News & Events
MARCH 2019: A Foreword INDIE Book Of The Year Finalist
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CELTIC KNOT is chosen as a finalist in Multicultural Fiction by the Foreword Reviews INDIE book award, a prestigious international competition for small press and indie books.
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TORONTO, MARCH 25th--
One hundred and two Canadian writers published by university presses, small traditional publishers and author-publishers, have been shortlisted for an American writing award—and there may be more.
Forty-two Canadian books, fourteen fiction and poetry and the remainder non-fiction, have been chosen as finalists in the 2018 Foreword INDIES Book Of The Year Award, according to a list compiled by nominee Ann Shortell. Some books have multiple authors; in fact, fifty-four writers are represented in two anthologies and one collection of short stories. Still, “when I set out to find other Canadians shortlisted for a Foreword Award,” said Shortell, who is shortlisted in the Multicultural Fiction category for CELTIC KNOT A CLARA SWIFT TALE, “I did not expect to find more than a hundred writers.”
University presses are well-represented, with books published by University of Alberta Press, Wilfred Laurier University Press, University of Regina Press and University of Calgary Press all being honoured. Traditional Canadian publishers with shortlisted writers include Breakwater Books of St. John’s Newfoundland; The Porcupine’s Quill, Annick Press, Pajama Press, and ECW Press of Toronto; Wolsak and Wynn of Hamilton, Ont.; Ottawa press Guernica World Editions; and British Columbia publishers New Society Publishers, Harbour Publishers, and Douglas & McIntyre.
Shortell’s publisher, FriesenPress of Victoria, B.C., has one other author-publisher on the Foreword list: non-fiction author Mark Cote, who is also nominated for the Saskatchewan Book Award for THAT LUCKY OLD SON. “In another century, when I was a journalist, it was easy for media to write about Canadian authors—we were all promoted by the same few publishers,“ says Shortell, also a multiple nominee as a finalist for the Sarton Women’s Book Award and a past finalist for the Arthur Ellis ‘Unhanged’ Award. “Today, publishing’s new global platforms allow authors to take control of their own books—which also means novels can be well-reviewed internationally and yet may be under the radar of Canadian literary media,”
Awards like the Foreword INDIES help to right that balance, she said. Founded in 1998, Foreword Magazine, Inc. is devoted to independent publishing. Publishers of Folio, itself an award-winning bimonthly print review journal, as well as daily online content feeds, Foreword exclusively covers university and independent (non “Big 5”) publishers, the books they publish, and their authors. Foreword is based in Traverse City, Michigan, with staff based worldwide.
“Determining the INDIES Finalists is such a rewarding process,” said Victoria Sutherland, founder and publisher of Foreword Reviews. “Each year we are reminded what a vital part of publishing indie presses occupy, and knowing what the recognition could mean to an individual book inspires us to provide our finalist judges with the best choices to help them determine the winners. We take this privilege very seriously.”
As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Magazine, Inc. has hosted an annual awards program for 21 years. Finalists represent the best books published in 2018. After more than 2,000 individual titles spread across 56 genres were submitted for consideration, the list of finalists was determined by Foreword’s editorial team. Winners are decided by an expert team of booksellers and librarians—representing Foreword’s readership—from across the United States.
Winners in each genre—along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s INDIE Publisher of the Yearwill be announced June 14, 2019.
Shortell identified other writers through her own recognition of the books or authors, or by delving into a book’s plot or checking an author’s bio. Foreword provided a list of finalists with Canadian publishers. There may, she suggests, be more Canadians—with U.S. publishers and international storylines—who are difficult to discover. “An award like Foreword places a spotlight on the quantity of high-quality books being written here and produced by Canadian indie publishers. I’d like to congratulate all the Canadian writers shortlisted. I’m hoping, by bringing these names to public attention, I will discover more Canadians honoured by Foreword.” Shortell said. “It’s a rare honour to be a finalist in an international writing award, one we should all celebrate."
