TORONTO – Lynn Coady was named the winner of the 2013 Scotiabank Giller Prize at a gala ceremony in Toronto on Tuesday night.
The author, a native of Cape Breton who now calls Edmonton home, was honoured for her short story collection Hellgoing.
It’s the first time a book of short stories has won the Giller since 2006, when Vincent Lam was honoured for Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures.
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The award, which honours the best Canadian fiction book of the year, comes with a $50,000 prize.
Coady, whose book was introduced by actress Wendy Crewson, called her win “shocking and overwhelming.”
Coady beat Lisa Moore, Craig Davidson, Dan Vyleta and Dennis Bock. Each runner-up receives $5,000.
Coady’s novel The Antagonist was short-listed for the Giller in 2011.
The winner was selected by a jury comprised of renowned Canadian author Margaret Atwood, 2011 Giller winner Esi Edugyan and American author Jonathan Lethem.
The Giller Prize was created by businessman Jack Rabinovitch in memory of his late wife, Doris Giller — a literary journalist. This was the 20th year for the award.
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