Winners of CBA Libris Awards 2010

TORONTO (29 May 2010) – It was Atlantic Canada’s year, as Newfoundland-born author Linden MacIntyre and Halifax bookstores Bookmark II and Woozles Ltd. found themselves among the big winners at Canadian Booksellers Association’s(CBA's) Libris Awards 2010 Presentation, which took place on May 29, at theDelta Toronto Airport West Hotel during CBA’s National Conference, in a gala event hosted by CBC Radio One’s Shelagh Rogers.

Unique in their commitment to acknowledging the best among the talented professionals who deliver great books to Canadian readers, and nominated and voted on by members of the Canadian bookselling community, CBA Libris Awards honour outstanding achievement by authors and editors, sales reps and distributors, booksellers and publishers.

Linden MacIntyre was the night’s only double-winner. His critically acclaimed The Bishop’s Man won the Fiction Book of the Year Award, and he won Author of the Year honours for his outstanding literary work and his contribution to Canadian culture and support of the bookselling industry. Winning in this year’s revised children’s book categories—Picture Book and Young Readers’ Book of the Year—were When Stella Was Very, Very Small (Marie-Louise Gay, Groundwood Books) and Vanishing Girl: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Third Case (Shane Peacock, Tundra Books).

In the Non-fiction category anthropologist Wade Davis’ exploration of the wisdom of the world's indigenous cultures, The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World (House of Anansi Press), came out on top.

This year’s Sales Rep winner, covering the Prairies, was Kate Walker & Company’s Rorie Bruce, and the Editor of the Year recipient (for the second year in a row) was Cormorant Books’ Marc Côté.

In the Bookseller categories, winners include Specialty Bookseller of the Year honouree Woozles Ltd. (Halifax) and The Book Store at Western (London, ON), which took The Campus Bookseller of the Year title. The industry’s pick for Bookseller of the Year is Bookmark II (Halifax).

In the publishing arena, the reigning Small Press and Publisher of the Year are Toronto’s Coach House Books and House of Anansi Press, respectively, while Raincoast Book Distribution has earned Distributor of the Year bragging rights.

This year’s ceremony featured the presentation of a brand new award: Chase Paymentech Young Bookseller of the Year, recognizing outstanding achievement from a bookseller under 30, which was awarded to Mandy Brouse from Words Worth Books in Waterloo, ON.

Tour Downtown for a chance to win $500

During the Memorial Cup, May 14 - 23rd, while shopping, eating or just visiting downtown merchants, you can enter a ballot for a chance to win $500.

From the Renaissance Brandon website (www.renaissancebrandon.ca):

Twenty-Five downtown businesses have organized the “Tour our Historic Downtown for a Chance to Win $500″ promotion within the Renaissance District to publically show support and participation of downtown Brandon merchants and Renaissance Brandon during the Memorial Cup and Manitoba Homecoming 2010. Manitoba Homecoming is a year long experience bringing former and current Manitobans, visitors, friends and families together for events, festivals and an all around great celebration.

The newly formed group of interested and motivated downtown merchants will use this unique to Brandon and Manitoba opportunity to showcase the district’s heritage and diverse selection of services.

5,000 copies of a downtown map highlight the 25 participating businesses along with some historic buildings within the Renaissance District. The downtown map is located within the Visitor Guide distributed throughout Brandon to hotels, Memorial Cup Village and two other information centers at Westman Communications Place. Anyone visiting one or more of the 25 downtown businesses can enter their name in a free draw. At the conclusion of the Memorial Cup a name will be drawn to determine the winner of the $500 grand prize. In addition, the Town Center Merchant’s Association will be making a $500 donation to the Wheat King’s Bursary Fund. The promotional event Starts May 14, 2010.

Visit Renaissance Brandon to see the map.

The following merchants are participating in this promotion:

1. Bromley‘s Menswear
2. New System
3. The Town Centre Merchant Association
4. Remington’s
5. Union Shoe Store
6. Gypsy Jive Dance
7. Samson Engineering Ltd
8. Pennywise Books
9. Double Decker Tavern
10. Black Orchid Beauty Salon
11. Catwalk Clothing Company
12. Olivier’s Bistro & Steakhouse
13. Ginger Cat Café
14. Chilly Chutney
15. TCM Goldsmith
16. Cinnamon Tree
17. Friends Fashion Boutique
18. Brandon Sewing Centre
19. Anna’s Indulgence
20. Westoba Credit Union
21. A Buck or Two
22. Zeke’s Jewellers
23. Troika Treasures
24. Clancy’s Eatery & Drinkery
25. Sub Shop – Town Centre

"Black Bottle Man" Book Launch - April 28

Craig Russell is well known in Brandon as a lawyer, actor and director of plays, and now, he can add novelist to that that list. His first foray in young adult fiction has been successful. "Black Bottle Man" was picked up by Great Plains Publications, one of four publishers that Russell approached with his manuscript.

"He's quite an amazing talent," said Great Plains Publications editor Anita Daher. "He's got such a sense of story. I'm very excited about his book coming out."

Thanks to her support, the novel underwent very few changes and was published within months, rather than years as is usually the norm.

"It was such a clean manuscript. It only needed a few months of going back and forth, and it was ready for publication. What was fast was the decision-making. From the very first read, it absolutely blew me away," she said. "It was one of those stories that I wanted to read from
beginning right through to the end."

She describes "Black Bottle Man" as very original with a distinctive and strong main character, great pacing, balance and very clean language.

"It isn't what you usually see in a first-time author," Daher said. "We sat down at an editorial meeting and I said: 'I love this!' and the boss said: 'Well, that's good enough for me.'"

Novelist Craig Russell will give a reading of "Black Bottle Man" at Pennywise Books, 1031 Rosser Ave., at 7 p.m., on Wednesday, April 28.

Removing the Hutterite Kerchief

Rebecca Hofer's controversial book "Removing the Hutterite Kerchief" is now in stock.

Learn the rich diverse culture and social environment of a Hutterite colony in Manitoba and follow the traditions of its people.

Meet the families from Hutterite Barrickman Colony and see the story unfold when it becomes overpopulated. Observe how Samuel and Sarah Hofer's family were chosen to move to the new colony named Greenwald.

Immerse yourself in the true story of this Hutterite family at Greenwald Colony and watch the escalating and unbelievable conditions they endured for more than a decade by their Hutterite leaders.

From their dismal, secluded environment, on a cold winter day, these 40 men, women and children spanning three generations, half the members of Greenwald Colony, with only meagre belongings, did the unimaginable. They left their culture, heritage adn livelihood behind and moved into an unfamiliar and unknown world.

Daily Planet's Jay Ingram speaking in Brandon

Come meet Jay Ingram, co-host of Daily Planet, as part of the 2010 Prairie Innovation Forum. March 16, 1:30 pm, Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium.

Pennywise Books will be on hand, selling copies of his books: The Daily Planet Book of Cool Ideas ($28); The Science of Everyday Life ($24); and The Velocity of Honey ($22).

Listen to Jay's talk, buy a book and get it signed by the author.

To celebrate this engaging speaker's presence in Brandon, Pennywise will pay the GST on all books purchased at this event.

We look forward to seeing you there.