The West Coast Book Prize Society has announced the finalists for the 2019 BC Book Prizes in seven categories.
The BC Book Prizes, established in 1985, celebrate the achievements of British Columbia writers and publishers and recently announced a new executive director, Sean Cranbury.
Award winners will be announced at the BC Book Prizes Gala on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront in Vancouver. Congratulations to the finalist authors, illustrators, and publishers!
Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize
The Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize is awarded to the author of the best work of fiction.
- Dear Evelyn by Kathy Page (Biblioasis)
- Sodom Road Exit by Amber Dawn (Arsenal Pulp Press)
- That Tiny Life by Erin Frances Fisher (House of Anansi Press)
- Trickster Drift by Eden Robinson (Knopf Canada)
- We All Need to Eat by Alex Leslie (Book*hug Press)
Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize
The Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize is awarded to the author(s) of the best original non-fiction literary work.
- A Matter of Confidence: The Inside Story of the Political Battle for BC by Rob Shaw and Richard Zussman (Heritage House)
- Jan in 35 Pieces: A Memoir in Music by Ian Hampton (Porcupine’s Quill)
- Just Let Me Look at You by Bill Gaston (Hamish Hamilton)
- Land of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road by Kate Harris (Knopf Canada)
- The Woo Woo: How I Survived Ice Hockey, Drug Raids, Demons, and My Crazy Chinese Family by Lindsay Wong (Arsenal Pulp Press)
Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize
The Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize is awarded to the author of the best work of poetry.
- beholden, a poem as long as the river by Fred Wah and Rita Wong (Talonbooks)
- Our Familiar Hunger by Laisha Rosnau (Nightwood Editions)
- Port of Being by Shazia Hafiz Ramji (Invisible Publishing)
- Quarrels by Eve Joseph (Anvil Press)
- The Small Way by Onjana Yawnghwe (Caitlin Press)
Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize
The Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize is to recognize the author(s) of the book that contributes most to the enjoyment and understanding of British Columbia.
- Athlii Gwaii: Upholding Haida Law at Lyell Island by Council of the Haida Nation (Locarno Press)
- Beau Dick: Revolutionary Spirit by Darrin Martens (Figure 1 Publishing)
- Big Lonely Doug: The Story of One of Canada’s Last Great Trees by Harley Rustad (House of Anansi Press)
- Breaching the Peace: The Site C Dam and a Valley’s Stand Against Big Hydro by Sarah Cox (UBC Press / On Point Press)
- Just Let Me Look at You by Bill Gaston (Hamish Hamilton Canada)
Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize
The Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize is awarded to the best non-illustrated book written for children.
- Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mather (Simon & Schuster Canada)
- The Journey Forward, A Novella on Reconciliation: When We Play Our Drums, They Sing! / Lucy and Lola by Monique Gray Smith and Richard Van Camp (McKellar and Martin Publishing Group Ltd.)
- Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
- No Fixed Address by
Susin Nielsen (Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers) - Very Rich by Polly Horvath (Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers)
Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize
The Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize is presented to the best illustrated book written for children.
- The Nameless City: The Divided Earth by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second)
- Robert Bateman: The Boy Who Painted Nature by Margriet Ruurs, art by Robert Bateman (Orca Book Publishers)
- Sir Simon: Super Scarer by Cale Atkinson (Penguin Random House Young Readers)
- Sparks! by Ian Boothby, illustrated by Nina Matsumoto (Scholastic Canada)
- Sterling, Best Dog Ever by Aidan Cassie (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award
The Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award is presented to the originating publisher and author(s) of the best book in terms of public appeal, initiative, design, production, and content.
- 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph (Page Two Strategies)
- E.J. Hughes Paints Vancouver Island by Robert Amos (TouchWood Editions)
- Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age by Darrel J. McLeod (Douglas & McIntyre)
- Murder by Milkshake: An Astonishing True Tale of Adultery, Arsenic, and a Charismatic Killer by Eve Lazarus (Arsenal Pulp Press)
- One Eagle Soaring by Robert Budd, illustrated by Roy Henry Vickers (Harbour Publishing)