Author John Brady McDonald is a Nehiyawak-Metis writer, artist, historian, musician, playwright, actor and activist born and raised in Prince Albert. (Image Credit: Genelle Amber Studios)

By Nigel Maxwell

Inspiring people

Prince Albert area author shortlisted for two provincial book awards

Mar 7, 2026 | 3:00 PM

A respected author from the Prince Albert area has made the shortlist for two Saskatchewan Book Awards.

John Brady McDonald’s What Shade of Brown is one of five finalists for both the Indigenous Peoples Publishing Award and the Indigenous Peoples’ Writing Award.

“I’m deeply humbled and honoured that my work has been shortlisted for a group of awards dear to me,” he told paNOW. “As Indigenous people, the role of storyteller is sacred, and to have my words considered for these two awards fills me with gratitude as a both a writer and a warrior.”

A special joint announcement was made on Friday at the Regina Public Library and the Saskatoon Public Library. In total, 45 books were selected as finalists for 10 writing awards and three publishing awards.

Each award carries a $2,000 prize, except for Book of the Year, which offers a $3,000 prize.

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In 2024, McDonald’s book Carrying It Forward: Essays from Kistahpinânihk, won for Non-Fiction and Indigenous Peoples’ Writing. He later donated $2,000 to the Stepping Stones Shelter.

“The Book Awards are not just about prizes,” said Donna Woloshyn. “We are about providing a space for Saskatchewan authors—and especially new and emerging voices—along with their publishers, to be honoured and promoted.”

 Book of the Year Award Sponsored by Regina Public Library

 How I Bend Into More (Palimpsest Press) by Tea Gerbeza

 Touching Grass (HarperCollins Press Ltd.) by Kristy Jackson

 The Paper Birds (HarperCollins Press Ltd.) by Jeanette Lynes

 The Art of War (Playwrights Canada Ltd) by Yvette Nolan

 The Chorus Beneath Our Feet (Radiant Press) by Melanie Schnell

 Children’s Literature Award Sponsored by G. Murray & Edna Forbes Foundation

 How To Know A Crow (Greystone Kids) by Candace Savage and Rachel Hudson

 Mortified (HarperCollins Press Ltd.) by Kristy Jackson

 Touching Grass (HarperCollins Press Ltd.) by Kristy Jackson

 Rez Kid (Kids Can Press) by Andrea Landry

 Whitey’s Journey (Heritage House) by Kelsey Lonie

 Butterfly on the Wind (Roaring Brook Press) by Adam Pottle

 Fiction Award Sponsored by Worby Wealth Management

 Theories of Everything (Shadowpaw Press) by Dwayne Brenna

 She’s A Lamb: A Novel! (ECW Press) by Meredith Hambrock

 The Paper Birds (HarperCollins Press Ltd.) by Jeanette Lynes

 The Chorus Beneath Our Feet (Radiant Press) by Melanie Schnell

 Everything is Fine Here (House of Anansi Press) by Iryn Tushabe

 First Book Award Sponsored by Government of Saskatchewan

 Awakening Through Grief (Awaken Your Soul’s Journey Press) by Angela Clement

 How I Bend Into More (Palimpsest Press) by Tea Gerbeza A Fondness for the Reckless (Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing) by Jennifer Jacoby-Smith

 Seventhblade (ECW Press) by Tonia Laird

 Everything is Fine Here (House of Anansi Press) by Iryn Tushabe

 Indigenous Peoples Publishing Award Sponsored by Saskatoon Public Library

 Road Allowance Kitten: Full Circle (Gabriel Dumont Institute Press) by Wilfred

 Burton Maddy’s Sash (Gabriel Dumont Institute Press) by Marion Gonneville

 Bloodied Bodies, Bloody Landscapes (University of Regina Press) by Laura Hall

Something For the Dark (University of Regina Press) by Randy Lundy

 What Shade of Brown? (Radiant Press) by John Brady McDonald

 Indigenous Peoples Writing Award Sponsored by Rasmussen & Co.

