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Amazon Canada First Novel Award

{{short description|Canadian literary award}}

The Amazon Canada First Novel Award, formerly the Amazon.ca First Novel Award and the Books in Canada First Novel Award, is a Canadian literary award, co-presented by Amazon.ca and The Walrus to the best first novel in English published the previous year by a citizen or resident of Canada."First Novel Award helps write authors' careers: All awards are crapshoots, but for a prize that recognizes writers with little or no track record, a surprising number become successful". The Globe and Mail, May 21, 2016. It has been awarded since 1976.

The First Novel Award was founded by the literary magazine Books in Canada. Between 1976 and 1994, the award was sponsored by SmithBooks. During this period, the award was known as the SmithBooks/Books in Canada First Novel Award. When SmithBooks was acquired by Chapters, it became the Chapters/Books in Canada First Novel Award.

The award was reorganized when Books in Canada was acquired by Adrian and Olga Stein in 1995. The Steins retained a first novel editor, introduced a comprehensive first novel review program, and formalized the adjudication process.

Amazon first signed on as a sponsor of the award in 2001,"Amazon.com deal saves Canadian literary magazine from folding". Cape Breton Post, January 18, 2001. with the award presented as the amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award through the 2000s. Full administration of the award was taken over by Amazon in 2009 and its name was changed to the Amazon.ca First Novel Award. The Amazon.com arrangement saw the prize award initially doubled to $10,000, and then increased to its current amount of $40,000, with shortlisted finalists each receiving over $6,000.

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Winners and finalists

At different times in its history, the award has been presented early in the year for works published in the preceding year, late in the year for works published in the same year as the presentation, or mid-year for an eligibility period that straddled parts of both years. For clarity, the list below is organized by the year of presentation rather than the year of publication eligibility.

= 1970s =

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" width=100%

|+Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners and finalists, 1977-1979

!Year

!Author

!Title

!Result

!Ref.

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="8" |1977

|{{sortname|last=McLachlan|first=Ian|link=Ian McLachlan (writer)}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Seventh Hexagram|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=2| Winner

|rowspan=2| "New corporate outlook on helping writers: more cash, fewer strings". The Globe and Mail, June 7, 1977.

style=background:#FAEB86

|{{sortname|last=Ondaatje|first=Michael}}

|Coming Through Slaughter

{{sortname|last=Boissonneau|first=Alice}}

|Eileen McCullough

|rowspan=6| Finalist

|rowspan=6| "Two writers to share award for first novels in Canada". Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 1977.

{{sortname|last=Kellum|first=David}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Falling World of Tristram Pocket|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Kerslake|first=Susan}}

|Middlewatch

{{sortname|last=Riis|first=Sharon}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=True Story of Ida Johnson|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Shields|first=Carol}}

|Small Ceremonies

{{sortname|last=Soderstrom|first=Mary}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Descent of Andrew McPherson|nolink=1}}

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="7" |1978

|{{sortname|last=McFee|first=Oonah}}

|Sandbars

|Winner

|"And the winner is..." The Globe and Mail, April 1, 1978.

{{sortname|last=Dennison|first=Shane}}

|Sidehill Gouger

|rowspan=6| Finalist

|rowspan=6| Burt Heward, "'Best' novel tells of life in the Valley". Ottawa Citizen, April 5, 1978.

{{sortname|last=Gedge|first=Pauline}}

|Child of the Morning

{{sortname|last=Hodgins|first=Jack}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Invention of the World|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Kelly|first=M. T. }}

|I Do Remember the Fall

{{sortname|last=Levi|first=Helen}}

|{{sortname|1=A|2=Small Informal Dance|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Torgov|first=Morley}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Abramsky Variations|nolink=1}}

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |1979

|{{sortname|last=Barfoot|first=Joan}}

|Abra

|Winner

|

{{sortname|last=Dorland|first=Michael}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Double-Cross Circuit|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| William French, "Book price probe is needed". The Globe and Mail, March 27, 1979.

{{sortname|last=Doucet|first=Clive}}

|Disneyland, Please

{{sortname|last=Drury Gane|first=Margaret}}

|Parade on an Empty Street

{{sortname|last=Major|first=Kevin}}

|Hold Fast

{{sortname|last=Paci|first=Frank}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Italians|nolink=1}}

= 1980s =

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" width=100%

|+Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners and finalists, 1980-1989

!Year

!Author

!Title

!Result

!Ref.

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="7" |1980

|{{sortname|last=Blaise|first=Clark}}

|Lunar Attractions

|Winner

|"First-novel-award prize is increased to $5,000". The Globe and Mail, January 20, 1988.

