The Book Publishers Association of Alberta (BPAA) announced the winners of the 2024 Alberta Book Publishing Awards at a gala in Edmonton on Sept. 24.
Laberinto Press won Mel Hurtig Publisher of the Year for their “dedication to promoting underrepresented voices.”
The Special Achievement in Publishing Award was awarded to Kate Edwards, CEO of Access Copyright, for her “exceptional leadership and dedication” in her previous role as executive director of the Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) and “her continued contributions to the Canadian independent publishing industry.”
Bill Slavin was a triple winner, garnering Mystery and Thriller Book of the Year, a prize that did not have a shortlist announced, as well as the awards for graphic novel and book illustration, for Secrets of Jarrow, published by Canmore-based Renegade Arts Entertainment.
The winners in all categories are listed below.
Trade Non-fiction Book of the Year
- An Anthology of Monsters: How Story Saves Us from Our Anxiety by Cherie Dimaline (University of Alberta Press)
Trade Fiction Book of the Year
- Coq by Ali Bryan (Freehand Books)
Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry
- Muster Points by Lucas Crawford (University of Calgary Press)
Children’s and Young Adult Book of the Year
- Flip Flop Flapjack: Wildhorse Jack and the First Stampede Breakfast by Brenda Joyce Leahy and Melissa Bruglemans-LaBelle, ill. (Red Barn Books)
Graphic Novel of the Year
- Secrets of Jarrow by Bill Slavin (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
Mystery & Thriller Books of the Year
- Secrets of Jarrow by Bill Slavin (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
Scholarly and Academic Book of the Year
- The Canadian Mountain Assessment: Walking Together to Enhance Understanding of Mountains in Canada by Graham McDowell, Madison Stevens, Shawn Marshall, et al. (University of Calgary Press)
- Last But Not Least: A Guide to Proofreading Text by Leslie Vermeer (Brush Education)
Douglas Barbour Award for Speculative Fiction
- Super-Earth Mother: The AI that Engineered a Brave New World by Guy Immega (EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing)
Regional Book of the Year
- Reimagining Fire: The Future of Energy by Eveline Kolijn, ed. (Durvile & UpRoute Books)
Book Cover Design of the Year
- Whistle at Night and They Will Come: Indigenous Horror Stories Volume II by Alex Soop, design by Austin Andrews (Durvile & UpRoute Books)
Book Design of the Year
- Indigiqueerness: A Conversation about Storytelling by Joshua Whitehead, in dialogue with Angie Abdou, design by Brnesh Berhe, interior design by Natalie Olsen/Kisscut Design (Athabasca University Press)
Book Illustration of the Year
- Secrets of Jarrow by Bill Slavin (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
Lois Hole Award for Editorial Excellence
- Last But Not Least: A Guide to Proofreading Text by Leslie Vermeer; edited by Kay Rollins (Brush Education)
Mel Hurtig Publisher of the Year
- Laberinto Press
Special Achievement in Publishing Award
- Kate Edwards
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