Presenting the 2017 winners of the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize
On 28 June 2017, Canada’s best debut books in Nonfiction, Literary Fiction, and Speculative Fiction by Canadian authors were chosen by a panel of three judges.
The 2017 Literary Fiction Winner
The Translation of Love is a tremendously accomplished work, a propulsive and layered story, the scope of which is quite unusual for a first novel. I was gripped and often very moved while reading and it stayed with me for weeks.
The 2017 Literary Fiction Shortlist
The 2017 Non-Fiction Winner
In-Between Days is an absolutely mesmerising read. Without ever becoming sentimental or self-pitying, Teva Harrison explores an unbearable situation with honesty, courage, humour, and heart-breaking poignancy. Her account of dealing with a terrifying cancer diagnosis ultimately becomes an uplifting celebration of living.
The 2017 Non-Fiction Shortlist
The 2017 Speculative Fiction Winner
A Keeper’s Truth strikes a fine balance for genre fiction, finding freshness within the conventions. The plot finds an equal balance between research and imagination, while never sacrificing characterization.
The 2017 Speculative Fiction Shortlist
