Several weeks ago, my publisher sent me an email that began with the sentence “I have some exciting news.” Indeed, she did — the Montreal feminist publisher les editions du remu-menage wanted to translate my book into French and publish it. I was thrilled and am looking forward to seeing the French-language version of And Sometimes They Kill You.
The next day, she wrote to me again. This time, her email began with the sentence: “Well, today I have even more exciting news!!” Indeed, she did — she told me, in confidence because the public announcement had not yet been made, that my book had been shortlisted for the Donner Prize.
Even though she had let me know in January that she was nominating my book for some awards, I hadn’t given the possibility of being shortlisted let alone of winning much thought. A book about violence against women written by a feminist – who’d want to give that book a prize? I’ve been thrilled by people’s interest in the book, excited by the dynamic discussions it has led to in communities across Ontario and very happy with book sales. But prizes – those were just not on my radar.
Public policy writing
The Donner Prize is given to the best public policy book written by a Canadian. Established in 1998, it annually rewards:
“excellence and innovation in public policy writing by Canadians. In bestowing this award, the Donner Canadian Foundation seeks to broaden policy debates, and to make an original and meaningful contribution to policy discourse, all of which will contribute to an even stronger and more inclusive Canadian democracy.”
The six-member jury reviewed more than 80 books and shortlisted five. Jury chair, Andre Beaulieu said, on announcing the shortlist:
“We debated books that deal with critical policy concerns, along with the books’ ability to outline the challenges and to deliver concrete policy recommendations, while remaining accessible to an interested reader.”
The winning book will be announced at a gala event on May 15th. While perhaps not offering quite the hoopla of, say, the Academy Awards – this is, after all, a prize for public policy writing – it will have some drama. The shortlisted authors will not know ahead of time which book has been selected for the prize, so we will have to sit through the cocktails and dinner in anxious anticipation as we wait for the big announcement to be made.
The build-up
Meanwhile, there has been lots to do. We’ve each been told to prepare an acceptance speech, just in case. We’ve had short videos about us and our books made, which will be shown at the event. We’ve had excerpts of our books published in The Hill Times, a newspaper and website that covers the Parliament of Canada, the federal government and other federal political news.
Two days before the federal election, the Globe and Mail ran a feature in which each book’s author was asked to identify a pressing problem for the next prime minister to address. (I’m expecting to hear from PM Carney any day, asking for my assistance in addressing IPV.)
The Toronto Star ran an article about the five shortlisted books, which carried the headline “Feminist lawyer Pamela Cross among authors shortlisted for $60,000 Donner Prize.”
Being shortlisted has been a blast, so far, and when I am not fretting about things like tripping on my way to the stage should my book be the winner, I’m really enjoying it.
I’m sure I’m not the only shortlisted author who would like to win, although it is, no doubt, unseemly to admit to such a hope. A prize of $60,000 is nothing to sneeze at, especially in the world of public policy writing, but it’s not just about the money. I also want to see the special sticker declaring “Donner Prize Winner for best book on Canadian public policy on the cover of my book,” as well as the uptick in book sales that is likely to follow.
When he announced the shortlisted books on April 15th, Gregory Belton, the chair of the Donner Canadian Foundation, described my book as offering “a sobering and profound discussion on intimate partner violence.”
That’s what I wanted to create when I wrote the book, so whether or not I receive the Donner Prize next week, I am deeply honoured that it has been shortlisted.