Muskoka Books Editorial Council

The Muskoka Books Editorial Council is a collaborative network of Muskokans knowledgeable about the district and its books. Its members include booksellers, authors, librarians, educators, elected officials, and representatives from Muskoka’s heritage, cultural, and news media organizations.

The Editorial Council meets twice a year, in the spring and fall, in a convivial setting to update one another about book life of Muskoka, providing a sounding board and clearing house for forthcoming events, current issues, and future prospects concerning books and Muskoka. 

The Editorial Council also discusses prospective titles – both new books for which manuscripts are in the works or should be commissioned, and new editions of out-of-print books – to help Muskoka Books determine sequence of publication, suggest the ideal person to write a Foreword or Introduction, and offer ideas for promoting these books.

Current Editorial Council Members

Patrick Boyer, author, and publisher of Muskoka Books

Libby Charron, proprietor of Readers’ World Bookstore, Bracebridge

Mark Clairmont, publisher of Muskoka TODAY, Muskoka District councilor, member of Gravenhurst Library Board, Gravenhurst Heritage Committee

Cheryl Cooper, author; editor and senior reader for Blue Butterfly Books; member Muskoka Heritage Foundation

John Davis, councillor for the Town of Huntsville, member of Huntsville Library Board

Gayle Dempsey, artist; director of development, Muskoka Lakes Music Festival/Muskoka Chautauqua

John Denison, 35-years in publishing with Boston Mills Press; author and editor of books on Muskoka; director of sales and marketing for Muskoka Books

Gary Denniss, author, publisher, retired teacher, columnist on Muskoka history for Muskoka TODAY

Jason Dickson, proprietor of Muskoka Bookhouse, administrator of Muskoka Books Bibliowiki, director of order fulfillment for Muskoka Books

Tim DuVernet, Muskoka photographer, editor

Jim Dwyer, proprietor of Scott’s of Muskoka Bookstore, Bracebridge, veteran in national retail businesses

Elspeth Hogg, member and former chair of Huntsville Heritage Committee, research contributor to books of local history

Ruth Holtz, reference librarian, Bracebridge Public Library; facilitator, Bracebridge Library book club

Karen Hood-Caddy, author, life coach

Jacqueline Loudon, proprietor, The Gravenhurst Bookstore

Debbie Mannerow, proprietor of "So Many Books...So Little Time” bookstore, Huntsville

Bev McMullen, organizer of Muskoka Book Festival, journalist with Bracebridge Examiner, photographer

Gail Moser, Huntsville history and heritage, businesswoman

Louise Parkinson, proprietor of The Bookcase bookstore, Huntsville

Cynthia Smith, author, editor, former Director of Research Ontario Legislative Library, member Muskoka Heritage Foundation

Marguerite Urban, board member, Muskoka Community Futures; former chief librarian, Huntsville Public Library

Andrew Wagner-Chazalon, organizer of Muskoka Book Festival, journalist and editor with Bracebridge Examiner, author

Larry Wright, author, and director of customer services with Tourism Muskoka