There are five finalists for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, to be awarded at a glitzy gala in Toronto Wednesday.
Chosen from 168 books submitted by 63 publishers, they are Montrealers Heather O’Neill for the short story collection Daydreams of Angels and Samuel Archibald for the story collection Arvida, translated by Donald Winkler alongside Toronto author Andre Alexis for Fifteen Dogs, which won the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize last week, Vancouver-based Anakana Schofield for Martin John and London-based Rachel Cusk for Outline.
Heather O’Neill was a surprise QWF omission last year when her novel The Girl Who Was Saturday Night wasn’t shortlisted. She is arguably the favourite to win this year for her new story collection, Daydreams of Angels.
Here are our two finalists talking about their books and the nerves that come along with being nominated.
Comedian Rick Mercer will host tonight’s gala on CBC-TV at 9 p.m. or live-streamed right here.
