One man stands out as a part of every Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) emerging author collection since it was established in 2015.
Sever Bronny’s Flames of Stone – book three in his coming-of-age fantasy series for young adults – is among the 145 books in the 2024 collection that showcases more than 125 local authors.
This year’s collection includes books published between 2014 and 2023.
“Each spring for the last nine years, we’ve had the privilege of unveiling a new collection of books for our community, shining a spotlight on both our community’s talented writers and their self-published, independently published, and small press works. We are so proud to support our community’s local talent and to provide a platform for books that might not be available through traditional channels,” GVPL CEO Maureen Sawa said in a news release.
Each fall, GVPL invites authors to apply to take part in its annual Emerging Local Authors Collection. To be eligible to participate, authors or illustrators must live on southern Vancouver Island or have resided there during the publication of their book. The GVPL unveiled the 2024 collection at its Central Branch on Sunday (May 11).
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Since the program’s launch in 2015, over 1,100 authors and more than 1,475 books – most self-published – have been featured in GVPL’s collection. This year’s collection, which includes books published between 2014 and 2023, showcases more than 125 local authors and illustrators and 145 books.
“This collection celebrates the talent and creativity of our local authors. Stories have the power to connect us, to challenge us, and to encourage us. The Emerging Local Authors Collection exemplifies our dedication to fostering a vibrant literary community. We are honoured to provide a platform for emerging authors to share their stories and connect with readers,” GVPL chair Andrew Appleton said.
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Among the titles in this year’s collection are NoMeansNo: From Obscurity to Oblivion by Jason Lamb, an authorized oral history about the internationally beloved Victoria punk rock band NoMeansNo; Most Adventures Wins, Don Munro’s memoir about his Tom Sawyer lifestyle that has taken him around the world; and Last Summer, by Lily Grace, a poignant story of a small group of friends and the struggles they face as young people on the cusp of adulthood.
The collection also includes a selection of short fiction anthologies written by students aged 9 to 15 from the Story Studio’s virtual writing program.
Print books from the 2024 Emerging Local Authors Collection are on display at the library’s Central Branch and can be placed on hold for pickup at any GVPL branch. Ebooks are made available through BiblioBoard, a digital platform for self-published content. GVPL will accept applications for the tenth annual Emerging Local Authors Collection this fall. For more information about the collection, visit www.gvpl.ca.
