News in Detail

Spark author Frank Koller a hit at Lincoln Electric

Frank Koller signs Spark at Lincoln Electric launch

February 25, 2010: Frank Koller launched Spark at an event in Cleveland, where enthusiatic employees happily lined up for 90 minutes for the opportunity to talk with the author and have their copies signed.

In his book, Koller, an economic news veteran, takes a comprehensive, timely look at Lincoln Electric, a successful international company that promised that it will never lay off employees, regardless of the economic climate.

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Alan Bradley's The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie nominated for 2009 Agatha Award for Best First Novel

February, 2010: Malice Domestic's Agatha Awards, named in honour of Agatha Christie, honour the "traditional mystery," that is to say, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie as well as others. The genre is loosely defined as mysteries that contain no explicit sex, and no excessive gore or gratuitous violence.

A ballot listing each category's nominees will be given to all attendees of Malice Domestic 22, which will be held April 30-May 2, 2010. Attendees will vote by secret ballot, the ballots will be tabulated and the winners will be announced at the 2009 Agatha Awards banquet to be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

See Malice Domestic's website

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Annabel Lyon shortlisted for Regional Best Book in the Commonwealth

February 18, 2010: The Commonwealth Foundation has today released the names of the shortlisted books for the Commonwealth Prizes for all regions, and Annabel Lyon’s The Golden Mean is among them. The novel is shortlisted for Best Book from Canada and the Caribbean. The next stage is the announcement of the regional winners, followed by the overall winners, which will be announced in Delhi on April 12. For further information, see:

www.commonwealthfoundation.com/news/news/detail.cfm?id=601

Congratulations, Annabel!

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Canada Council for the Arts: Grants for Translation and Travel

• Translation Grants: Foreign publishers can receive 50% of the cost of translation if the funds are still available; each year grants are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and they inevitably run out of money. So it is best to apply as soon as possible and specify exactly when you plan to publish, so the project can be assigned to the correct fiscal year's budget. Please note that the translation cannot be completed before the council gives you their decision; so you may end up waiting indefinitely, which could hold up publication.
  More information www.canadacouncil.ca/grants/writing/wr127227348212968750.htm
• Travel Grants: For author travel abroad to promote a foreign edition of his or her book. There are grant funds available, but the author must apply; the publisher must send the writer an invitation (email attachment is fine) specifying the dates they would like the writer to visit, and what they would do to promote his work while he is there. Again, please send the letter well in advance of the dates you need the author to be there. More information www.canadacouncil.ca/writing/ and click on 'Travel Grants for Professional Writers' in the right-hand column.

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The Globe and Mail Best Books of 2009

The 20 Canadian novels on the list included Jeanette Lynes’ The Factory Voice and Annabel Lyon’s The Golden Mean. The dozen international memoirs and biographies included Wayson Choy’s Not Yet. Congratulations to the authors!

Also selected were the top 5 first fiction books of the year, including Deborah Willis’ Vanishing, which was shortlisted for a Governor-General's Award.

The newspaper’s web site also includes a short list of 9 novels that almost made the cut, including works by Mavis Gallant, Audrey Niffenegger, and our own Lori Lansens. Selection was based on reviews run in the newspaper in 2009.

See the complete lists:

• Fiction
• Memoir/Biography
• Read more on CanLit and Annabel Lyon

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