April.16.2016
Elizabeth Philips’ debut novel is a finalist for prestigious $40,000 literary award
The Afterlife of Birds, by Elizabeth Philips, has been shortlisted for the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, which recognizes the outstanding achievement of a first-time Canadian novelist. This year is the 40th anniversary of the First Novel Award. Since 1976, it has launched the careers of some of Canada’s most beloved novelists, including Michael Ondaatje, Joan Thomas, André Alexis, and Joseph Boyden.
The other shortlisted books are The Rule of Last Clear Chance by Judith McCormack; Seep by W. Mark Giles; 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad; Do You Think This is Strange? by Aaron Cully Drake; and Book of Sands by Karim Alrawi. The winner of the $40,000 award will be announced on May 26, 2016.