THE FOREWORD INDIE BOOK OF THE YEAR CANADIAN FINALIST LIST:
FICTION & POETRY
Fantasy:The Rising Tide(978-0-88984-414-8)
By Mark Frutkin, The Porcupine’s Quill
Historical & Humor: The Comedian(978-1-55238-977-5)
By Clem Martini, University of Calgary Press
LGTB:transVersing (978-1-55081-762-1) By Violet Drake (contributor), Daze Jefferies (contributor), Fionn Shea (contributor), Perin Squires (contributor), Taylor Stocks (contributor), Dane Woodland (contributor), Berni Stapleton (contributor), Sharon King-Campbell (contributor), and Gemma King (contributor), Breakwater Books
Literary:Adjacentland(978-1-928088-56-1)
By Rabindranath Maharaj, Wolsak and Wynn Publishers;
Most Precious Blood (978-1-77183-306-6
By Vince Sgambati, Guernica World Editions;
The Very Marrow of Our Bones(978-1-77041-416-7)
By Christine Higdon, ECW Press
Multicultural: Celtic Knot(978-1-5255-2090-7)
By Ann Shortell, FriesenPress
Mystery:A Gentleman's Murder(978-1-942645-95-5)
By Christopher Huang, Inkshares;
One for the Rock(978-1-55081-687-7)
By Kevin Major, Breakwater Books
YA Fiction The House of One Thousand Eyes(978-1-77321-071-1)
By Michelle Barker, Annick Press
Picture Books The Night Lion (978-1-77278-041-3)
By Sanne Dufft, Pajama Press
Picture Books (Early reader) Anna at the Art Museum(978-1-77321-043-8) Annick PressBy Hazel Hutchins & Gail Herbert, illustrator Lil Crump
Graphic Novels & Comics Small Things (978-1-77278-042-0)
By Mel Tregonning, AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR, Pajama Press
Poetry Blackbird Song(978-0-88977-557-2) By Randy Lundy, University of Regina Press
NON-FICTION
Anthologies Best Kind (978-1-55081-716-4) By Irene Velentzas, Michelle Porter, Elena Slawinska, Bridget Canning, Paul Whittle, Amy Donovan, Heidi Wicks, John Robinson Blackmore, Joan Sullivan, Matthew Hollett, Eva Crocker, Danielle Devereaux, and Robert Finley (editor), Breakwater Books;
Waiting (978-1-77212-383-8) By Rona Altrows (Editor, Contributor), Julie Sedivy (Editor, Contributor), Samantha Albert (Contributor), Sharon Butala (Contributor), Jane Cawthorne(Contributor), Weyman Chan (Contributor), Rebecca Danos (Contributor), Patti Edgar (Contributor), John Graham-Pole (Contributor), Leslie Greentree(Contributor), Edythe Anstey Hanen (Contributor), Vivian Hansen (Contributor), Jane Harris (Contributor), Richard Harrison (Contributor), Elizabeth Haynes (Contributor), Lee Kvern (Contributor), Anne Lévesque (Contributor), Margaret Macpherson(Contributor), Alice Major (Contributor), Wendy McGrath (Contributor), Stuart Ian McKay (Contributor), Lorri Neilsen Glenn (Contributor), Susan Olding (Contributor), Roberta Rees (Contributor), Kathryn Seifert (Contributor), Cora Siré (Contributor), Steven Ross Smith (Contributor), Anne Sorbie (Contributor), Glen Sorestad(Contributor), Kelly S. Thompson (Contributor), Robin van Eck (Contributor), Aritha van Herk (Contributor) University of Alberta Press
Autobiography:Jan in 35 Pieces(978-0-88984-413-1)
By Ian Hampton, The Porcupine's Quill
Business & Economics: A Finer Future (978-0-86571-898-2)
By L. Hunter Lovins (Author), Stewart Wallis (Author), Anders Wijkman (Author), John Fullerton (Author), New Society Publishers;
An Economy of Well-being (978-0-86571-873-9)
By Mark Anielski, New Society Publishers
Ecology & Environment: Climate-Wise Landscaping (978-0-86571-888-3)
By Sue Reed & Ginny Stibolt, New Society Publishers;
Learning to Die(978-0-88977-563-3)
