The Winnipeg International Writers Festival is proud to announce that four presenting authors at THIN AIR 2011 have made the Giller Long List. They include Lynn Coady (The Antagonist), Clark Blaise (The Meagre Tarmac), Guy Vanderhaeghe (A Good Man), and Dany Laferriere (The Return - translated by David Homel).

The winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize will recieve $50,000 in addition to the title, and we hope that it's one of our featured writers! 

The Manitoba Reads final four

The votes are in, the selections have been made, and the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, McNally Robinson Booksellers and CBC Manitoba Scene are proud to announce the four finalists of the first-ever Manitoba Reads.

Based on the popular Canada Reads model, voters chose between 16 books written by Manitoba authors. At the end of the voting period, four judges each selected one of the remaining eight titles as their top pick.

Now, they judges prepare to debate the books down to a single title on September 24 at the closing Mainstage show of THIN AIR 2011. The debate will then be broadcast the following morning on CBC’s Weekend Morning Show.

“This is so exciting,” said Charlene Diehl, director of THIN AIR. “The top four books truly represent the talented authors Manitoba has to offer. And, to make things even more exciting, two of the top four authors will be presenting at THIN AIR 2011!”

 Here is the breakdown of each judge and the title he or she has selected to debate:

Judge: Alison Gillmor

Title: Reading by Lightning by Joan Thomas

Judge: Vincent Ho

The Life of Helen Betty Osborne by David Alexander Robertson

Judge: Paul Jordan

Bandit by Wayne Tefs

Judge: Niigon Sinclair

Where Nests the Water Hen by Gabrielle Roy

For more information about Manitoba Reads, visit www.cbc.ca/manitoba/scene/books.

Could the Internet take over the world?

Everyone knows that the Internet is a vast network of information. It connects people to each other, and is designed to make everything in our world easier and more accessible.

But, if the Internet were to be controlled by one person, place or thing, what would happen to the world as we know it?

In Robert J. Sawyer’s most recent novel – Wonder – an all-seeing, all-knowing program named Webmind has the ability to monitor, influence and interact with every aspect of the Internet simultaneously. Through Webmind’s Twitter account, email address, website and instant messaging systems – all of which he set up himself – he can literally control every single thing that is on the Internet.

A pretty scary concept when you really think about it…

Wonder is the final novel in a three-part series about Webmind. The creator of the program is a 16-year-old formerly blind girl named Caitlin. She desperately wants Webmind to continue to exist, even when the US Government makes it clear they will do anything possible to destroy her invention.

Look for this book and buy it. TRUST me, it's worth it!

At the heart of the novel is one, important question: Could the Internet take over the world if it becomes too powerful? It is a question that seems terrifying to consider, but one that becomes very real after reading Wonder.

Science fiction writer and futurist Robert J. Sawyer has been interviewed over 250 times on radio, over 250 times on television, and countless times in print. He lives in Mississauga, Ontario.

Yep, this guy is going to be awesome...

Sawyer is one of only seven writers in history — and the only Canadian — to win all three of the world's top Science Fiction awards for best novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award.

Follow Sawyer’s blog by clicking here, and don’t forget to follow him on both Twitter and Facebook. We’re proud to have him at THIN AIR 2011, and can’t wait to hear what we know will be an entertaining presentation!

Twitter Giveaway Contest

Are you one of those people who constantly enters contests, yet never wins?

Or, if you DO win, you're stuck jumping through countless hoops just to claim the prize?

Well, not anymore!

THIN AIR 2011 is excited to announce the Twitter Giveaway Contest. It runs from Friday, August 12 to Friday, September 9, and it's an easy and fun way to get your hands on some great prizes!

Here's how it works...

We have set aside THIN AIR Mainstage tickets and books by presenting authors for our winning tweeters. We'll post a contest message at a different time each Friday. If you're the first person to retweet the link, you win!

So if you're not following us on Twitter, now is the time to get going! (Click here to create a new profile or log into an existing one).

Happy retweeting, and good luck!

THIN AIR 2011 Twitter Giveaway Contest Guidelines

1) All prizes must be picked up by September 15, 2011, at the THIN AIR office, 625 ArtSpace (100 Arthur Street). No prizes will be mailed or delivered.

2) In order to claim prizes, all winners must provide THIN AIR with first and last name, as well as phone number and email address.

3) Prizes must be accepted as awarded - no substitutions. Mainstage tickets may be forwarded to another user, but may not be sold, traded or redeemed for cash.

4) Contest is open to everyone, excluding WIWF staff, board members and members of their households.

Special thanks to our prize donors for supporting THIN AIR 2011.

Manitoba Reads top eight have been chosen

It took one month and 1700 votes from people in 17 countries, but the results are in!

Of the original 16 titles on the Manitoba Reads roster, only eight remain. Those titles are:

• Catherine Hunter - The Dead of Midnight
• Chandra Mayor - All the Pretty Girls
• David Robertson - The Life of Helen Betty Osborne
• Gabrielle Roy - Where Nests the Water Hen
• Wayne Tefs - Bandit
• Daria Salamon - The Prairie Bridesmaid
• Carol Shields - Republic of Love
• Joan Thomas - Reading by Lightning

Now, four panelists will each choose one of the eight remaining titles and prepare to defend their choice at the final THIN AIR 2011 Mainstage on September 24. It's an event you definitely don't want to miss, so be sure to keep checking our website for details about ticket information.

Thank you to everyone who voted for Manitoba Reads, and we can't wait to see what will happen next!

Manitoba is filled with talented writers

We’re hooking up with CBC Manitoba & McNally Robinson Booksellers to produce the very first Manitoba Reads, a friendly-but-fierce contest to choose a book for all of us to read.

The long list of 16 titles is now online. You can vote once a day for your favourite book. On July 30, the top 8 books go on to the next level. Our four book advocates will each choose one of those finalists, then debate them down to a single title on September 24 at the closing Mainstage show of THIN AIR 2011.

Voting ends July 29!

The WestJet Fun n’ Festivals Contest

THIN AIR 2011 has entered an online festival contest hosted by WestJet Airlines, and we need your help to become the highest rated festival in Manitoba!

Go to www.westjetfestivals.com and vote by creating a profile or logging in with your Facebook account.

Once you vote, you’ll have a chance of winning one of six fantastic grand prizes, including:

• Prize #1 – Calgary Stampede VIP Package
• Prize #2 – Just For Laughs Montreal Weekend Getaway
• Prize #3 – Abbotsford International Airshow Package
• Prize #4 – Pacific National Exhibition Package
• Prize #5 – Niagara Wine Festival Package
• Prize #6 – Okanagan Wine Festival Package

In addition, each grand prize includes:

• 2-3 nights accommodation
• Two event tickets
• Special VIP access for two

Not only can you win a fantastic prize, but you can help THIN AIR 2011 become the highest rated festival in the province! So log on and vote today!