This year's B.C. Book Prizes are announced

The annual B.C. Book Prizes were handed out last night at a gala dinner at the Pinnacle Vancouver Harbourfront Hotel downtown, emceed by Bill Richardson.

Author Betty Keller had already been announced as the winner of this year’s Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence back in March. But the nominees in the rest of the categories had to wait till last night to find out whether they would have a share of the $14,000 in prizes.

Here are the names of the winners:

Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, awarded to the author of the best work of fiction:

• Aislinn Hunter, The World Before Us (Doubleday Canada)

Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize, to recognize the author or authors of the book that contributes most to the enjoyment and understanding of British Columbia:

• Richard Beamish and Gordon McFarlane (editors), The Sea Among Us: The Amazing Strait of Georgia (Harbour)

Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize, awarded to the author of the best original nonfiction literary work:

• Eve Joseph, In the Slender Margin: The Intimate Strangeness of Death and Dying (HarperCollins)

Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, awarded to the author of the best work of poetry: Supported by Anonymous

• Cecily Nicholson, From the Poplars (Talonbooks)

Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize, presented to the best illustrated book written for children:

• Roy Miki, Slavia Miki, Julie Flett (illus), Dolphin SOS (Tradewind)

Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize, awarded to the best nonillustrated book written for children:

• Maggie de Vries, Rabbit Ears (HarperCollins)

Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award, presented to the originating publisher and author or authors of the best book in terms of public appeal, initiative, design, production, and content:

• Aaron Chapman, Live at the Commodore: The Story of Vancouver’s Historic Commodore Ballroom (Arsenal Pulp)