Best Author/Poet

Tanya Davis is much adored by Coast readers, which surprises her. She’s a poet and performer who actually has very few of her words published. “I’m one of those plain language poets,” she says, thinking on her appeal. “People who don’t really like poetry say they like me.” Anyone who has seen Davis perform will probably have had a taste of her spoken word work, interspersed between the music. Gorgeous Morning, Davis’s album released earlier this year, will be toured through the winter, which isn’t the only thing the PEI native has going on. Her ambitions include a video poem with Andrea Dorfman and getting her words into print. “An alternative book,” she says, “as I’m an alternative poet.”

1st Runner-up: Lesley Choyce

2nd Runner-up: Stephanie Domet