BC Book Prizes List Announced

Always a fun time of year -- the shortlists for the BC Book Prizes have emerged.

The full list of nominations can be found HERE.

Congratulations to all nominees, many of them CWILL BC members, and special congrats to my friends Kari Lynn Winters and Christina Leist for their picture book ON MY WALK.


READ as many of these nominated books as you can. They are wonderful taste of left-coast Canada!

~kc

Weekend Winners

First -- the BC Book Prize winners (including CWILL BC member Katarina Jovanavic).


Next, more internationally...the Nebula Award Winners.



And finally, (and most importantly, of course) the Darby Speaks Skateboard Haiku Contest winner!

~kc

Battling the Germ...

... and I'm winning, so far, but at some cost to my energy levels. Thus, a brief (and yet somehow entertainingly informative) blog full of fascinating information, not all of it arcane.




Apologies to all whom I owe email. (There are at least 159 of you out there...) Will be back to you as soon as I can!

And now, the news...


Darby has a new contest up at her blog. Full details will emerge tomorrow, but apparently she's looking for a haiku -- featuring a skateboard. Prizes will be good, though, guaranteed! (I stole the cherry tree pic from her, too...)

A few April events to note:

April 18, 2009. My friend Linda's birthday. (She'd kill me for that, but she never reads my blog, so I'm safe. Ha! Some friend, eh?) Also the soiree for the BC Book Prizes. I'll be there along with a whole pile of other local BC authors who like free parties. (You'll need a ticket to attend the actual prize banquet). At the Metropolitan Hotel on Howe.

April 20, 2009. 7 pm. Science Fiction phenom Robert J. Sawyer will be signing (and reading, I believe) from his new book WAKE at the White Dwarf bookstore in Kits. 3715 West 10th Avenue.
I'll be there!

April 25, 2009. 11 am. Chapters is opening a new store in White Rock this month, and I'll be joining in as a part of the celebrations. Love to see you!


And to finish, a dogblog, of course. I've seen canine singers, but never one who accompanies himself on the keyboard... (tip of the hat to a Raincoaster tweet for this one)




~kc

On Prizes and Tofu and Pictures Untaken

Attended the BC Book Prizes bash last night for the first time. It was held at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. The food* was pretty good, the people were great and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

*I am forever amused at how often at events like this that the vegetarian meal includes tofu. It's like a prerequisite, somehow. It's weird -- like an omivore's view of what a veggie must eat. Tofu and portebello mushrooms.

One time, on an airplane (long ago, when one was still served meals on airplanes) I was served my vegetarian meal, consisting of a slimy slice of raw tofu, unrinsed, on a white bun sodden with brine. Remarkable.

I can, however, report, that last night's tofu was very nice. As was the portobello mushroom...


The final results of the BC Book Prize contest can be found here.

Perhaps it sounds trite, but with such an incredible group of talented writers, I really feel that the nomination is the thing (though perhaps the winners might not agree). And the winners? The readers, of course. Get yourself to a book store and pick up a few of these remarkable titles.


I wandered the place with my camera, but didn't get a lot of pictures I was terribly happy with. The place was very crowded and it was hard to get a clear shot. If included a couple here, and will post a few more over on the CWILL BC blog. Here is one I liked of author Julie Burtinshaw with Joy Gugeler (editor-in-chief with Suite 101).








Here's another, of award-winning artist and illustrator Kathie Shoemaker chatting with nominee (and winner of the Christie Harris prize) Robert Heidbreder. Behind them stands nominee Gayle Friesen chatting with a mostly obscured author and professor Alison Acheson.




I mentioned earlier this week that the BC Lieutenant Governor's Award for literary excellence went this year to writer and poet Gary Geddes. Geddes was on hand to pick up his award (and his cheque!) from Lieutenant Governor Steven Point, pictured here. Point was piped in (to the strains, somewhat mysteriously, of Waltzing Matilda), accompanied by his wife and a very substantial man-at-arms.



More later -- I have a CWILL BC meeting to dash off to. We are planning this year's Spring Book Hatching, to be held at the Vancouver Public Library, Downtown branch on June 14th.

~kc

BC Book Prizes and a Penultimate Moon

It was a gorgeous evening for the BC Book Prize Soiree, held at the Metropolitan Hotel in downtown Vancouver last night. After a day of really weird spring weather (including snow that fell and stayed put all day throughout the city and not just on my mountainside aerie) the moon came out and gave me a chance to play with my camera settings. She's a night away from full, but politely held still for just long enough to have her portrait taken.


