Awards Spotlight
Like a proud parent, we want to brag about our publishers’ achievements— so this week, we are shining a spotlight on award-winning and shortlisted Alberta books from the past year.
This selection of books is just a small snapshot of the breadth and quality of Alberta’s book publishing industry, and we encourage you to discover more Alberta-published books from your local independent bookstore and public library.
Congratulations to all of the winning and shortlisted authors and publishers!
Find a bookstore near you!
Laberinto Press
Emerging Publisher of the Year at the 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards!
BEYOND THE GALLERY
Silver Medal, Best Culturally Themed Academic Book, 2022 International Latino Book Awards
Beyond the Gallery an Anthology of Visual Encounters: An Anthology of Visual Encounters Published: Oct 15, 2021 by Laberinto Press
Published: Oct 15, 2021 by Laberinto Press
ISBN: 9781777085919
Red Barn Books
ALBERTA BLUE
Winner, Children’s & Young Adult Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Alberta Blue: A prairie sky lullaby Pat Hatherly
Published: Oct 10, 2021 by Red Barn Books
Pat Hatherly 
Published: Oct 10, 2021 by Red Barn Books
ISBN: 9781989915028
NeWest Press
EZRA’S GHOSTS
Shortlisted, Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize (The winner will be announced Nov 2, so stay tuned!)
Ezra's Ghosts: Stories Darcy Tamayose
Published: Apr 15, 2022 by NeWest Press
Darcy Tamayose 
Published: Apr 15, 2022 by NeWest Press
ISBN: 9781774390474
BURNING THE NIGHT
Winner, 2022 Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize
Burning the Night Glen Huser
Published: May 15, 2021 by NeWest Press
Glen Huser 
Published: May 15, 2021 by NeWest Press
ISBN: 9781774390115
THE CINE STAR SALON
Gold, Multicultural Fiction, 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards
Cine Star Salon, The Leah Ranada
Published: Oct 01, 2021 by NeWest Press
Leah Ranada 
Published: Oct 01, 2021 by NeWest Press
ISBN: 9781774390320
A BRIEF VIEW FROM THE COASTAL SUITE
Silver, Canada-West — Best Regional Fiction, 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards
Brief View from the Coastal Suite, A Karen Hofmann
Published: May 01, 2021 by NeWest Press
Karen Hofmann 
Published: May 01, 2021 by NeWest Press
ISBN: 9781774390177
LAST TIDE
Bronze, Canada-West — Best Regional Fiction, 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards
Last Tide Andy Zuliani
Published: Oct 01, 2021 by NeWest Press
Andy Zuliani 
Published: Oct 01, 2021 by NeWest Press
ISBN: 9781774390344
Brush Education
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
Winner, Learning Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Care: An Intercultural Perspective Carole Massing
Published: Jul 06, 2021 by Brush Education
Carole Massing
, Mary Lynne Matheson 
Published: Jul 06, 2021 by Brush Education
ISBN: 9781550598841
DYING IN GOOD HANDS
Shortlisted, Learning Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Dying in Good Hands: Palliative Massage and the Power of Touch Christine Sutherland
Published: Jan 15, 2021 by Brush Education
Christine Sutherland 
Published: Jan 15, 2021 by Brush Education
ISBN: 9781550598506
Renegade Arts Entertainment
ELECTRIC VICE
Winner, Graphic Novel of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
The creators were also shortlisted for The Nipper: Doug Wright Award for Emerging Talent!
Electric Vice Kyle Simmers
Published: Oct 19, 2021 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
Kyle Simmers
, Ryan Danny Owen
Published: Oct 19, 2021 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
ISBN: 9781988903859
HELL’S FLAW
Artist John Bolton was nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Painter/Multimedia Artist for his illustrations in Hell’s Flaw.
Hell's Flaw (Shame #5) Lovern Kindzierski
Published: May 19, 2020 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
Lovern Kindzierski 
Published: May 19, 2020 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
ISBN: 9781988903897
University of Calgary Press
HAPPY SANDS
Shortlisted, Trade Fiction Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Happy Sands Barb Howard
Published: Sep 15, 2021 by University of Calgary Press
Barb Howard 
Published: Sep 15, 2021 by University of Calgary Press
ISBN: 9781773852164
SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS
Shortlisted, Regional Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Sustainability Matters: Prospects for a Just Transition in Calgary, Canada’s Petro-City Noel Keough
Published: Sep 15, 2021 by University of Calgary Press
Noel Keough 
Published: Sep 15, 2021 by University of Calgary Press
ISBN: 9781773852485
UNLOCKING
Shortlisted, Trade Fiction Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Unlocking Amy LeBlanc
Published: Jun 15, 2021 by University of Calgary Press
Amy LeBlanc 
Published: Jun 15, 2021 by University of Calgary Press
ISBN: 9781773851396
Frontenac House
A SELECTED HISTORY OF SOUL SPEAK
Shortlisted, Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
A Selected History of Soul Speak Andrea Thompson
Published: Nov 04, 2021 by Frontenac House Ltd.
Andrea Thompson 
Published: Nov 04, 2021 by Frontenac House Ltd.
ISBN: 9781989466254
BEARMEN DESCEND UPON GIMLI
Shortlisted, Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Bearmen Descend Upon Gimli Daniel Lockhart
Published: Nov 04, 2021 by Frontenac House Ltd.
Daniel Lockhart 
Published: Nov 04, 2021 by Frontenac House Ltd.
ISBN: 9781989466261
TELL THE BIRDS YOUR BODY IS NOT A GUN
Shortlisted, Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Tell the Birds Your Body is Not a Gun Rayanne Haines
Published: Apr 15, 2021 by Frontenac House Ltd.
