MANITOBA BOOK AWARDS SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED

It was a real thrill to be asked to be part of the jury for the Eileen Sykes award. I can't imagine what it would be like to WIN an award, if sitting on the jury for an award is so much fun.

As the press release with all the shortlists for the Manitoba Book Awards has just been released, I thought I could get a leg up on the mainstream media by posting it here for your perusal:


For Immediate Release - March 19, 2009

MANITOBA BOOK AWARDS SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - The Association of Manitoba Book Publishers is pleased toannounce the Manitoba Book Awards shortlists. The awards will be presented at theManitoba Book Awards gala, hosted by CBC Radio's Shelagh Rogers, on Saturday, April25 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Cocktails are at 7:30 p.m., with the ceremonybeginning at 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The shortlists and recipients are selected by a variety of juries, comprised ofwriters, publishers and other book industry personnel from across Canada.

And the nominees are.

McNally Robinson Book of the Year

* Fear Not by Maurice Mierau, published by Turnstone Press
* The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews, published by Alfred A. Knopf Canada
* Reading by Lightning by Joan Thomas, published by Goose Lane Editions
* The Retreat by David Bergen, published by McClelland and Stewart Ltd.

Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for Non-Fiction

* Behind the Headlines: A History of Investigative Journalism in Canada by Cecil Rosner, published by Oxford University Press
* Head Space: Five Decades of Bruce Head, essays by Patricia E. Bovey and AmyKarlinsky, published by The Winnipeg Art Gallery
* Lord Selkirk: A Life by J.M. Bumsted, published by University of Manitoba
* Press Politics in Manitoba: Parties, Leaders, and Voters by Christopher Adams, published by University of Manitoba Press
* Subconscious City, curated by Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan, essays by various contributors, published by The Winnipeg Art Gallery

Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry/Prix Lansdowne de poésie

* Fear Not by Maurice Mierau, published by Turnstone Press
* La Métisse filante de Laurent Poliquin, publié par L'Harmattan
* The Sleeping Life by Kerry Ryan, published by The Muses' Company, an imprint of J.Gordon Shillingford Publishing
* this is a small northern town by Rosanna Deerchild, published by The Muses' Company, an imprint of J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing

Best Illustrated Book of the Year

* L'Étang du soir de J.R. Léveillé et Étienne Gaboury, graphiste Bernard Léveillé,publié par Les Éditions du Blé
* The Harry Winrob Collection of Inuit Sculpture, curated by Darlene Coward Wight,design by Frank Reimer, published by The Winnipeg Art Gallery
* Magic at the Museum, written and illustrated by Jane Heinrichs, published by Wide Horizons Ink Publishing
* Pauline Boutal, Destin d'artiste par Louise Duguay, graphiste Susan Chafe, publiépar Les Éditions du Blé

Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award

* The Beech Nut of Big Water Beach by Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon, published by Aivilo Press
* The Prairie Bridesmaid by Daria Salamon, published by Key Porter Books Ltd.
* Saint-Boniface 1908-2008 : reflets d'une ville, sous la direction de André Fauchonet Carol J. Harvey, publié par les Presses universitaires de Saint-Boniface
* Subconscious City, curated by Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan, essays by variouscontributors, published by The Winnipeg Art Gallery
* Widows of Hamilton House by Christina Penner, published by Enfield & Wizenty

Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book

* The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, published by Random House Canada
* The Prairie Bridesmaid by Daria Salamon, published by Key Porter Books Ltd.
* Reading by Lightning by Joan Thomas, published by Goose Lane Editions
* Somewhere Else by Jan Guenther Braun, published by Arbeiter Ring Publishing
* Widows of Hamilton House by Christina Penner, published by Enfield & Wizenty

John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer

* Rosanna Deerchild
* Christina Penner
* Daria Salamon
* Michael Van Rooy
* Adam Smoluk

