BC authors have been nabbing spots on some of the country’s biggest prizes this season. In the last six weeks alone, we’ve seen some nominations and wins for our local authors. If you want to read an award-nominated book this season, here are some great picks.
Canada’s biggest literary nonfiction award: Hilary Weston Prize
The Writers’ Trust of Canada has announced the shortlist for the 2017 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction on September 20, 2017.
Ivan Coyote has been shortlisted for Tomboy Survival Guide, published by Arsenal Pulp Press. The winner will be revealed on November 14 and receive $60,000; each finalist will receive $5,000.
Doubled purse for 21st year: Writer’s Trust Prize for Fiction
The day before releasing the shortlist for the 2017 Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, The Writers’ Trust of Canada announced the prize purse for the fiction prize would double to $70,000. The winner will receive $50,000, with $5,000 to each of the four finalists.
The Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize’s finalist announcement included Carleigh Baker for her short story collection, Bad Endings published by Anvil Press.
Best in Canadian Jewish literature: Vine Awards
The winners of the 2017 Vine Awards for Canadian Jewish Literature were announced on October 3, 2017. Author Irene N. Watts and illustrator Kathryn Shoemaker won the Children’s / YA category for their graphic novel Seeking Refuge (Tradewind Books).
The prize, administered by the Koffler Centre of the Arts, offers a prize of $10,000 in each of four categories—fiction, nonfiction, history, and children’s/young adult—with the fifth award for poetry in alternating years.
Governor General’s Literary Awards
Called the “GGs” by those in the industry, the Governor General’s Literary Awards are administered by the Canada Council for the Arts. The winning titles will be announced November 1, awarding prizes to 14 books in 2 official languages and 7 categories.
In Search of New Babylon by Donald W. Wilson, translated by Dominique Scali (Talonbooks) is nominated for the Governor General’s Translation Award.
Hit the Ground Running by Alison Hughes (Orca Book Publishers) is nominated in the category of Young People’s Literature – Text.
Poetry Excellence in New West
Earlier this week the Royal City Literary Arts Society announced the shortlist for the 4th Annual Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence In Poetry. Among the seven finalists was Timothy Shay, for his book The Dirty Knees of Prayer (Caitlin Press).
The local award is named for poet Fred Cogswell, founding member of RCLAS in New Westminster and mentor to Candice James, poet laureate emeritus. The winner will be announced on November 1.
City of Vancouver Book Award
On October 12, the City of Vancouver presented the annual Mayor’s Arts Awards, which included the 2017 City of Vancouver Book Award.
Carleigh Baker’s Bad Endings (Anvil Press) won the City of Vancouver Book Award, which recognizes authors who contribute to the appreciation of Vancouver’s history, unique character, or residents.
Also at the awards, Joanne Arnott, received the Mayor’s Award for Literary Arts. Arnott is a Métis/mixed-blood writer and arts activist who has published eight books, including Mother Time (Ronsdale Press).
Read more about the prize and the jury’s comments here
Victoria Book Prizes
Also on October 12, across the strait, the Victoria Book Prize Society Award Gala took place. Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey, written by Margriet Ruurs with artwork by Nizar Ali Badr (Orca Book Publishers) won the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize.
Read more about the prize and the jury’s comments here
East to Quebec
The Quebec Writers’ Federation announced their awards shortlist this week. The annual juried competition has six categories exclusively for Quebec authors. The winners will be awarded on November 21, 2017.
The Panic Room by Rebecca Păpucaru (Nightwood Editions) is shortlisted for the A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry.
Subject to Change by Karen Nesbitt (Orca Book Publishers) is nominated for the QWF Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature for longer chapter books, middle grade, and young adult literature.
Into the Forest of Reading
The Forest of Reading, administered by the Ontario Library Association, is a big deal for publishers, not just in that province but across Canada. As Canada’s largest recreational reading program, more than 250,000 readers of all ages participate annually with their local public library, school library, or individually.
Wolf Island, written by Nicholas Read and illustrated by Ian McAllister (Orca Book Publishers), and Tank & Fizz: The Case of the Missing Mage, written by Liam O’Donnell and illustrated by Mike Deas (Orca Book Publishers), and are nominated for the Silver Birch Express Fiction award for readers in grades 3-4.
Blood and Belonging by Vicki Delaney (Orca Book Publishers), The Bootlegger’s Goddaughter by Melodie Campbell (Orca Book Publishers), and John McCrae: Beyond Flanders Fields by Susan Raby-Dunne (Heritage House) are all nominated for the Golden Oak Award, for fiction and non-fiction appropriate for adults learning to read and ESL readers.
Pocket Change: Pitching in For a Better World by Michelle Mulder (Orca Book Publishers) is nominated for the Silver Birch Non-Fiction Award, for readers aged 8-12.
And in addition to the QWF listed above, Subject to Change by Karen Nesbitt (Orca Publishers) was also nominated for the White Pine Fiction award for readers in grades 9-12.