By Robert Bringhurst and Jan Zwicky, University of Regina Press;
Man of the Trees(978-0-88977-566-4)
By Paul Hanley, University of Regina Press
Education:Freedom to Learn (978-0-86571-878-4)
By Cari Williams & Art Willans, New Society Publishers
Essays:Ordinary Paradise(978-0-88984-409-4)
By Richard Teleky, The Porcupine's Quill
Grief & Grieving: Hard Candy(978-1-77183-305-9)
By Annie Rachele Lanzillotto, Guernica World Editions
Family & Relationships: Cracking the Boy Code (978-0-86571-876-0)
By Adam J. Cox, New Society Publishers
History 1930(978-1-77112-361-7)
By Arthur Haberman, Wilfrid Laurier University Press;
Don't Never Tell Nobody Nothin' No How (978-1-55017-841-8)
By Rick James, Harbour Publishing
Humor:See What I'm Saying(978-0-88984-412-4)
By Jim Westergard, The Porcupine's Quill
LGBT:Quarry(978-1-55238-981-2)
By Tanis Franco, University of Calgary Press
Nature:Return of the Wolf(978-1-77162-206-6)
By Paula Wild, Douglas & McIntyre
Performing Arts & Music Antigone Undone(978-0-88977-521-3)
By Will Aitken, University of Regina Press;
Beyond WallsTheatre Passe Muraille 1968-1975 (978-0-88984-418-6)
By Peter Jobin, (Author), Lionel Douglas (Photographer), Robert Nasmith(Photographer), The Porcupine's Quill
Psychology:Psychedelic Revolutionaries(978-0-88-977-420-9)
By P.W. Barber, University of Regina Press
Political & Social Science: Uniquely Dangerous (978-1-73206-540-6)
By Carreen Maloney, publisher Carreen Maloney;
Why Indigenous Literatures Matter(978-1-77112-176-7)
By Heath Justice, Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Regional:Al Rashid Mosque(978-1-77212-333-3)
By Earle H. Waugh , University of Alberta Press
Self-Help:The Aging of Aquarius (978-0-86571-894-4)
By Helen Wilkes, New Society Publishers
Travel:Magnetic North(978-1-77212-382-1)
By Jenna Butler, University of Alberta Press
War & Military Joey Jacobson's War(978-1-77112-342-6)
By Peter J. Usher, Wilfrid Laurier University Press;
That Lucky Old Son (978-1-5255-2037-2)
By Mark Cote, FriesenPress
Women’s Studies: Women Who Dig(978-0-88977-527-5)
By Trina Moyles and K.J. Dakin (photographer), University of Regina Press
January 2019:
FINALIST
SARTON WOMEN’S BOOK AWARD
FINALIST
SARTON WOMEN’S BOOK AWARD
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CELTIC KNOT is one of five finalists in historical fiction in the Sarton Women’s Book Award. Sponsored by the Story Circle Network, an international association of female writers, the award is named in honour of memoirist, novelist and poet May Sarton. December 2018: A rave review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY CALLED “THE COKE” OF REVIEWS BY SLATE MAGAZINE, PW REVIEWS ARE COVETED AND RARE--AN INDIE AUTHOR HAS A ONE IN A THOUSAND CHANCE OF BEING CHOSEN. November 2018: Ann’s first guest blog: Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots by Mary Anne Yarde
October 2019: Reading & signing at Sleuth of Baker St. with Mike Martin & Lynn McPherson
September 2018: Perfect Books in Ottawa & Word On The Street in Toronto August: The NYRB INDEPENDENT PRESS LISTING Celtic Knot is featured August 19th in The New York Review of Books in a curated promotion to alert readers to select indies. |
(image:MAY SARTON; A BIOGRAPHY by Margot Peters)
INVITED BY MARY ANNE YARDE TO GUEST BLOG, I CHOSE TO WRITE OF 'LIFE IN THE TIME OF T. D’ARCY MCGEE'
https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/search?q=ANN+SHORTELL 
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