I spent a half hour with Bruce Kirkpatrick and a cameraman from CHEK News this morning. They’re doing a story on my mini-library on Saturday October 13th at 5pm (channel 6 in Victoria).  My mini-library is about to be a star!

Pumpkins galore and blue sky making this a perfect Thanksgiving weekend made even more perfect since I’m on my way to the ferry to pick up one of my girls.  We’ll all be together for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.  My youngest daughter and her boyfriend won’t arrive until late tomorrow after a full day of work.  Who cares if we have to eat late…we’ll all be here together packed into my tiny house, eating and drinking and sharing stories and love.  I have so much to be thankful for.  I hope you do too. 🙂

Just got my copies of my new picture book, Island Santa.  It’s a gorgeous with illustrations by Sheena Lott. The proceeds will support the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island and Jeneece Place, a home away form home for families who need to leave their communities to get medical care for their children. Island Santa is available at a bookstore near you.  If your local bookseller doesn’t have it, get them to order it from Orca Book Publishers.

Wonderful news!  A new award has just been announced by CODE Canada, The Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature is a unique literary award and readership initiative established by CODE with the generous support of philanthropist William Burt and the Literary Prizes Foundation that recognizes excellence in First Nations, Métis and Inuit literature for youth and provide engaging and culturally-relevant books for young people across Canada.

In partnership with the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Association of Canadian Publishers, and the Canada Council for the Arts, the Award will be given annually to three English-language literary works for young adults (aged 12 through 18) by First Nations, Métis or Inuit authors or translators (if applicable). The Canada Council for the Arts will be responsible for establishing the selection criteria and administering the jury process. A First Prize of $12,000, a Second Prize of $8,000 and a Third Prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the authors and translators (if applicable) of the winning titles. Winning publishers will participate in a guaranteed book purchase and distribution program in which CODE commits to purchasing a minimum of 2500 copies of each title at a bulk discount for distribution to schools, libraries, and Friendship Centres that serve First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth across Canada.

Publishers operating in Canada can submit English works of prose fiction or non-fiction written by First Nations, Métis or Inuit authors. Published books and unpublished manuscripts are eligible. In the case of published entries, they must have been published between May 1, 2010 and April 30, 2013.

The deadline for submissions for the inaugural Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature is May 1, 2013. Winning titles will be announced in September 2013.

For the full guidelines and publisher’s registration form, visit the Canada Council website at: http://www.canadacouncil.ca/prizes/ug129905517678738016.htm

For further Information on the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature, please contact Catherine Belshaw, Literary Awards Officer, at 613-232-3569 ext. 233 or CBelshaw@codecan.or