About Open Book
Open Book celebrates and profiles Ontario's non-stop literary scene, with a special focus on the books and events produced by Ontario's independent, Canadian-owned publishers.
Open Book is committed to showcasing the outstanding range and quality of contemporary Canadian writing and invites readers from Canada and around the world to connect with Ontario's vibrant book culture.
For Publishers and Authors
Please note that Open Book does not run book reviews, and that our author interview schedule books several months in advance. Please do not send unsolicited physical review copies, ARCs, or other materials.
Publishers and writers looking to get in touch about new books: please note we work exclusively with OBPO member publishers to spread the word about great Ontario books. Unfortunately, we're generally not able to work with publishers outside the OBPO for interviews or other postings.
Open Book does not release author contact information. We are not able to put you in contact with authors who have appeared on the site.
Contributing to Open Book
We thank all freelance writers and editors for their interest. At this time, Open Book is not accepting pitches from freelancers. Please check this space in the future for calls for submissions.
Contact
The Open Book Team
Holly Kent, Executive Director
As the Executive Director of Open Book and its partner organization, Ontario Book Publishers Organization Holly Kent (she/her) works with the Open Book editors to feature the very best of Ontario’s indie books and writers. She also oversees all staff, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, advertising, and special events. Holly previously managed the communications and marketing for non-profits the National Reading Campaign and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
Grace O’Connell, Senior Editor
Grace O'Connell (she/her) is a Toronto-based writer and editor. She is the author of Magnified World (Random House Canada 2012), a national bestseller, and Be Ready for the Lightning (Random House Canada 2017). She writes a books column for This Magazine and her work has appeared in The Walrus, the Globe and Mail, The National Post, The Toronto Star, Taddle Creek, ELLE Canada, Sharp for Men, CBC Music, FASHION Magazine, and various other publications. Grace was the recipient of the 2014 Canadian Authors Association Emerging Writer Award and teaches creative writing at the University of Toronto.
Kevin Hardcastle, Editor
Kevin Hardcastle (he/him) is a fiction writer from Simcoe County, Ontario. He studied writing at the University of Toronto and Cardiff University. He was a finalist for the 2012 Journey Prize, and his stories have been published widely in Canada and anthologized internationally. Hardcastle’s debut short story collection, Debris, won the Trillium Book Award and the ReLit Award for Short Fiction. His novel, In The Cage, was published to critical acclaim in 2017, and was recently published in translation in France and Germany. Hardcastle was the Fall 2019 Writer-in-Residence for the Toronto Public Library.
The Open Book Advisory Board
Elham Ali, Publicist, ECW Press
Chase Joynt, Author
Canisia Lubrin, Author
Hazel Millar, Managing Editor and Publicist, Book*hug
Amelie Roberge, Digital Business Development Manager, Kids Can Press
Partners and Sponsors
Open Book is presented by The Ontario Book Publishers Organization, and generously funded by Ontario Creates.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for this project./Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada par l'entremise du Fonds du livre du Canada (FLC) pour ce projet.
We are grateful for the support of the Ontario Arts Council.
Open Book is grateful for the support of the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.
