Alberta Book Publishing Awards
On this page:
About the Awards
As the critical middle piece of the storytelling process, Alberta book publishers enrich and sustain the cultural and social landscape of our province. Releasing a range of quality titles each year, they bring Alberta’s Story to life and share it locally, nationally and internationally.
Created to recognize and celebrate the best of the Alberta book publishing industry, the Alberta Book Publishing Awards have grown alongside the industry to capture the excellence and innovation of Alberta’s book publishers.
Each year, the Alberta Book Publishing Awards winners are selected through a peer jury process in up to 16 award categories. This much-anticipated event draws industry, government and media attention to the world-class excellence of Alberta’s publishing industry.
This year, jurors evaluated 126 submissions from Alberta publishers across 15 categories.
The winners of the 2023 Alberta Book Publishing Awards were announced at a gala reception, held at the Matrix Hotel in Edmonton on September 21, 2023.
2023 Winners
Download the PDF Media Release
Download the 2023 Awards Program
You can find copies of the winning titles through the following links:
Read Alberta eBooks and Prairie Indigenous eBook Collections
Learning Book of the Year
University of Alberta Press
Canadian Performance Documents and Debates: A Sourcebook edited by Anthony J. Vickery, Glen F. Nichols and Allana C. Lindgren
Douglas Barbour Award for Speculative Fiction
NeWest Press
Ezra’s Ghosts by Darcy Tamayose
Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry
Frontenac House Ltd.
Transcribing Moonlight by Skylar Kay
Graphic Novel of the Year
Renegade Arts Entertainment
King Warrior by Jay Bulckaert, Erika Nyyssonen, and Halima Muhamud, illustrated by Lucas Green
Children’s & Young Adult Book of the Year – sponsored by Marquis Books
Red Barn Books
Howdy, I’m Flores LaDue by Ayesha Clough, illustrated by Hugh Rookwood with Keegan Starlight
Mystery and Thriller Book of the Year
NeWest Press
To Those Who Killed Me by J.T. Siemens
Scholarly & Academic Book of the Year
Athabasca University Press
Memory and Landscape: Indigenous Responses to a Changing North edited by Kenneth L. Pratt and Scott A. Heyes
Trade Fiction Book of the Year
NeWest Press
Ezra’s Ghosts by Darcy Tamayose
Trade Non-Fiction Book of the Year – sponsored by Houghton Boston Printers
Freehand Books
Modern Fables by Mikka Jacobsen
Regional Book of the Year – sponsored by Alberta Counsel
University of Calgary Press
A Stunning Backdrop: Alberta in the Movies, 1917-1960 by Mary Graham
Book Cover Design – sponsored by Friesens
Freehand Books
Who Has Seen the Wind by W.O. Mitchell
book cover design by Natalie Olsen (Kisscut Design)
Book Illustration
Renegade Arts Entertainment
Alberta Comics: Home edited by Alexander Finbow, Shea Proulx, and Emily Pomeroy
illustrated by various artists
Book Design
Athabasca University Press
Memory and Landscape: Indigenous Responses to a Changing North edited by Kenneth L. Pratt and Scott A. Heyes
cover design by Marvin Harder
interior design by Natalie Olsen (Kisscut Design)
Lois Hole Award for Editorial Excellence
NeWest Press
There Are Wolves Here Too by Niall Howell, edited by Claire Kelly
Mel Hurtig Publisher of the Year

Special Achievement in Publishing Awards
The Read Albert website founding team: Anna Boyar, Heather Lohnes, Karyn Wisselink

Lifetime Achievement in Publishing Award
George Melnyk, former publisher at NeWest Press

Funders & Sponsors
Thank you to our funders and the sponsors of the 2023 Alberta Book Publishing Awards Gala!
Funders
Sponsors

Past winners
You can find copies of the winning and nominated titles through the following links:
Read Alberta eBooks and Prairie Indigenous eBook Collections
2020 Awards
2019 Awards
2018 Awards
2017 Awards
2016 Awards
2015 Awards
2014 Awards
2013 Awards
2012 Awards
2011 Awards
2010 Awards
2009 Awards
2008 Awards
2007 Awards
2006 Awards
2005 Awards
2004 Awards