featured publisher:
UBC Press

UBC Press is the largest scholarly press in western Canada. The Press publishes books on First Nations culture politics and linguistics, Canadian history, environmental history and policy, resources, Canadian politics, globalization, multiculturalism, urban planning, and Asian studies.

More about UBC Press
See all our members
_____________

Subscribe to Books BC newsletters

Select your interests:
News & Events

Call for Entries to Victoria Book Prize Awards

March 29th, 2012

Authors and illustrators from Greater Victoria are invited to participate in the Victoria Book Prize Society’s annual awards consisting of the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize and the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize.

In its ninth year, the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize honours members of the literary community. The $5,000 prize is awarded to a local author for the best book published in the preceding year in the categories of poetry, non-fiction and fiction.

Established in 2004, the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize is a partnership between the City of Victoria and Brian Butler of Butler Brothers Supplies. “We are pleased to continue our commitment to supporting arts and culture in the community,” said Mayor Dean Fortin. “For the ninth year, the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize will honour literary achievement and showcase the incredibly talented authors who contribute to our great city.”

The $5,000 Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize will be awarded to an author or illustrator of children’s literature. The prize was created in 2008 by Mel Bolen of Bolen Books to provide authors of children’s and youth literature an increased opportunity for recognition.

“The 2012 gala celebrating local writers and illustrators will take place, Wednesday, October 17th at the Union Club. We are looking forward to another wonderfully entertaining evening which showcases our wide range of talented writers,” said Lorna MacDonald, President of the Victoria Book Prize Society. “Our community is very fortunate to have so much talent and a supportive, appreciative audience.”

Books must have been published between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012 to be considered.

Submissions can be made to the Victoria Book Prize Society, c/o Target Storage Ltd., #15 – 747 Princess Avenue, Victoria, BC V8T 1K5 between April 1 and May 31, 2012. Submissions may be delivered in person from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

The Society will appoint two independent juries comprised of representatives from the literary arts community to review and assess adult and children’s literature entries based on their literary merit.

Shortlisted nominees for both prizes will be announced in September, and authors will be showcased at a public reading and reception held at the Union Club of British Columbia on Wednesday, October 17, 2012.

This year’s awards competition and gala are sponsored by the City of Victoria, Brian Butler of Butler Brothers Supplies, Bolen Books, the Union Club of British Columbia, the Magnolia Hotel and Spa, the Marriott Hotel, CBC Radio, Island Blueprint and the Greater Victoria Public Library. The Victoria Book Prize Society establishes the policy and criteria for the prizes, appoints the juries and administers the competitions.

Previous City of Victoria Butler Book Prize winners include Kevin Patterson for Country of Cold in 2004, Terrence Young for After Goodlake’sin 2005, Mark Zuehlke for Holding Juno in 2006, Bill Gaston for Gargoyles in 2007, Arleen Paré for Paper Trail in 2008, Patrick Lane for Red Dog, Red Dog in 2009, Frances Backhouse for Children of the Klondike in 2010; and Jack Hodgins for The Master of Happy Endings in 2011.

Previous Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize winners include Chris Tougas for Mechanimals in 2008, Penny Draper for Graveyard of the Sea in 2009, Sylvia Olsen for Counting on Hope in 2010; and Kristi Bridgeman, Illustrator for Uirapurú (pronounced oor-a-pur-ú) in 2011.

For awards applications and submission guidelines, visit www.victoriabookprizes.ca