Victoria Book Prizes, October 15th
October 06th, 2014
Neither lazy or criminal, Angie, the young protagonist of Sara Cassidy’s Skylark (Orca), sleeps in an old car with her brother and mother, evading police, finding new places to park each night, finding inspiration and self-expression in slam poetry. For Sara Cassidy, writing about living in a car wasn’t inconceivable because she once lived in a ten-by-ten-foot survival shelter in the Manitoba bush.
Cassidy is one of three finalists for this year’s $5000 Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize along with Ann Walsh’s Whatever (Ronsdale) and Daniel Loxton with Jim W.W. Smith for Pterosaur Trouble (Kids Can).
Two independent juries comprised of representatives of the literary arts community were appointed by the Victoria Book Prize Society to review and assess 26 adult and 15 children’s entries based on their literary merit. The Society establishes the policy and criteria for the prizes, appoints the juries and administers the competitions.
Finalists for the $5,000 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize awarded to a Greater Victoria author for the best book published in the preceding year in the categories of fiction, non-fiction or poetry are:
Dede Crane: Every Happy Family (fiction) Coteau Books
M.A.C. Farrant: The World Afloat (fiction) Talonbooks
Catherine Greenwood: The Lost Letters (poetry) Brick Books
Michael Layland: The Land of Heart’s Delight: Early Maps and Charts of Vancouver Island (non-fiction) TouchWood Editions
Audrey Thomas: Local Customs (fiction) Dundurn Press
Nominee Michael Layland is president of the Friends of the BC Archives and a member of the International Map Collectors’ Society.
The winners will be announced at a gala event to be held at the Union Club of British Columbia on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. Open to the public, the event will feature readings by the finalists and will provide guests with the opportunity to meet the authors and have their books signed.
Tickets are $20 and are available now at Bolen Books (Hillside Mall), Ivy’s Bookshop (2188 Oak Bay Avenue), Munro’s Books (1108 Government Street) and from the Victoria Book Prize Society by calling 250.595.8430.
Established 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, founded by Mel Bolen in 2008, provides authors and illustrators of children’s literature an increased opportunity for recognition.
This year’s sponsors include the Union Club of British Columbia, the Magnolia Hotel and Spa, Chateau Victoria, CBC Radio, Island Blue Print, and the Greater Victoria Public Library.
For more information call Michelle Wong, President, Victoria Book Prize Society at 250.888.9219 or visit www.victoria.ca or www.victoriabookprizes.ca.
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