Over the course of the last three years, Kobo has been orchestrating a writing contest. It is exclusively available to Canadians, which is great because normally these types of things are only for writers based in the US. This year Kobo has selected three different genres; Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction, and Non-Fiction categories and the authors will receive a $10,000 CAD cash prize as well as promotional, marketing, and communications support. Today, Kobo has announced the winners and you can purchase all of these books directly from Kobo or find out more about them via viraltalks.com.
The Literary Fiction prize is awarded to Lynne Kutsukake for The Translation of Love, published by Knopf Canada
About the book: An emotionally gripping portrait of postwar Japan, where a newly repatriated girl must help a classmate find her missing sister
Author Zoe Whittall, this year’s Literary Fiction judge, says: “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 Speculative Fiction prize has been awarded to Dee Willson for A Keeper’s Truth, published by Driven Press
About the book: Every one of us has a soul. Some are new, some old, and a few, The Dangerous, are lost. But only twelve know why we have a soul at all. Only twelve remember mankind’s forbidden past.
Author Kelley Armstrong, this year’s Speculative Fiction judge, says: “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 Non-Fiction prize has been awarded to Teva Harrison for In-Between Days, published by House of Anansi Press
About the book: Teva Harrison was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the age of 37. In this brilliant and inspiring graphic memoir, she documents through comic illustration and short personal essays what it means to live with the disease.
Author Ross King, this year’s Non-Fiction judge says: “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.”
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
