The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia has announced the shortlists for its annual literary awards.

Starting this year, the WFNS will present its three prizes at a separate event from the Atlantic Book Awards. The ceremony will take place in Halifax on Oct. 12.

Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize ($20,000)

• Valerie Compton, Tide Road (Goose Lane Editions)
• Heather Jessup, The Lightning Field (Gaspereau Press)
• David Adams Richards, Incidents in the Life of Markus Paul (Doubleday Canada)

Atlantic Poetry Prize ($2,000)

• Sue Goyette, outskirts (Brick Books)
• Warren Heiti, Hydrologos (Pedlar Press)
• Anne Simpson, Is (McClelland & Stewart)

Evelyn Richardson Memorial Non-Fiction Award ($2,000)

• Chris Benjamin, Eco-Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada (Nimbus Publishing)
• Ray MacLeod, Hope for Wildlife: True Stories of Animal Rescue (Nimbus)
• Harry Thurston, The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History (Greystone Books)