N.L. book awards: Three authors, one winner

The 2019 N.L. Book Awards Nonfiction Readings & Awards names this year's winner 

Melissa Wong
My Online Journalism Blog

Under the lens of television cameras, the audience waited for the winner of the 2019 Non-Fiction Newfoundland and Labrador Book Award to be announced.

After the non-fiction award readings, the winner announcement was made by the Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador (WANL) president, Kelly Power.

"The winner of the 2019 Newfoundland and Labrador book awards for non-fiction goes to Stan Dragland," Power said. 

The non-fiction award presentation took
 place on December 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the
 A.C. Hunter Library. The three books
 nominated for the Non-fiction Award are
  Mistress of the Blue Castle: The Writing Life
 of Phebe Florence Miller, Gerald Squires
 and We all expected to die: Spanish
 Influenza in Labrador, 1918-1919. 
Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog

"Thank you, Gerry"

Stan Dragland wrote the book, Gerald Squires, and published it with Pedlar Press in memory of his deceased friend.

"I accept this honor on behalf of Gerald Squires," Dragland said, when he accepted the award. "I always thought this book is his book more than it's my book. So, thank you, Gerry." 

Each author had been introduced by journalist and writer, Glenn Deir before they read a selection of their work to the audience.

According to Deir, Gerald Squires is a book that spans "six decades of prolific art production it features works that have become iconic, but also images that are less well known. Some though were discovered by Stan in an extensive Squires achieve maintained by Gale Squires- Gerald's wife. This richly interpreted essay is shaped by Squires' own poetry, fiction, letters, and essays."  

Check this out on Chirbit

The other finalists

On Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at A. C. Hunter Public Library on 125 Allandale Road, Deir also introduced the other two finalists: Anne Budgell the author of We All Expected to Die: Spanish Influenza in Labrador, 1918–1919 published by ISER Books and Vicki Sara Hallett the author of Mistress of the Blue Castle: The Writing Life of Phebe Florence Miller published with ISER Books. 

The Non-fiction Award finalists are
Anne Budgell, Stan Dragland and
Vicki Sara Hallett. Dragland won the
contest and the $1,500 cash prize. The other
two runners-up each received $500 for their work.
 Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog

The jury members who choose the winner were Russell Wangersky, Jenny Higgins and Bill Rowe.

Both Dragland and Hallett acknowledge the difficulty in capturing another person in words despite their efforts during their readings. 

"How to reconcile these contrasting images of one person," Hallett said as she talked about the process of writing about the little well-known literary figure, Phebe Florence Miller, that she had written a book about. 

Budgell wrote about a story so it might be taught in medical schools and Aboriginal studies. The people she spoke with, about the Spanish influenza of 1918-19, said it was a big story in their families.

But according to Deir, for many, it was largely unknown in Newfoundland and Labrador (N.L.). To find out more, check out my podcast.

Local writers and superstar

The Newfoundland and Labrador Books Awards (NLBAs) celebrate N.L. authors each year. Poetry and Non-fiction would be awarded one year, and Fiction and Children's/Young Adult Literature the next. WANL annually holds the Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards to acknowledge N.L. authors.

Once the winner had been announced and the award given out, Power gave the final speech of the evening.

"I invite you to stay and have some refreshments for a few minutes," Power said causing the audience to laugh. "We actually have some time here so please feel free to mingle around and take some photos with our superstars."

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©Melissa Wong