Writers' Trust Announces All-Woman Weston Prize for Nonfiction Shortlist

The biggest nonfiction prize of the year has announced its prestigious shortlist, and the women have spoken. The Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction awards $60,000 to one nonfiction book each year on the basis of literary excellence and depth, and the 2019 shortlist features five acclaimed books by women.

The nominated books represent a microcosm of some of the most pressing issues facing Canadians, from reconciliation to mental health. Previous nominee Tanya Talaga makes a second appearance after being nominated for her Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death and Hard Truths in a Northern City just last year. And we are especially excited to congratulate Open Book columnist Alicia Elliott for her nomination for A Mind Spread Out on the Ground! 

The 2019 Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction Shortlist:

• Alicia Elliott for A Mind Spread Out on the Ground (Doubleday Canada)
• Anna Mehler Paperny for Hello I Want to Die Please Fix Me: Depression in the First Person (Random House Canada)
• Tanya Talaga for All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward (House of Anansi Press)
• Ayelet Tsabari for The Art of Leaving: A Memoir (HarperCollins Publishers)
• Jenny Heijun Wills for Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related.: A Memoir (McClelland & Stewart)

Finalists were selected by a three-member jury composed of writers Ivan Coyote, Trevor Herriot, and Manjushree Thapa. In total, 99 titles were submitted by 55 publishers.
The winner will be announced at the Writers' Trust annual awards event on November 5, 2019 in Toronto, an evening which sees more than $260,000 in prize money presented to Canadian authors and publishers. 
The Weston, as its popularly known, has been sponsored by The Hon. Hilary M. Weston since 2011. It was previously known as the Writers’ Trust Nonfiction Prize, which was established in 1997. Recent winners include Elizabeth Hay, Rosemary Sullivan, and Naomi Klein. For more information, visit the Writers' Trust website.