Rayanne Haines 
Published: Apr 15, 2021 by Frontenac House Ltd.
ISBN: 9781989466216
Tyche Books
WATER
Winner, Douglas Barbour Award for Speculative Fiction, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Water: Selkies, Sirens, & Sea Monsters
Edited by Rhonda Parrish
Published; August 9, 2021 by Tyche Books
ISBN: 9781989407271
TYING THE KNOT
Shortlisted, Douglas Barbour Award for Speculative Fiction, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Tying the Knot
by E.C. Bell
Published; April 27, 2021 by Tyche Books
ISBN: 9781989407257
Durvile & UpRoute Books
THE RIVER TROLL
Winner, Book Illustration, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Gold, 2022 COVR Visionary Awards
The River Troll: A Story About Love in Color Rich Théroux
Published: Feb 15, 2022 by Durvile Publications
Rich Théroux 
Published: Feb 15, 2022 by Durvile Publications
ISBN: 9781988824949
Freehand Books
GREAT ADVENTURES FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
Winner, Fiction, 2022 Canadian Jewish Literary Award
Great Adventures for the Faint of Heart Cary Fagan
Published: Sep 13, 2021 by Freehand Books
Cary Fagan 
Published: Sep 13, 2021 by Freehand Books
ISBN: 9781988298900
THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN DANCE TOUR
Shortlisted, 2022 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour
Winner, Trade Fiction Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
The Prairie Chicken Dance Tour Dawn Dumont
Published: Sep 27, 2021 by Freehand Books
Dawn Dumont 
Published: Sep 27, 2021 by Freehand Books
ISBN: 9781988298870
BIG READER
Shortlisted, Fred Kerner Book Award
Big Reader: Essays Susan Olding
Published: May 01, 2021 by Freehand Books
Susan Olding 
Published: May 01, 2021 by Freehand Books
ISBN: 9781988298818
THE LOVER, THE LAKE
Shortlisted, Governor General’s Literary Award for Translation
The Lover, the Lake Virginia Pesemapeo Bordeleau
Published: May 01, 2021 by Freehand Books
Virginia Pesemapeo Bordeleau 
Published: May 01, 2021 by Freehand Books
ISBN: 9781988298849
THE END OF ME
Honourable Mention, Alcuin Award for Prose Fiction, The Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design
The End of Me John Gould
Published: May 01, 2020 by Freehand Books
John Gould 
Published: May 01, 2020 by Freehand Books
ISBN: 9781988298566
Laksa Media Groups Inc.
SEASONS BETWEEN US
Finalist, Best Related Work, Aurora Awards
Finalist, Anthologies, Foreword INDIES Awards
Shortlisted, Douglas Barbour Award for Speculative Fiction, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Seasons Between Us also includes stories that were finalists for Best Novelette/Novella and Best Short Story at the Aurora Awards
Seasons Between Us: Tales of Identities and Memories Vanessa Cardui
Published: Aug 08, 2021 by Laksa Media Groups Inc.
Vanessa Cardui
, Tyler Keevil
, Rich Larson 
Published: Aug 08, 2021 by Laksa Media Groups Inc.
ISBN: 9781988140179
Athabasca University Press
BUCKING CONSERVATISM
Winner, Regional Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Bucking Conservatism: Alternative Stories of Alberta from the 1960s and 1970s Published: Nov 30, 2021 by Athabasca University Press
Published: Nov 30, 2021 by Athabasca University Press
ISBN: 9781771992572
REGIME OF OBSTRUCTION
Winner, Scholarly and Academic Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Regime of Obstruction: How Corporate Power Blocks Energy Democracy Published: Apr 15, 2021 by Athabasca University Press
Published: Apr 15, 2021 by Athabasca University Press
ISBN: 9781771992893
25 YEARS OF ED TECH
Finalist, Education/Academic, 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
25 Years of Ed Tech Published: Feb 14, 2020 by Athabasca University Press
Martin Weller
Published: Feb 14, 2020 by Athabasca University Press
ISBN: 9781771993050
TRUTH BEHIND BARS
Shortlisted, 2022 Wallace K. Ferguson Book Prize, Canadian Historical Association
"Truth Behind Bars": Reflections on the Fate of the Russian Revolution Published: Nov 30, 2021 by Athabasca University Press
Paul Kellogg
Published: Nov 30, 2021 by Athabasca University Press
ISBN: 9781771992459
University of Alberta Press
IMPACT
Winner, Trade Non-Fiction Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Impact: Women Writing After Concussion Published: Sep 07, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
Published: Sep 07, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
ISBN: 9781772125818
ON FOOT TO CANTERBURY
Winner, Book Design, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
On Foot to Canterbury: A Son’s Pilgrimage Ken Haigh
Published: Sep 16, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
Ken Haigh 
Published: Sep 16, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
ISBN: 9781772125450
THE BAD WIFE
Winner, Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
The Bad Wife Micheline Maylor
Published: Mar 09, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
Micheline Maylor 
Published: Mar 09, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
ISBN: 9781772125481
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND STREET GANGS
Shortlisted, Scholarly & Academic Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Indigenous Women and Street Gangs Published: Sep 15, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
Amber, Bev, Chantel
Published: Sep 15, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
ISBN: 9781772125498
APPEALING BECAUSE HE IS APPALLING
Shortlisted, Scholarly & Academic Book of the Year, 2022 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
Appealing Because He Is Appalling: Black Masculinities, Colonialism, and Erotic Racism Published: Jun 10, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
Published: Jun 10, 2021 by University of Alberta Press
ISBN: 9781772125436
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