Congratulations to Sue Goyette – shortlisted for the Atlantic Poetry Prize for her book outskirts!!
WFNS Executive Director Nate Crawford announced the shortlist for the 2012 Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia Literary Awards on June 2, 2012 following the non-profit organization’s Annual General Meeting.
The WFNS Literary Awards celebrate and acknowledge literary excellence from Atlantic Canada’s four provinces through the presentation of three distinct awards totalling $24,000 in prizes; The Atlantic Poetry Prize, The Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize, and The Evelyn Richardson Award for Non-Fiction.
Awards jurors deliberated over 66 submissions to select nine finalists for the three awards. This year’s shortlisted authors represent the finest professional writing in the region from both established and emerging authors. “That there are seasoned writers with remarkable works as well as three first books on these lists makes a truly exciting statement about our region,” said Crawford.
Competitions are open to native or resident Atlantic Canadians (Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or New Brunswick) who have lived in one or a combination of these provinces for at least 24 months prior to the entry deadline date. The Richardson Prize is open to Nova Scotians only.
Shortlisted authors will tour the region, visiting festivals and performing readings throughout the summer. The list of events includes readings from the Atlantic Poetry Prize nominees in Wolfville, NS, at the Acadia University Art Gallery on July 28, readings from the Richardson Prize nominees will be held at the Osprey Arts Centre in Shelburne, NS on August 11, and on October 11 the Thomas Head Raddall nominees will visit Lane’s Privateer Inn in Liverpool, NS.
Winners will be announced and awards presented at the Maritime Conservatory of the Atlantic on the evening of Friday, October 12, 2012. The awards presentation and celebration will take place in the elegant Lillian Percy Concert Hall and will include readings, musical entertainment, refreshments and an opportunity to meet this year’s winners and nominees.
2012 Shortlist – Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia Literary Awards
Atlantic Poetry Prize Shortlist:
Sue Goyette, outskirts, Brick Books
Warren Heiti, Hydrologos, Pedlar Press
Anne Simpson, Is, McClelland & Stewart
Learn more about the 2012 Atlantic Poetry Prize nominees here.
Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize Shortlist:
Valerie Compton, Tide Road, Goose Lane Editions
Heather Jessup, The Lightning Field, Gaspereau Press
David Adams Richards, Incidents in the Life of Markus Paul, Doubleday Canada
Learn more about the 2012 Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize nominees here.
Evelyn Richardson Memorial Non-Fiction Award Shortlist:
Chris Benjamin, Eco-Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada, Nimbus Publishing
Ray MacLeod, Hope For Wildlife: True Stories of Animal Rescue, Nimbus Publishing
Harry Thurston, The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History, Greystone Books in association with the David Suzuki Foundation
Learn more about the 2012 Evelyn Richardson Memorial Non-Fiction Award nominees here.
About the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia Literary Awards:
Introduced in 1998, previous winners of the $2000 Atlantic Poetry Prize include Anne Simpson, Ken Babstock and Don Domanski. Full-length books of adult poetry written by Atlantic Canadians, and published as a whole for the first time in the current calendar year, are eligible; a complete list of past recipients can be viewed at www.writers.ns.ca/wfns-book-prizes/atlantic-poetry-prize.html
Nova Scotia’s highest award for a book of non-fiction written by a Nova Scotian, the $2000 Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Award is presented annually by WFNS. The Award is named for Nova Scotia writer Evelyn Richardson, whose book We Keep A Light won the Governor General’s Literary Award for non-fiction in 1945. Previous winners include Joan Baxter, Robin Metcalfe and Silver Donald Cameron; a complete list of past recipients can be viewed at www.writers.ns.ca/wfns-book-prizes/evelyn-richardson-non-fiction-award.html
Established by the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia and the Writers’ Development Trust in 1990 the $20,000 Thomas H. Raddall award recognizes the best Atlantic Canadian adult fiction. Although the benefactor requested anonymity during his lifetime, the Federation is profoundly indebted to the generosity of Thomas H. Raddall, who willed an endowment that augments the initial prize in perpetuity. Previous winners include Michael Crummey, Alistair MacLeod and Linda Little; a complete list of past recipients can be viewed at www.writers.ns.ca/wfns-book-prizes/thomas-head-raddall-atlantic-fiction-award.html
Tagged: Atlantic Poetry Prize, brick books, outskirts, Sue goyette