{{sortname|last=Branden|first=Victoria}}

|Mrs. Job

|rowspan=6| Finalist

|rowspan=6|

{{sortname|last=Dragland|first=Stan}}

|Peckertracks

{{sortname|last=Evans|first=Florence}}

|{{sortname|1=A|2=Man Without Passion|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Faessler|first=Shirley}}

|Everything in the Window

{{sortname|last=Govier|first=Katherine}}

|Random Descent

{{sortname|last=Lambert|first=Betty}}

|Crossings

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1981

|{{sortname|last=Valgardson|first=W. D.}}

|Gentle Sinners

|Winner

|Pat Barclay, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-colonist/126304910/ "Gentle Sinners, by W. D. Valgardson"]. Victoria Times-Colonist, April 17, 1981.

{{sortname|last=Burke|first=Martyn}}

|Laughing War

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4|

{{sortname|last=Musgrave|first=Susan}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Charcoal Burners|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Petrie|first=Graham|link=Graham Petrie (writer)}}

|Seahorse

{{sortname|last=Rooke|first=Leon}}

|Fat Woman

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1982

|{{sortname|last=Kogawa|first=Joy}}

|Obasan

|Winner

|"Kogawa wins $1,000 award". The Globe and Mail, April 2, 1982.

{{sortname|last=Christy|first=Jim|link=Jim Christy (writer)}}

|Streethearts

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Note Book". Kingston Whig-Standard, March 13, 1982.

{{sortname|last=Jonas|first=George}}

|Final Decree

{{sortname|last=Phillips|first=Edward O.}}

|Sunday's Child

{{sortname|last=Ross|first=Gary}}

|Always Tip the Dealer

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1983

|{{sortname|last=Kinsella|first=W. P.}}

|Shoeless Joe

|Winner

|"The timeless metaphors of baseball". The Globe and Mail, November 17, 1984.

{{sortname|last=Elliott|first=Lorris}}

|Coming for to Carry

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| Beverley Slopen, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/125822841/ "First novels"]. Montreal Gazette, March 12, 1983.

{{sortname|last=Rahmani|first=Geraldine}}

|Blue

{{sortname|last=Rapoport|first=Nessa}}

|Preparing for Sabbath

{{sortname|last=Rosenberg|first=Ann}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Bee Book|nolink=1}}

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1984

|{{sortname|last=Robertson|first=Heather}}

|Willie: A Romance

|Winner

|

{{sortname|last=Collins|first=Robert G.}}

|Tolerable Levels of Violence

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| Kenneth McGoogan, "Book battle becomes a war" Calgary Herald, March 4, 1984.

{{sortname|last=Swan|first=Susan}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Biggest Modern Woman in the World|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Szanto|first=George}}

|Not Working

{{sortname|last=Tefs|first=Wayne}}

|Figures on a Wharf

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |1985

|{{sortname|last=Ursell|first=Geoffrey}}

|Perdue, or How the West Was Lost

|Winner

|"Writer from Regina wins book award". The Globe and Mail, March 29, 1985.

{{sortname|last=Butala|first=Sharon}}

|Country of the Heart

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| Kenneth McGoogan, "West spawns top novels". Calgary Herald, March 10, 1985.

{{sortname|last=Glover|first=Douglas|link=Douglas Glover (writer)}}

|Precious

{{sortname|last=Gray|first=John|link=John MacLachlan Gray}}

|Dazzled

{{sortname|last=Stambaugh|first=Sara}}

|I Hear the Reaper's Song

{{sortname|last=Wiebe|first=Armin}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Salvation of Yasch Siemens}}

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1986

|{{sortname|last=Johnston|first=Wayne|link=Wayne Johnston (writer)}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Story of Bobby O'Malley|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|"Lives in isolation". The Globe and Mail, January 9, 1988.

{{sortname|last=Haley|first=Susan Charlotte}}

|{{sortname|1=A|2=Nest of Singing Birds|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| Larry Scanlan, "Magazine". Kingston Whig-Standard, April 5, 1986.

{{sortname|last=Ireland|first=Ann}}

|{{sortname|1=A|2=Certain Mr. Takahashi|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Jones|first=Frank|link=Frank Jones (writer)}}

|Master and Maid

{{sortname|last=Walshe|first=Robert}}

|Wales' Work

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1987

|{{sortname|last=Lawrence|first=Karen|link=Karen Lawrence (writer)}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Life of Helen Alone|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|"Lawrence captures $3,000 literary prize". The Globe and Mail, April 3, 1987.

{{sortname|last=Diamond|first=Marc|link=Marc Diamond (writer)}}

|Momentum

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Short list announced for first novel award". The Globe and Mail, March 12, 1987.

{{sortname|last=Gilmour|first=David|link=David Gilmour (writer)}}

|Back on Tuesday

{{sortname|last=Jiles|first=Paulette}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Late Great Human Road Show|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Bennett|first=Jo Anne Williams}}

|Downfall People

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1988

|{{sortname|last=Quednau|first=Marion}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Butterfly Chair|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|"BC woman (Quednau) wins first-novel award". Winnipeg Free Press, April 3, 1998.

