Last Saturday night I had the privilege of attending the 32nd Annual Lieutenant Governor’s BC Book Prize Gala at Government House in Victoria. Here is the view from Government House – looking over the Strait of Juan de Fuca. If I had a better camera you could see the snow-capped mountains of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state!
I was the guest of Kate Walker, (my former sales manager when we were called Stanton & MacDougall, and owner when we were Kate Walker & Co and later Ampersand,) who presented the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize. Kate in her retirement continues to champion books and gave a wonderful tribute to all the finalists.
Jessica Walker, Kate’s daughter presented the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award. Jessica is one of the owners of Munro’s Books in Victoria and reminisced about her almost 30 years as a bookseller and her childhood visiting bookstores all over the province with her sales rep mum. Kate’s passion for books is infectious and she has influenced not only her daughter but many others over the years.
The passion for books and writing was evident in the presence of the 30+ award finalists, plus publishers, sales reps, publicists and non-industry book-lovers who attended the event. Ampersand publishers had finalists in all seven categories. Hats off to Raoul Fernandes author of Transmitter and Receiver – Nightwood Edtions for winning the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize!
Here are a few photos of authors and publishers:
Caroline Woodward, author of Light Years and Harbour publisher Howard White.
Arsenal Pulp publisher Brian Lam with his Mum.
Arsenal Pulp authors Amber Dawn Where the Words End and My Body Begins and Eve Lazarus Cold Case Vancouver.
Congrats to all!
Lorna
