Six Writers Shortlisted for 2017 Lignum Vitae Awards

Here is some news about the 2017 Lignum Vitae Writing Awards. I am sorry to see that there were no shortlisted submissions for the Vic Reid Award, which shows there is perhaps some way to go with writing for young adults, at least in Jamaica. I have reviewed a few Caribbean YA novels, which I just loved, in this blog (here’s one I enjoyed). Perhaps I should try my hand myself.

Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers!

Kingston: Six (6) writers have been shortlisted for the 2017 Lignum Vitae Writing Awards presented by the Jamaica Writers Society (JaWS) in collaboration with the Jamaica Copyright Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY). The shortlists for the triple-decker of awards were announced at Bookophilia on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.

The 2017 Lignum Vitae Writing Awards received 24 entries. The Una Marson prize continued to receive the most entries with 13 manuscripts submitted for the award. The Vic Reid Award for Young Adult Literature received eight (8) entries while the Jean D’Costa Award for Children’s Literature received three (3) manuscript submissions.

Of the six manuscripts shortlisted for the three prizes, totally J$1 million, four works were shortlisted for the Una Marson Award and two for the Jean D’Costa Award. None of the manuscripts were shortlisted for the Vic Reid Award, though judges gave one manuscript in the category, a high commendation.

“This is a clear signal that a lot of work is required to stimulate and improve writing for children in Jamaica. We can only build a society of readers and thinkers by generating compelling and exciting children’s literature that allow our young to reflect on themselves as superheroes, as ordinary lovable children, as the descendants of a people with a great history,” Ms. Batson-Savage said.

“JAMCOPY remains committed to supporting the creative industries. We believe in acknowledging, rewarding and celebrating our creative people who use intellectual property to create a thriving part of the Jamaican economy,” said JAMCOPY General Manager, Carol Newman.

The Shortlists:

The Jean D’Costa Award for Children’s Literature

Marvin Matthews and the Magical Abeng by Nicardo McLean

Lost in the Cockpit Country by Helen Williams

The Vic Reid Award for Young Adult Literature

High Commendation – Seventeen Lashes by Dionne Brown (collection of stories)

The Una Marson Award for Adult Literature

Land We Love by Garfield Ellis

Loving Jamaica: An Exploration of Place by Diana Macaulay

The Long Way Back Home by Robert McCarthy

Girls in Trouble: Stories by Sharon Leach

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony on Friday, November 24, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the National Gallery of Jamaica.

Carol Newman, general manager of JAMCOPY brings greetings. (Photo: Lignum Vitae Awards)