Finalists chosen for Victoria book prizes

The finalists for the 2017 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize and the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize were announced on Wednesday.

Eight local authors are in contention for two top prizes of $5,000, which will be presented during an awards gala at the Union Club of British Columbia on Oct. 11.

Joining authors Kevin Patterson (nominated for News from the Red Desert), Steven Price (By Gaslight) and Yasuko Thanh (Mysterious Fragrance of the Yellow Mountains) in the contest for the Butler Book Prize are poets M.A.C. Farrant (The Days: Forecasts, Warnings, Advice) and Patricia Young (Short Takes on the Apocalypse).

The award is for the best book published by a Greater Victoria author in the preceding year in the categories of fiction, non-fiction or poetry.

Margriet Ruurs (nominated for Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey) will compete with Robin Stevenson (Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community) and Kari Jones (At the Edge of the World) for the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize, which is awarded to an author or illustrator for the best children’s book published in the preceding year.

The nominees for both awards were determined by two independent juries of literary arts community representatives.

For information, visit victoriabookprizes.ca.