Galway authors Caitríona Hastings and Deirdre Sullivan have been shortlisted for the 21st Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Awards 2011.
Ten authors in total were shortlisted and they will compete for six awards including the ‘Children’s Choice Award’. The winners will be announced on Monday May 16 in The National Library of Ireland.
Caitriona Hastings is originally from County Tyrone and now lives in Galway city where her husband Gary is the rector of St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.
Her book (co-author/illustrator Andrew Whitson ), Mac Ri Éireann, tells the story of the King of Ireland who is told by Druids that he must banish his eldest son. The son must then find his fortune in the east where he experiences amazing adventures.
Deirdre Sullivan is from Boleybeg East, Barna and now lives in Dublin where she works as a primary school teacher. Her debut novel Prim Improper is about Primrose Leary who has just started secondary school. She likes her pet rat, her best friend Joel, and being a bit different, but she does not like her dad or the fact her mum is not around any more.
This year’s total prize fund is €19,000, with the overall winner of the Bisto Children’s Book of the Year Award receiving €10,000.
The winner of the Eilís Dillon award, which is presented to a first time children’s author or illustrator, will receive €3,000 and the winner of the Children’s Choice Award €1,500.
The remaining prize fund will be split equally between the three Bisto Honour Awards, one for writing, one for illustration, and a Judges Special Recognition Award.
