2016 P.E.I. Book Award nominees announced

The shortlist of nine candidates for the Prince Edward Island Book Award represent an wide array of Island writers.

The book awards handed out every second year, recognizethe best in publications by Island authors, editors and book producers. The books must be created or edited by an Island resident, and there are three categories: fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

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"We have a number of high quality books up for consideration, and I encourage all avid Island readers to consider adding these titles to their reading lists," said Education Minister Doug Currie in a written release.

And the nominees are:

Non-fiction

• Those Splendid Girls: The Heroic Service of P.E.I. Nurses in the Great War by Katherine Dewar.
• The Bastard of Fort Stikine by Debra Komar.
• Samuel Holland: His Work and Legacy on Prince Edward Island by Earle Lockerby and Doug Sobey.

Fiction

• Molly Miranda: Thief for Hire by Jillianne Hamilton.
• Somewhere I Belong by Glenna Jenkins.
• Dead Letter by Finley Martin.

Poetry

• Conversation with Crows by Judy Gaudet.
• Keeping Late Hours by David Helwig.
• Identity Dreams and Memory Sounds by J.J. Steinfeld.

Nominees are judged by an independent jury for content, quality of designand production.

Shortlistedauthors take part in special events at P.E.I. public libraries throughout the month ofApril and winners receive a cash prize and a handmade P.E.I.item.

The awards will be presented at a gala event on May 7 in partnership with the Island LiteraryAwards and Reading Town PEI, a week-long literary festivalfrom April 30 to May 8 that promisesdozens of public events across the Island.