For Immediate Release
March 20, 2024 – The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) has announced the shortlisted titles for the 9th annual New Brunswick Book Awards. The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on Saturday, June 1, as part of WFNB’s annual WordSpring writing festival in Moncton. The program will celebrate books published in the 2023 calendar year in the poetry, fiction, nonfiction and children’s picture books categories. The finalists are as follows:
Mrs. Dunster’s Award for Fiction
Judge: Donna Morrissey of Nova Scotia has published seven nationally best-selling novels, plus a memoir, Pluck. She has received awards in Canada, the U.S. and England and her novel, Sylvanus Now was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize. Donna’s fiction has been translated into several different languages.
- Valerie Sherrard, Standing on Neptune (DCB Cormorant, 2023), Miramichi
- Lisa Alward, Cocktail (Biblioasis, 2023), Fredericton
- Luke Francis Beirne, Blacklion (Baraka Books, 2023), Saint John
Alice Kitts Memorial Award for Excellence in Children’s Writing
Judge: Deborah Kerbel is the Ontario-based author of over 30 books for young people including 23 picture books. Her work has garnered critical recognition from review journals and award nomination committees including the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award, and the CLA’s YA Book Award, among others.
- Braelyn Cyr, Apli’kmuj’s Journey (Monster House Publishing), Campbellton; also illustrated
- Gail Francis, Moonbeam (Monster House Publishing), Miramichi; illustrated by Tara Audibert
- Sara O’Leary, The Little Books of the Litte Brontës (Tundra), St. Martins; illustrated by Briony May Smith
The Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize
Judge: Bertrand Bickersteth is the author of The Response of Weeds. His poetry has appeared in numerous publications including Geist, The Walrus, and Grain. He is currently working on a collection of poems on Black cowboys. He lives in Moh’kins’tsis (Calgary) and teaches at Olds College, both in Treaty 7 Territory.
- Matthew Gwathmey, Tumbling for Amateurs (Coach House Books); Fredericton
- Allan Cooper, The Face of Everything (Pottersfield Press); Riverview
- Fawn Parker, Soft Inheritance (Palimpsest Press); Fredericton
Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick Nonfiction Award
Judge: Madhur Anand's debut book of prose This Red Line Goes Straight to Your Heart won the Governor General's Literary Award for Nonfiction. Her two collections of poetry, A New Index for Predicting Catastrophes and Parasitic Oscillations, were both finalists for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry. She is a full professor of ecology and sustainability at the University of Guelph.
- Valerie Sherrard and Natalie Hyde, More than Words: Navigating the Complex World of Communication (DCB Young Readers); Miramichi; illustrated by David Jardine
- Anne Koval, Mary Pratt: A Love Affair with Vision (Goose Lane Publishing); Sackville
- Jason Bell, Cracking the Nazi Code (Harper Collins), Fredericton
The New Brunswick Book Awards are open to traditionally published and self-published authors who have lived in the province for three of the last five years, including the award year.
The awards program is administered by the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB), which for more than 30 years has passionately supported the development of home-grown writers at all stages of development. The live awards ceremony will take place at the Press Club in Moncton on June 1, as part of WFNB’s annual writing festival, WordSpring.
The awards ceremony on June 1 from 6 to 9 pm is a free event, and the public is invited to attend at the Moncton Press Club, 160 Assomption Blvd, Moncton. Hosted by Jonna Brewer, host of CBC’s Information Morning Moncton, the evening will include nibbles and a cash bar, with reception entertainment provided by Chris Colepaugh. The guest speaker for the evening will be Pamela Mullinger, co-publisher of EDIT magazine.
-30-
Media Contacts:
Rhonda Bulmer
info@wfnb.ca
506-974-1476
