The West Coast Book Prize Society has named author and B.C. BookWorld founder Alan Twigg the recipient of the 13th annual Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence.

Twigg has been the principle writer and publisher for the book-focused newspaper B.C. BookWorld (and its online version B.C. BookLook) since 1987. He’s also responsible for the majority of entries on Simon Fraser University’s author reference site, ABCBookWorld, which he’s contributed to since 2001. Currently working on his 18th book, Twigg has penned titles in a variety of genres including poetry, history, biography, and memoir.

The award jury, comprising 2015 recipient and teacher Betty Keller, author and The Province editor Peter Darbyshire, and Mulberry Bush Book Store co-owner Barbara Pope, said in a press release:

…Twigg has been the tireless champion of the B.C. writing and publishing community for almost forty years, but most people aren’t aware that he also volunteered his services to act as co-founder of the B.C. Book Prizes in 1985 and as primary organizer and implementer of every major literary award presented in this province. … In selecting Twigg for this award, we are delighted to recognize both his literary contributions and the constant nourishment he has provided for so many years to this province’s literary community.

Twigg will be recognized by B.C. Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon at a gala at Victoria’s Government House on April 30.