For Release SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2005

2005 Saskatchewan Book Awards Winners Announced

The 2005 Sask Book Awards winners were announced on Friday, November 25th, at the 13th Annual Book Awards Gala. Numerous authors and publishers were in attendance to celebrate the finest books of Saskatchewan’s Centennial year. One of Canada’s best-loved poets, Lorna Crozier, was the guest speaker, while Sheila Coles was the Master of Ceremonies.

“This year we received the largest number of entries we ever have, with 221 in 12 categories,” said Glenda James, Executive Director. “The Book Awards Gala was truly a memorable evening as we recognized the year’s best in Saskatchewan writing and publishing.”

Steven Ross Smith’s fluttertongue 3: disarray (Turnstone Press), the latest in a multi-book long poem, received the top honour with the Book of the Year award. This is a unique win – it has been six years since a poetry book won the award – and an equally unique work. Smith was the first winner to receive an increased monetary award for Book of the Year, thanks to our new sponsor, The Co-operators.

The Fiction award went Sandra Birdsell, whose prior works have also won with the Saskatchewan Book Awards. Her historical novel, Children of the Day (Random House Canada), is a compassionate and vivid portrait of a family of survivors.

The winner of the Nonfiction award examines what it means to be a Westerner. Eastend author Sharon Butala took home the award this year for Lilac Moon: Dreaming of the Real West (Harper Collins).

The First Book award was given to Eric Greenway for The Darkness Beneath All Things (Hagios Press), a collection of short stories that reveal the joy, sorrow, and quirkiness that lies just beneath the surface of very ordinary lives.

Beth Goobie won in the Children’s Literature category for the second year in a row with her fascinating teen novel. Fixed (Orca Book Publishers) is a compelling futuristic story that combines both action adventure and psychological insight.

The Poetry Award went to Allan Safarik for the beautifully written When Light Falls from the Sun (Hagios Press). The images in this collection create an experience rarely found in today’s poetry.

 

Highly acclaimed author Maggie Siggins received the Regina Book Award for Bitter Embrace: White Society’s Assault on the Woodland Cree (McClelland & Stewart). This nonfiction book is a powerful, well-researched portrait of the Pelican Narrows Cree experience.

There were many visually beautiful books on the 2005 Shortlist. Don Kerr’s book, The Garden of Art: Vic Cicansky, Sculptor (University of Calgary Press), is a pleasing marriage of art and literature, and winner of the Saskatoon Book Award.

The Allen Sapp Gallery won the First Peoples Publishing award for its welcoming and informative art catalogue. Through the Eyes of the Cree and Beyond, The Art of Allen Sapp: The Story of a People is an organized book that brings into focus the life and work of the artist.

Published by the Canadian Plains Research Center, The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan won every award for which it was entered – Scholarly Writing, Award for Publishing, and Publishing in Education. With over 800 contributors, The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan is a monumental achievement of coordinated editing and collaborative scholarship worth celebrating.

The combination of experienced authors and many new talents in attendance made this year’s Book Awards Gala a night to celebrate the rich literary history of Saskatchewan and to look forward to the books to come.

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Glenda James

Phone: (306) 569-1585

director@bookawards.sk.ca

List of Sask Book Awards 2005 Winners

Book of the Year – Steven Ross Smith, fluttertongue 3: disarray (Turnstone Press)

Fiction – Sandra Birdsell, Children of the Day (Random House Canada)

Nonfiction – Sharon Butala, Lilac Moon: Dreaming of the Real West (Harper Collins)

First Book – Eric Greenway, The Darkness Beneath All Things (Hagios Press)

Children’s Literature – Beth Goobie, Fixed (Orca Book Publishers)

Poetry – Allan Safarik, When Light Falls from the Sun (Hagios Press)

Regina Book Award – Maggie Siggins, Bitter Embrace: White Society’s Assault on the Woodland Cree (McClelland & Stewart

Saskatoon Book Award – Don Kerr, The Garden of Art: Vic Cicansky, Sculptor (University of Calgary Press)

Scholarly Writing – Canadian Plains Research Centre, The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan

Award for Publishing – Canadian Plains Research Centre, The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan

First Peoples Publishing – Allen Sapp Gallery, Through the Eyes of the Cree and Beyond, The Art of Allen Sapp: The Story of a People, Dean Bauche (curator)

Publishing in Education – Canadian Plains Research Centre, The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan