Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize
Encyclopedia
The Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, established in 1985 as one of the BC Book Prizes
, is awarded annually to the best work of fiction by a resident of British Columbia
, Canada
.
The award is named after novelist and short story
writer Ethel Wilson
, author of Swamp Angel (1954) and The Innocent Traveller (1949).
BC Book Prizes
The BC Book Prizes, established in 1985, celebrate the achievements of British Columbia writers and publishers.The seven Prizes, plus The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence, are presented annually at the Lieutenant Governor’s BC Book Prize Gala in April.The Prizes are administered...
, is awarded annually to the best work of fiction by a resident of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The award is named after novelist and short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
writer Ethel Wilson
Ethel Wilson
Ethel Davis Wilson, OC was a Canadian writer of short stories and novels.Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, she moved to England in 1890 following the death of her mother. In 1898, after the death of her father, she was taken to live with her maternal grandmother in Vancouver, British Columbia...
, author of Swamp Angel (1954) and The Innocent Traveller (1949).
1985
- Audrey ThomasAudrey ThomasAudrey Grace Thomas, OC is a Canadian novelist and short story writer who lives on Galiano Island, British Columbia.-Biography:...
, Intertidal Life - Mary Ellen Collura, Winners
- Charles LillardCharles LillardCharles "Red" Lillard was a poet and historian specializing in British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.He was born in Long Beach, California and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska...
, A Coastal Range
1986
- Keath FraserKeath FraserKeath Fraser is a Canadian fiction author . Keath Fraser lived in London, England from 1970 to 1973 where he studied at the University of London and he Earned his Ph.D. and taught English in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for five years as a tenured professor...
, Foreign Affairs - Brian FawcettBrian FawcettBrian Fawcett is a Canadian writer and cultural analyst who currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.He was born and raised in Prince George, in northwest British Columbia, and graduated from Simon Fraser University as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. Before becoming a full time writer, he worked as an urban...
, The Secret Journal of Alexander Mackenzie - George RygaGeorge RygaGeorge Ryga was a Canadian playwright and novelist.Ryga was born in Deep Creek near Athabasca, Alberta to poor Ukrainian immigrant parents. Unable to continue his schooling past grade six, he worked at a variety of jobs, including radio copywriter...
, In the Shadow of the Vulture - L. R. WrightL. R. WrightLaurali Rose Wright was a Canadian writer of mystery novels.Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Wright worked as an actor and journalist before publishing her first novel, Neighbours, in 1979...
, The Suspect
1987
- Leona GomLeona GomLeona Gom is a Canadian poet and novelist. Born on an isolated farm in northern Alberta, she received her B.Ed. and M.A. from the University of Alberta in Edmonton...
, Housebroken - Paulette JilesPaulette JilesPaulette Jiles-Johnson is an American-born Canadian poet and novelist. Born in Salem, Missouri, she was educated at the University of Illinois in Spanish literature...
, Sitting in the Club Car Drinking Rum and Karma Kola - Rona Murray, The Indigo Dress and Other Stories
1988
- George McWhirterGeorge McWhirterGeorge McWhirter is a Northern Irish-Canadian writer, translator, editor, teacher and Vancouver’s first Poet Laureate....
, Cage - Jane RuleJane RuleJane Vance Rule, CM, OBC was a Canadian writer of lesbian-themed novels and non-fiction.-Biography:Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Jane Vance Rule was the oldest daughter of Carlotta Jane and Arthur Richards Rule. She claimed she was a tomboy growing up and felt like an outsider for reaching six...
, Memory Board - Robin SkeltonRobin SkeltonRobin Skelton was a British-born academic, writer, poet, and anthologist.Born in Easington, Yorkshire, Skelton was educated at the University of Leeds and Cambridge University. From 1944 to 1947, he served with the Royal Air Force in India. He later taught at Manchester University...
, The Parrot Who Could
1989
- Bill Schermbrucker, Mimosa
- William Goede, Love In Beijing
- Robert Harlow, Saxophone Winter
1990
- Keith MaillardKeith MaillardKeith Maillard is a fiction author and poet.Maillard has lived in various places in the United States and Canada.He attended West Virginia University and was host of a Boston campus radio programme.He moved to Canada in 1970, attaining citizenship in 1976.In the early 1970s, Maillard worked as a...
