The Atlantic Book Awards Society is pleased to announce the full shortlist for the 11 different literary awards that make up the 2010 Atlantic Book Awards. Among the 33 authors and illustrators up for awards are three multiple nominees: Linden MacIntyre is nominated for three awards for The Bishop's Man (Random House); Michael Crummey (Galore), Shandi Mitchell (Under This Unbroken Sky), and Bob Chaulk and the late Greg Cochkanoff (SS Atlantic: The White Star Line's First Disaster at Sea) are all nominated for two awards each.

The 2010 Atlantic Book Awards celebration, a highlight of the week-long Atlantic Book Awards and Festival, takes place at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 14 at the Alderney Landing Theatre in Dartmouth, NS. A total of thirteen awards will be presented, including the two HRM Mayor's Awards--for Excellence in Book Illustration and for Literary Achievement--for which there are no shortlists. Co-hosting the awards celebration this year are Newfoundland playwright, comedienne, and author Berni Stapleton and Costas Halavrezos of CBC Radio's Maritime Noon.

The 2010 Atlantic Book Awards and Festival runs from Saturday, April 10 - Sunday, April 18 with free literary events taking place in all four Atlantic provinces. Festival details will be available at www.atlanticbookawards.ca in the coming weeks.

Media contact: Nicholas Graham / Graham Editing & Publicity

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graham.pub@gmail.com