The annual awards honouring literary writing from the city of Ottawa has announced a shortlist of 15 nominees for this year’s honours.
The Ottawa Book Awards are divided into three categories, one each for English- and French-language fiction, and one for nonfiction in either language. The 2020 nominees are a diverse group, including poet Henry Biessel, Beverly McLachlin, the first woman to be a Canadian chief justice, and Amanda Jette Knox, nominated for her memoir about “thriving in a transgender family”.
The nominees include both veteran authors, like historian and journalist Mark Bourrie, and newcomers, like Algonquin Anishinaabe writer Karen McBride. To be nominated, an author must live in the city of Ottawa at the time of publication.
The awards are funded by the municipal government and carry a $7500 prize for winners and $1000 for finalists. This year, the awards ceremony will be held virtually and hosted by the Ottawa Public Library.
The ceremony will also feature the ‘Archibald Lampman Award for Poetry’ and ‘le Prix AAOF de littérature jeunesse’ for young peoples’ literature. In the past, the awards have helped elevate authors like Elizabeth Hay and Brian Doyle to national attention. Awards like these can be mentioned on Promotional Products and book covers to highlight an author’s acclaim.
The virtual ceremony for the 2020 Ottawa Book Awards will take place on October 21. Interested spectators should contact the city’s department for culture to request a ticket to the video stream.
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