, Motet - Marilyn BoweringMarilyn BoweringMarilyn Bowering is a Canadian poet, novelist and playwright. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, and currently lives in Sooke, British Columbia...
, To All Appearances A Lady - Jane RuleJane RuleJane Vance Rule, CM, OBC was a Canadian writer of lesbian-themed novels and non-fiction.-Biography:Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Jane Vance Rule was the oldest daughter of Carlotta Jane and Arthur Richards Rule. She claimed she was a tomboy growing up and felt like an outsider for reaching six...
, After The Fire
1991
- Audrey ThomasAudrey ThomasAudrey Grace Thomas, OC is a Canadian novelist and short story writer who lives on Galiano Island, British Columbia.-Biography:...
, Wild Blue Yonder - Sky LeeSky LeeSky Lee is a Canadian artist and novelist.Lee has published both feminist fiction and non-fiction and identifies as lesbian.-Personal life:...
, Disappearing Moon Cafe - Caroline Woodward, Disturbing The Peace
1992
- Don Dickinson, Blue Husbands
- M.A.C. FarrantM.A.C. FarrantM.A.C. Farrant is a Canadian short fiction writer, memoirist, journalist, and humourist.Born in Sydney, Australia, and residing on the Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island, Canada, since the age of five, she is the author of ten collections of satirical and humorous short fiction and a...
, Sick Pigeon - Maureen Moore, The Illuminations of Alice Mallory
1993
- W.D. Valgardson, The Girl with the Botticelli Face
- J.A. Hamilton, July Nights and Other Stories
- Linda SvendsenLinda SvendsenLinda Svendsen is a Canadian screenwriter and author. She was born in Vancouver and has lived there for most of her life.Her works include many critically acclaimed short stories...
, Marine Life
1994
- Caroline AddersonCaroline AddersonCaroline Adderson is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. She has published three novels, two short story collections and two books for young readers.-Personal life and career:...
, Bad Imaginings - Keith MaillardKeith MaillardKeith Maillard is a fiction author and poet.Maillard has lived in various places in the United States and Canada.He attended West Virginia University and was host of a Boston campus radio programme.He moved to Canada in 1970, attaining citizenship in 1976.In the early 1970s, Maillard worked as a...
, Light In The Company Of Women - Carol WindleyCarol WindleyCarol Ann Windley is a Canadian short story writer and novelist.Born in Tofino, British Columbia and raised in British Columbia and Alberta, Windley's debut short story collection, Visible Light won the 1993 Bumbershoot Award, and was nominated for the 1993 Governor General's Award for English...
, Visible Light
1995
- Gayla ReidGayla ReidGayla Reid is an Australian-born Canadian writer.Born and raised in Armidale, New South Wales, Reid was educated at the University of New England, Australian National University and the University of British Columbia...
, To Be There With You - Grant Buday, Under Glass
- Patricia Robertson, City of Orphans
1996
- Audrey ThomasAudrey ThomasAudrey Grace Thomas, OC is a Canadian novelist and short story writer who lives on Galiano Island, British Columbia.-Biography:...
, Coming Down From Wa - Joy KogawaJoy KogawaJoy Nozomi Kogawa, CM, OBC is a Canadian poet and novelist of Japanese descent.-Life:Born Joy Nozomi Nakayama in Vancouver, British Columbia, she was sent with her family to the internment camp for Japanese Canadians at Slocan during World War II...
, Rain Ascends - Lorraine Vernon, Through the Canyon
1997
- Gail Anderson-DargatzGail Anderson-DargatzGail Kathryn Anderson-Dargatz is a Canadian novelist.Anderson-Dargatz was born in Salmon Arm, British Columbia and studied creative writing at the University of Victoria...
, The Cure for Death by Lightning - Nick BantockNick BantockNick Bantock is a British artist and author based in Saltspring Island, British Columbia. Bantock is well-known for his popular series, The Griffin and Sabine Trilogy, and for making collage popular...
, The Venetian's Wife - Shani MootooShani MootooShani Mootoo is a writer who was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1958 to Trinidadian parents. She was raised in Trinidad, where she initially began to explore the artistic and literary world. She began writing and creating visual that drew on her ideas regarding sexual relations between members of the...