{{sortname|last=Bailey|first=D.F.}}

|Fire Eyes

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Finalists announced in first novel contest". Toronto Star, March 1, 1988.

{{sortname|last=Barcus|first=W.D.}}

|Squatters' Island

{{sortname|last=Holdstock|first=Pauline}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Blackbird's Song|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Virgo|first=Seán}}

|Selakhi

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |1989

|{{sortname|last=Salutin|first=Rick}}

|{{sortname|1=A|2=Man of Little Faith|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|"Salutin wins $5,000 prize". Toronto Star, March 30, 1989.

{{sortname|last=Bissoondath|first=Neil}}

|{{sortname|1=A|2=Casual Brutality|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| Burt Heward, "First-novel short list announced". Ottawa Citizen, March 4, 1989.

{{sortname|last=Clark|first=Joan}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Victory of Geraldine Gull|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Homel|first=David}}

|Electrical Storms

{{sortname|last=Keefer|first=Janice Kulyk}}

|Constellations

{{sortname|last=Porter|first=Helen Fogwill}}

|January, February, June or July

= 1990s =

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" width=100%

|+Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners and finalists, 1990-1999

!Year

!Author

!Title

!Result

!Ref.

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |1990

|{{sortname|last=Birdsell|first=Sandra}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Missing Child|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|"Winnipeg author wins first-novel prize". Ottawa Citizen, March 30, 1990.

{{sortname|last=Bowering|first=Marilyn}}

|To All Appearances a Lady

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| Lynne Van Luven, "Edmontonians among finalists for first-novel award". Edmonton Journal, March 6, 1990.

{{sortname|last=Callaghan|first=Barry}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Way the Angel Spread Her Wings|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Dumas|first=Jacqueline}}

|Madeleine and the Angel

{{sortname|last=Gunnars|first=Kristjana}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Prowler|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Radu|first=Kenneth}}

|Distant Relations

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |1991

|{{sortname|last=Ricci|first=Nino}}

|Lives of the Saints

|Winner

|"Ricci novel wins second big prize". Calgary Herald, March 26, 1991.

{{sortname|last=Bowen|first=Gail}}

|Deadly Appearances

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| "First novel award names 6 finalists". Toronto Star, February 20, 1991.

{{sortname|last=Donovan|first=Rita}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Dark Jewels|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Huser|first=Glen}}

|Grace Lake

{{sortname|last=Livesey|first=Margot}}

|Homework

{{sortname|last=Stroud|first=Carsten}}

|Sniper's Moon

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1992

|{{sortname|last=Mistry|first=Rohinton}}

|Such a Long Journey

|Winner

|"Mistry novel earns Smith award". Halifax Daily News, March 27, 1992.

{{sortname|last=Coupland|first=Douglas}}

|Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Finalists named for book award". The Globe and Mail, February 25, 1992.

{{sortname|last=Faas|first=Ekbert}}

|Woyzeck's Head

{{sortname|last=Kenyon|first=Michael|link=Michael Kenyon (Canadian writer)}}

|Kleinberg

{{sortname|last=Manguel|first=Alberto}}

|News From a Foreign Country Came

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1993

|{{sortname|last=Steffler|first=John}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Afterlife of George Cartwright|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|"Story from 'fascinating' journal wins Steffler first novel award". Halifax Daily News, March 27, 1993.

{{sortname|last=Cooper|first=Douglas Anthony}}

|Amnesia

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Finalists announced for first novel award". The Globe and Mail, March 4, 1993.

{{sortname|last=Corbeil|first=Carole}}

|Voice-Over

{{sortname|last=Harvey|first=Kenneth J.}}

|Brud

{{sortname|last=Hollingshead|first=Greg}}

|Spin Dry

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1994

|{{sortname|last=Corey|first=Deborah Joy}}

|Losing Eddie

|Winner

|"New Brunswicker wins book award". Calgary Herald, March 25, 1994.

{{sortname|last=Bush|first=Catherine}}

|Minus Time

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Five authors nominated for first-novel award". Montreal Gazette, March 5, 1994.

{{sortname|last=Dickinson|first=Don}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Crew|nolink=yes}}

{{sortname|last=How|first=Douglas}}

|Blow Up the Trumpet in the New Moon

{{sortname|last=Malyon|first=Carol}}

|If I Knew I'd Tell You

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1995

|{{sortname|last=Selvadurai|first=Shyam}}

|Funny Boy

|Winner

|"Funny Boy author wins $5,000 SmithBooks prize". Toronto Star, March 22, 1995.

{{sortname|last=Foran|first=Charles}}

|Kitchen Music

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| Candace Fertile, "And this one's just too cool for words". Calgary Herald, March 4, 1995.

