Awards coming up
Free book events highlighted during May
The Atlantic Book Awards Society will feature several free events featuring this year’s shortlisted authors and illustrators happening throughout Atlantic Canada from May 2-10.
It will culminate in the award show at the Paul O’Regan Hall in Halifax Central Library on Thursday, May 10 at 7 p.m., when the recipients of 13 different book awards will be revealed.
In addition to the nominees previously announced, the society’s Pioneer Award will be awarded to an individual from Nova Scotia who has made a substantial contribution to the literary life of the region.
Award-winning singersongwriter Ronald Bourgeois (ronaldbourgeois.com) will be hosting this year’s bilingual award show, which will include a silent auction and a reception to follow, featuring the authors, as well as book signings.
Tickets are $15 and are available at tickethalifax.com. Books will be for sale from Woozles and Bookmark.
This year’s events, a mix of authors in conversation, readings and book signings, will take place in a variety of venues, from bookstores and libraries to breweries and cultural institutions like the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Events take place from St. John’s to Liverpool.
Details can be found on the society’s website (atlanticbookawards.ca) or on Facebook and Twitter. The Atlantic Book Awards is supported by the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage.
“The words and illustrations of books educate, entertain and bring people together and enrich and highlight our culture,” Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leo Glavine
“The words and illustrations of books educate, entertain and bring people together and enrich and highlight our culture,” said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leo Glavine.
“I encourage everyone to visit your local library to take in some of the events as we celebrate and shine a spotlight on our talented local authors, illustrators and publishers from Atlantic Canada.”
In addition to the Atlantic Book Awards gala and festival, the Atlantic Book Awards Society has joined forces with the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association to present East Bound: Talking Atlantic Books May 9-11 in Halifax.
The three-day event will celebrate and promote books published in Atlantic Canada to Canadian and international delegates.
Among the events taking place is one in Cape Breton at the Drs. Coady and Tompkins Memorial Library, 7972 Cabot Trail, Margaree Forks on Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m.
The Margaree event is a literary gala featuring readings by the three writers shortlisted for the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize — award-winning novelist Carol Bruneau and Margaree’s own Sarah Faber and Oisin Curran — on Saturday, May 5 at 2:30 p.m.
Dr. Brian Douglas Tennyson will give a presentation on Nova Scotia’s experience of the First World War as explored in his latest book, “Nova Scotia at War, 1914-1919,” nominated for the 2018 Democracy 250 Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing at the Bedford Public Library, 15 Dartmouth Rd., Bedford.