Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize Shortlist
Sixth Annual Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize Shortlist Announced
MAY 06, 2020
The winners will be announced in mid-to-late June, 2020. Details to follow.
South Away: The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels by Meaghan Marie Hackinen, published by NeWest Press
All We Knew But Couldn’t Say by Joanne Vannicola, published by Dundurn
From The Ashes by Jesse Thistle, published by Simon & Schuster
Heavy Flow: Breaking the Curse of Menstruation by Amanda Laird, published by Dundurn
The Stone Frigate by Kate Armstrong, published by Dundurn
Before the Lights Go Out by Sean Fitz-Gerald, published by McClelland & Stewart
Literary Fiction
Frying Plantain by Zalika-Reid Benta, published by House of Anansi Press Inc.
Benediction by Oliver Dufault, published by House of Anansi Press
The Melting Queen by Bruce Cinnamon, published by NeWest Press
Only Pretty Damned by Niall Howell, published by NeWest Press
Making It Home by Alison DeLory, published by Nimbus
Crow by Amy Spurway, published by Goose Lane Editions
Speculative Fiction
The Gatherer by Colleen Winter, published by Rebel Base Books
Shadow Stitcher by Misha Handman, published by EDGE-Lite
Different Beasts by J.R. McConvey, published by Goose Lane Editions
A Broken Winter by Kale Night, published by Nine Star Press
A Vow Owed by S.R. Pandi-Perumal, published by Phronesis Publishers
Here is who will choose the winning book in each category:
Timothy Caulfield, Nonfiction
Timothy Caulfield is an unrivalled communicator who debunks myths and assumptions about innovation in the health sector—from research on stem cells to diets to alternative medicine—for the benefit of the public and decision-makers. He is a Canada Research Chair in health law and policy, a professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and a research director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. He’s the author of numerous works of nonfiction including, The Cure for Everything, Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?, and his most recent book, The Vaccination Picture.
Tim recently spoke with Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn on our podcast, Kobo in Conversation. Listen here.
Marissa Stapley, Literary Fiction
Marissa Stapley is the internationally bestselling author of three novels—Mating for Life, Things To Do When It’s Raining and The Last Resort— which have been published around the world and translated into eight languages. She has worked as a stable hand, bartender, tropical resort destination representative, sports reporter, cemetery gardener, television listings writer, band roadie and beauty magazine editor. Marissa has taught creative writing and editing at the University of Toronto and Centennial College. Her award-nominated journalism has appeared in newspapers and magazines across North America, including Elle, Reader's Digest, Today's Parent and The Globe and Mail. She lives in Toronto with her family and her bookshelves.
We asked Marissa about the books that shaped her as a writer, her love for Little Women and more. Read our conversation here.
Andrew Pyper, Speculative Fiction
Andrew Pyper is the author of 10 novels, including The Homecoming, The Only Child, and The Damned. His 2013 novel, The Demonologist, won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Hardcover Novel, and was a number one bestseller in Canada and Brazil. His first novel, Lost Girls, was a national bestseller in Canada and a Notable Book selection in the Globe and Mail, the New York Times Book Review and the London Evening Standard. Andrew’s second novel, The Trade Mission, was selected by the Toronto Star as one of the 10 Best Books of the Year. His third novel, The Wildfire Season, was a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year and has been published to acclaim in the U.K., Canada, U.S. and Holland.
We spoke to Andrew about the books that made an impression on him as a child, his writing style and more. Read it here.
About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
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To learn more about Rakuten Kobo, visit www.kobo.com.
Three Dundurn Debuts Shortlisted for 2020 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize!
Dundurn Press is thrilled to announce that three of our authors, Kate Armstrong, Amanda Laird, and Joanne Vannicola, have been shortlisted for the 2020 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize in the nonfiction category!
From Kate Armstrong’s harrowing expose of systematic misogyny in Canada’s military in The Stone Frigate: The Royal Military College’s First Female Cadet Speaks Out, to feminist holistic nutritionist Amanda Laird’s breakdown of the shame and stigma around menstruation in Heavy Flow: Breaking the Curse of Menstruation, and All We Knew But Couldn’t Say, Emmy-winner Joanne Vannicola’s heartbreaking memoir of trauma and maternal abuse, these three titles represent powerful feminist voices that Dundurn Press is honoured to be introducing to Canada’s literary landscape.
Congratulations to Kate, Amanda, and Joanne!
The Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize was created with the intention of bringing literary recognition, and kick-starting the careers of debut Canadian authors. Winners will be announced in June 2020. Learn more about the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize here.