A shortlist of six books was announced on Aug. 18 for the 2025 Warland Award.

Formerly known as the VMI Betsy Warland Between Genres Award, the prize recognizes outstanding hybrid-genre books published in Canada. Founded in 2021 and administered by Vancouver Manuscript Intensive, the Warland Award is named in honour of writer, editor, and teacher Betsy Warland, whose work often mixes genres. The award comes with a $500 prize.

The award is judged by writer, artist, critic, and UBC associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Black Arts and Epistemologies Phanuel Antwi.

The winner will be announced via a Zoom event that will feature readings by the six shortlisted authors on Sept. 12.

The shortlisted titles are:

• Toxemia by Christine McNair (Book*hug Press)
• Cop City Swagger by Mercedes Eng (Talonbooks)
• The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse by Vinh Nguyen (HarperCollins Publishers)
• Steamy: A Menopause Symptomology by Susan Holbrook (Coach House Books)
• Subterrane by Valerie Bah (Véhicule Press)
• The Cree Word for Love (Sâkihitowin) by Tracey Lindberg and George Littlechild, ill. (HarperAvenue/HarperCollins Canada)