Two local authors can now add “Victoria book prize winners” to their resume.
Chris Tougas and Julie Paul are this year’s winners of Victoria Book prizes.
Tougas won the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize for Dojo Daycare (Owl Kids) and Paul won the City of Victoria Butler Prize for her short story collection, The Pull of the Moon (Brindle and Glass). In addition to bragging rights, the pair were awarded with $5,000 each.
The prize marks the second for Tougas. The writer-illustrator won the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize in 2008 with Mechanimals (Orca Book Publishers). Tougas studied art and animation in both Canada and the U.S, and has worked in film animation at Disney and other studios.
Paul wears several hats — writer, massage therapist and teacher. Her stories, poems and essays have been accepted for publication in numerous journals, including Canadian Living, The Dalhousie Review and The Malahat Review. Her collection of stories, The Jealousy Bone, was released in February 2008.
The City of Victoria Butler Book Prize is in its 12th year. The Victoria Book Prize Society establishes the policy and criteria for the prizes, appoints the juries and administers the competitions.
