Most Canadian writers wear many hats. In addition to being authors, they are teachers, their own researchers, editors, publicists, marketers and salespeople. Getting their books into your hands is hard work, usually for little pay. And it often means participating in readings, book clubs and other events for free and paying out of pocket for travel expenses. The amazing cultural content you’re experiencing through Junction Reads comes to you at no charge. Our events are hosted on a pay-what-you-can basis, and whatever we collect at the door or through our online event portal goes entirely to the authors. What this means is that our Event Coordinator, our admin, and everyone else who works hard to keep the series going, does so, for free. We continue to apply for grants, and while we hope one of these days, they’ll honour us with some cash, even with the grant money, the people and authors involved in the series will not get paid enough.

This year, we have been blessed with the generosity of donors. From attendees to past authors and publishers, you have shown your love this year and we are so grateful. We raised enough in the Fall to cover the authors to the end of January, but that isn’t halfway to our goal of paying every author an honorarium in line with the recommended union scale. Please, if you can, support our contributors with a financial donation, we would greatly appreciate it.

Every donor will be included in every single raffle this season and could win a book bundle from the publishers. Donate on our website: www.junctionreads.ca.