{{sortname|last=Schoemperlen|first=Diane}}

|In the Language of Love

{{sortname|last=Smith|first=Russell|link=Russell Smith (writer)}}

|How Insensitive

{{sortname|last=Strube|first=Cordelia}}

|Alex & Zee

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1996

|{{sortname|last=Fraser|first=Keath}}

|Popular Anatomy

|Winner

|"Fraser wins First Novel prize". Toronto Star, April 26, 1996.

{{sortname|last=Atkinson|first=Diana}}

|Highways and Dancehalls

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Short list for 1st novel announced". The Globe and Mail, March 1, 1996.

{{sortname|last=Choy|first=Wayson}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Jade Peony}}

{{sortname|last=Lai|first=Larissa}}

|When Fox Is a Thousand

{{sortname|last=Li|first=Yan}}

|Daughters of the Red Land

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1997

|{{sortname|last=Michaels|first=Anne}}

|Fugitive Pieces

|Winner

|"Anne Michaels wins $5,000 first novel prize". Edmonton Journal, May 29, 1997.

{{sortname|last=Anderson-Dargatz|first=Gail}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Cure for Death by Lightning}}

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Six authors in running for first-novel award". Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 1997.

{{sortname|last=MacDonald|first=Ann-Marie}}

|Fall on Your Knees

{{sortname|last=Martel|first=Yann}}

|Self

{{sortname|last=Mootoo|first=Shani}}

|Cereus Blooms at Night

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1998

|{{sortname|last=Gibson|first=Margaret|link=Margaret Gibson (writer)}}

|Opium Dreams

|Winner

|"Opium Dreams wins award". Ottawa Citizen, April 25, 1998.

{{sortname|last=Echlin|first=Kim}}

|Elephant Winter

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "County native nominated". Windsor Star, March 7, 1998.

{{sortname|last=Levine|first=Allan}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Blood Libel|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Maharaj|first=Rabindranath}}

|Homer in Flight

{{sortname|last=Wynveen|first=Tim}}

|Angel Falls

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |1999

|{{sortname|last=Alexis|first=André}}

|Childhood

|Winner

|"Andre Alexis wins first novel award". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, April 30, 1999.

{{sortname|last=Brown|first=Loranne}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Handless Maiden|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Highway nominated". National Post, April 1, 1999.

{{sortname|last=Highway|first=Tomson}}

|Kiss of the Fur Queen

{{sortname|last=Jordan|first=Terry|link=Terry Jordan (Canadian writer)}}

|Beneath That Starry Place

{{sortname|last=Sakamoto|first=Kerri}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Electrical Field|nolink=1}}

= 2000s =

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" width=100%

|+Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners and finalists, 2000-2009

!Year

!Author

!Title

!Result

!Ref.

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2000

|{{sortname|last=Macfarlane|first=David}}

|Summer Gone

|rowspan=2| Winner

|rowspan=2| "Macfarlane, Wilson share award for first novel". The Globe and Mail, October 13, 2000.

style=background:#FAEB86

|{{sortname|last=Wilson|first=Alan R.}}

|Before the Flood

{{sortname|last=MacLeod|first=Alistair}}

|No Great Mischief

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| Bob Blakey, "Calgarian in hunt for first-time novelist award". Calgary Herald, September 8, 2000.

{{sortname|last=Morrissey|first=Donna}}

|Kit's Law

{{sortname|last=Munroe|first=Jim}}

|Flyboy Action Figure Comes with Gasmask

{{sortname|last=Simmons-Niven|first=Catherine}}

|{{sortname|1=A|2=Fine Daughter|nolink=1}}

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |2001

|{{sortname|last=Stachniak|first=Eva}}

|Necessary Lies

|Winner

|"Necessary Lies wins first-novel award". The Globe and Mail, September 26, 2001.

{{sortname|last=Galloway|first=Steven}}

|Finnie Walsh

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "2001 First novel award: Three Vancouver writers up for $5,000 prize". Vancouver Sun, July 21, 2001.

{{sortname|last=Gardiner|first=Scott|link=Scott Gardiner (writer)}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Dominion of Wyley McFadden|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Juby|first=Susan}}

|Alice, I Think

{{sortname|last=Kwa|first=Lydia}}

|This Place Called Absence

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2002

|{{sortname|last=Redhill|first=Michael}}

|Martin Sloane

|Winner

|"Michael Redhill picks up first-novel honours". Edmonton Journal, October 2, 2002.

{{sortname|last=Bock|first=Dennis}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Ash Garden}}

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5|

{{sortname|last=Crummey|first=Michael}}

|River Thieves

{{sortname|last=Endicott|first=Marina}}

|Open Arms

{{sortname|last=Little|first=Linda}}

|Strong Hollow

{{sortname|last=Ruth|first=Elizabeth}}

|Ten Good Seconds of Silence

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2003

|{{sortname|last=Lawson|first=Mary|link=Mary Lawson (novelist)}}

|Crow Lake

|Winner

|"Mary Lawson wins first novel award for Crow Lake". National Post, October 9, 2003.