Manuela Dias Book Design of the Year

* L'Étang du soir de J.R. Léveillé et Étienne Gaboury, graphiste Bernard Léveillé, publié par Les Éditions du Blé
* The Harry Winrob Collection of Inuit Sculpture, curated by Darlene Coward Wight, design by Frank Reimer, published by The Winnipeg Art Gallery
* Head Space: Five Decades of Bruce Head, essays by Patricia E. Bovey and Amy Karlinsky, published by The Winnipeg Art Gallery
* Pauline Boutal, Destin d'artiste par Louise Duguay, graphiste Susan Chafe, publié par Les Éditions du Blé
* Sheila Spence: Pictures of Me, curated by Mary Reid, design by Lisa Friesen, published by The Winnipeg Art gallery
* Subconscious City, curated by Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan, design by LisaFriesen, published by The Winnipeg Art Gallery

The Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction

* The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews, published by Alfred A. Knopf Canada
* Reading by Lightning by Joan Thomas, published by Goose Lane Editions
* The Retreat by David Bergen, published by McClelland and Stewart Ltd

Mary Scorer Award for Best Book by a Manitoba Publisher

* Bush Camp by Marvin Francis, published by Turnstone Press
* Pauline Boutal, Destin d'artiste par Louise Duguay, publié par Les Éditions du Blé
* They Call Me Chief: Warriors on Ice by Don Marks, published by J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing

McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award - Older Category

* My Mother is a French Fry and Further Proof of my Fuzzed-Up Life by Colleen Sydor, published by Kids Can Press
* Shadow-Town by Duncan Thornton, published by Annick Press
* Withershins by Susan Rocan, published by Great Plains Publications
* Spider's Song by Anita Daher, published by Penguin Group

McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award - Younger Category

* Andrea's Fiddle by Blaine Klippenstein, illustrated by Christie Jedele, published by Loon Books Publishing
* Goose Girl by Joe McLellan and Matrine McLellan, illustrated by Rhian Brynjolson, published by Pemmican Publications
* Granny's Giant Bannock by Brenda Isabel Wastasecoot, illustrated by Kimberly McKay-Fleming, published by Pemmican Publications

Le Prix littéraire Rue-Deschambault

* L'endroit et l'envers par Lise Gaboury-Diallo, publié par L'Harmattan
* Pauline Boutal, Destin d'artiste par Louise Duguay, publié par Les Éditions du Blé
* Voyages au pays des maléfices de Tatiana Arcand, publié par Les Éditions du Blé

The Association of Manitoba Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support ofthe following Book Awards partners: Aqua Books, The Canada Council for the Arts,Friesens, Hignell Book Printing, the Manitoba Arts Council, Manitoba Culture,Heritage, Tourism and Sport, the Manitoba Foundation for the Arts, Manitoba Tradeand Investment, McNally Robinson Booksellers, the Winnipeg Arts Council and theWinnipeg Foundation.

For more information contact:

Karen San Filippo
Manitoba Book Awards Coordinator
Association of Manitoba Book Publishers
404-100 Arthur St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 1H3
(204) 947-3335
projectsambp@mts.net
www.manitobabookawards.com


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An Overdue Update

I feel badly for not updating on a more regular basis the going-ons at Pennywise. Therefore, here is some bad news, some good news and some better news and some bad news again...

Bad news: Pennywise Books is currently operating under slightly reduced hours. From Tuesday to Friday, the store is open from 12:30 to 5:30 PM. On Saturdays, we remain open from 10 AM to 5:00 PM. Sundays and Mondays we are closed.

Good news: We have added two new sections in the store - Westerns and New Age. Whereas customers used to have to ask for these books, we've now carved out shelf space. Fans of Louis L'Amour and Wiccan nonfiction can now browse to their hearts content. Also, very shortly we will have a new, great big shelf for new arrivals of discount titles. Deals galore!

Better news: There are a number of exciting activities being lined up for the coming weeks and months. These special events are of all varieties, types and natures. Be sure to keep tuned!

Bad news, again: I'm not going to tell you what any of these special events are. Not yet.

As always, you are invited to come down to visit with us at Pennywise Books and see what strange and wonderful new books we have tracked down and have available for your reading pleasure.

I look forward to see you again very soon.