The Amazon Canada First Novel Award, formerly the Amazon.ca First Novel Award and the Books in Canada First Novel Award, is a Canadian literary award, co-presented by Amazon.ca and The Walrus to the best first novel in English published the previous year by a citizen or resident of Canada."First Novel Award helps write authors' careers: All awards are crapshoots, but for a prize that recognizes writers with little or no track record, a surprising number become successful". The Globe and Mail, May 21, 2016. It has been awarded since 1976.
The First Novel Award was founded by the literary magazine Books in Canada. Between 1976 and 1994, the award was sponsored by SmithBooks. During this period, the award was known as the SmithBooks/Books in Canada First Novel Award. When SmithBooks was acquired by Chapters, it became the Chapters/Books in Canada First Novel Award.
The award was reorganized when Books in Canada was acquired by Adrian and Olga Stein in 1995. The Steins retained a first novel editor, introduced a comprehensive first novel review program, and formalized the adjudication process.
Amazon first signed on as a sponsor of the award in 2001,"Amazon.com deal saves Canadian literary magazine from folding". Cape Breton Post, January 18, 2001. with the award presented as the amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award through the 2000s. Full administration of the award was taken over by Amazon in 2009 and its name was changed to the Amazon.ca First Novel Award. The Amazon.com arrangement saw the prize award initially doubled to $10,000, and then increased to its current amount of $60,000, with shortlisted finalists each receiving $6,000.
Winners and finalists At different times in its history, the award has been presented early in the year for works published in the preceding year, late in the year for works published in the same year as the presentation, or mid-year for an eligibility period that straddled parts of both years. For clarity, the list below is organized by the year of presentation rather than the year of publication eligibility.
1970s +Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners and finalists, 1977-1979YearAuthorTitleResultRef.1977 Winner "New corporate outlook on helping writers: more cash, fewer strings". The Globe and Mail, June 7, 1977.Coming Through SlaughterEileen McCullough Finalist "Two writers to share award for first novels in Canada". Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 1977.MiddlewatchSmall Ceremonies1978SandbarsWinner"And the winner is..." The Globe and Mail, April 1, 1978.Sidehill Gouger Finalist Burt Heward, "'Best' novel tells of life in the Valley". Ottawa Citizen, April 5, 1978.Child of the MorningI Do Remember the Fall1979AbraWinner Finalist William French, "Book price probe is needed". The Globe and Mail, March 27, 1979.Disneyland, PleaseParade on an Empty StreetHold Fast
1980s +Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners and finalists, 1980-1989YearAuthorTitleResultRef.1980Lunar AttractionsWinner"First-novel-award prize is increased to $5,000". The Globe and Mail, January 20, 1988.Mrs. Job Finalist PeckertracksEverything in the WindowRandom DescentCrossings1981Gentle SinnersWinnerPat Barclay, "Gentle Sinners, by W. D. Valgardson". Victoria Times-Colonist, April 17, 1981.Laughing War Finalist SeahorseFat Woman1982ObasanWinner"Kogawa wins $1,000 award". The Globe and Mail, April 2, 1982.Streethearts Finalist "Note Book". Kingston Whig-Standard, March 13, 1982.Final DecreeSunday's ChildAlways Tip the Dealer1983Shoeless JoeWinner"The timeless metaphors of baseball". The Globe and Mail, November 17, 1984.Coming for to Carry Finalist Beverley Slopen, "First novels". Montreal Gazette, March 12, 1983.BluePreparing for Sabbath1984Willie: A RomanceWinnerTolerable Levels of Violence Finalist Kenneth McGoogan, "Book battle becomes a war" Calgary Herald, March 4, 1984.Not WorkingFigures on a Wharf1985Perdue, or How the West Was LostWinner"Writer from Regina wins book award". The Globe and Mail, March 29, 1985.Country of the Heart Finalist Kenneth McGoogan, "West spawns top novels". Calgary Herald, March 10, 1985.PreciousDazzledI Hear the Reaper's Song1986Winner"Lives in isolation". The Globe and Mail, January 9, 1988. Finalist Larry Scanlan, "Magazine". Kingston Whig-Standard, April 5, 1986.Master and MaidWales' Work1987Winner"Lawrence captures $3,000 literary prize". The Globe and Mail, April 3, 1987.Momentum Finalist "Short list announced for first novel award". The Globe and Mail, March 12, 1987.Back on TuesdayDownfall People1988Winner"BC woman (Quednau) wins first-novel award". Winnipeg Free Press, April 3, 1998.Fire Eyes Finalist "Finalists announced in first novel contest". Toronto Star, March 1, 1988.Squatters' IslandSelakhi1989Winner"Salutin wins $5,000 prize". Toronto Star, March 30, 1989. Finalist Burt Heward, "First-novel short list announced". Ottawa Citizen, March 4, 1989.Electrical StormsConstellationsJanuary, February, June or July
