Nominee André Alexis

The shortlists for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and the Writers’ Trust/McClelland & Stewart Journey Prize were announced this morning at Toronto’s Ben McNally Books.

The former recognizes the year’s best English-language novel or story collection with a $25,000 purse. The $10,000 Journey Prize identifies the best short story first published in a Canadian literary journal.

The Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize shortlist was selected by a jury comprising writers Aislinn Hunter, Shani Mootoo, and Richard Wagamese. Two authors – Russell Smith and André Alexis – also appear on this year’s Scotiabank Giller Prize longlist. Two well-established writers also made the list with debut novels: former journalist John Vaillant and poet Pamela Mordecai. Rounding out the list is former Giller Prize winner Elizabeth Hay.

The Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize finalists are as follows:

• André Alexis, Fifteen Dogs (Coach House Books)
• Elizabeth Hay, His Whole Life (M&S)
• Pamela Mordecai, Red Jacket (TAP Books)
• Russell Smith, Confidence (Biblioasis)
• John Vaillant, The Jaguar’s Children (Knopf Canada)

The Journey Prize finalists, as selected by jurors Anthony De Sa, Tanis Rideout, and Carrie Snyder, are as follows:

• Emily Bossé, “Last Animal Standing on Gentleman’s Farm” (The Fiddlehead)
• Deirdre Dore, “The Wise Baby” (Geist)
• Anna Ling Kaye, “Red Egg and Ginger” (Prairie Fire)

The Writers’ Trust will hand out both prizes, along with several others – the Latner Poetry Prize, Engel/Findley Award, Matt Cohen Award, and Vicky Metcalf Award – on Nov. 3 at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio.