You know you’ve made it in the literary world when its news that you didn’t make the short list. Wayne Johnston’s (BA ’79) The Navigator of New York was cut from the list of 125 nominees for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, which at $164,000 is the world’s largest purse for a single work of fiction.

Kevin Major (B.Sc.’73) is enjoying widespread recognition for his latest children’s book Ann and Seamus. He’s a finalist in both the 2004 Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award and the Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards.

Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards: Included among the short listed authors for the Bennington Gate Fiction Category: Beth Ryan (BA ’87) for What is Invisible. The NLBA Bruneau Family Children's Literature Award Short-list of authors includes alumni Kevin Major as mentioned above and Carmelita McGrath (BA’80) for The Boston Box.

Author and Journalist Maura Hanrahan (BA’84) won the 2003 Lawrence Jackson Writers’ Award for her book The Doryman

On the Busses: Writers Paul Bowdring (BA’70, B.Ed.’70) and Helen Fogwill Porter (LLD’97 (Hon.)) are among four Newfoundland writers selected by the Edmonton Arts Council to have their work displayed on public transit vehicles in that city.

"But it strikes me as unfair that while society has no problem recognizing that someone who is addicted to potent painkillers or crack cocaine or heroin needs professional help to get off the stuff, people who are addicted to a legal yet potentially lethal substance are expected to show up for work and behave normally as we try to give it up."

— Pam Frampton (BA(Hons)’87) talking about her struggle to quit smoking. Telegram Mar. 21

"Considering the rapid housing developments that have steadily consumed that few snippets of green space left, I have no other choice but to believe St. Mary’s School is another casualty of development."

—Mandy Cook (BA ’00) in a letter to the editor on the Avalon East School District’s decision to close St. Mary’s elementary school in September. Telegram Mar. 21

"My concern is that this program which has had fantastic results for my special needs students will no longer be available as of April 1… With the broadband program they were able to practise their social and interactive skills independently through vocalization and learn about other students like themselves throughout the country."

—Debbie Pinto (BA ’82, B.Ed.’82), special needs teacher voicing her concern over the end of the broadband program that all0wed special needs children to network other special needs students. Telegram, Mar.26

Researched and compiled by Debbie Connors.