SCWES Book Award winners
August 16th, 2023
Founded by the Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Association, organizers for the inaugural SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors have announced the 2023 winners.
Prize winners were awarded $100 each, plus 100 stickers for their books.
Congratulations to the following authors and their publishers:
Graphic Novels & Illustrated Books
First Prize:
Vicky Earle, Exploring Vancouver Naturehoods (Midtown Press)
Honourable Mention:
Michael Kluckner, The Rooming House (Midtown Press)
Peggy Janicki. Photo Gracie Kelly
Children’s & Young Adult Books
First Prize (five-way tie):
Rachelle Delany, The Big Sting (Tundra)
Naomi Klein & Rebecca Steffoff, How to Change Everything (Tundra)
Xiran Jay Zhao, Iron Widow (Penguin Teen Canada)
Peggy Janicki, The Secret Pocket (Orca Books)
Dr. D. Hayden, The Eyes of the Leopard (Self–published)
Honourable Mentions:
Madeline Kloepper, Outside Art (Tundra)
Susin Neilsen, Tremendous Things (Penguin Random House)
Indigenous Voices
First Prize:
Jody Wilson-Raybould (pictured above right), True Reconciliation (McClelland & Stewart)
Honourable Mention:
Michelle Poirier Brown, You Might Be Sorry You Read This (U. of Alberta Press)
Diverse Voices
First Prize:
Catherine McNeil, emily & elspeth (Caitlin Press)
First Prize (for self-published Diverse Voices):
Sharon Easton, Beach Moose & Amber: Finding My Jewish History (Self–Published)
Poetry
Tolu Oloruntoba
First Prize (tie):
Tolu Oloruntoba, Each One a Furnace (McClelland & Stewart)
Cynthia Sharp, Ordinary Light (Self–published)
Honourable Mentions:
Nancy Holmes, Aborophobia (U. of Alberta Press)
Susan Musgrave, Exculpatory Lilies (McClelland & Stewart)
Humour
First Prize:
Vince R. Ditrich, The Liquor Vicar (Dundurn Press)
Honourable Mention:
Douglas Coupland, Binge (Random House Canada)
Fiction
First Prize (tie):
Barbara Black, Music from a Strange Planet (Caitlin Press)
Ulla Hackanson, Flight Across the Waters (Self–published)
Honourable Mention:
Carrie Mac, Last Winter (Random House)
Nonfiction
First Prize:
Lyn Baldwin, Drawing Botany: A Rooted Life (Rocky Mountain Books)
Honourable Mentions:
John Vaillant, Fire Weather (Knopf Canada)
Suzanne Simard, Finding the Mother Tree (Penguin Canada)
Sunshine Coast Voices
Theresa Kishkan
First Prize (tie):
Theresa Kishkan, Blue Portugal (U. of Alberta Press)
David Phillips, Poems (Self–published)
Honourable Mention:
Heather Conn, No Letter in Your Pocket: How a Daughter Chose Love and Forgiveness to Heal from Incest (Guernica Press)
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ABOUT THE AWARDS
The SCWES Book Awards for BC Authors are:
– Open to all BC residents
– Open to both traditionally and self–published books
In 2023, 25 judges adjudicated 116 entries from publishers across Canada.
The judges for the event included:
–Dr. Marion McKinnon Crook – Governor–General award–winning author of
Always Pack a Candle
–Christina Myers – Author of List of Last Chances
–Michael Gurney– Arts & Culture Editor, Coast Reporter
–Jana Curll – Map Illustrator & Children’s’ Book Illustrator & Author
–Fran Bourassa – Writer and Educator
–Theresa Kishkan– Author
–Jan DeGrass– Author
–Isabella Mori – Poet
–Jana Curll – Illustrator & Children’s Book Author
–Paula O’Brien– Artist
Next year’s contest opens on February 1 st , 2024. For more information, go to: https://www.scwes.ca/contests
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