PEI Book Awards 2020 short list

The Island’s best published writing has been nominated for the 2020 Prince Edward Island Book Awards.

The awards are presented every two years to recognize authors, editors, and book producers in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. This year a fourth category has been added and a prize will be awarded for children’s literature for the first time.  

“We are very fortunate to have so many excellent writers in our province who tell stories that broaden our perspective, celebrate our culture and help us to make sense of our world. It takes considerable work and courage on the part of our writers to publish and submit their work, and we extend our thanks and congratulations to all those who did.”

- Education and Lifelong Learning Minister Brad Trivers

The awards will be presented at an online event on June 6 in partnership with the PEI Writers’ Guild Island Literary Awards.

Following is the Prince Edward Island Book Awards 2020 short list of nominees.
Non-fiction

• Listening for the Dead Bells: Highland Magic in Prince Edward Island by Marian Bruce
• Mammals of Prince Edward Island and Adjacent Marine Waters by Rosemary Curley, Pierre-Yves Daoust, Donald F. McAlpine, Kimberly Riehl, and J. Dan McAskill
• The Cove Journal: Life on the Island’s South Shore by JoDee Samuelson

Fiction

• Avril’s Phoenix by Michelle Harris-Genge
• Killings at Little Rose by Finley Martin
• Gregor Samsa Was Never in the Beatles by J. J. Steinfeld

Poetry

• What Your Hands Have Done by Chris Bailey
• Jeopardy by Richard Lemm
• Live Ones by Sadie McCarney

Children’s Literature

• Welcome to Camp Fill-in-the-Blank by Hope Dalvay
• Rika’s Shepherd by Orysia Dawydiak
• Maurice the Moose by Lorne Elliott

Submissions in each category were assessed by an independent jury for the content, quality of design, and production. Winners receive a cash prize and handmade item created by an Island craftsperson. This year’s selection is an antler and wood carving by Cabin Fever Carving.
The Prince Edward Island Book Awards are sponsored by the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning. The poetry award was sponsored by the Bookmark in Charlottetown.

Media contact:
Jean Doherty
Department of Education and LifelongLearning
902 314 5702
jmdoherty@gov.pe.ca