The P.E.I. Writers’ Guild has announced the shortlist for the Island Literary Awards and the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty Creative Writing Awards for Young People.
Island writers will be recognized during award galas, which will take place online in the coming weeks.
At a glance
- For over 30 years, the Island Literary Awards have recognized the best in Island writing by writers of all ages.
- Cash prizes are awarded to individuals who place first, second and third in both the adult and young people’s awards categories.
- Many past award winners are now published authors.
- Follow the Island Literary Awards on Facebook, on Twitter or visit peiwritersguild.com for information.
For the Island Literary Awards, adults will be recognized for excellence in poetry, creative non-fiction, literature for children, short story and Indigenous writing.
Following are the short-listed writers for adult categories:
- The Heirs of L.M. Montgomery Literature for Children Award: Eric Leamont; Gretha Rose; Hannah Stiff; Ian Stretch; Jessica Mutch.
- Confederation Court Mall Merchants Association Poetry Award: Emily Browning; Emily Cann; Kelly Kieran Sampson; Megan Gallant; Nick vanOuwerkerk.
- Maritime Electric Short Story Award: Chris Wilson; Jennifer Platts-Fanning; Katie Mac.
- Creative Non-Fiction Award: Ivy Wigmore; Kelly Kieran Sampson; Mark Enman; Matthew Sherman; Samantha Desjardins Joyc.
- Acorn Press Marie Coyoteblanc Indigenous Writing Award: Michael Sima; Richard Pellissier-Lush.
- Réshard Gool Award for Creative Writing – Monika Stewart.
- Joseph Sherman Award – Dan and Marlene MacDonald.
- Distinguished Contribution to the Literary Arts of P.E.I. – Rob MacLean and Melissa Mullen.
Youth in early elementary, late elementary, junior high and senior high will be honoured for their excellence in literary arts during the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty Creative Writing Awards for Young People.
Short-listed writers for the youth categories are as follows:
- Early elementary - Ben Bowman.
- Late elementary: Alyson Scott; Elle Flick; Juliette Martinez-Kydd; Lauren Elizabeth Graham; Sam Bowman.
- Junior high: Eleena Lunn; Jordan Dingwell; Khai Phan; Sheamus Herlihy; Vy Nguyen Tran.
- Senior High: Arielle Dunn; Marley Lucas; Megan Gallant.
This year, the P.E.I. Writers’ Guild is accepting nominations for the Champion of Reading Award. This award recognizes an individual in the community who champions reading as being essential to the quality of people’s lives and to their ability to take their place on the world stage.
Nominations are being accepted until May 21, and the winner will be revealed during the Island Literary Awards taking place in the upcoming weeks. Previous winners of the Champion of Reading Award include Deirdre Kessler (2019), Barb Kissick (2018), Roseanne Gauthier (2017) and Jinny Greaves (2016). For more information and to submit a potential candidate, click here.
Since 2006, the Prince Edward Island Book Awards have celebrated the best in books by Prince Edward Islanders. These awards are given in out every two years and, this year, they will hand out awards in four categories: fiction; non-fiction; poetry; children's literature The P.E.I. Book Awards will be handed out during the Island Literary Awards.