, Cereus Blooms at NightCereus Blooms at NightCereus Blooms at Night is the first novel published by film-maker, artist, and writer Shani Mootoo. The novel recounts the story of an old lady named Mala Ramchandin through the narrative of Tyler, a male nurse at Paradise Alms House...
1998
- Marilyn BoweringMarilyn BoweringMarilyn Bowering is a Canadian poet, novelist and playwright. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, and currently lives in Sooke, British Columbia...
, Visible Worlds - Sally Ireland, Fox's Nose
- Holley RubinskyHolley RubinskyHolley Rubinsky is a fiction writer who lives in British Columbia, Canada. Born in Los Angeles California, she came to B.C. in 1976 with her daughter, the artist and children's book writer, Robin Ballard....
, At First I Hope for Rescue
1999
- Jack HodginsJack HodginsFor the fictional character from Bones see Jack Hodgins Jack Hodgins is a Canadian novelist and short story writer....
, Broken Ground - Loranne Brown, The Handless Maiden
- Anne FlemingAnne Fleming (writer)Anne Fleming is a Canadian fiction writer.Born in Toronto, Ontario, she attended the University of Waterloo, first enrolling in a geography program then moving to English studies. In 1991, she moved to British Columbia. She teaches at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus in Kelowna...
, Pool-Hopping and Other Stories
2000
- Michael TurnerMichael Turner (musician)For other people named Michael Turner, see Michael Turner.Michael Turner is a musician, and writer of poetry, prose and opera librettos....
, The Pornographer's Poem - Caroline AddersonCaroline AddersonCaroline Adderson is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. She has published three novels, two short story collections and two books for young readers.-Personal life and career:...
, A History of Forgetting - Zsuzsi GartnerZsuzsi GartnerZsuzsi Gartner is a Canadian author and journalist.Gartner was born in Winnipeg and moved to Calgary in early childhood. She earned a BA in political science at the University of Calgary, later receiving an honours degree in journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa and an MFA from the...
, All the Anxious Girls on Earth - Keith Harrison, Furry Creek
- Alan R. Wilson, Before the Flood
2001
- Eden RobinsonEden RobinsonEden Victoria Lena Robinson is a Canadian novelist and short story writer.Born in Kitamaat, British Columbia, she is a member of the Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations...
, Monkey Beach - Anita Rau BadamiAnita Rau BadamiAnita Rau Badami is an Indian-Canadian novelist. Born in Rourkela, Orissa, India, she was educated at the University of Madras and Sophia College in Bombay. She emigrated to Canada in 1991, and earned an M.A. at the University of Calgary...
, The Hero's Walk - Barbara Lambert, A Message for Mr. Lazarus
- Peter TrowerPeter TrowerPeter Gerald Trower is a Canadian poet and novelist.Trower was born in St Leonards-on-Sea, England, and came to Canada in 1940. He worked for 22 years as a logger and has been writing professionally since 1971....
, The Judas Hills - Jack WhyteJack WhyteJack Whyte is a Scottish-Canadian novelist of historical fiction. Born and raised in Scotland, Whyte has been living in Canada since 1967. He resides in Kelowna, British Columbia....
, Uther
2002
- Madeleine ThienMadeleine ThienMadeleine Thien is a Canadian short story writer and novelist.Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, she was educated at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia. In 2001 she was awarded the Canadian Authors Association Air Canada Award for most promising Canadian writer under...
, Simple Recipes - Rebecca GodfreyRebecca GodfreyRebecca Godfrey is a novelist and non-fiction writer. She is also a writing mentor with the Creative Nonfiction mentoring program.She was born in Toronto, Ontario, to writers Dave Godfrey and Ellen Godfrey. As a child her family relocated to Victoria, British Columbia...
, The Torn Skirt - Andrew Gray, Small Accidents
- Gayla ReidGayla ReidGayla Reid is an Australian-born Canadian writer.Born and raised in Armidale, New South Wales, Reid was educated at the University of New England, Australian National University and the University of British Columbia...
, All the Seas of the World - Timothy TaylorTimothy TaylorTimothy Taylor or Tim Taylor may refer to:* Timothy Taylor , British archaeologist* Timothy Taylor , British art dealer* Timothy Taylor , American economist and academic professor...
