The Word Guild Writing Awards 2011

Media Press Release – Elaine A. Small, June 1, 2011

LOCAL WRITER FINALIST FOR NATIONAL AWARD

Book Festival-Signing, Ft. Myers, FL.,2011

Belleville – Elaine A. Small, of Dundas Street in Belleville, has been shortlisted in a national writing competition for her inspirational memoir, Priests in the Attic. Small, born and raise d in Winnipeg, left home at twenty to pursue careers as an x-ray technician, professional singer, European fashion buyer (Eaton’s, Holt Renfrew, The Bay–Toronto), real estate agent/investor and a B&B operator of Tara Hall, Wellington, Ontario. A graduate of York University- BA Honours; MA, 2001- Small continues to write daily at her home in Belleville, while working on her new book, “Life Writing and the Power of Reverie.”

“There were seventeen priests at my father’s funeral.” So begins Small’s literary memoir, Priests in the Attic, an eclectic tale that starts in the crib and develops into a burning desire for stardom. In the telling, her memoir wears its forthright heart on her sleeve as it describes her early life as a minister’s daughter. Growing up in a family of ten (eight children) Small’s memoir follows her surging/stumbling progress through careers, loves, losses, joys and sorrows, in waves of emotion powered by reverie–the sudden infusion of joy, sadness or both–brought on by old memories.

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Priests in the Attic is a finalist in the  “Book Category” of The Word Guild Canadian Writing Awards.

The winner will be announced on June 15 at a black-tie Awards Gala at World Vision’s headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, to which the public is invited. The Gala is the premier event honouring the work of Canadian Christian writers. It will be hosted by British Columbian author and speaker, Grace Fox.

“I am incredibly excited to be shortlisted for this award,” Small said. “Many readers have told me that Priests in the Attic has inspired them to recall their own life challenges and finally accept their unique experiences and difficulties in juggling careers, hearth and home, during the evolving social issues of the 1960s and 1970s.”

The Word Guild, the organization that sponsors the awards, consists of nearly 400 writers and editors across Canada who write from a Christian perspective and publish work in a variety of genres.

All shortlisted Book Category finalists are in contention for the Grace Irwin Award. This is the second year for the $5,000 Award which will be presented to the best book entered in The Word Guild’s awards.