Finalists for the first Whistler Independent Book Awards, recognizing self-published titles in Canada‚ have been announced.

Winners will be presented by the Whistler Writing Society and Vivalogue publishing on Oct. 14 at the Literary Cabaret Gala, held during the Whistler Writers’ Fest. Each finalist will receive a $250 prize‚ with winners in each of four categories receiving $500. The shortlists‚ selected by members of the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Authors Association and culled from longlists released earlier this month‚ are:

Fiction (to be judged by authors Genni Gunn and Stella Harvey)

• Byrna Barclay, The House of the White Elephant
• Kath Curran, Before It Was Easy
• Shawn Gale, The Stories That Make Us

Non-fiction (to be judged by authors J.J. Lee and Susan Oakey Baker)

• Miji Campbell, Separation Anxiety: A Coming-of-Middle-Age Story
• Oriole A. Vane Veldhuis, For Elise: Unveiling the Forgotten Woman on the Criddle Homestead
• Maggie Ziegler‚ The Road to Keringet

Crime (to be judged by authors Linda L. Richards and Katherine Fawcett)

• D.F. Bailey, Bone Maker
• R.E. Donald, Sundown on Top of the World
• Gerry Fostaty, Stage Business

Poetry (to be judged by poets Evelyn Lau and Mary McDonald)

• Gloria Barkley, Water Window Mirror
• Gail Sidonie Sobat, How the Light Is Spent
• Alan Woodland, Out of the Mist