About The Saskatchewan Book Awards...
...Quill & Quire — December 2001
...arguably the best-run writers' event outside of Toronto's Giller Prize..."Anyone can visit Regina in the Summer. Itıs a pretty prairie city with lots of green grass, some very fine restaurants, and planned gardens - more park than concrete. But it takes some special kind of people to choose Regina as a holiday destination during the chilliness of late fall.
It appears that there is no shortage of such hardy folk. On Nov. 29, the sole Air Canada flight from Toronto to Regina was jam-packed with passengers, and there were no empty rooms at the magnificent Hotel Saskatchewan.
Quill was in Regina courtesy of the Saskatchewan Book Awards, arguably the best-run writers' event outside of Toronto's Giller Prize. What most astonished our jaded Toronto eyes was that the more than 400 people in attendance clapped and cried with delight when their friends won, hugged and cheered one another and no one had to be reminded that this was a celebration, not a binge. Among the big winners from the 30 Saskatchewan authors and eight publishers nominated in 12 categories were Sandra Birdsell, a three-time winner for The Russlander, and Glen Sorestad, who picked up the Saskatoon Book Award for Leaving Holds Me Here. Kudos to Joyce Wells, the evening's effervescent organizer.
- Contributed by Anna Porter, Publisher of Key Porter Books.