, Stanley Park
2003
- Carol ShieldsCarol ShieldsCarol Ann Shields, CC, OM, FRSC, MA was an American-born Canadian author. She is best known for her 1993 novel The Stone Diaries, which won the U.S. Pulitzer Prize for Fiction as well as the Governor General's Award in Canada.-Biography:Shields was born in Oak Park, Illinois...
, UnlessUnlessUnless, first published by Fourth Estate, an imprint of Harper Collins in 2002, is the final novel by Canadian writer Carol Shields. Semi-autobiographical, it was the capstone to Shields's writing career: she died shortly after its publication in 2003... - Kevin ArmstrongKevin ArmstrongKevin Armstrong was a renowned dual player who excelled at football and hurling for his local club O’Connell’s and for the Antrim senior inter-county teams in both codes from the 1940s until the 1960s....
, Nightwatch - Bill GastonBill GastonBill Gaston is a Canadian novelist, playwright and short story writer.Gaston grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Toronto, Ontario, and North Vancouver, British Columbia....
, Mount Appetite - Nancy LeeNancy Lee (writer)Nancy Lee is a Canadian short story writer and novelist.Born in Cardiff, Wales to parents of Chinese and Indian descent, she moved with her family to Vancouver, British Columbia in childhood....
, Dead Girls - Gayla ReidGayla ReidGayla Reid is an Australian-born Canadian writer.Born and raised in Armidale, New South Wales, Reid was educated at the University of New England, Australian National University and the University of British Columbia...
, Closer Apart
2004
- Caroline AddersonCaroline AddersonCaroline Adderson is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. She has published three novels, two short story collections and two books for young readers.-Personal life and career:...
, Sitting Practice - Claudia CasperClaudia CasperClaudia Casper is a Canadian writer. She is best known for her bestselling novel The Reconstruction, about a woman who constructs a life-sized model of the hominid Lucy for a museum diorama while trying to recreate herself.-Early life:...
, The Continuation of Love by Other Means - Steven GallowaySteven GallowaySteven Galloway is a Canadian novelist.Galloway was born in Vancouver, and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia. He attended the University College of the Cariboo and the University of British Columbia. Galloway teaches for the UBC creative writing program...
, Ascension - Kevin PattersonKevin PattersonKevin Patterson is a Canadian medical doctor and writer. His short story collection, Country of Cold, won the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize in 2003...
, Country of Cold - Janet Warner, Other Sorrows, Other Joys
2005
- Pauline HoldstockPauline HoldstockPauline Holdstock is a British-Canadian essayist and writer of historical fiction. Into the Heart of the Country, her seventh novel, was published in 2011.Born in England, she came to Canada in 1974, and resides in Vancouver, British Columbia....
, Beyond Measure - Bill GastonBill GastonBill Gaston is a Canadian novelist, playwright and short story writer.Gaston grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Toronto, Ontario, and North Vancouver, British Columbia....
, Sointula - Theresa Kishkan, A Man in a Distant Field
- Annabel LyonAnnabel LyonAnnabel Lyon is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. She's published two collections of short fiction, two young adult novels, and an adult historical novel, The Golden Mean.-Life and work:...
, The Best Thing for You - Patrick Taylor, The Apprenticeship of Dr. Laverty
2006
- Charlotte Gill, Ladykiller
- Clint Burnham, Smoke Show
- Lydia Kwa, The Walking Boy
- John LentJohn LentJohn Lent is a Canadian poet and novelist, as well as a college teacher of creative writing and literature. He published seven books from 1978 to 2005. His last book was shortlisted for the 2006 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize.-Biography:...
, So It Won't Go Away - Audrey ThomasAudrey ThomasAudrey Grace Thomas, OC is a Canadian novelist and short story writer who lives on Galiano Island, British Columbia.-Biography:...
, Tattycoram
2007
- Carol WindleyCarol WindleyCarol Ann Windley is a Canadian short story writer and novelist.Born in Tofino, British Columbia and raised in British Columbia and Alberta, Windley's debut short story collection, Visible Light won the 1993 Bumbershoot Award, and was nominated for the 1993 Governor General's Award for English...
, Home Schooling - Marilyn BoweringMarilyn BoweringMarilyn Bowering is a Canadian poet, novelist and playwright. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, and currently lives in Sooke, British Columbia...
