July 26, 2011
Press Release for Immediate Release
LISA DALRYMPLE’S ‘‘SKINK ON THE BRINK’’ WINS THE WRITERS' UNION OF CANADA'S 15TH ANNUAL WRITING FOR CHILDREN COMPETITION - $1,500 CASH PRIZE
The Writers' Union of Canada is pleased to announce that Lisa Dalrymple is the winner of the fifteenth annual Writing for Children Competition, for her story, ‘‘Skink on the Brink.’’ The author will receive a $1,500 cash prize. In addition, the Union will submit the winning story, together with the stories of eleven finalists, to three Canadian publishers of children’s literature for their consideration.
The Union initiated the Writing for Children competition to discover, encourage, and promote new writers of children’s literature. This year, twenty-four Union members donated their time and expertise to read over 680 outstanding submissions of up to 1,500 words, distilling the entries to a longlist of 118 stories. These stories went on to a second round of twenty-two readers who selected the finalists to pass on to the 2011 jury: Melanie Florence, Dave Glaze, and Roy Miki.
WINNER: ‘‘Skink on the Brink’’ by Lisa Dalrymple
The jury remarked that ‘‘‘Skink on the Brink’ has a wonderful blend of a well-written story and cleverly-worded poetry. The twin themes of species extinction and accepting and loving yourself work surprisingly well together. The prose is easy to read and Ms. Dalrymple's turn of phrase had all of us visualizing Stew the Skink easily, keeping us well entertained. This is a clever story and all of the jurors felt that it would make an outstanding picture book.’’
Lisa Dalrymple started writing when she was eight years old. Later, when encouraged to pursue a degree in biology, she followed her heart into literature, earning a BA from the University of Western Ontario and an MA from the University of Guelph. She began creating children’s stories, quite naturally, not long after her first child came along. She now has three wonderfully energetic and imaginative children -- the inspiration for (if not co-creators of) many of her stories. Lisa Dalrymple lives in Fergus, Ontario.
FINALISTS
Two Hundred Million Bacteria or: Charlie Baker’s First Kiss, Jennifer Gold, Toronto, ON
If Animals Could Read and Write, Thelma Jamieson, Morden, MB
Grandpère and Monsieur Lutin, Peggy M. Regan, Montréal, QC
Fluffy and the Ridiculous Ribbon, Angela Ripley-Omand, Navan, ON
In the Field, Tudor Robins, Ottawa, ON
Dare You, Barbara Baker, Calgary, AB
Mimi’s Special Place, Julie Bergman, Toronto, ON
Being Ben, Kathleen Cherry, Kitimat, BC
Tyrone and the Noisy, Pink Double-Decker Bus, Kathleen Cherry, Kitimat, BC
Aaron’s Salmon, Laurie Crookell, Coquitlam, BC
Grandpa on the Wall, Kim Downey, Port Coquitlam, BC
FINAL JURY
Melanie Florence, Dave Glaze, and Roy Miki.
READERS FOR THE COMPETITION
Cheryl Antao-Xavier, Thelma Barer-Stein, Yvonne Blackwood, Jill Bryant, Veronika Martenova Charles, Norma Charles, Lynda Curnoe,
Richard de Meulles, Candas Jane Dorsey, Erin Dunham, Susan Evans Shaw, Priscilla Galloway, Monica Graham, Nancy Graham, Sue Harper, Margaret Hastings-James, Shelley Hrdlitschka, Sharon Jennings, Fred W. Kennedy, Monica Kulling, Bianca Lakoseljac, David Lee, B.M. Lloyd, Anne Logan, Mark R.C. Lovell, Catherine Macleod, Anna Jean Mallinson, Nicole Markotic, Shirlee Matheson, Hugh T. McCracken, Carol Bennett McCuaig, Anne Metikosh, Patricia Pierce, Edeet Ravel, Sarah Roberts, Erika Rummel, J.L. Scharf, Deborah Seed, Gisela Sherman, Lynn Sinclair, Paul Vasey, Judy Wearing, Margaret Webb, Catherine M.A. Wiebe, Judith Williams, Marg Wilson
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. For more information, please visit www.writersunion.ca.
For additional information:
Nancy MacLeod, Coordinator, Readings and Competitions The Writers’ Union of Canada
416.703.8982 Ext. 226, nmacleod@writersunion.ca
