Exciting news for all Kobo Writing Life authors based in Canada! The Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize is now open for submissions. Read on to learn how to submit.
Please note that this prize is only open to Canadian authors. If you have any questions, please contact us at writinglife@kobo.com!
This press release was originally published on the Rakuten Kobo blog.
Now in its 10th year, the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize showcases Canadian debut authors, with the chance to win $10,000 CAD per category, plus marketing support for the three winning books
Toronto, ON – March 8, 2024 – Rakuten Kobo, the global eBook and audiobook retailer, today announced it is accepting submissions for its 10th annual Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. With this prize, Kobo endeavors to raise the profiles of debut authors by recognizing exceptional books written by first-time Canadian authors in three categories: Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction (this year Mystery; a different genre is showcased each year), and Non-Fiction.
The winning authors will be announced in June 2024 and awarded a $10,000 CAD cash prize, in addition to marketing and communications support throughout the remainder of the year.
Last year’s Emerging Writer Prize winners include:
Erica McKeen for her Literary Fiction novel, Tear, a horrifyingly deformed bildungsroman and a bristling reclamation of female rage; Harrison Mooney for Non-Fiction for Invisible Boy, a timely tale of race, religion and displacement; and K.S. Covert for Genre Fiction for The Petting Zoos, a Speculative story of a world reawakening after disaster.
Each year, the winning titles are selected by three prominent authors. The 2024 prize judges will be announced at a later date.
Submissions are now open and will be accepted here until April 5, 2024 for debut books in the categories of Literary Fiction and Non-Fiction published in 2023 by Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents of Canada, and debut Genre Fiction (Mystery) published in the years 2021, 2022, or 2023 by Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents of Canada. All submitted books must be available at kobo.com.
Submissions can be made by publishers or directly by authors. Traditionally published and self-published books are eligible.
Nomination process and official rules: Publishers and authors (traditionally published and self-published) can submit debut Literary Fiction and Non-Fiction books published in 2023, and debut Genre Fiction (Mystery) books published in 2021, 2022, or 2023 here. We have changed the submission requirements for the Genre Fiction category (Mystery) to include all debut Mystery books since we last featured this rotating genre, which was last in 2020.
Selection: The author judges will select winners from a shortlist created by Kobo booksellers, based on a combination of literary merit and reader engagement—completion rates, ratings and reviews may also be considered.
Rules and Regulations here.
About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Rakuten Kobo Inc. is the world’s digital bookseller created by and for booklovers. Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten Group, Inc. and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo’s millions of worldwide users can read anytime, anywhere, and on any device. With a mission to make reading lives better for all, Rakuten Kobo connects readers to stories using thoughtful and personalized curation of eBooks and audiobooks, and the best dedicated eReaders and apps for reading. With the singular focus of making reading lives the best they can be, Kobo’s open platform allows people to fit reading into more moments in their busy lives.
To learn more about Rakuten Kobo, visit www.kobo.com.
Discover more from Kobo Writing Life
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
