Tonight I had the pleasure of announcing the winners of 1st Book Competition, put on by Simon Fraser University's The Writer's Studio and Anvil Press at the Vancover International Writers Festival. Myrl Coulter (Birthmother) was named the winner in the creative nonfiction genre category, Jackie Bateman (Nondescript Rambunctious) in fiction, and Rachel Thompson (Galaxy) won the poetry category. Myrl, Jackie, and Rachel will have their manuscripts published by Vancouver's Anvil Press next year. Congratulations to our winners, to those who made our short and long lists, and a big thank you to everyone who entered the competition.

John Mavin, Jackie Bateman, Myrl Coulter, Rachel Thompson, and Betsy Warland