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About
She made a promise on her journey. Now she is keeping it!
Bev Hotchkiss holds an MA in International Relations and is a graduate of Humber College's Advanced Writing Program, where she was mentored by award-winning author David Bergen. She has taught Writing, Social Justice and the Arts, Issues in Diversity, Philosophy and Film, and Cross-Cultural Communication at Niagara College, where she was nominated as Educator of the Year.
Her poetry and essays have appeared in publications across Canada. She's a recipient of an Ontario Arts Council Grant and winner of the Calling All Writers Pulse Niagara Award. Her debut short-story collection, Eating Books: A Collection of Shorts, was released in 2024, and one story has been commissioned for film adaptation by Lake 6 Fish Pictures.
But credentials only tell part of it. Bev spent years living out of a backpack, through Eastern Europe, India, Egypt, Central America, and beyond, and it was the people she met along the way that she came to understand something: she had privilege simply because of where she was born. That realization sent her back to school with a promise. One day, she would commit herself to bringing other people's voices into the world.
That promise became Backhouse Press & Collective. It's what drives her work as a creative director and editor today.
Her purpose is simple: to help bring your story to life. It's what she's always wanted to do. For real.
Angela Parker Brown
Author, Featured in Forbes Magazine
I cannot express how magical it has been working with Bev. She seemed to know my soul from reading only three or four chapters of the beginning stages of my book. From those few chapters, Bev picked up on my serious and humorous sides and ran with it, making suggestion after suggestion.
Gerard Bradbury
Author, Former Union President, Marine Atlantic
If I had another book in me, I would look no further than Bev to push me through it once again
It was so easy to work with Bev. She absorbed the ups and downs of being a novice writer and gave direction and encouragement rather than criticism.
Brandy Douglas Corcoran
Author, Coach, Inspirational Leader
My book Finding Self has a 5 Star rating on Amazon.
A big part of that has to do with the magic this woman works. She is more than an editor. It's like she becomes one with the project and brings the work from good to exceptional.
Recommend, recommend, recommend!
Fulfill your dream!
Dr. Fouad M. Alame
Author, Inspire Your People
She's an incredible editor. I consulted with her on developmental aspects of my books. Her insights and work are exceptional.
Patrick Guy Roy
Retired RCMP Officer, Genesis
She had an uncanny ability to understand me and turn my story into a poignant moment that brings joy, heart and soul to life. I can't recommend her highly enough.
Megan Leto Marx
Author, Former Reality TV Star
My first book is on its 3rd edition, and I made over 100k.
I've worked with Bev on two novels. Besides her writing, the thing I love about Bev is her work ethic. She shows up, gets the work done, and I can say that with authority. We've worked together for four years!
Client Stories
Writers who found their voice.
8 deeply crafted modules on memoir writing
Designed so you can work at your pace
Writing exercises designed to excavate real material
Craft-driven approach — structure, voice, and form
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Our Self-Directed Memoir Course
Your Life, Your Words.
This 8-module course guides you through the memoir writing process with compassion, structure, and practical exercises.
Whether you're writing for yourself, your family, or publication, this course will help you craft a meaningful narrative from your life experiences.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Everything you need to start — or keep going.
Our Philosophy
Creativity is not therapy — it's transformation.
Writing is how we excavate our truths and move toward self-acceptance.
We don't position our writers as people seeking healing. We position them as people with something vital to say who deserve the craft, the support, and the platform to say it. Memoir, fiction, essay, poetry, hybrid — if you have a story, this is your place.
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