The Atlantic Book Awards are back, and for the first time in two years nominees have the chance to attend in person!

It’s no surprise that COVID-19 has forced our hand in moving events online for everyone’s safety and well-being, and the Atlantic Book Awards is no different. The format for the regional festival this year will be a hybrid model of in-person and virtual events running from June 2-9.

The shortlist for the ABAs will be announced on Friday, April 22 at Frye Festival’s Atlantic Spotlight event in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Although the regional awards gala on June 9 will be in-person at Paul O’Regan Hall in the Halifax Central Library, the event will be livestreamed for those wanting to avoid large gatherings or not able to attend.

A hybrid event “allows for book lovers everywhere to have the chance to watch the ceremony,” says Heather Fegan, ABA’s festival coordinator. It “allows us to bring authors from different regions together comfortably and safely, for some pretty dynamic discussions.”

New to the ABA’s Festival this year is the Nova Scotia Book Awards Gala taking place on June 6. The NS Book Awards are only open to Nova Scotian authors, and this inaugural event will have its own celebration at Halifax City Hall.

The Nova Scotia Book Awards include the Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction, the Writing for Change Award, the Evelyn Richardson Non-Fiction Award, the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award for Fiction and the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award for Non-Fiction.

As COVID is ever-changing, it’s still too early to determine what exact protocols will be in place for the festival’s events and galas. However, attendees of the festival’s in-person events will be encouraged to social distance and wear masks.

Fegan says she will watch how the next month unfolds and strive to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Before the pandemic, the gala saw about 100-150 people in attendance. They cannot pinpoint the number of people attending yet, but Fegan says “the appetite is there” for nominees and others wanting to attend.

“Everyone’s pretty keen to be able to participate.” She adds that anything virtual has had a bigger reach.

The ABAs Festival event schedule will be published online after the Shortlist is announced on April 22 and once programming is finalized. So, keep an eye on the ABA’s website and their socials for more information on tickets and the festival’s events.

Atlantic Book Awards: https://atlanticbookawards.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticBookAwards

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AtlBookAwards