Fort McMurray wildfire book a Finalist for 2020 Alberta Book Publishing Awards

FORT McMURRAY, Alta. / June 22, 2020 — A memoir by Wood Buffalo author Therese Greenwood is a Finalist for the 2020 Alberta Book Publishing Awards from The Book Publishers Association of Alberta (BPAA).

Nominated in the Trade Non-fiction category, What You Take With You: Wildfire, Family and the Road Home was published by the University of Alberta Press. An eyewitness account of the Fort McMurray wildfire and evacuation, the book is also about the physical and emotional artifacts we carry with us in times of crisis.

“It’s an honour for the book to be nominated for a province-wide award by the BPAA,” said Greenwood. “The way people across Alberta rallied to support Fort McMurray evacuees during a time of crisis is a big part of the story.”

“It’s also an acknowledgement of the ongoing commitment by the University of Alberta Press to telling our province’s stories,” added Greenwood.

“At a time in our world when reading and books have never been more important, it’s wonderful to showcase the books published right here in Alberta,” said Kieran Leblanc, the executive director of BPAA. “Please remember most of these books are accessible through our Read Alberta eBooks Collection, available through public libraries throughout the province.”

Greenwood won the 2019 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America and is a three-time Finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award, Canada’s top mystery writing prize. Called “a master storyteller” and “a pure Canadian voice,” her short fiction has appeared across Canada and in the U.S.

The winners of the 2020 Alberta Book Publishing Awards will be announced in a virtual gala reception. Further details on the virtual gala will be released in the coming weeks.

Media interviews are available by emailing media@therese.ca.

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