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Gabriola children’s author wins Metcalf Award
By Rachelle Stein-Wotten
Yet another Gabriola Islander is being recognized for their creative talents and contribution to the arts. Author Iain Lawrence is the 2011 winner of the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature.
The award, which comes with a $20,000 purse, is administered by the Writers' Trust of Canada and recognizes Iain's entire body of work - young adult fiction that "ranges from the realms of early nineteenth century seafarers to a remote, twentieth century lighthouse off B.C.'s north coast,"; reads the jury citation; "from Cold War rural America to a southern English village at the height of World War I.";
Iain couldn't be more honored to have received the award. "This is a wonderful award, as it recognizes a body of work, rather than one particular book.
"The list of past winners is like a who's who of Canadian children's literature. There are writers that everyone knows - like Robert Munsch and Dennis Lee - and some that changed my whole career: Julie Johnston, Farley Mowat and Roderick Haig Brown. Seeing my name among them is like walking into a room full of fabulous people and wondering, "What am I doing here?'";
Gloria Hatfield of Page's Bookstore believes part of the appeal of Iain's books is the extensive research he puts in to each story. Not only are children enthralled with the stories - "You get completely involved in his characters,"; she said - but they're also learning.
Fellow Gabriolan author, Katherine Gordon said, "There's no one more deserving [of the award] because he works very hard. "He's a wonderful storyteller.";Katherine said the recognition of a Gabriolan author is a boon to all island writers because they all "thrive on the success of others.";
Iain's works include Lord of the Nutcracker Men, The Giant-Slayer and Gemini Summer for which he received the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature - English-language Text in 2007. His latest novel, The Winter Pony, comes out this week and is available at Page's Bookstore along with other titles by Iain.
Author Vicky Metcalf created the award in 1963 to stimulate the writing of literature for Canadian children. The winner is selected by a three-member, independent judging panel.
[Published in the Gabriola Sounder, November 2011] www.soundernews.com
Yet another Gabriola Islander is being recognized for their creative talents and contribution to the arts. Author Iain Lawrence is the 2011 winner of the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature.
The award, which comes with a $20,000 purse, is administered by the Writers' Trust of Canada and recognizes Iain's entire body of work - young adult fiction that "ranges from the realms of early nineteenth century seafarers to a remote, twentieth century lighthouse off B.C.'s north coast,"; reads the jury citation; "from Cold War rural America to a southern English village at the height of World War I.";
Iain couldn't be more honored to have received the award. "This is a wonderful award, as it recognizes a body of work, rather than one particular book.
"The list of past winners is like a who's who of Canadian children's literature. There are writers that everyone knows - like Robert Munsch and Dennis Lee - and some that changed my whole career: Julie Johnston, Farley Mowat and Roderick Haig Brown. Seeing my name among them is like walking into a room full of fabulous people and wondering, "What am I doing here?'";
Gloria Hatfield of Page's Bookstore believes part of the appeal of Iain's books is the extensive research he puts in to each story. Not only are children enthralled with the stories - "You get completely involved in his characters,"; she said - but they're also learning.
Fellow Gabriolan author, Katherine Gordon said, "There's no one more deserving [of the award] because he works very hard. "He's a wonderful storyteller.";Katherine said the recognition of a Gabriolan author is a boon to all island writers because they all "thrive on the success of others.";
Iain's works include Lord of the Nutcracker Men, The Giant-Slayer and Gemini Summer for which he received the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature - English-language Text in 2007. His latest novel, The Winter Pony, comes out this week and is available at Page's Bookstore along with other titles by Iain.
Author Vicky Metcalf created the award in 1963 to stimulate the writing of literature for Canadian children. The winner is selected by a three-member, independent judging panel.
[Published in the Gabriola Sounder, November 2011] www.soundernews.com
Submitted on January 5, 2012 in By David.
