The Canadian Authors Association Literary Awards Program was created in 1975 to honour writing that achieves excellence without sacrificing popular appeal.

Past award recipients have included Carol Shields, Hugh MacLennon, W. P. Kinsella, Robertson Davies, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, and Leonard Cohen—and many other Canadian literary stars.

The Canadian Authors Association’s awards program complements the association’s ongoing tradition of writers helping writers.

For more details about the Awards, please visit the Canadian Authors Association website.

Fiction

For: a full-length novel published in the previous year
Prize: $1000
Deadline: January 31
Entry Fee: $40

Canadian History

For: a work of historical nonfiction on a Canadian topic published in the previous year
Prize: $1000
Deadline: January 31
Entry Fee: $40

Poetry

For: a volume of poetry by one poet published in the previous year
Prize: $1000
Deadline: January 31
Entry Fee: $40

Emerging Writer Award

For: a Canadian writer under 30 deemed to show exceptional promise in the field of literary creation
Prize: $500
Deadline: March 1
Entry Fee: $25 (new)

Canadian Authors Fred Kerner Book Award

For: a book of any genre by a member of Canadian Authors published in the previous year
Prize: $400 and a complimentary one-year membership ($150 value)
Deadline: March 1
Entry Fee: $30 per title entered