Wow. Wasn’t expecting this, but I’m over the moon that EXPOSED, my title in the Retribution series which includes Burned by Natasha Deen and Unleashed by Sigmund Brouwer, is one of eight nominees for the Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading Program’s GOLDEN OAK Award for 2017.
The Forest of Reading is an umbrella literacy program which features a number of different awards for various categories of fiction and non-fiction. Here’s some general information from their website:
The Forest of Reading® is Canada’s largest recreational reading program! This initiative of the Ontario Library Association (OLA) offers eight reading programs to encourage a love of reading in people of all ages. The Forest helps celebrate Canadian books, publishers, authors and illustrators. More than 250,000 readers participate annually from their School and/or Public Library. All Ontarians / Canadians are invited to participate via their local public library, school library, or individually.
Goals of the Forest of Reading
- To develop recognition for Canadian authors and Canadian books
- To contribute to the financial stability of the Canadian publishing industry
- To provide teachers, teacher-librarians, librarians, library staff and parents with a meaningful tool for improving literacy in schools and libraries
- To respond to community interest and needs
Just look at all the stellar titles nominated this year!
In particular, Exposed is nominated for the Golden Oak Award celebrating titles selected as solid reads for new adult readers / perhaps struggling teen readers. Nominated titles can be fiction or non-fiction, but either way they are selected specifically for this target audience as titles that help “…new adult readers to gain the skills to accomplish everyday tasks, as well as foster the love of reading.”.
How freaking cool is that? I’m so excited, I’m planning a Toronto area / Ontario tour via Authors’ Booking Service and I hope to be visiting public libraries and new reader groups to chat all things bookish.
Here is the list and book summaries for the 2017 Golden Oak nominees. Congrats to all!
