Madam & Associates in 2010, coming on board as a full partner in February 2011. She turns and toils and is largely responsible for the bells and whistles of the magazine, along with business strategizing and most pro-Atlantic Canada outreach. For five years she was an associate producer for CBC Books (Canada Reads & CBC Book Club). Her collaborative spirit has also brought her into projects such as BookCamp Halifax, All Rights Reserved Literary Journal, and her blog East Coast By Choice. She lives and works in Halifax as the Online and Digital Coordinator for Nimbus Publishing.
The Editors
With our move to a magazine format, it became clear that some of the Associates have unique interests. While each will continue to blog as Associates, we decided to reward them with their own category wherein they can party all night long and no one will ask where they've been. Heck, we'll even hold their hair.
Sean Cranbury: Sedan Delivery (music book reviews) Sean lives and works in east Vancouver where he consults with various local and national organizations on communications and social media use. He also works with the W2 Community Media Arts Society in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside as an event coordinator and curator of the W2 Real Vancouver Writers’ Series. Sean enjoys creating and collaborating on independent projects like Books on the Radio, Summer Publishing TV, the Advent Book Blog, Bookcamp Vancouver.
Kat Kruger: YA (Young Adult). A blogger, social media & online community consultant, and aspiring YA author. Active in the YA community and an avid reader of the genre, she was until recently a group coordinator at #YALITCHAT. Kat's unpublished first novel was longlisted for the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. She's currently seeking representation for that book. *hint hint*
The Associates: (Includes all of the above writing for the Book Madam Book Blog)
Jill Murray: The author of YA novels, Break On Through (2008), and Rhythm and Blues(2010), both published by Doubleday Canada. She has a background in theatre production and web development. She enjoys making things, and then speaking to teens and adults at schools, libraries, and festivals about how they can make things too.
Nic Boshart: Digital Services Coordinator at the Association of Canadian Publishers. Coordinating editor at www.invisiblepublishing.com. Added value: Nic's don't-try-this-at-home MS Paint cartoons can be found in Entertainment.
Chad Pelley: A multi-award-winning writer from St. John’s, Newfoundland. His debut novel, Away from Everywhere, was a Coles bestseller, won the NLAC’s CBC Emerging Artist of the Year award, and was shortlisted for the for 2010 ReLit award, as well as the Canadian Authors Association Emerging Writer of the Year award.