Lovely.






Back to the soiree. I arrived late due to an over-scheduled day, and by the time I got there, the party was in full swing. Loads of CWILL BC members in attendance. Here's a shot of Kari-Lynn Winters in a throng of admirers, having a great time celebrating her nomination for picture book JEFFREY AND SLOTH.






Norma Charles, seen here chatting with author and blogger Julie Burtinshaw, is a member of the BC Book Prize committee, and is celebrating the recent launch of her own new book THE GIRL IN THE BACK SEAT.







Also present was nominee Meg Tilly, celebrating the evening with a crowd of well-wishers (and her husband, Don). She looked gorgeous (as usual) but for a glimpse of her earlier hair tribulations, you may want to check out her blog. Meg will be touring the Kootneys soon, on her leg of the BC Book Prize tour. If you get a chance to hear her read from her nominated book PORCUPINE, be sure to grab it. A not-to-be-missed opportunity.







Out-going CWILL BC president James McCann can be seen chatting here with in-coming CWILL vp Crystal Stranaghan. Crystal is the publisher of Gumboot Books, a new independent right here in Vancouver, specializing in kids books.








Artist, illustrator and photographer Kirsti-Anne Wakelin was also at the soiree, here pictured looking kinda the way I do at these things...

Photography is a religious experience for both of us, though she is definitely more Canonical than I (a confirmed Pentaxian).






This is what she looks like with the camera pried off her face, here chatting with blogging whiz and all-round techie guy Boris Mann. Boris is one of the incandescents behind the amazing Northern Voice blogging and social networking conference held yearly at UBC.

Also present from Northern Voice (but sadly unphotographed) was Monique Trottier, who led the rousing 'Authors Who Blog' session. Monique's been busy getting her company re-named and launched, and she designed the beautiful BC Book Prizes website.


The BC Book Prizes will be distributed at a Gala next Saturday night. Stay tuned.

***

And finally, I read yesterday where poet Gary Geddes was awarded the Lieutenent Governor's Award for Literary Excellence in BC. With the award comes a $5000 prize. Geddes, a giant in the Canadian literary scene, told the Vancouver Sun: "What matters to me is not the money, but is the moral support. Nothing a writer appreciates more than some assurance from peers that you're doing a good job."

Now, I don't know Gary, but I feel compelled to protest on behalf of the many poets I do know. The money does matter! The more money directed to the Canadian literary scene, particularly toward poetry, the better. I know too many published poets who never see a royalty for their work, beyond a couple of comped copies of their own books. So, three cheers for the celebration of Canadian poetry -- may there be many more lucrative prizes awarded to allow it to flourish.

~kc

What to Choose, What to Choose...

Things are hopping around here lately. So much going on...I think I may just have to do a bit of round-up.




First, and most importantly, I have just this week fallen for the remarkable Tim Minchin, Aussie comic and musician. IF you are over 18, I might suggest the YouTube version of Inflatable You, performed at the Royal Albert Hall for a recent Think Pink Breast Cancer fundraiser.

Incredible.




Now, what's next?

Well, it's BC Book Prizes time, and this coming Saturday is the big soiree, held at the Metropolitan Hotel in Vancouver from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. This event is a freebie, and it's a chance for you to meet and mingle with the province's literati.


There are still a few tickets left to the actual prize night Gala on April 26th. Dinner, award ceremony and entertainment will set you back $70, but it should be an elegant evening. Fanny Kiefer will emcee.

I'll be there supporting Meg Tilly and Kari-Lyn Winters -- both friends and incredible writers.

Both of these events are a chance to meet your favourite writers up close and in person.

There's more to talk about (always...) but I am going to spend Saturday with two of my favourite writers (and SiWC 2008 Contest VIPs) KC (in upper case, this time) and RH, so I have to get ready for that.

Will report back upon my return.

~kc

Chasing my tail...

...after a quick trip to Calgary this week. Much to relate, but for now a quick word of congratulations to all the nominees for the BC Book Prizes, just announced last night.

