From l. to r.: Deesha Philyaw, Ivan Coyote, Carmen Maria Machado, Chitra Divakaruni Cherie Dimaline (arol Shields Prize Foundation)

Canadian writers Cherie Dimaline and Ivan Coyote are among the five-person jury for this year’s Carol Shields Prize for Fiction.

The jury, announced on Feb. 3, will be chaired by American writer Carmen Maria Machado. American writer, activist, and academic Chitra Divakaruni and PEN/Faulkner Award–winning Deesha Philyaw round out the judging panel.

The $150,000 (U.S.) prize, now in its fourth year, is named after the American-born and Canadian-based author Carol Shields, and celebrates and promotes the best works of fiction written by women and non-binary writers in Canada and the United States.

The winner also receives a five night retreat at Fogo Island Inn. Each shortlisted author receives $12,500 (U.S.) and the winner and finalists take part in a group residency at the Leighton Artist Studios, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

The Toronto-based Carol Shields Prize Foundation, co-founded by Susan Swan, Janice Zawerbny, and Don Oravec, administers the prize and provides scholarships, residencies, mentoring, and other forms of financial assistance to women and non-binary writers.

The longlist for this year’s prize will be announced on March 10, with the shortlist to follow on April 21. The winner will be announced on June 2 in Toronto.