WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2011 DANUTA GLEED LITERARY AWARD.
The Writers’ Union of Canada announced today that Ian Williams is the recipient of the $10,000 first prize in the 15th annual Danuta Gleed Literary Award, recognizing the best first English-language collection of short fiction by a Canadian author published in 2011.
Of Ian Williams’ book Not Anyone’s Anything (published by Freehand Books, an imprint of Broadview Press), jury members Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Robin McGrath, and Hal Niedzviecki said: “The writing in Not Anyone’s Anything is fresh, funny, and intelligent. This is a solid first book with gripping, convincing dialogue, a fluid sense of urbanity, and structural innovation that doesn’t come off as trickery. You see the poet here, in the crisp choice of language and even in the line breaks, as Williams uses typography and unusual layout to suggest a split-screen view of life. This is a brilliant collection.” Ian Williams divides his time between Massachusetts and Toronto.
Runners-up Jessica Westhead and Daniel Griffin will each receive $500.
Of Jessica Westhead’s And Also Sharks (published by Cormorant Books) the jury said: “Served up in energetic, quirky, and playful prose, these urban, delightfully twisted stories about souls who just don’t fit in are set in the familiar anonymity of the office cubicle or the lonely middle-aged lady’s apartment. Westhead makes you care about people lost in the all too familiar traps of postmodern life. To make a reader care about the everyday nothingness that surrounds us, without giving that nothingness redemptive qualities, is a fascinating accomplishment.” Jessica Westhead lives in Toronto.
Of Daniel Griffin’s Stopping for Strangers (published by Véhicule Press) the jury said: “These are Carver-esque stories with a little Richard Ford and Tobias Wolff thrown in for good measure. Griffin gives us stripped down, often first person narratives about the many ways we fail ourselves, and our relationships. He quickly gets to the heart of the matter in precise, plain language; classic story-telling and very clean writing are the hallmarks here. This is an impressive first book.” Daniel Griffin was born in Kingston and lives in Victoria.
The short list of five books was announced on May 9, 2012 and also included Andrew J. Borkowski, Copernicus Avenue (published by Cormorant Books) and Johanna Skibsrud, This Will Be Difficult to Explain, (published by Hamish Hamilton Canada).
The announcement of the winners was made at a morning press conference at Ben McNally Books in Toronto hosted by Writers’ Union of Canada Chair, author Merilyn Simonds. Rachel Gleed Werner, Danuta Gleed’s daughter, delivered remarks from the family. Long-time Advisory Committee Chair, author Frances Itani, announced the winner. Ian Williams was on hand to accept the award. Also present were runner-up Jessica Westhead, finalist Andrew Borkowski, and jury member Hal Niedzviecki.
The Award was created as a 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, 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.
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For further information about The 2011 Danuta Gleed Literary Award, please contact:
Diane Hargrave
416-467-9954, ext 104
dhprbks@interlog.com
and
Kelly Duffin, Executive Director
The Writers’ Union of Canada
416.703.8982 Ext. 221
kduffin@writersunion.ca
www.writersunion.ca