 Joe (BookLand Press) by Carol Rose Golden Eagle

 Touching Grass (HarperCollins Press Ltd.) by Kristy Jackson

 What Shade of Brown? (Radiant Press) by John Brady McDonald

 A Line Runs Through It (Wood Dragon Books by Niall Schofield

 Putting Down Roots (University of Manitoba Press) by Cheryl Troupe

 Non-Fiction Book Award Sponsored by University of Saskatchewan

 President’s Office Building Bridges (Wood Dragon Books) by Donald Atchison

 Transforming Pain Into Purpose (Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing) by Allan Kehler

 Saskatchewan Superwomen: Challengers and Champions (Owl Imprints) by Vera

 Pezer Putting Down Roots (University of Manitoba Press) by Cheryl Troupe

 Walking the Bypass: Notes on Place from the Side of the Road (University of Regina Press) by Ken Wilson

 Poetry Book Award Sponsored by SK-Arts

 How I Bend Into More (Palimpsest Press) by Tea Gerbeza

 Green (Radiant Press) by Zachari Logan

 Walking Upstream (Thistledown Press) by Lloyd Ratzlaff

 First Light, Last Light (Shadowpaw Press) by Glen Sorestad

 Publishing Award Sponsored by Creative Saskatchewan

 Banana Capital (University of Regina Press) by Ben Brisbois

 Dark Chapters (University of Regina Press) by Erin Fay

 Tunnel Island (Thistledown Press) by Bill Gaston

 The Discovery of Finnegan Wilde (Thistledown Press) by Caroline Pignat

 The Chorus Beneath Our Feet (Radiant Press) by Melanie Schnell

 Publishing In Education Award Sponsored by SaskBooks

 Kohkum’s Royal Bannock (Thistledown Press ) by Wilfred Burton

 Stitching Our Stories Together: Journeys Into Indigenous Social Work (University of Regina Press) by Jeannine Carriere

 In the Light of Dawn: The History and Legacy of a Black Canadian Community (University of Regina Press) by Marie Carter

 The A Word: A Global History of the Abortion Struggle (University of Regina Press) by Elizabeth Casillas and Higinia Garay; translated by Karen Simon

 Changing Care: Advancing Social Justice in the Health Professions (University of Regina Press) edited by Jennifer Brady and Jacqui Gingras

 City of Regina Book Award Sponsored by the City of Regina

 The Solitary Friend: A Joanne Kilbourn Mystery (ECW Press) by Gail Bowen

 The Chorus Beneath Our Feet (Radiant Press) by Melanie Schnell

 Everything is Fine Here (House of Anansi Press) by Iryn Tushabe

 Walking the Bypass: Notes on Place from the Side of the Road (University of Regina Press) by Ken Wilson

 City of Saskatoon Book Award Sponsored by the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Public Library

 She’s A Lamb: A Novel! (ECW Press) by Meredith Hambrock

 A Fondness for the Reckless (Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing) by Jennifer Jacoby-Smith

 The Paper Birds (HarperCollins Press Ltd.) by Jeanette Lynes

 The Art of War (Playwrights Canada Ltd.) by Yvette Nolan

 Standing Up To Big Nickel (McGill-Queen’s University Press) by Elizabeth Quinlan

 Scholarly Writing Award Sponsored by the Faculty of Arts, University of Regina and College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan

 No Place Like Home (McGill-Queen’s University Press) by Bohdan Kordan Habiba

 Djahnine (Edinburgh University Press) by Sheila Petty

 Standing Up To Big Nickel (McGill-Queen’s University Press) by Elizabeth Quinlan

 Putting Down Roots (University of Manitoba Press) by Cheryl Troupe

Founded in 1993, the Saskatchewan Book Awards is the only provincially focused book awards program in Saskatchewan. It serves as an ambassador for the province’s vibrant literary community and has earned national recognition for celebrating excellence in writing.

Award winners are selected through a rigorous adjudication process involving 39 jurors from across Canada.

The 33rd Saskatchewan Book Awards Gala and Ceremony will take place on May 1 in Regina.

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nigelmaxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell