Mentors & Allies 4: Hazel Millar

I cannot tell you how many times I have emailed Hazel Millar at Book*hug. Whether it was a question about my contract, a reminder about an event, festival, or reading, or just me blathering on about something, Hazel has always done the one and only thing I ever really needed someone to do: she listened. She always listened. She continues to listen. If you consider yourself an ally, I encourage you to read Hazel’s answers below. I think her answers also nicely compliment this piece I wrote on Writing and Publishing as an act of Resistance. Pay attention to the “listen authentically” section.

#Listen & Learn as I ask Hazel Millar about being an ally:

What do you think makes a good ally?

I’ll first quote from Lee Maracle’s latest book, My Conversations with Canadians: “Most Canadians think it is enough to know something, but this is not enough – you must commit to the continued growth and transformation of whatever you claim to know.” And I’ll follow that up with something that Carleigh Baker wrote in a review of this title for The Globe and Mail: “to engage in allyship is to commit to being unsettled – all the time.” These are words that moved me when I first read them, and I continue to meditate upon them daily.

In my opinion, a good ally is someone who is able to acknowledge their privilege and knows when it is necessary to stop talking and instead listen and learn from others. They are people of action who put what they learn into practice with the help of others. And if mistakes are made (and they will be), an ally won’t get all defensive about things – or run away. They will roll up their sleeves, acknowledge their mistakes, and do the work necessary to make amends and move beyond them.

If you could do one thing to make a massive difference in CanLit, what would it be? What would you like to see change?

There is so much division and pain and hurting in CanLit right now. I would love to see more work being done to help heal the deep rifts in the writing and publishing communities.

This fall we at Book*hug will publish Refuse: CanLit in Ruins, a collection of critical and historical writings that will help readers better understand conversations happening in and about CanLit presently. It is our hope that this book will provide a platform for more constructive dialogue about what CanLit is and what it could be. We also hope that it will help lead to action and to positive change.

I think you need to have an ally to be one. Who has been an ally for you? How? 

Kitty Lewis from Brick Books has been my ally and mentor. I adore Kitty and give such thanks for her. She looks out for me and it means so much to me to know that she has my back. Without going into too much detail, the last couple of years have been rather difficult and trying. Kitty often sends me an email to check in, ask how I am, and to let me know she is there. Sometimes during these moments, when it feels like I am treading water just to stay afloat, I’ll receive a message/life line from Kitty, and just like that I can swim to shore again.

If you weren’t in the publishing/writing world, what would you be doing?

I had many different careers before beginning to work in the publishing industry. In my earlier life, I was a dancer. I also taught dance classes to children and adults for many years. Later on, I became a Certified Reflexologist and an Aromatherapist and I practiced for several years in various clinics. When my eldest son was very young, I ran a home daycare for about three years. After my second son was born, I became the co-founder and co-owner of a massage therapy supply company. My business partner and I also designed and taught accredited continuing education courses to Registered Massage Therapists.

After eight years of co-running that business, I sold my shares outright to my partner and started working in publishing. I am a lifelong lover of the written word and had always dreamed of working with writers. I love my job and I’m so proud of the work we publish at Book*hug. It’s a 24/7 job but I love it with every fibre of my being.

If ever I were to switch careers again, or even start something on the side, I would probably become a baker. I really love to bake. Either that, or I would become a part time DJ. But just a DJ who plays weddings or roller rinks. Besides, I already have my DJ name chosen: DJ Haze.

Name one thing you want to say to Chelene that you’ve never said. This can be negative, I won’t cry. LOL 

Chelene, if I haven’t said it before, please know that I admire you to no end. Plus, where do you get this seemingly endless supply of energy that you have! And can I tap into it? Please?