This just in September 25:  Read about the final Manitoba Reads results.

Cast your vote in our  "Manitoba Reads Audience Choice" poll and be eligible to win sweet book prize.

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 present the very first edition of Manitoba Reads.

On September 24, at the closing Mainstage show of THIN AIR 2011, four passionate book lovers will debate the books down to a single title--the book that all Manitobans are invited to read!

The debate will be hosted by CBC's Keran Sanders, and broadcast the following morning (September 25) on the Weekend Morning Show.

Based on the popular Canada Reads model, voters narrowed a field of 16 books written by Manitoba authors down to eight.  Four panellists were picked, each choosing one of the final eight as their top pick.

Niigonwedom Sinclair defends Gabrielle Roy's Where Nests the Water Hen.

Alison Gillmor goes to battle for  Reading by Lightning by Joan Thomas.

Vincent Ho recognizes the importance of The Life of Helen Betty Osborne by David Alexander Robertson.

Paul Jordan goes to the mattresses over Bandit by Wayne Tefs.

"This is great fun," said Charlene Diehl, director of THIN AIR. "The top four books show off the extraordinary quality of Manitoba's writers--the panellists are going to have their work cut out for them at that final debate! Manitoba Reads is a playful way to celebrate the contributions Manitoba writers make to the culture here, and to add an extra sizzle to people's winter reading lists."

Don't miss the debate on September 24, at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People (The Forks).  It's the finale of THIN AIR 2011.