SEATTLE and TORONTO - April 1, 2003 - Amazon.ca and Books in Canada today revealed the finalists for the annual First Novel Award. The 2002 First Novel Award marks the 26th anniversary of this renowned Canadian literary honour recognizing the outstanding achievement of a first-time novelist.

"Amazon.ca is honoured to support the First Novel Award and play a role in furthering the careers of new Canadian novelists," said Marven Krug, general manager, Amazon.ca. "The First Novel Award has launched the careers of some of Canada's most notable authors, and we're pleased it's one of the channels through which Amazon.ca can promote Canadian literature nationally and around the world."

The six nominees for the 2002 First Novel Award, listed alphabetically by author, are:

 

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  • Heave by Christy Ann Conlin, Doubleday of Canada (author lives in Halifax)
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  • Stay by Aislinn Hunter, Polestar (author lives in Vancouver)
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  • The Beautiful Dead End by Clint Hutzulak, Anvil Press (author lives in Victoria)
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  • Crow Lake by Mary Lawson, Knopf Canada (author lives in England)
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  • Cumberland by Michael V. Smith, Cormorant Books (author lives in Vancouver)
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  • Spelling Mississippi by Marnie Woodrow, Knopf Canada (author lives in Toronto)


 

The winner of the 2002 First Novel Award, to be announced later this year, will receive $5,000 CDN, the largest Canadian prize for a first novel, and all nominees will receive a $500 gift certificate for redemption on the Amazon.ca Web site.

W.P. Kinsella, the award-winning author well known for his book Shoeless Joe, has once again drawn up the shortlist. Kinsella is a respected Canadian writer with more than 30 books to his credit.

"For 26 years, the First Novel Award has contributed to Canada's rich literary tradition by recognizing real promise in first-time novelists," said Olga Stein, editor of Books in Canada. "The First Novel Award is one example of Books in Canada's larger dedication to the nurturing of Canadian literary talent by bringing to public attention the best of new fiction."

Each year since 1976, the First Novel Award has acted as a launch pad for the careers of some of Canada's most significant writers. Many previous winners, such as Michael Ondaatje (1976), Joan Barfoot (1978), Joy Kogawa (1981), W.P. Kinsella (1982), Nino Ricci (1990), Rohinton Mistry (1991), Shyam Selvadurai (1994), Anne Michaels (1996), Margaret Gibson (1997), Andre Alexis (1998), Alan R. Wilson and David Macfarlane (co-winners, 1999), Eva Stachniak (2000) and Michael Redhill (2001) have become best-selling authors in Canada and around the world.

About Books in Canada

Books in Canada was launched in 1971 to promote Canadian literature and to offer a forum for Canadian writers. Over the past 30 years, Books in Canada has played a significant role in fostering and developing an independent Canadian literary life. The publication acts as an organizing locus of intellectual talent. With the growing maturity and sophistication of the Canadian literary and intellectual scene, Books in Canada is working to reach a larger international audience. Books in Canada's larger vision is to promote Canada as a rich, multicultural, open and prosperous society that can be a model for countries and different peoples around the world.

About Amazon.ca

Amazon.ca (www.amazon.ca) is part of the global family of Amazon Web sites that have become known for great prices, selection and convenience. Amazon.ca customers can find and discover over 2 million English and French books, CDs, videos and DVDs--all at everyday low prices. Amazon.ca sources products directly from Canadian publishers and distributors, ensuring a rich offering of Canadian titles and content. Features such as original editorial reviews in English and French and product recommendations help Amazon.ca customers find the right products for them within the site's broad selection.

To ensure all orders are delivered to customers quickly and efficiently, Amazon.ca works with Canada Post, one of the world's most progressive postal companies. Orders placed at Amazon.ca are fulfilled and shipped from within Canada by Assured Logistics, a part of the Canada Post Group of Companies.

Through Amazon.ca Associates (www.amazon.ca/associates), third-party Web sites can link to Amazon.ca and earn referral fees on sales generated by those links.

Amazon.ca is the trading name of Amazon.com.ca, Inc., an affiliate of Amazon.com, Inc.

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