The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction is a North American literary award, created in 2020 to honour literature by women. The annual prize awards to the winning work and to each of the shortlisted finalists, making it one of the world's richest literary awards.
The prize is awarded to a Canadian or American woman or non-binary writer for a work published in English. French-language literature by Canadians, and Spanish-language literature by Americans, will be eligible when published in an English translation. Submissions are judged by a jury that includes at least one Canadian, one American and one international judge. Novelist Carol Shields was selected as the namesake of the award, both in honour of her record as an advocate and mentor for women writers and because of her status as a dual citizen of both countries. The winner will also receive a residency at the Fogo Island writers' retreat. In addition, the winner will also select an emerging female or non-binary writer, who will receive a year-long mentorship.
The prize was created by Canadian novelist Susan Swan and editor Janice Zawerbny, with an organizing committee that has included noted women literary figures such as Alice Munro, Dionne Brand, Jane Urquhart, Charlotte Gray, Margaret Atwood, Marie-Claire Blais, Natasha Trethewey, Jane Smiley, Francine Prose and Erica Jong. Alexandra Skoczylas is the current chief executive officer.
The first award was in 2023, with the longlist announced on March 8, the shortlist on April 6 and the winner on May 4. The 2024 award was announced on 13 May.
Nominees and winners +Nominees for the Carol Shields Prize for FictionYearJuryAuthorBookResultRef2023Anita Rau Badami Merilyn Simonds Monique Truong Katherena Vermette Crystal WilkinsonWhen We Were SistersWinnerBrown Girls Shortlist What We Fed to the ManticoreElsewhereNatural History LonglistActivities of Daily LivingGod Isn't Here TodayWoman of LightLet There Be LightWe Should Not Be Afraid of the SkyThank You, Mr. NixonJunieWe Measure the Earth with Our Bodies2024Jen Sookfong Lee (Jury Chair) Laila Lalami Claire Messud Dolen Perkins-Valdez Eden RobinsonBrotherless NightWinner Birnam Wood Shortlist DaughterColeman HillA History of BurningCocktail LonglistDancesBetween Two MoonsLootYou Were Watching from the SandThe FutureI Have Some Questions for YouA Council of DollsChrysalisLand of Milk and Honey2025 Diana Abu-Jaber (Jury Chair) Norma Dunning Kim Fu Tessa McWatt Jeanne ThorntonCode NoirWinner, tr. Rhonda MullinsPale ShadowsShortlistAll FoursLiarsRiver East, River WestThe Hearing TestLonglistCuriositiesObligations to the WoundedNanikiCreation LakeCicada SummerBearKin: Practically True StoriesMasqueradeEverything Flirts: Philosophical Romances2026 Carmen Maria Machado Ivan Coyote Cherie Dimaline Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Deesha Philyaw Hellions Winner The White Hot Shortlist Lee Lai Cannon A Guardian and a Thief Lion The Edge of Water Longlist Sea, Poison milktooth Suddenly Light Casualties of Truth Audition Wild Life The Morgue Keeper The Sea Gives Up the Dead Canticle
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