1990s +Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners and finalists, 1990-1999YearAuthorTitleResultRef.1990Winner"Winnipeg author wins first-novel prize". Ottawa Citizen, March 30, 1990.To All Appearances a Lady Finalist Lynne Van Luven, "Edmontonians among finalists for first-novel award". Edmonton Journal, March 6, 1990.Madeleine and the AngelDistant Relations1991Lives of the SaintsWinner"Ricci novel wins second big prize". Calgary Herald, March 26, 1991.Deadly Appearances Finalist "First novel award names 6 finalists". Toronto Star, February 20, 1991.Grace LakeHomeworkSniper's Moon1992Such a Long JourneyWinner"Mistry novel earns Smith award". Halifax Daily News, March 27, 1992.Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture Finalist "Finalists named for book award". The Globe and Mail, February 25, 1992.Woyzeck's HeadKleinbergNews From a Foreign Country Came1993Winner"Story from 'fascinating' journal wins Steffler first novel award". Halifax Daily News, March 27, 1993.Amnesia Finalist "Finalists announced for first novel award". The Globe and Mail, March 4, 1993.Voice-OverBrudSpin Dry1994Losing EddieWinner"New Brunswicker wins book award". Calgary Herald, March 25, 1994.Minus Time Finalist "Five authors nominated for first-novel award". Montreal Gazette, March 5, 1994.Blow Up the Trumpet in the New MoonIf I Knew I'd Tell You1995Funny BoyWinner"Funny Boy author wins $5,000 SmithBooks prize". Toronto Star, March 22, 1995.Kitchen Music Finalist Candace Fertile, "And this one's just too cool for words". Calgary Herald, March 4, 1995.In the Language of LoveHow InsensitiveAlex & Zee1996Popular AnatomyWinner"Fraser wins First Novel prize". Toronto Star, April 26, 1996.Highways and Dancehalls Finalist "Short list for 1st novel announced". The Globe and Mail, March 1, 1996.When Fox Is a ThousandDaughters of the Red Land1997Fugitive PiecesWinner"Anne Michaels wins $5,000 first novel prize". Edmonton Journal, May 29, 1997. Finalist "Six authors in running for first-novel award". Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 1997.Fall on Your KneesSelfCereus Blooms at Night1998Opium DreamsWinner"Opium Dreams wins award". Ottawa Citizen, April 25, 1998.Elephant Winter Finalist "County native nominated". Windsor Star, March 7, 1998.Homer in FlightAngel Falls1999ChildhoodWinner"Andre Alexis wins first novel award". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, April 30, 1999. Finalist "Highway nominated". National Post, April 1, 1999.Kiss of the Fur QueenBeneath That Starry Place
2000s +Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners and finalists, 2000-2009YearAuthorTitleResultRef.2000Summer Gone Winner "Macfarlane, Wilson share award for first novel". The Globe and Mail, October 13, 2000.Before the FloodNo Great Mischief Finalist Bob Blakey, "Calgarian in hunt for first-time novelist award". Calgary Herald, September 8, 2000.Kit's LawFlyboy Action Figure Comes with Gasmask2001Necessary LiesWinner"Necessary Lies wins first-novel award". The Globe and Mail, September 26, 2001.Finnie Walsh Finalist "2001 First novel award: Three Vancouver writers up for $5,000 prize". Vancouver Sun, July 21, 2001.Alice, I ThinkThis Place Called Absence2002Martin SloaneWinner"Michael Redhill picks up first-novel honours". Edmonton Journal, October 2, 2002. Finalist River ThievesOpen ArmsStrong HollowTen Good Seconds of Silence2003Crow LakeWinner"Mary Lawson wins first novel award for Crow Lake". National Post, October 9, 2003.Heave Finalist Rebecca Caldwell, "Lawson wins first-novel award". The Globe and Mail, October 9, 2003.StayCumberlandSpelling Mississippi2004Black BirdWinner"Basilieres wins first novel award". The Telegram, October 17, 2004. Finalist "John Bemrose, Edeet Ravel are among finalists for First Novel Award". Welland Tribune, April 21, 2004.Kalyna's SongTen Thousand LoversBlue Becomes You2005Some Great ThingWinner"Montreal's Colin McAdam wins First Novel Award". The Globe and Mail, October 7, 2005.Sunday Afternoon Finalist "Debut fiction: 14 writers make first impressions". Ottawa Citizen, June 5, 2005.SkinnyWhat's RememberedBishop's Road2006Three Day RoadWinner"Joseph Boyden wins Amazon first-novel award". The Globe and Mail, October 12, 2006. Finalist "Authors short-listed for First Novel Award". The Telegram, July 2, 2006.Gotta Find Me an Angel2007CertaintyWinner"Quebec City's Thien wins First Novel Award". Montreal Gazette, October 9, 2007. Finalist "'First Novel' finalists named". Prince George Citizen, June 15, 2007.StolenLullabies for Little CriminalsEmpress of Asia2008Winner"Adamson wins First Novel Award". Telegraph-Journal, October 2, 2008.Soucouyant Finalist "Finalists for First Novel Award announced". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, June 11, 2008.Big White Knuckles2009Reading by LightningWinner"Thomas wins Amazon First Novel Award". The Globe and Mail, September 25, 2009.Chase & Haven Finalist "Saanich writer Patrick Lane nominated for first-novel honour". Victoria Times-Colonist, June 17, 2009.StuntRed Dog, Red Dog
2010s