Shortlisted titles include:

For the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize:

Adam’s Peak by Heather Burt

Conceit by Mary Novik

Radiance by Shaena Lambert

The Reckoning of Boston Jim by Claire Mulligan

Soucouyant by David Chariandy

For the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize:

The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating by J.B. MacKinnon, Alisa Smith Everywhere Being is Dancing by Robert Bringhurst

Interwoven Wild: An Ecologist Loose in the Garden by Don Gayton Phantom Limb by Theresa Kishkan

The Triumph of Citizenship: The Japanese and Chinese in Canada, 1941-67 by Patricia E. Roy

For the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize:

Forage by Rita Wong

The Incorrection by George McWhirter

Ox by Christopher Patton

Paper Trail by Arleen Paré

Soft Geography by Gillian Wigmore

For the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize:

The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating by J.B. MacKinnon, Alisa Smith Fortune’s a River: The Collision of Empires in the Pacific Northwest by Barry Gough

The Last Wild Wolves: Ghosts of the Rain Forest by Ian McAllister

The Lost Coast: Salmon, Memory and the Death of Wild Culture by Tim Bowling

Spirit In the Grass: The Cariboo-Chilcotin’s Forgotten Landscape by Chris Harris

For the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize:

The Alchemist’s Dream by John Wilson

Baboon: A Novel by David Jones

The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane by Polly Horvath

For Now by Gayle Friesen

Porcupine by Meg Tilly

For the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize:

The Day It All Blew Away by Lisa Cinar

Elf the Eagle by Ron Smith, Illustrated by Ruth Campbell

Jeffrey and Sloth by Kari-Lynn Winters, Illustrated by Ben Hodson

Pink by Nan Gregory, Illustrated by Luc Melanson

A Sea-Wishing Day by Robert Heidbreder, Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton

For the BC Booksellers’ Choice Award in Honour of Bill Duthie:

The Blue Flames That Keep Us Warm: Mike McCardell’s Favourite Stories by Mike McCardell

Fred Herzog: Vancouver Photographs by Grant Arnold, Michael Turner

The Last Wild Wolves: Ghosts of the Rain Forest by Ian McAllister

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

Spirit In the Grass: The Cariboo-Chilcotin’s Forgotten Landscape by Chris Harris

I am particularly thrilled for Meg, Kari-Lyn, John and Nan -- all members of CWILL BC. Best wishes to all the nominees -- good luck everyone!

~kc

BC Book Prizes

A bit late with this news, but nonetheless...

BC Book Prize Winners Announced

Vancouver, BC - The West Coast Book Prize Society is pleased to announce the winners of the 23rd Annual BC Book Prizes. They are as follows:

Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize Sponsored by Friesens, Webcom and Transcontinental
Carol Windley, Home Schooling (Cormorant Books)

Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize Sponsored by the BC Teachers’ Federation
Don McKay, Strike / Slip (McClelland & Stewart)

Hubert Evans Non-fiction Prize Sponsored by Abebooks
Heather Pringle, The Master Plan: Himmler’s Scholars and the Holocaust (Viking Canada)

Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize Sponsored by Sandhill Book Marketing
Katherine Gordon, Made to Measure: A History of Land Surveying in British Columbia (Sono Nis Press)

Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize Sponsored by the BC Library Association
Sarah Ellis, Odd Man Out (Groundwood Books)

Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize Sponsored by Kate Walker and Company, Michael Reynolds and Associates and Craig Siddall and Associates
Maggie de Vries and Renne Benoit,Tale of a Great White Fish: A Sturgeon Story (Greystone Books)

BC Booksellers’ Choice Award In Honour of Bill Duthie Sponsored by BC Booksellers' Association and Duthie Books
David Suzuki and Greystone Books, David Suzuki: The Autobiography

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR LITERARY EXCELLENCE
Patrick Lane is the recipient of this award, established in 2003 by the Honourable Iona Campagnolo, to recognize British Columbia writers who have contributed to the development of literary excellence in the province.

This year’s gala, emceed by William Deverell and attended by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo, took place at Government House in Victoria on April 28, 2007. The BC Book Prizes were established in 1985 to celebrate the achievements of British Columbia writers and publishers. The prizes are administered and awarded by members of a non-profit society who represent all facets of the publishing and writing community. The West Coast Book Prize Society congratulates all of the winners!

The 2007 BC Book Prizes On Tour has just wrapped up too and more than 2,900 people around the province have had the opportunity to meet and hear some of the finalists for the BC Book Prizes. This year, BC Book Prizes On Tour visited a record 15 communities with readings in schools as well as public venues like libraries and book stores. Check out photos of the authors on tour at our website.

For further details, visit www.bcbookprizes.ca

~kc