Press Release, June 9, 2004:

For immediate release:

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR DANUTA GLEED LITERARY AWARD

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.

The jury of award-winning short fiction writers Nino Ricci, Sharon Butala and Fred Stenson found that A Hard Witching & Other Stories “broke through to that next level of understanding”. The jury commented that they were “awestruck by Jacqueline Baker’s insights and ear for language”.

Jonathan Bennett, of Port Hope Ontario, receives $500 for Veranda People (Raincoast Books, ISBN 1-55192-649-0). For their second choice the jury appreciated, Jonathan Bennett’s "well crafted stories and his very smart writing. Scene by scene and page by page a good read.”

Susan Rendell, of St. John’s Newfoundland, also receives $500 for In the Chambers of the Sea (Killick Press, ISBN 1-89494-66-1). Rendell’s stories “demonstrate maturity and massive talent.”

The jury commented that the 20 submitted titles highlighted “some of the best short story writers to come along in a long time”. They especially commended Cory Doctorow for A Place So Foreign and 8 More (Four Walls Eight Windows, ISBN 1-56858-268-2), Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer for Way Up: Stories (Goose Lane Editions, ISBN 0-86492-368-6) and Melanie Little for Confidence: Stories (Thomas Allen Publishers, ISBN 0-88762-119-8)

The DANUTA GLEED LITERARY AWARD is given in celebration of the life of Danuta Gleed, a writer whose short fiction won several awards before her death in December 1996. Danuta Gleed’s first collection of short fiction, One of the Chosen, was posthumously published by BuschekBooks. The Award is made possible through a generous donation from John Gleed; founder of JetForm Inc. headquartered in Ottawa, in memory of his late wife, and is administered by The Writers' Union of Canada.

The Writers' Union of Canada is our country's national organization representing professional authors of books. Founded in 1973, the Union is dedicated to fostering writing in Canada, and promoting the rights, freedoms, and economic well being of all writers. For more information, please visit www.writersunion.ca.

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For additional information
Deborah Windsor, Executive Director
The Writers’ Union of Canada
416. 703.8982 Ext. 221
dwindsor@writersunion.ca

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