Get ready to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Canadian authors. Today, Amazon Canada and The Walrus have unveiled the nominees for the 49th annual First Novel Award, which recognizes the exceptional talent of debut novelists and their contributions to the Canadian literary scene.

Each finalist this year will receive $6,000, with the winner receiving $60,000. The winner will be announced at the in-person award ceremony in Toronto on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The event will be hosted by Jennifer Hollett, executive director of The Walrus, and will feature renowned Canadian novelist and 2016 First Novel Award winner Mona Awad as the 2025 special guest speaker.

The finalists for the 2025 Amazon Canada First Novel Award are listed alphabetically by each author’s last name:

Now in its eighth year, the Youth Short Story category will also be presented at the award ceremony to celebrate the emerging and impressive storytelling talent of young Canadian writers. Authors between the ages of thirteen and seventeen were invited to submit a short story under 3,000 words. The winner in this category will receive $5,000, and the five finalists will each receive $500.

The finalists for the 2025 Amazon Canada Youth Short Story Award are listed alphabetically by last name:

  • Emma Chappel, “Lost Boy”
  • Willow Greenfield, “Autumn Nights”
  • Thivya Jeyapalan, “In The Chair”
  • Victoria Nguyen, “Heed My Prayers”
  • Abbie Pasowisty, “The Colour of Your Thoughts”
  • Vicky Zhu, “Suzanne”

The panel of judges for this year is composed of esteemed authors and literary figures, including Jean Marc Ah-Sen, author of Grand Menteur; Liz Harmer, author of The Amateurs; Chelene Knight, author of Junie; and Shani Mootoo, author of Polar Vortex. These judges bring a unique perspective and expertise to the selection process.

For Amazon, the First Novel Award represents its commitment to amplify new literary voices who are defining Canada’s future literary identity. These debut authors’ works span diverse genres and perspectives, reflecting the rich cultural mosaic of Canadian storytelling. By recognizing these emerging talents, Amazon acknowledges the remarkable creativity found in first-time novelists across the country.

Since its establishment in 1976, the First Novel Award program has launched the careers of some of Canada’s most prestigious authors. Previous winners include Michael Ondaatje, Joan Barfoot, Joy Kogawa, W. P. Kinsella, Nino Ricci, Rohinton Mistry, Michael Redhill, Katherena Vermette, Casey Plett, Michelle Good, Pik-Shuen Fung, and last year’s winner, Alicia Elliott.

For additional information about the finalists and the Amazon Canada First Novel Award, visit amazon.ca/firstnovelaward or thewalrus.ca/afna.