Authors and publishers have until May 1 to send in submissions for the 2008 Island Book Award.
When making the announcement today, Hon. Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, noted that a number of changes are being implemented to the award program this year. The biennial award will now have two categories - fiction and non-fiction and publications from across Canada will be eligible provided the work was produced by an Island author or editor.
“Our book award program recognizes the best in publications by Island authors, editors and book producers,” the Minister said. “I am encouraged by the number of high quality books that appear each year, and these changes to the program will increase our ability to recognize the best work done in this important sector.”
The Island Book Award selection process enables the jury to consider the quality of the entire publication based on writing, design, illustration and overall presentation. A special handcrafted piece of art has been commissioned from an Island artist and will be presented to the successful author(s), along with a cash prize. The winner of the first award in 2006 was Catherine Edward for her book, The Brow of Dawn.
Books published during 2006 and 2007 are eligible for the award this year and both non-fiction and fiction books will be recognized. Submissions from authors or publishers for the 2008 Book Award will be accepted until 1 May 2008. For complete eligibility information and submission details see the web page at www.gov.pe.ca/go/bookaward or contact Claire Matheson at 368-4784 or at cematheson@gov.pe.ca.