Two-time Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour winner Terry Fallis will have a little less competition this year. For the first time, the literary award is featuring three nominees, instead of its usual five selected from the 10-author longlist.

Fallis is nominated for his latest novel, Poles Apart (McClelland & Stewart). He is up against Susan Juby – who was nominated in 2012 for The Woefield Poultry Collective (HarperCollins) – for her latest novel, Republic of Dirt (HarperCollins). Nova Scotia author Sarah Mian rounds out the trio, nominated for her debut novel When the Saints (HarperCollins).

The winner, who receives $15,000, will be announced June 11.