Bumper crop of fall launches, literary prizes

Ben Sigurdson Paper Chase
By: Ben Sigurdson Posted: Last Modified: | Updates

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Literary award season is in full swing, and local authors are showing well in a number of categories.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/11/2024 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Literary award season is in full swing, and local authors are showing well in a number of categories.

Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair and Winnipeg poet laureate Chimwemwe Undi won in the non-fiction and poetry categories, respectively, at the Governor General’s Literary Awards for their books Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre and Scientific Marvel (again, respectively).

Other winners, which were announced Nov. 13, included Jordan Abel in the fiction category for Empty Spaces, Li Charmaine Anne in the young people’s literature — text category for Crash Landing and Jean E. Pendziwol and Todd Stewart for Skating Wild on an Inland Sea in the young people’s literature — illustrated books category. Each of the winners receive $25,000. To peruse all the winners see ggbooks.ca.

Meanwhile, author Stephen R. Bown was awarded the Governor General’s History Award for Popular Media (The Pierre Berton Award) for his contribution to Canadians’ understanding of our past. His most recent books are Dominion: The Railway and the Rise of Canada and The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson’s Bay Empire. The award is administered by Canada’s History Society, and comes with a $5,000 prize.

At an Oct. 27 event in Toronto, two Winnipeg authors were recognized at the Canadian Jewish Literary Awards, which “recognizes and rewards the finest Canadian writing on Jewish themes and subjects.”

Saskatoon-born, Winnipeg-raised and B.C.-based poet Rhea Tregebov won the poetry award for her collection Talking to Strangers, published in April by Montreal’s Vehicule Press.

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In the children and youth category, Winnipeg-born, Thornhill, Ont.-based Sidura Ludwig won the top prize for her picture book Rising, which was illustrated by Tel Aviv artist Sophia Vincent Guy.

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For a complete list of winners, see wfp.to/Aqy.

Across the pond, the 2024 Booker Prize was awarded to English novelist Samantha Harvey on Nov. 12 for her novel Orbital, which follows six astronauts from a range of countries aboard the International Space Station as they ruminate on their mission, humanity and more. The Booker Prize comes with a £50,000 prize (approximately CAD$88,900).

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Awards season continues in the coming days with a double-header — the 2024 Giller Prize for fiction, which is being awarded on Monday night in Toronto, and the Writers’ Trust awards, which are being doled out in a range of categories on Tuesday (also in Toronto). Among the Writers’ Trust finalists is Winnipeg’s Jenny Heijun Wills for her essay collection Everything and Nothing at All, which is up for the Hilary Weston non-fiction prize.

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● ● ●

McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location is packing in the book launches over the next week before the festival holiday season kicks in.

Great Plains Press founder Gregg Shilliday launches his slender memoir The Lush Life: A not so sober second look, tonight at 7 p.m. He’ll be joined for the launch of the booze-fuelled bio by political cartoonist Dale Cummings, who provided drawings for The Lush Life.

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On Sunday at 2 p.m., the Prairie Garden Committee convenes to launch the lates in their annual series, The Prairie Garden 2025: Budget-Minded Gardening. Among those chatting about all things gardening will be Tim Evans, editor Dorothy Dobbie as well as Stu Innes and Debbie Innes.

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On Wednesday, former astronaut and MP Marc Garneau touches down at McNally Robinson to discuss his memoir A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream with Free Press editor Paul Samyn. Garneau details his early years in the navy, becoming Canada’s first astronaut and his time in the House of Commons.

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Squamish Nation author Carolyn Roberts visits Winnipeg on Thursday at 7 p.m. to chat about her latest book Re-Storying Education: Decolonizing Your Practice Using a Critical Lens with Indigenous educator Dr. Shelly Niemi. The book offers ideas for lessons and assessments educators can incorporate into thir practice to amplify Indigenous voices.

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Last but not least, on Friday at 7 p.m., travel writer Donna Janke will chat with Winnipeg photographer Gindalee Ouskun about their book 111 Places in Winnipeg That You Must Not Miss.

● ● ●

Winnipeg music historian John Einarson hosts another pair of readings/signings this week in support of his book Words & Music: The Stories Behind The Books. On Wednesday, Einarson will be at the Millennium Library (251 Donald St.) from 6:30-7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, Nov. 23, he’ll visit the Charleswood Library (4910 Roblin Blvd.) from 2-3 p.m.

books@freepress.mb.ca

Ben Sigurdson

Ben Sigurdson
Literary editor, drinks writer

Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press‘s literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben.

In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press’s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Ben Sigurdson

Ben Sigurdson
Literary editor, drinks writer

Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press‘s literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben.

In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press’s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

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Updated on Saturday, November 16, 2024 4:36 PM CST: Adds link

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