Finalists For Trillium Book Award Announced

Ontario Authors short-listed for Ontario's Prestigious Literary Prize

TORONTO, May 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Six English books and five French have been short-listed for the 25^th Annual Trillium Book Award/ 25^e édition du Prix littéraire annuel Trillium, the Ontario government's prestigious award for literature, announced Karen Thorne-Stone, Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) President and CEO, at a news conference today at the Rosewater Room. This year, three titles are also short-listed for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry in English language and three titles in French language.

This year's six English Finalists for the Trillium Book Award/Prix Trillium are:

• Ken Babstock, Methodist Hatchet, House of Anansi Press
• David Bezmozgis, The Free World, HarperCollins Publishers
• Tony Burgess, Idaho Winter, ECW Press
• Kristen den Hartog, And Me Among Them, Freehand Books
• David Gilmour, The Perfect Order of Things, Thomas Allen Publishers   
• Phil Hall, Killdeer, BookThug

This year's five French Finalists for the Trillium Book Award/ Prix Trillium are:

• Yann Garvoz, Plantation Massa-Lanmaux, Éditions Maurice Nadeau
• Maurice Henrie L'enfanCement, Éditions Prise de parole
• Monia Mazigh, Miroirs et mirages, Éditions L'Interligne
• Joëlle Roy, Xman est back en Huronie, Éditions David
• Michèle Vinet, Jeudi Novembre, Éditions Prise de parole

This year's three  Finalists for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry in English language are:

• Helen Guri, Match, Coach House Books
• Jacob McArthur Mooney, Folk, McClelland & Stewart
• Nick Thran, Earworm, Nightwood Editions

This year's three Finalists for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry in French language are:

• Sonia Lamontagne, À tire d'ailes, Éditions Prise de parole
• François Baril Pelletier, Apocryphes du cœur, Éditions David
• Aurélie Resch, Cendres de lune, Éditions L'Harmattan

As part of the celebration for the 25^th Anniversary of the Award, the public are invited to attend an evening event on June 19, 2012 where the finalists for this year will read from their nominated works. In addition, two panels will discuss the top favourite winning titles for the Trillium Book Award from previous years as selected in a public contest run by Open Book. A celebrity critics panel will discuss the top favourite English titles, while a panel of students from The Toronto French School will discuss the favourite French titles (which were all in the Children's Literature category). The event will be held in the Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street (doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the readings begin at 7:00 p.m.).

On June 20, 2012 the Hon. Michael Chan,  Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, will announce the winners in Toronto at a dinner. Previous winners of the Award will be in attendance to help celebrate the 25^th anniversary.

QUOTES

"Ontario's literary talent continues to capture attention on the world stage and provides readers across the province with important and enduring stories that celebrate our culture and identity.  Congratulations to the short-listed authors and their publishers for their contributions to our creative economy."

- The Hon. Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

"For 25 years, the Trillium Book Award has been celebrating Ontario's renowned authors whose stories have captured the imaginations of millions of readers worldwide and made our province synonymous with great literature. Congratulations to all the finalists for their stunning achievement in joining their distinguished predecessors -- and also to their publishers, whose support is vital to their success."

- Kevin Shea, Chair, Ontario Media Development Corporation 

QUICK FACTS

• The Trillium Book Award/Prix Trillium encourages excellence in literature through its significant investment in Ontario-based writers.  Award recipients for both English and French works receive $20,000. Their respective publishers also receive $2,500 to promote the winning titles. All finalists receive a $500 honorarium.
• Three titles are short-listed for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry in both English and French language, which recognizes literary achievement for a first, second or third published work of poetry. The winner for each of these awards receives $10,000 and their publisher $2,000 for promotion of the titles. Finalists for these awards also receive a $500 honorarium.
• Previous winners have included world-renowned writers Margaret Atwood, Austin Clarke, Thomas King, Michael Ondaatje, Andrée Lacelle and François Paré
• This year's nominations reflected the tremendous breadth, depth and diversity of Ontario authors - ranging from the well-established to those who were published for the first time, from urban- to small-town-dwellers and from long-time residents to Ontario's newest citizens.
• Book publishing is a $1.36 billion industry in Ontario, with 479 firms employing more than 4,700 people in Ontario.

LEARN MORE

The Trillium Book Award was established to recognize excellence, support marketing and foster increased public awareness of the quality and diversity of Ontario authors and their works. A number of activities celebrating talented previous winners and the 25th Anniversary of the Trillium Book Award have taken place.

www.omdc.on.ca
ontario.ca/culture-news
Disponible en français

Contact Trillium Book Award Finalists:
Dane Gergovich, Trillium Publicist
Media Profile, [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

Contact for OMDC:
George McNeillie, OMDC Manager of Communications
[phone] E-mail: [email protected]
Cell: 647-286-3979

Contact for Minister Chan:
Rob Foote, Minister's Office, 416-327-4365
Denelle Balfour, Communications Branch, 416-212-3928