The short list of candidates for the Prince Edward Island Book Award represent an impressive selection of Island writers, says Education, Early Learning and Culture Minister Doug Currie.
“The Prince Edward Island Book Award recognizes the best in publications by Island authors, editors and book producers and our short list offers a variety of great reads for all interests,” said Minister Doug Currie. “We have a number of high quality books up for consideration, and I encourage all avid Island readers to consider adding these titles to their reading lists ahead of the awards in May.”
The biennial award recognizes books created or edited by an Island resident, in three categories – fiction, non-fiction and poetry. The short-list for each category is as follows:
Non-fiction
Those Splendid Girls: The Heroic Service of P.E.I. Nurses in the Great War by Katherine Dewar
The Bastard of Fort Stikine by Debra Komar
Samuel Holland: His Work and Legacy on Prince Edward Island by Earle Lockerby and Doug Sobey
Fiction
Molly Miranda: Thief for Hire by Jillianne Hamilton
Somewhere I Belong by Glenna Jenkins
Dead Letter by Finley Martin
Poetry
Conversation with Crows by Judy Gaudet
Keeping Late Hours by David Helwig
Identity Dreams and Memory Sounds by J.J. Steinfeld
Submissions in each category are assessed by an independent jury for the content, quality of design, and production. Winners will receive a cash prize and a handmade item created by an Island craftsperson. This year’s selection is by potter Patti Hawkins of Hawkins Pottery.
The awards will be presented at a gala event on May 7, in partnership with the Cox & Palmer Literary Awards. The gala is the penultimate event of Reading Town PEI, which takes place April 30-May 8.
Short-listed authors will be taking part in special events at PEI Public Libraries throughout the month of April. For a list of events and more information on the Book Award, visit http://www.gov.pe.ca/eecd/bookaward
For a list of Reading Town PEI events, visit http://www.nationalreadingcampaign.ca/reading-town/