{{sortname|last=Conlin|first=Christy Ann}}

|Heave

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| Rebecca Caldwell, "Lawson wins first-novel award". The Globe and Mail, October 9, 2003.

{{sortname|last=Hunter|first=Aislinn}}

|Stay

{{sortname|last=Hutzulak|first=Clint}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Beautiful Dead End|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Smith|first=Michael V.}}

|Cumberland

{{sortname|last=Woodrow|first=Marnie}}

|Spelling Mississippi

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2004

|{{sortname|last=Basilières|first=Michel}}

|Black Bird

|Winner

|"Basilieres wins first novel award". The Telegram, October 17, 2004.

{{sortname|last=Bailey|first=Clayton|link=Clayton Bailey (writer)}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Expedition}}

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| "John Bemrose, Edeet Ravel are among finalists for First Novel Award". Welland Tribune, April 21, 2004.

{{sortname|last=Bemrose|first=John}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Island Walkers|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Grekul|first=Lisa}}

|Kalyna's Song

{{sortname|last=Ravel|first=Edeet}}

|Ten Thousand Lovers

{{sortname|last=von Kampen|first=Bettina}}

|Blue Becomes You

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |2005

|{{sortname|last=McAdam|first=Colin|link=Colin McAdam (novelist)}}

|Some Great Thing

|Winner

|"Montreal's Colin McAdam wins First Novel Award". The Globe and Mail, October 7, 2005.

{{sortname|last=Elias|first=David}}

|Sunday Afternoon

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Debut fiction: 14 writers make first impressions". Ottawa Citizen, June 5, 2005.

{{sortname|last=Kaslik|first=Ibi}}

|Skinny

{{sortname|last=Motyer|first=Arthur}}

|What's Remembered

{{sortname|last=Safer|first=Catherine}}

|Bishop's Road

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2006

|{{sortname|last=Boyden|first=Joseph}}

|Three Day Road

|Winner

|"Joseph Boyden wins Amazon first-novel award". The Globe and Mail, October 12, 2006.

{{sortname|last=Akler|first=Howard}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=City Man|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| "Authors short-listed for First Novel Award". The Telegram, July 2, 2006.

{{sortname|last=Brooks|first=Brenda}}

|Gotta Find Me an Angel

{{sortname|last=Giardini|first=Anne}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Sad Truth About Happiness|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Kuitenbrouwer|first=Kathryn}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Nettle Spinner|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Rotchin|first=B. Glen}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Rent Collector|nolink=1}}

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2007

|{{sortname|last=Thien|first=Madeleine}}

|Certainty

|Winner

|"Quebec City's Thien wins First Novel Award". Montreal Gazette, October 9, 2007.

{{sortname|last=Behrens|first=Peter|link=Peter Behrens (writer)}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Law of Dreams}}

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| "'First Novel' finalists named". Prince George Citizen, June 15, 2007.

{{sortname|last=Degen|first=John}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Uninvited Guest|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Lapointe|first=Annette}}

|Stolen

{{sortname|last=O'Neill|first=Heather}}

|Lullabies for Little Criminals

{{sortname|last=Schroeder|first=Adam Lewis}}

|Empress of Asia

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2008

|{{sortname|last=Adamson|first=Gil}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Outlander|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|"Adamson wins First Novel Award". Telegraph-Journal, October 2, 2008.

{{sortname|last=Chariandy|first=David}}

|Soucouyant

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| "Finalists for First Novel Award announced". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, June 11, 2008.

{{sortname|last=Maclear|first=Kyo}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Letter Opener|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Richardson|first=C.S.}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=End of the Alphabet|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Tucker|first=Brian|link=Brian Tucker (writer)}}

|Big White Knuckles

{{sortname|last=Wedderburn|first=Andrew}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Milk Chicken Bomb|nolink=1}}

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |2009

|{{sortname|last=Thomas|first=Joan}}

|Reading by Lightning

|Winner

|"Thomas wins Amazon First Novel Award". The Globe and Mail, September 25, 2009.

{{sortname|last=Blouin|first=Michael|link=Michael Blouin (writer)}}

|Chase & Haven

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Saanich writer Patrick Lane nominated for first-novel honour". Victoria Times-Colonist, June 17, 2009.

{{sortname|last=Dey|first=Claudia}}

|Stunt

{{sortname|last=Lane|first=Patrick|link=Patrick Lane (poet)}}

|Red Dog, Red Dog

{{sortname|last=Swan|first=Mary}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Boys in the Trees|nolink=1}}

= 2010s =

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" width=100%

|+Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners and finalists, 2010-2019

!Year

!Author

!Title

!Result

!Ref.

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2010

|{{sortname|last=Grant|first=Jessica}}

|Come, Thou Tortoise

|Winner

|"St. John's writer wins first-novel award". Edmonton Journal, May 2, 2010.

