Celebrating a 15-year milestone, the Victoria Book Prize Society has announced the finalists for the 2018 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize and the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize. Two independent juries comprised of representatives from the local literary arts community adjudicated the entries.
The City of Victoria Butler Book Prize is awarded to a Greater Victoria author for the best book published in the preceding year in the categories of fiction, non-fiction or poetry. The five finalists are:
- Lorna Crozier (poetry) – What the Soul Doesn’t Want (Freehand Books)
- Patrick Friesen (poetry) – Songen (Mother Tongue Publishing)
- Rhonda Ganz (poetry) – Frequent, Small Loads of Laundry (Mother Tongue Publishing)
- Bill Gaston (fiction) – A Mariner’s Guide to Self Sabotage (Douglas & McIntyre)
- Maria Tippett (non-fiction) – Sculpture in Canada (Douglas & McIntyre)
The Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize is awarded to a Greater Victoria author or illustrator for the best children’s book published in the preceding year. The three finalists are:
- Monique Gray Smith – Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation (Orca Book Publishers)
- Julie Lawson – A Blinding Light (Nimbus Publishers)
- Dr. Jillian Roberts – On Our Street: Our First Talk About Poverty (Orca Book Publishers)
The winners will be announced at the Awards Gala hosted by CBC’s Gregor Craigie to be held on Wednesday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) at the Union Club of BC at 805 Gordon Street. Tickets are $20 and are available online now, by calling the Victoria Book Prize Society at 250-589-8430, or for purchase in-person at Bolen Books, Munro’s Books, Ivy’s Bookshop, and Tanner’s Books.
Founded in 2004, the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize is a partnership between the City of Victoria and Brian Butler of Butler Brothers Supplies. The Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize was founded in 2008. Additional sponsors include the Greater Victoria Public Library, Island Blue Print, Magnolia Hotel and Spa, Chateau Victoria, Inn at Laurel Point, Friesens Corporation and CBC Radio.