The Sunshine Coast Book Awards and Art & Words Festival: Celebrating Local Talent and Creativity

The shortlist of finalists consists of 43 authors and their works in four categories: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and literature for children and young adults. Notably, all four categories feature local writers, who are recognized for their outstanding contributions to literature.

Recognizing Outstanding Literary Works

The following are some of the notable finalists in each category:

1. Poetry:

   • Deanna Bell – The Quantum Spirit: A Poetic Journey to Source

   • Sheila Weaver – The Taste of a Raindrop

2. Fiction:

   • Marion Crook – Murder In Vancouver 1886

   • Robin Lamarche – Voices in Prose

3. Nonfiction:

   • Charlotte Gill – Almost Brown

   • andrea bennett – Hearty: On Cooking, Eating, and Growing Food for Pleasure and Subsistence

4. Children’s and Young Adult Literature:

   • Frances Backhouse – Bison

   • Johnny Aitken and Jess Willows – Two Tricksters Find Friendship

The shortlist features a diverse range of authors and their works, showcasing the unique perspectives and talents of the Sunshine Coast community.

The Art & Words Festival: A Celebration of Creativity

The Art & Words Festival, taking place from August 22 to 24, will bring together local artists and writers to create mutually-inspired works. The festival promises a vibrant mix of voices and perspectives, with over 50 authors and artists participating.

“This year’s festival promises a vibrant mix of voices and perspectives from all over the Sunshine Coast,” said Gibsons mayor Silas White in a congratulatory statement to festival participants. “We are excited to celebrate the creativity and talent of our local artists and writers, and to bring the community together in a celebration of art and words.”

The festival will close with a screening of the 2016 allegory Body of Light, produced by the late filmmaker and installation artist Gordon Halloran.

Awards Announcement and Festival Registration

The winners of the Sunshine Coast Book Awards will be announced on August 23 during the Art & Words Festival at the Gibsons Public Market. Registration for the festival is available online at www.scwes.ca, and more information can be found on the Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society website.

Art & Words Festival

Shortlisted authors

Festival participants

Festival registration

Mark your calendars for the Sunshine Coast Book Awards and Art & Words Festival, taking place from August 22 to 24 at the Gibsons Public Market.