Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize

About the Prize

Named in honour of Writers' Trust co-founders and literary couple Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson, who started the organization in 1976 with the help of a few fellow writers and an aim to encourage a Canadian literary culture at home, the Atwood Gibson Prize recognizes writers of exceptional talent for the best novel or short story collection of the year.

The finalists are selected by a three-member, independent judging panel and the $60,000 winner is announced at the annual Writers’ Trust Awards. The award is generously funded by Canadian businessman and philanthropist Jim Balsillie.

A donation to the Writers' Trust Fund in any amount is an investment in the future of Canadian writers. Support the Writers' Trust Fund ◥

“
W
e

k
n
e
w

t
h
e

r
o
l
e

a

m
a
j
o
r

p
r
i
z
e

c
o
u
l
d

h
a
v
e

o
n

a

w
r
i
t
e
r
’
s

c
o
n
f
i
d
e
n
c
e

a
n
d

c
a
r
e
e
r
,

n
o
t

t
o

m
e
n
t
i
o
n

t
h
e
i
r

b
a
n
k

a
c
c
o
u
n
t
.

I

c
a
n
’
t

w
a
i
t

t
o

d
i
s
c
o
v
e
r

t
h
e

n
e
w

v
o
i
c
e
s

a
n
d

n
e
w

s
t
o
r
i
e
s

t
h
a
t

t
h
i
s

p
r
i
z
e

r
e
w
a
r
d
s
.
”

— Margaret Atwood, Writers’ Trust co-founder

2020 Winner

Gil Adamson

Ridgerunner

House of Anansi Press

Jury Citation

”Gil Adamson’s Ridgerunner sinks readers into a Wild West never before seen in an adventure as sprawling and impeccably rendered as the land itself — a scrupulously researched, evocative landscape that shapes the spaces, both interior and exterior, of those who live there as well as the dangerous ties that bind them. Through the eyes of an infamous thief and the 12-year-old son for whom he is searching, Adamson explores notions of good and evil as ubiquitous as gun smoke and just as nebulous, along with the reminder that all which is fought for comes at a cost.”

— 2020 WT Fiction Prize Jury (Elisabeth de Mariaffi, Waubgeshig Rice, and Yasuko Thanh)

2020 Finalists

Jury

In 2020, Elisabeth de Mariaffi, Waubgeshig Rice, and Yasuko Thanh read 123 titles submitted by 61 publishers.

Sponsor

Canadian businessman and philanthropist Jim Balsillie

Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize

A
w
a
r
d
i
n
g

t
h
e

b
e
s
t

C
a
n
a
d
i
a
n

n
o
v
e
l

o
r

s
h
o
r
t

s
t
o
r
y

c
o
l
l
e
c
t
i
o
n

o
f

t
h
e

y
e
a
r

Prize

Eligibility Criteria

Ceremony

About the Prize

— Margaret Atwood, Writers’ Trust co-founder

2020 Winner

Gil Adamson

Ridgerunner

House of Anansi Press

Jury Citation

2020 Finalists

The Beguiling

Zsuzsi Gartner

Hamish Hamilton Canada

Five Little Indians

Michelle Good

Harper Perennial

Indians on Vacation

Thomas King

HarperCollins Canada

Good Citizens Need Not Fear

Maria Reva

Knopf Canada

Jury

Elisabeth de Mariaffi

Waubgeshig Rice

Yasuko Thanh

Sponsor

Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize

Awarding the best Canadian novel or short story collection of the year

Prize

Eligibility Criteria

Ceremony

About the Prize

— Margaret Atwood, Writers’ Trust co-founder

2020 Winner

Gil Adamson

Ridgerunner

House of Anansi Press

Jury Citation

2020 Finalists

The Beguiling

Zsuzsi Gartner

Hamish Hamilton Canada

Five Little Indians

Michelle Good

Harper Perennial

Indians on Vacation

Thomas King

HarperCollins Canada

Good Citizens Need Not Fear

Maria Reva

Knopf Canada

Jury

Elisabeth de Mariaffi

Waubgeshig Rice

Yasuko Thanh

Sponsor

Stay Connected

A
w
a
r
d
i
n
g

t
h
e

b
e
s
t

C
a
n
a
d
i
a
n

n
o
v
e
l

o
r

s
h
o
r
t

s
t
o
r
y

c
o
l
l
e
c
t
i
o
n

o
f

t
h
e

y
e
a
r