City of Toronto Announces Finalists for the Toronto Book Award

The City of Toronto and Toronto Public Library have released the shortlist for the 2016 Toronto Book Award, which honours books of literary merit that are evocative of the city. Books of all genres are considered, and 2016 marks the 42nd presentation of the award.

2016 Toronto Book Award Finalists:

• Howard Akler for his memoir Men of Action (Coach House Books)
• Ann Y.K. Choi for her novel Kay's Lucky Coin Variety (Simon & Schuster Canada)
• Editors John Lorinc, Michael McClelland, Ellen Scheinberg and Tatum Taylor for The Ward: The Life and Loss of Toronto's First Immigrant Neighbourhood (Coach House Books)
• Cordelia Strube for her novel On the Shores of Darkness, There is Light (ECW Press)
• Marnie Woodrow for her novel Heyday (Tightrope Books)

Mayor John Tory expressed his support for the award, saying "Each year, the Toronto Book Awards inspire us... All the finalists and their stories help us expand our idea of what Toronto is, was and can be."

The winner of the 2016 award will be announced on October 11 at the Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street), at an evening event hosted by CBC Radio's Gill Deacon at the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon. The event is free and open to the public, however, ticket reservations are recommended. Tickets will be available via the Toronto Public Library website from September 13, 2016.

You can catch the shortlisted authors at The Word On the Street book and magazine festival at Harbourfront Centre on Sunday, September 25, 2016 and at the Scarborough Civic Centre Library (156 Borough Dr.) on October 5, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

Each finalist will receive $1,000, with $10,000 going to the winner. This year's Toronto Book Awards Committee is made up of volunteer members Irfan Ali, Ann Jansen, Kilby Smith-McGregor, and Conan Tobias.

For more information, check out the Toronto Book Awards website.