{{sortname|last=Bryden|first=Diana Fitzgerald}}

|No Place Strange

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| "Ian Weir, Annabel Lyon among finalists for Amazon First Novel Award". National Post, March 5, 2010.

{{sortname|last=Lyon|first=Annabel}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Golden Mean|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Tarnopolsky|first=Damian}}

|Goya's Dog

{{sortname|last=Todorović|first=Dragan}}

|Diary of Interrupted Days

{{sortname|last=Weir|first=Ian}}

|Daniel O'Thunder

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |2011

|{{sortname|last=Catton|first=Eleanor}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Rehearsal|dab=novel}}

|Winner

|"Eleanor Catton of London, Ont., wins $7,500 Amazon.ca First Novel Award". Canadian Press, April 28, 2011.

{{sortname|last=Bishop-Stall|first=Shaughnessy}}

|Ghosted

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| {{Cite web |last=Medley |first=Mark |date=February 22, 2011 |title=Nominees for Amazon.ca First Novel Award announced |url=https://nationalpost.com/afterword/kathleen-winter-miguel-syjuco-among-nominees-for-amazon-ca-first-novel-award |website=National Post |language=en-CA}}

{{sortname|last=Syjuco|first=Miguel}}

|Ilustrado

{{sortname|last=Warren|first=Dianne}}

|Cool Water

{{sortname|last=Winter|first=Kathleen}}

|Annabel

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |2012

|{{sortname|last=Bezmozgis|first=David}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Free World|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|"Toronto writer wins first-novel prize". Victoria Times-Colonist, April 29, 2012.

{{sortname|last=Nixon|first=Fraser}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Man Who Killed|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Shortlisted this week". National Post, February 25, 2012.

{{sortname|last=Queyras|first=Sina}}

|Autobiography of Childhood

{{sortname|last=Senior|first=Olive}}

|Dancing Lessons

{{sortname|last=Zentner|first=Alexi}}

|Touch

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |2013

|{{sortname|last=Schofield|first=Anakana}}

|Malarky

|Winner

|"Vancouver author wins Amazon.ca First Novel Award". Ottawa Citizen, April 26, 2013.

{{sortname|last=Celona|first=Marjorie}}

|Y

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| "Kim Thuy's celebrated 'Ru' among finalists for Amazon.ca First Novel Award". Canadian Press, February 27, 2013.

{{sortname|last=Fotheringham|first=Scott}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Rest Is Silence|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Malla|first=Pasha}}

|People Park

{{sortname|last=Thúy|first=Kim}}

|Ru

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |2014

|{{sortname|last=Grady|first=Wayne|link=Wayne Grady (author)}}

|Emancipation Day

|Winner

|"Seasoned author's debut novel a winner". Winnipeg Free Press, May 10, 2014.

{{sortname|last=Bonert|first=Kenneth}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Lion Seeker|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| {{Cite web |date=April 30, 2014 |title=Windsor, Ont., writer Wayne Grady wins Amazon.ca First Novel Award |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/windsor-ont-writer-wayne-grady-wins-amazon-ca-first-novel-award-1.2627464 |access-date=May 28, 2023 |website=CBC News}}

{{sortname|last=Bridge|first=Krista}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Eliot Girls|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Downe|first=Susan}}

|Juanita Wildrose: My True Life

{{sortname|last=Wilson|first=D. W.}}

|Ballistics

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |2015

|{{sortname|last=Hawley|first=Alix}}

|All True Not a Lie in It

|Winner

|{{cite news |date=May 21, 2015 |title=Alix Hawley's All True Not A Lie In It wins Amazon.ca First Novel Award |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/alix-hawleys-all-true-not-a-lie-in-it-wins-amazonca-first-novel-award/article24544041/?click=dlvr.it}}

{{sortname|last=Hooper|first=Emma}}

|Etta and Otto and Russell and James

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| François Lauzon, "Sean Michaels' Us Conductors in running for Amazon prize". Montreal Gazette, April 2, 2015.

{{sortname|last=Michaels|first=Sean|link=Sean Michaels (writer)}}

|Us Conductors

{{sortname|last=Morissette|first=Guillaume}}

|New Tab

{{sortname|last=Rooney|first=Chelsea}}

|Pedal

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2016

|{{sortname|last=Awad|first=Mona}}

|13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl

|Winner

|{{Cite news |last=Medley |first=Mark |date=2016-05-26 |title=Mona Awad wins Amazon.ca First Novel Award: ‘When I was writing the book, frankly, I never thought it would see the light of day’ |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/mona-awad-wins-amazonca-first-novel-award/article30182171/ |access-date=2023-01-31}}

{{sortname|last=Alrawi|first=Karim}}

|Book of Sands

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| Mark Medley, "Want to write a novel? First Novel Awards finalists say it's better with age". The Globe and Mail, April 16, 2016.