, What It Takes to Be Human - Bill GastonBill GastonBill Gaston is a Canadian novelist, playwright and short story writer.Gaston grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Toronto, Ontario, and North Vancouver, British Columbia....
, Gargoyles - Anosh IraniAnosh IraniAnosh Irani is an Indian-Canadian novelist and playwright. An Irani , he was born and raised in Mumbai, although he has indicated that he personally prefers the city's traditional English name, Bombay...
, The Song of KahunshaThe Song of KahunshaThe Song of Kahunsha is a novel by the Indian-Canadian novelist and playwright Anosh Irani, published in 2006 by Doubleday Canada and in 2007 in the US by Milkweed Editions.... - Adam Lewis SchroederAdam Lewis SchroederAdam Lewis Schroeder is a Canadian novelist and short story writer.He completed an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. In 2001 Raincoast Books published his short fiction collection Kingdom of Monkeys which was shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Award, awarded annually to...
, Empress of Asia
2008
- Mary NovikMary Novik- Biography :Born in Victoria, British Columbia and raised in Victoria and Surrey, Novik now lives in Vancouver. Her debut novel, Conceit is about Pegge Donne, the daughter of the Metaphysical poet John Donne, and is set in 17th century London...
, ConceitConceit (novel)Conceit is a novel by the Canadian author Mary Novik, published in 2007 by Doubleday Canada.Set in 17th century London, Conceit is the story of Pegge Donne, the daughter of the metaphysical poet John Donne, a contemporary of Shakespeare... - Heather Burt, Adam's Peak
- David ChariandyDavid ChariandyDavid Chariandy is a Canadian writer. His debut novel Soucouyant was nominated for ten literary prizes and awards, including the 2009 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award , the 2007 Scotiabank Giller Prize , the 2007 Governor General's Award for Fiction , the 2007 ForeWord Book of the Year...
, Soucouyant - Shaena LambertShaena LambertShaena Lambert is a Canadian novelist and short story writer.Her work has appeared in many periodicals and literary journals including Ploughshares, Zoetrope: All Story, and Toronto Life. Her first book was a collection of short stories called The Falling Woman. She has also published a novel,...
, Radiance - Claire Mulligan, The Reckoning of Boston Jim
2009
- Lee HendersonLee HendersonLee Henderson is a Canadian writer, the author of The Broken Record Technique and The Man Game . The Broken Record Technique won the 2003 Danuta Gleed Literary Award, which recognizes a first collection of short fiction by a Canadian author writing in English...
, The Man Game - Steven GallowaySteven GallowaySteven Galloway is a Canadian novelist.Galloway was born in Vancouver, and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia. He attended the University College of the Cariboo and the University of British Columbia. Galloway teaches for the UBC creative writing program...
, The Cellist of Sarajevo - Paul Headrick, That Tune Clutches My Heart
- Patrick LanePatrick LanePatrick Lane is an award-winning Canadian poet. He has written in several other genres, including essays, short stories, and is the author of the novel Red Dog, Red Dog.-Biography:...
, Red Dog, Red Dog - Andreas SchroederAndreas SchroederAndreas Schroeder is a German-born Canadian poet, novelist, and nonfiction writer who lives in the small town of Roberts Creek, British Columbia...
, Renovating Heaven
2010
- Cathleen WithCathleen WithCathleen With is a Canadian writer and author. Skids, her short story collection about Vancouver street kids from the Davie Village to the Downtown Eastside, was shortlisted for the 2007 Relit Awards. She was also shortlisted for the 2005 Western Magazine Award for her story “Carny”, which was...
, Having Faith in the Polar Girls' Prison - Michael TurnerMichael TurnerMichael Turner may refer to:*Michael Turner , American Football running back for the Atlanta Falcons*Michael Turner , Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club...
, 8 x 10 - Ian Weir, Daniel O'Thunder
- Annabel LyonAnnabel LyonAnnabel Lyon is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. She's published two collections of short fiction, two young adult novels, and an adult historical novel, The Golden Mean.-Life and work:...
, The Golden Mean - Deborah WillisDeborah WillisDeborah Willis is a contemporary African American artist, photographer, curator of photography, photographic historian, author, and educator. Among other awards and honors she has received, she was a 2000 MacArthur Fellow...
, Vanishing and Other Stories