2014 WINNER & FINALISTS
HEATHER CAMLOT’S “THE BOYS OF SUMMER” WINS CANSCAIP & THE WRITERS’ UNION OF CANADA’S 17th ANNUAL WRITING FOR CHILDREN COMPETITION – $1,500 CASH PRIZE
CANSCAIP is pleased to announce that Heather Camlot is the winner of the 17th annual Writing for Children Competition, for her story, “The Boys of Summer.” The author will receive a $1,500 cash prize. In addition, CANSCAIP will submit the winning story, together with the stories of nine finalists, to three Canadian publishers of children’s literature for their consideration.
The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) initiated the competition over sixteen years ago in order to discover, encourage, and promote new writers of children’s literature in every region of Canada. The Writing for Children Competition has grown in popularity since its inception, and CANSCAIP is excited to have taken on this initiative moving forward in partnership with TWUC.
WINNER: “THE BOYS OF SUMMER” BY HEATHER CAMLOT
Set against the backdrop of Jackie Robinson’s pivotal 1946 season with the Montreal Royals, “The Boys of Summer” tells the story of Joey Grosser as he struggles to come of age while scarred by his father’s recent death. The jury remarked that the story “was so evocative – I could smell it! She was doing a lot and it felt effortless – historical, a touch of comedic edge, tragic, [and] strong characters,” crafted with ‘sure-footed and lovely writing.” “The Boys of Summer” is inspired by Heather’s father and his siblings who grew up in the Plateau neighbourhood of Montreal after the Second World War.
Heather Camlot has fond memories of growing up in Montreal and going to Expos baseball games as a child. A freelance editor and translator, she now lives in Toronto with her husband and two kids. Heather is putting the finishing touches on the full-length novel version of The Boys of Summer.
FINALISTS
Captain Monty, Jennifer Mook-Sang, Burlington, ON
Isabelle Lee and Her Adventures at Sea, Michelle Demery, Ottawa, ON
Rhymes with Celery, Tanya Trafford, Duncan, BC
Tell Me Something I Don’t Know, Katie Marti, Revelstoke, BC
The King’s Quest, Dawne McFarlane, Toronto, ON
The Medician, Rachel Crowther, Courtice, ON
Two Letters, Valerie Connor, Etobicoke, ON
Wade’s Wiggly Antlers, Louise Bradford, Ottawa, ON
Yellow Dog, Miriam Korner, Air Ronge, SK
READERS FOR THE COMPETITION
Karen Autio, Lena Coakley, Lisa Dalrymple, Lizann Flatt, Barbara Greenwood, Susan Hughes, Loris Lysenski, Evan Munday, Adira Rotstein, Rene Schmidt, Jim Sellers, Valerie Sherrard, Jocelyn Shipley, Nicole Winters
FINAL JURY
Susin Nielsen, Kevin Sylvester, and Teresa Toten
CANSCAIP is our country’s national organization representing professional authors, illustrators & performers of children’s books and culture. We are dedicated to fostering the creation of children’s literature in Canada, and promoting the rights, freedoms, and economic well-being of all children’s literature creators. For more information, please visit http://www.canscaip.org.
For additional information contact:
Allison Burda, Community Manager
CANSCAIP: The Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, & Performers
416.515.1559 | aburda@canscaip.org
Heather Camlot 