Writer’s story wins Ontario Book Publishers award

Writer’s story wins Ontario Book Publishers award

Jennilee Austria

JENNILEE Austria received a writing award from the Ontario Book Publishers Organization for her short story, “Belonging at Bathurst and Wilson.” The story is an excerpt from her forthcoming book and it will also be published as part of an anthology.

Austria’s winning work will be presented with other award winners at an event hosted by Benjamin Hackman, “What’s your story, North York?”, a celebration of reading and writing in North York. Featured will be established, award winning author, Elyse Friedman and emerging North York writers Austria, Robyn Hamilton and David Stokes. The event is on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, 2-4 pm, at the Barbara Frum Library, 20 Covington Rd, Toronto.

“In the story,” author Austria says in a recent FB post, “you’ll meet Delmar, a Filipino boy who moves to Toronto to reunite with his mother, who works as a caregiver. When he skips school and gets a very truthful tour of Bathurst and Wilson from his classmate, Apollo, he learns about survival jobs, privilege, and more— all in the parking lot outside of FV Foods. But when Delmar tells his mother what he has learned, she reacts in a way that drives them apart.”

Austria adds: “I know it’s going to resonate with a lot of you, and I really, really want to see you in the audience. It would mean so much to me. Plus, you’ll get to see the other award-winners and there will be two workshops for poets. And it’s free!”

Austria contributes to The Philippine Reporter, and is a member of the Filipino-Canadian Writers and Journalists Network (FC-WJN).