This spring, the Atlantic Book Awards Festival will once again celebrate the vibrant literary culture of Atlantic Canada with a week of engaging events, both online and in person. The festival showcases the region’s literary talent through readings, discussions and appearances by authors shortlisted for the prestigious Atlantic Book Awards, which together offer over $40,000 in prize money. This year’s festival takes place from May 29 to June 5, 2025.

A highlight of the week is the Atlantic Book Awards ceremony where this year’s winners will be announced and honoured. The award ceremony takes place on June 5 at Paul O’Regan Hall in Halifax Central Library.

Among the key honours at the Atlantic Book Award ceremony is the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association’s Best Atlantic-Published Book Award, presented annually to an Atlantic Canadian publisher whose book best exemplifies excellence and achievement in publishing. Sponsored by Friesen’s Corporation, the award includes a $3,000 cash prize for the winning publisher and $1,000 for the book’s author.

The shortlisted books are selected by independent juries for each award, who are given the challenging task of ranking an incredible array of submissions. Here’s what the jury had to say about the nominees for the APMA BestAtlantic-Published Book Award.

Death and Other Inconveniences
Lesley Crewe
Vagrant Press

In Death and Other Inconveniences, Margo, a 62-year-old widow in Fredericton, faces the chaos of life after her husband’s sudden death. Navigating family dynamics, financial struggles and self-discovery, Margo embarks on a humorous and heartfelt journey of reinvention, proving it’s never too late to start anew.

Zaatari
Karen E. Fisher
Goose Lane Editons

Zaatari offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of Syrian refugees through their food. The book features over 80 recipes passed down through generations, accompanied by personal stories, art and photographs from Zaatari Camp. Fisher, a field researcher with UNHCR Jordan, highlights how cooking preserves cultural identity and fosters community among displaced individuals. All royalties from the book support the camp’s residents.

Mal
Chase Cormier
Éditions Perce-Neige

Mal by Chase Cormier is a poignant, auto-fictional narrative set in the Opelousas region of Louisiana, following Perroquet, a young boy navigating family separation, cultural loss and the complexities of Cajun identity. As he bonds with his grandparents, Perroquet begins to reclaim his sense of belonging and language through the transformative power of storytelling and memory.