{{sortname|last=Drake|first=Aaron Cully}}

|Do You Think This Is Strange?

{{sortname|last=Giles|first=W. Mark}}

|Seep

{{sortname|last=McCormack|first=Judith}}

|Backspring

{{sortname|last=Philips|first=Elizabeth}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Afterlife of Birds|nolink=1}}

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="5" |2017

|{{sortname|last=Vermette|first=Katherena}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Break|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|{{Cite news |last=Medley |first=Mark |date=May 25, 2017 |title=Katherena Vermette wins Amazon.ca First Novel Award |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/katherena-vermette-wins-amazonca-first-novel-award/article35119520/}}

{{sortname|last=Cooper|first=Catherine|link=Catherine Cooper (writer)}}

|White Elephant

|rowspan=4| Finalist

|rowspan=4| {{Cite news |last=Medley |first=Mark |date=April 14, 2017 |title=Finalists announced for Amazon.ca First Novel Award |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/finalists-announced-for-amazonca-first-novel-award/article34712791/ }}

{{sortname|last=Kellough|first=Kaie}}

|Accordéon

{{sortname|last=Rosenblum|first=Rebecca}}

|So Much Love

{{sortname|last=Thanh|first=Yasuko}}

|Mysterious Fragrance of the Yellow Mountains

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2018

|{{sortname|last=Kaan|first=Michael}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Water Beetles|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|"Winnipeg's Kaan wins book prize". London Free Press, May 24, 2018.

{{sortname|last=Bala|first=Sharon}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Boat People|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| Deborah Dundas, "Sharon Bala, Omar El Akkad shortlisted for Amazon First Novel Award". Toronto Star, April 28, 2018.

{{sortname|last=Demchuk|first=David}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Bone Mother|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=El Akkad|first=Omar}}

|American War

{{sortname|last=Manley|first=Rachel}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Black Peacock|nolink=1}}

{{sortname|last=Watt|first=Alison|link=Alison Watt (writer)}}

|Dazzle Patterns

style=background:#FAEB86

! rowspan="6" |2019

|{{sortname|last=Plett|first=Casey}}

|Little Fish

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last=Dundas |first=Deborah |date=May 22, 2019 |title=Casey Plett wins $60,000 Amazon first novel prize |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2019/05/22/casey-plett-wins-60000-amazon-first-novel-prize.html |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}

{{sortname|last=Harmer|first=Liz}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Amateurs|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=5| Finalist

|rowspan=5| Deborah Dundas, "Tanya Tagaq, Ian Williams among finalists for $60,000 Amazon Canada First Novel Award". Toronto Star, April 26, 2019.

{{sortname|last=Hellard|first=Tyler}}

|Searching for Terry Punchout

{{sortname|last=Tagaq|first=Tanya}}

|Split Tooth

{{sortname|last=Whitehead|first=Joshua}}

|Jonny Appleseed

{{sortname|last=Williams|first=Ian|link=Ian Williams (writer)}}

|Reproduction

= 2020s =

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" width=100%

|+Amazon Canada First Novel Award winners and finalists, 2020–present

!Year

!Author

!Title

!Result

!Ref.

style="background:#FAEB86"

! rowspan="6" |2020

|{{sortname|last=Larue|first=Stéphane}} (tr. Pablo Strauss)

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Dishwasher|nolink=1}}

|Winner

|{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2022 |title=‘The Dishwasher’ Author Stéphane Larue Wins the 2020 Amazon Canada First Novel Award |url=https://thewalrus.ca/amazon-canada-first-novel-award-2020/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=The Walrus}}

{{sortname|last=Cullen|first=Nancy Jo}}

|{{sortname|1=The|2=Western Alienation Merit Badge|nolink=1}}

|rowspan=5|Finalist

|rowspan=5|

{{sortname|last=Gregor|first=James|link=James Gregor (writer)}}

|Going Dutch

{{sortname|last=Hetherington|first=Victoria}}

|Mooncalves

{{sortname|last=Hozar|first=Nazanine}}

|Aria

{{sortname|last=MacDonald|first=Andrew David}}

|When We Were Vikings

style="background:#FAEB86"

! rowspan="6" |2021

|{{sortname|last=Good|first=Michelle}}

|Five Little Indians

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last=Qiao |first=Vicky |date=May 28, 2021 |title=Five Little Indians by Michelle Good wins $60K Amazon First Novel Award |url=https://www.cbc.ca/books/five-little-indians-by-michelle-good-wins-60k-amazon-first-novel-award-1.6044056 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=CBC.ca}}

{{sortname|last=|first=Sheung-King}}

|You Are Eating an Orange. You Are Naked.

|rowspan=5|Finalist

|rowspan=5|{{Cite web |date=2021-05-27 |title=Michelle Good Wins 2021 Amazon Canada First Novel Award |url=https://thewalrus.ca/amazon-first-novel-award-2021/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=The Walrus |language=en-US}}

