2010 Book Awards Begin This Tuesday in Toronto - Charles Taylor Prize to<br>announce Shortlist

Media Conference: 10:00 am sharp Tuesday, January 5th

TORONTO, Jan. 3 /CNW/ -

    
    WHAT:     Announcement of the finalists for 9th annual Charles Taylor
              Prize for Literary Non-Fiction

    WHEN:     Tuesday, January 5, 2010
              Announcement: 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

    WHERE:    LE MERIDIEN KING EDWARD HOTEL
              Consort Bar, Main Floor, 37 King St. East, Toronto
              (Parking: East of King Edward Hotel on Leader Lane)

    WHO:      Noreen Taylor, Chair, The Charles Taylor Foundation
              Prize Juror Andrew Cohen
              Prize Trustee & author Dr. David Staines
              Canadian book publishers and editors

    WHY:      The Charles Taylor Prize is the country's most prestigious
              non-fiction award. Since 2000, the Prize has been a major
              driving force behind the recognition and growth of Canadian
              non-fiction.
    

Now in its 9th year, the privately-funded prize celebrates Canada's literary voices, recognizing the exceptional authors and journalists who captivate us with their stories, insights, and writing style.

More than 125 submissions are competing for a place on the 2010 Shortlist. Originally awarded every two years, since 2005 the Prize has been awarded annually to a Canadian author whose book best demonstrates a superb command of the English language, an elegance of style, and a subtlety of thought and perception.

The Prize commemorates the late Charles Taylor, one of Canada's foremost essayists, a foreign correspondent and a prominent member of the Canadian literary community whose dream was to raise the public profile of literary non-fiction.

The Prize consists of $25,000 for the winning author and $2,000 for each runner-up with promotional support for each shortlisted title.

The winner of the 2010 Prize will be announced at a Gala Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on Monday, February 8th. The Prize is presented by the Charles Taylor Foundation with generous support from Bravo!, Ben McNally Books, CTV, CNW Group, Event Source, Windfield Farms Limited, Le Meridien King Edward Hotel, The Globe and Mail, and Quill & Quire. For more information: www.thecharlestaylorprize.ca.

For further information: Media are requested to confirm their attendance with Stephen Weir & Associates: Stephen Weir: [phone], cell: [phone], [email protected]; Linda Crane: [phone], cell: [phone], [email protected]