And the Jury Said...

The winner of the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize was announced last night. Here are the jury’s comments about Nest City:

Of all the relationships we have in our lives, one that we don't always think about or take time to foster is our relationship with the community in which we live. That relationship is called citizenship and in her book, Nest City, Beth Sanders redefines the word.

By inviting readers to take an active role to reflect on their own behaviour, practices, ideas and contributions, Nest City becomes a personal journey, deepening the relationship between citizen and community. 

Sanders' writing is informative, yes, enlightening, definitely, but also incredibly accessible and relatable, drawing the reader in as page after page offers insight after insight. 

With wonderful personal stories woven throughout, Nest City serves as a fascinating study of how cities and their citizens work together to serve each other, how they are responsible for each other, how they grow together and how, with shared understanding, they together can create something extraordinary. 

I encourage you to watch the Gala and enjoy the celebration of many Alberta writers. (The video is 33 minutes.)

And the winner… Tyler Enfield’s Like Rum-Drunk Angels, with Goose Lane Press. Yes, I would have liked to have won. And the truth is, the jury's comments brought tears to my eyes. That is a win.