The Prince Edward Island Department of Community and Cultural Affairs established the P.E.I. Book Award to recognize rich tradition of writing and publishing in the province and to encourage quality in the area. The award will be presented every two years to recognize the best PEI book.

“We have been extremely pleased with the response to this program,” said Mr. MacFadyen, adding that 31 submissions were received for consideration by the award jury. “We had originally asked the jury to provide five titles as finalists, but owing to the high quality of the submissions, they asked that six books be considered for the final award.”

In alphabetical order by author, the six finalists are as follows:

• Pets, Professors and Politicians by Marion Bruce, published by the Island Studies Press – a history of the founding and early years of the Atlantic Veterinary College

• Working Together by Marion Bruce and Elizabeth Cran, published by the Island Studies Press – a history of Cooperatives on P.E.I.

• The Brow of Dawn by Catherine Edward, published by Acorn Press – a personal story of living with a debilitating disease

• Last Tomato by Jane Ledwell, published by the Acorn Press – a volume of poetry

• Between Two Cultures by Wayne MacKinnon, published by Tea Hill Press – a history of the premiership of Alex Campbell

• Chasing a Dream by J. Clinton Morrison, published by Crescent Isle Publishers – a history of Prince Edward Islanders in the Klondike

“The authors and publishers of these six books and, indeed, of all of the books in the competition are to be congratulated,” said Minister MacFadyen. “These books show a consistently high quality and cover a wide range of interests. I look forward to the selection of the winner and the presentation of the first Prince Edward Book Award on June 1, 2006.”

BACKGROUNDER

NOMINATED BOOKS: 2006 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND BOOK AWARD

AUTHOR(S) -- TITLE

Arsenault, Georges -- Noël en Aadie

Ballem, Charlie -- More Than Just a Game

Barrett, Wayne / MacKay, Anne -- Charlottetown

Barrett, Wayne / MacKay, Anne -- A Writer’s Garden

Bruce, Marian -- Pets, Professors, and Politicians

Bruce, Marian / Cran, Elizabeth -- Working Together

Bruce, Marian -- A Century of Excellence

Burge, Irene -- You Walked With Us Awhile

Callaghan, Bernard J. -- Feet of Clay

Edward, Catherine -- The Brow of Dawn

Gaudet, Judy -- Her Teeth are Stones

Hicks Morrow, Dianne -- Kindred Spirits

Ledwell, Frank -- Island Sketchbook

Ledwell, Jane -- Last Tomato

Limbert, Shirley -- Seachange Cottage

MacKinnon, Wayne -- Between Two Cultures: The Alex Campbell Years

MacLean, Jill -- Jean Pierre Roma of the Company of the East Isle St. Jean

McCabe, Shauna -- Ancient Motel Landscape

McCann-Beranger, Judith -- A Caregiver’s Guide, 2nd ed.*

Morrison, J. Clinton -- Chasing a Dream

Nicholson, Linda Jean -- Early Prince Edward Island Probate Records 1786-1850

Nicholson, Linda Jean / Gillis, Eliza / Gillis, Viola -- Leap Over Time

Pendergast, Reginald / Pendergast-Stanyer, Patricia -- Trailblazer: The Legendary “Big Jim” Pendergast

Porter, Brenda -- Notes From a Musical Garden

Reid, Marion L. -- These Roots Run Deep

Rodgers, Frederick -- Lily & Me

Smith, John -- Fireflies in the Magnolia Grove

Weale, David -- Pride in Small Places

Weale, David -- Whatever You Say

Weale, David -- Three Tall Trees

Wright, George -- Who Departed This Life