media release
Writers' Alliance Announces the Winner of the 2007 Heritage and History Book AwardMay 16, 2008–St John's, NL: During last night's local Atlantic Book Awards readings held at The Studio on Water Street in St. John's, the Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador announced Vikings to U-Boats: The German Experience in Newfoundland and Labrador by Gerhard P. Bassler as the winner of the 2007 Heritage and History Book Award."I'm very excited about winning this award," commented Bassler, who is especially pleased to have made a contribution to the history and heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador that looks into a previously unexplored part of our culture and society. Mark Callanan, President of the Writers' Alliance, pointed out the value of works like Bassler's. "The artistic preservation of our history and heritage is a noble undertaking. Where we come from, what we have done and been–these are the precedents that define us as a culture. Writers like Gerhard Bassler, by acting as keepers of our history and heritage, are integral to the development of this province; we congratulate him on his work and thank the Historic Sites Association for sponsoring this award." The award was presented by Joan Ritcey, Vice Chair of the Historic Sites Association, which sponsors the award. The judges for this award were Lori Savory and JoAnne Soper-Cook. Gerhard Bassler, a Professor Emeritus in Memorial University's Department of History, has written extensively on German-speaking migrations to Newfoundland/Labrador and Canada. His last three books are Sanctuary Denied, Alfred Valdmanis and the Politics of Survival, and Vikings to U-Boats, which also won the 2007 Rogers Cable Non-fiction Award last spring. He is currently completing a book on post-World War II German migrations to Canada. Bassler has lived in St. John's since 1965. Sponsored by the Historic Sites Association and administered by the Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Heritage and History Book Award is awarded to a work of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or children's/young adult literature that exemplifies excellence in the interpretation of the history and heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Historic Sites Association sponsors this award as a way to demonstrate appreciation for those writers whose exploration of their culture and heritage has shaped their writing. The Heritage and History Book Award was first presented in 2004 and is awarded annually. The winner receives a $250 cash prize. Past award winners include talented authors Michael Crummey, Maura Hanrahan, and Robin McGrath. Currently, the shortlist is selected from among those books submitted to the Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards. |
Media contact: Shoshanna Wingate Executive Director Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's, NL Tel: (709) 739-5215 Email: wanl@nf.aibn.com |
| The Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador operates with funds raised from membership dues, fundraising activities, corporate and private sponsorship, and with the financial support of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, City of St John's, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador through the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, which the Alliance gratefully acknowledges. | |
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