{{sortname|last=Ekwuyasi|first=Francesca}}

|Butter Honey Pig Bread

{{sortname|last=Granados|first=Marlowe}}

|Happy Hour

{{sortname|last=Richardson|first=Jael}}

|Gutter Child

{{sortname|last=Stintzi|first=John Elizabeth}}

|Vanishing Monuments

style="background:#FAEB86"

! rowspan="6" |2022

|{{sortname|last=Fung|first=Pik-Shuen}}

|Ghost Forest

|Winner

|{{Cite web |last=The Canadian Press |date=2022-06-01 |title=Pik-Shuen Fung’s ‘Ghost Forest’ wins Amazon Canada First Novel Award |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2022/06/01/pik-shuen-fungs-ghost-forest-wins-amazon-canada-first-novel-award.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=The Toronto Star |language=en}}

{{sortname|last=Austin|first=Emily|link=Emily Austin (writer)}}

|Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead

|rowspan=5|Finalist

|rowspan=5|{{Cite news |last=The Canadian Press |date=2022-05-10 |title=Retired bricklayer among six debut novelists vying for $60,000 Amazon Canada First Novel Award |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/article-retired-bricklayer-among-six-debut-novelists-vying-for-60000-prize/ |access-date=2023-01-31}}

{{sortname|last=Bird-Wilson|first=Lisa}}

|Probably Ruby

{{sortname|last=Isaac|first=Brian Thomas}}

|All the Quiet Places

{{sortname|last=Kerr|first=Conor}}

|Avenue of Champions

{{sortname|last=Wall|first=Aimee}}

|We, Jane

style="background:#FAEB86"

! rowspan="6" |2023

|{{sortname|Jasmine|Sealy}}

|The Island of Forgetting

|Winner

| [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2023/06/01/jasmine-sealys-the-island-of-forgetting-wins-amazon-canada-first-novel-award.html "Jasmine Sealy’s ‘The Island of Forgetting’ wins Amazon Canada First Novel Award"]. Toronto Star, June 1, 2023.

{{sortname|Billy-Ray|Belcourt}}

|A Minor Chorus

| rowspan=5| Finalist

| rowspan=5| Cassandra Drudi, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/billy-ray-belcourt-jessica-johns-among-2023-amazon-canada-first-novel-finalists/ "Billy-Ray Belcourt, Jessica Johns among 2023 Amazon Canada First Novel finalists"]. Quill & Quire, May 4, 2023.

{{sortname|André|Forget}}

|In the City of Pigs

{{sortname|Jessica|Johns}}

|Bad Cree

{{sortname|William|Ping}}

|Hollow Bamboo

{{sortname|Kai|Thomas|Kai Thomas (writer)}}

|In the Upper Country

style="background:#FAEB86"

! rowspan="6" |2024

| {{sortname|Alicia|Elliott}}

| And Then She Fell

| Winner

| Attila Berki, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/alicia-elliott-wins-2024-amazon-canada-first-novel-award/ "Alicia Elliott wins 2024 Amazon Canada First Novel Award"]. Quill & Quire, June 7, 2024.

{{sortname|Jordan|Abel}}

| Empty Spaces

| rowspan=5| Finalist

| rowspan=5| Cassandra Drudi, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/2024-amazon-first-novel-award-shortlist-revealed/ "2024 Amazon First Novel Award shortlist revealed"]. Quill & Quire, May 9, 2024.

{{sortname|Caroline|Dawson|Caroline Dawson (writer)}}

| As the Andes Disappeared

{{sortname|Kōtuku Titihuia|Nuttall}}

| Tauhou

{{sortname|Janika|Oza}}

| A History of Burning

{{sortname|Amanda|Peters}}

| The Berry Pickers

rowspan="6" |2025

| {{sortname|Valérie|Bah}}

| Subterrane

| rowspan=6| Finalist

| rowspan=6| [https://quillandquire.com/omni/amazon-canada-first-novel-award-shortlist-announced/ "Amazon Canada First Novel Award shortlist announced"]. Quill & Quire, May 6, 2025.

{{sortname|Andrew|Boden|Andrew Boden (writer)}}

| When We Were Ashes

{{sortname|Benjamin|Hertwig}}

| Juiceboxers

{{sortname|David|Huebert}}

| Oil People

{{sortname|Myriam|Lacroix}}

| How It Works Out

{{sortname|Natalie|Sue}}

| I Hope This Finds You Well

References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

  • [https://www.amazon.ca/First-Novel-Award-Books/b?ie=UTF8&node=1194446 First Novel Award] at Amazon.ca

{{Amazon.ca First Novel Award}}

Category:Canadian fiction awards

Category:First book awards

Category:Awards established in 1976

Category:1976 establishments in Canada

*

Category:Novel awards