BC and Yukon Book Prizes announce 2023 shortlists
West Coast Book Prize Society names finalists in eight categories
THE WEST COAST Book Prize Society today announced finalists in eight categories for the 39th annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes.
Winners will be announced at the BC and Yukon Book Prizes Gala on September 24 at the University Golf Club in Vancouver, along with the recipient of the 2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence and the Borealis Prize: The Commissioner of Yukon Award for Literary Contribution.
Vying for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, which is awarded to the author of the best work of literary fiction, are: Marion Ehrenberg, The Language of Dreams (Friesen Press); Billy-Ray Belcourt, A Minor Chorus (Hamish Hamilton/Penguin Random House Canada); Tsering Yangzom Lama, We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies (McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada); Janice Lynn Mather, Uncertain Kin (Doubleday Canada/Penguin Random House Canada); and Danny Ramadan, The Foghorn Echoes (Viking/Penguin Random House Canada).
Finalists for the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize, which is awarded to the author of the best original non-fiction literary work, are: Karen Bakker, The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology Is Bringing Us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants (Princeton University Press); Lyndsie Bourgon, Tree Thieves: Crime and Survival in North America's Woods (Greystone Books); Michael J. Hathaway, What a Mushroom Lives For: Matsutake and the Worlds They Make (Princeton University Press); Harrison Mooney, Invisible Boy: A Memoir of Self-Discovery (Patrick Crean Editions/HarperCollins Canada); Jody Wilson-Raybould, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force for Change (McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada).
The Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize recognizes the author(s) of the book that contributes most to the enjoyment and understanding of British Columbia and Yukon. Finalists are: Dempsey Bob (Author), Sarah Milroy (Editor), Dempsey Bob: In His Own Voice (Figure 1 Publishing); Erika Dyck and Jesse Donaldson, The Acid Room: The Psychedelic Trials and Tribulations of Hollywood Hospital (Anvil Press); Caitlin Gordon-Walker (Editor), Pam Brown, Jisgang Nika Collison, Anthony Alan Shelton, and Jodi Simkin (Curators), in collaboration with the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Knowledge Within: Treasures of the Northwest Coast (Figure 1 Publishing); Cole Pauls, Kwändǖr (Conundrum Press); Roy Henry Vickers, Ben the Sea Lion (Harbour Publishing).
The Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize is awarded to the author of the best work of poetry. Finalists are: Otoniya J. Okot Bitek , A is for Acholi (Wolsak & Wynn); Megan Fennya Jones, The Program (Goose Lane Editions); Cecily Nicholson, HARROWINGS (Talonbooks); Tolu Oloruntoba, Each One a Furnace (McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada); and Sheryda Warrener, Test Piece (Coach House Books).
Finalists for the Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes, which is presented to a book that challenges or provokes ideas and forces that shape what writing, art, and/or society can become include: Otoniya J. Okot Bitek , A is for Acholi (Wolsak & Wynn); Michael J. Hathaway, What a Mushroom Lives For: Matsutake and the Worlds They Make (Princeton University Press); Tsering Yangzom Lama, We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies (McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada); Harrison Mooney, Invisible Boy: A Memoir of Self-Discovery (Patrick Crean Editions/HarperCollins Canada); and Y-Dang Troeung, Refugee Lifeworlds: The Afterlife of the Cold War in Cambodia (Temple University Press).
The Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize goes to the best illustrated book written for children, with the 2023 finalists being: Linda Bailey (Author), Isabelle Follath (Illustrator), Arthur Who Wrote Sherlock (Tundra Books/Penguin Random House Canada); Nathan Fairbairn (Author), Michele Assarasakorn (Illustrator), PAWS: Mindy Makes Some Space (Razorbill/Penguin Random House Canada Canada); Guojing, The Flamingo (Random House Studio/Penguin Random House Canada); Buffy Sainte-Marie (Author), Julie Flett (Illustrator), Still This Love Goes On (Greystone Books); and Jessika Von Innerebner, That’s My Sweater! (Scholastic Canada Ltd).
The Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize is awarded to the best non-illustrated book written for children. Finalists are: Haley Healey (Author), Kimiko Fraser (Illustrator), Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia and the Yukon (Heritage House Publishing); Rachel Hartman, In the Serpent's Wake (Penguin Teen Canada); Susan Juby, Me Three (Puffin Canada/Penguin Random House Canada); Emily Seo (Author), Gracey Zhang (Illustrator), The Science of Boys (Tradewind Books); and Kim Spencer, Weird Rules to Follow (Orca Book Publishers).
Vying for the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award, which is presented to the originating publisher and author(s) of the best book in terms of public appeal, initiative, design, production, and content, are: Monique Gray Smith (Author), Dolores Greyeyes Sand (Translator), Gabrielle Grimard (Illustrator), I Hope / nipakosêyimon (Orca Book Publishers); Chief Robert Joseph, Namwayut: We Are All One: A Pathway to Reconciliation (Page Two Books); Grant Lawrence, Return to Solitude: More Desolation Sound Adventures with the Cougar Lady, Russell the Hermit, the Spaghetti Bandit and Others (Harbour Publishing); Eve Lazarus, Cold Case BC: The Stories behind the Province's Most Intriguing Murder and Missing Persons Cases (Arsenal Pulp Press); and Gary Wyatt with Robert Davidson, Echoes of the Supernatural: The Graphic Art of Robert Davidson (Figure 1 Publishing)
In advance of the September 24 gala annoucing the winners, a selection of the shortlisted authors will be part of BC and Yukon Book Prizes On Tour. This author-reading tour will take finalists to schools and public venues in communities throughout BC and Yukon from May through September 2023.
A soirée to celebrate the shortlisted authors will be held on May 11 at 7 pm at Book Warehouse in Vancouver (632 West Broadway). This casual, celebratory event to kick off the festivities is free and open to the public. Finalist books will be available to purchase.
More information is at https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/.
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