The short list of authors competing to receive the City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize was announced on Wednesday.
The three finalists are Derek Beaulieu for "How to Write" (Talon Books), Weyman Chan for "Hypodem" (Talon Books), and Clem Martini and Olivier Martini for "Bitter Medicine" (Freehand Books).
Bealieu is a Canadian poet, publisher and anthologist who studied contemporary Canadian poetics at the University of Calgary. His book, "How to Write", is an indexical, playful, and innovative "how to" manual.
Chan's contribution is a collection of poems subtitled "Notes to Myself" and is a compilation of observations, intimations and recognitions of mortality. Chan is a Calgary-born poet whose work has appeared in many Alberta anthologies over the last two decades.
"Bitter Medicine" chronicles award-winning playwright, Clem Martini's family and their 30-year struggle with schizophrenia. The book is complemented by Olivier Martini's expressive, childlike drawings.
The City of Calgary established the W.O. Mitchell Book Prize in honour of the late Calgary writer to recognize literary achievement by local authors.
It is one of 17 prizes presented at the Calgary Awards, established in 1994, to celebrate and recognize outstanding achievements and contributions in the city.
The $5000 prize is awarded each year for an outstanding book published in that year.
