Page Two recently welcomed a new team member: project manager Louise Hill! Louise is a passionate, bookish publishing professional who has previously held roles such as Managing Editor at Inanna Publications,  Bilingual Curriculum Specialist at ABC Life Literacy Canada, and Managing Editor at McGill’s Scrivener Creative Review. Louise is joining us for a 13-month maternity leave contract, during which time she will work closely with our team to support our authors and help bring their books into the world.

Read on to learn more about the wonderful Louise!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional background?

I grew up in a small town in northern Ontario (Kapuskasing), but I have had the pleasure of living in several cities in Canada (Ottawa, Kingston, Montréal, and now Toronto). I have always been driven by my passion for the arts: dance, music, visual art, and especially literature. I pursued a Bachelor of Arts in English and Art History at Queen’s University and a Master’s degree in English at McGill University. Over the past six years, I have worked in various writerly, editorial, and managerial roles in the publishing, nonprofit, and education sectors.

What excites you the most about your new role?

I love facilitating the whole process of book production. It’s a thrill to help transform a great idea into a physical book that will change the life of its author(s) and its readers. I also feel very grateful to be learning from Rony Ganon, one of Page Two’s most experienced and esteemed project managers, and from the whole Page Two team—who are all very talented and kind!

What’s your favorite book you’ve read in the last year and why?

In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje. I had recently moved to Toronto and it provided a beautiful lane to learn about some of the city’s history, mixed with fiction and myth. Ondaatje’s prose is like melted dark chocolate. He is the poet’s novelist.

If you could wake up tomorrow with one new talent or ability, what would it be?

I have always wanted to be able to breathe underwater. It would be incredible to explore the floors of lakes and oceans without having to surface. I would also love to be able to communicate in every language.

What do you like to do in your downtime?

I like to dance and watch mediocre television.