Nominees announced for 30th annual Hamilton Literary Awards

The nominees for this year’s Hamilton Literary Awards, marking 30 years of the ceremony championing some of the area’s top storytellers.

The annual program presented by the Hamilton Arts Council looks to both recognize and celebrate published authors in a wide variety of genres that find themselves in the Greater Hamilton Area and the Six Nations of the Grand River.

In the category of fiction are Ainislie Hogarth’s “Motherthing”, Robert McGill’s “A Suitable Companion for the End of Your Life” and “Finding Edward by Sheila Murray.

The non-fiction lineup has David J. Forsyth’s “Alice and the Machine Gunner”, “Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts” from Joyce Grant and Rollie Pemberton’s “Bedroom Rapper: Cadence Weapon on Hip-Hop, Resistance and Surviving the Music Industry” and “I just wrote this five minutes ago…” by Carl Watts.

Look at this line-up! The Fiction Shortlist will read excerpts from their books at the 30th annual Hamilton Literary Awards Ceremony at Hamilton Public Library!

️ Dec 14, 2023
7:00PM, doors 6:30PM
55 York Blvd, Hamilton

️ https://t.co/tdvfd9L8nP#HamOnt #Literary pic.twitter.com/VfO6QFZkuG

— Hamilton Arts Council (@HamArtsCouncil) November 20, 2023

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The poetry category has listed its finalists as Gary Barwin for “The Most Charming Creatures”, Fareh Malik for “Streams that Lead Somewhere” and Chris Pannell for “The Fragmentarium and Other Poems”.

The newly established children’s book award features “Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts” from Joyce Grant once again, along with “Beatrice and Croc Harry” by Lawrence Hill and Sylvia McNicoll’s “What the Dog Knows.”

Up for the Kerry Schooley book award this year are Darrell Epp for “Permanent Smoke”, Carrie Snyder for “Francie’s Got a Gun” and Brent van Staalduinen for “Cut Road.”

The official ceremony in partnership with the Hamilton Public Library is set for Dec. 14 will feature excerpt readings from the shortlisted authors along with the top spots being awarded live.

Recent winner of the Governor General’s Literary Prize for fiction Anuja Varghese of Hamilton will be taking center stage to host this year’s festivities.

Tickets can be purchased and donations made through the Hamilton Arts Council website.

WATCH MORE: Hamilton author scores Governor General’s Literary Prize for fiction