Maggie Helwig shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award!

Coach House Books learned some very exciting news on September 15: Maggie Helwig has been shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award for her novel, Girls Fall Down!

Toronto-based Coach House author Maggie Helwig was announced as one of five nominees for the 2009 Toronto Book Awards at a ceremony at the Toronto Reference Library earlier this morning, September 15. Girls Fall Down, a novel set against the frightening landscape of Toronto during a seeming pandemic, shares the honour with Austin Clarke (More), Anthony De Sa (Barnacle Love), Mark Osbaldeston (Unbuilt Toronto) and Charles Wilkins (In the Land of Long Fingernails).

Nominated authors will read at The Word On The Street literary festival on Sunday, September 27. The awards gala will be held on October 15 at the Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street). This is the 35th anniversary of the Toronto Book Awards, which honours authors of books of literary merit that are evocative of Toronto. Past Award winners include Margaret Atwood, Robertson Davies, Michael Ondaatje, Dionne Brand and David Bezmozgis.

More information about the awards can be found at www.toronto.ca.