| (By
request, this linkable page has been created from a Hearsay item...
More essay to follow in the coming days.)
(Another Bookninja scoop!) Is this a study in what awards mean,
even to the people who administrate them...? An anonymous, but well-placed,
reader tips us off to the fact that the Writer's Union press release
for the 2004 Danuta Gleed Award (see below -- a week later and they
still haven't announced it to the public on their website...) bears
a striking resemblance to the press
release for the 2003 Danuta Gleed Award. In fact only a few
words per section are changed!
(2003 press release)
The Writers' Union of Canada
and John Gleed are pleased to announce that Lee Henderson is the
recipient of the $5,000 DANUTA GLEED LITERARY AWARD for The Broken
Record Technique (Penguin Books ISBN 0-14-100568-8). Judged the
best first English-language collection of short fiction by a Canadian
author published in 2002. In making their decision the jury of
award-winning short fiction writers Carmelita McGrath, David Homel
and Gary Geddes confirmed that The Broken Record Technique provided,
"An exciting play with language: Lee Henderson whether describing
an incensed desire or a vicious fear, creates characters who,
like most of us, are often baffled by what life presents."
The jury agreed "Lee Henderson's brilliant stories stretched
the boundaries of language and form without losing their focus
on character and situation."
Timothy Taylor, of Vancouver,
British Columbia, receives $500 for Silent Cruise (Vintage Canada,
ISBN 0-676-97443-0). For their second choice the jury found, "Timothy
Taylor's powerfully built stories exceptional and downright believable".
The jury was impressed with "the maturity and craftsmanship
of Taylor's stories, that manage to do everything well."
Nancy Lee, of Vancouver,
British Columbia, also receives $500 for Dead Girls (McClelland
& Stewart Limited, ISBN 0-7701-5250-2). The jury praised Lee's
intense stories for their "gritty elegance." They indicated,
"Nancy Lee's stories create worlds that are intense and evocative
while showing us the conflicts that can arise between starkness
and elegance."
(2004 press release)
The Writers' Union of Canada
and John Gleed are pleased to announce that Jacqueline Baker is
the recipient of the $5,000 DANUTA GLEED LITERARY AWARD for A
Hard Witching & Other Stories (Harper Flamingo Canada, ISBN
0-00-200534-4). Judged the best first English-language collection
of short fiction by a Canadian author published in 2003. In making
their decision the jury of award-winning short fiction writers
Nino Ricci, Sharon Butala and Fred Stenson confirmed that A Hard
Witching & Other Stories provided, "An exciting play
with language: Jacqueline Baker whether describing brutality or
tenderness, creates characters who, like most of us, are often
baffled by what life presents." The jury agreed "Jacqueline
Baker's brilliant stories stretched the boundaries of language
and form, without losing their focus on character and situation."
Jonathan Bennett, of Port
Hope Ontario, receives $500 for Verandah People (Raincoast Books,
ISBN 1-55192-649-0). For their second choice the jury found, "Jonathan
Bennett's powerfully built stories are exceptional and downright
believable." The jury was impressed with "the maturity
and craftsmanship of Jonathan's stories, that manage to do everything
well."
Susan Rendell, of St. John's
Newfoundland, also receives $500 for In the Chambers of the Sea
(Killick Press, ISBN 1-89494-66-1). The jury praised Rendell's
intense stories for their "individual vision." They
indicated, "Susan Rendell's stories create worlds that are
intense and evocative while showing us the conflicts that can
arise between starkness and elegance."
Hmm. Now that's an org that cares
about its people, init? None of this should reflect, of course,
on the quality of the work highlighted... These are some great books.
It should just reflect on the state of affairs in our awards system,
and the Union. (I wonder how the jury feels about being "quoted"
like this...)
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