The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Hon. Senator Owen Darrell, JP, announced the 2023 Bermuda Literary Awards winners.

The Bermuda Literary Awards were inaugurated by the Government of Bermuda in 1999 to honour literary achievement by Bermuda’s writers and are administered by the Department of Culture once every five years.  These are the sixth Bermuda Literary Awards, which recognised the literary accomplishments of Bermudians who published works between 2018 and 2023.

"Beyond words on paper, celebrating literary artistry is recognising the human capacity to intertwine emotions, ideas, and dreams into words that transcend time and culture. It is where we discover the profound power to shape minds, ignite imaginations, and unite hearts, reminding us that literature is not just an art form but a timeless conversation between the author and the soul of the reader," said Minister Darrell. 

The winning entries are as follows: 

Cultural Merit: Bermuda in Painted Representation by Jonathan Land Evans

Drama and Screenwriting: Journey of the Shaman by Lucinda Spurling 

Children's and Young Adult Fiction: A Dark Iris by Elizabeth J Jones 

Dr. Eva Hodgson Prize for Non-Fiction: Pauulu's Diaspora: Black Internationalism and Environmental Justice by Quito Swan 

Cecile N. Musson Prize for Poetry: The Tipping Line by Paul Maddern. Honorable Mention for Turtlemen by Andra Simons 

Brian Burland Prize for Fiction: The Drowned Forest by Angela Barry 

Founder's Award, which is offered for books or scripts published prior to the establishment of the Bermuda Literary Awards in 1999, has been awarded posthumously for The History of Mary Prince, related by Bermudian National Hero Mary Prince and published in 1831.

Minister Darrell added, "I would like to particularly thank the judges: Ellen Hollis, Dr. Sajni Tolaram, Dr. Carol Marsh-Lockett, Alan Smith, Dr. Colin Duerden, and Matthew Johnston. Your dedication to evaluating the literary submissions has been invaluable, and so have the insights shared about the strengths of the works represented in the 2023 awards."  

"I also extend gratitude to Quinceé Kaya Dill and Bella Correia, who treated us to a special reading of an excerpt from The History of Mary Prince and beautiful violin melodies." 

"Congratulations again to the winners and those receiving honourable mentions in the 2023 Bermuda Literary Awards. We look forward to the next awards, which will take place in five years. In this time, we anticipate the birth of new masterpieces, the cultivation of fresh talents, and the flourishing of creative expression."