The Danuta Gleed Literary Award is a Canadian national literary prize, awarded since 1998. It recognizes the best debut short fiction collection by a Canadian author in English language. The annual prize was founded by John Gleed in honour of his late wife, the Canadian writer Danuta Gleed, whose favourite literary genre was short fiction, and is presented by the Writers' Union of Canada. The incomes of her One for the Chosen, a collection of short stories published posthumously in 1997 by BuschekBooks and released by Frances Itani and Susan Zettell, assist in funding the award.
Initially Can$5,000, the prize money increased to Can$10,000 in 2004. The runners-up each receive CAN $500. The nominations must be submitted before the end of January. The year's shortlist is chosen by a jury. The varying jury is composed of Canadian writers, literary critics and publishers, such as Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Robin McGrath and Hal Niedzviecki in 2012 or Douglas Glover, J. Jill Robinson and Claire Holden Rothman in 2011.
The first winning work was Curtis Gillespie's The Progress of an Object in Motion.
In 2010, Joey Comeau's Overqualified was withdrawn, as the writer already published a debut work. Only two books were shortlisted in 2010 (the fewest in the history of the award). However, the 2010 judges called the winning work Wax Boats by Sarah Roberts "truly remarkable," speaking of her versatility and her convincing writing in every conceivable voice, and likening her to Stephen Leacock's Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town for the modern age.
Winners and nominees + Key ColorMeaning Winners Runners-up Other short-listed people Year AwardedAuthor(s)BookPublisherRef.The Progress of an Object in MotionCoteau BooksIn the Misleading Absence of LightCoteau BooksSnackersOolichan BooksAwake When All the World is AsleepHouse of Anansi PressIce in Dark WaterVéhicule PressOlympiaBloomsbury USAThe County of BirchesDouglas & McIntyreThe King of SiamThe Porcupine's QuillPool-Hopping and Other StoriesPolestarMarrow and Other StoriesWarwick PublishingFloating the ShoreThe Mercury PressAquariumThe Porcupine's QuillCan You Wave Bye-Bye, Baby?PicadorYoung MenAnchor CanadaAll the Anxious Girls on EarthPatrick Crean EditionsRighteous LivingTurnstone PressAny Given PowerArbeiter Ring PublishingA Message for Mr. LazarusCormorant BooksClose to SpidermanArsenal Pulp Press"Writers' Union of Canada names contenders for Danuta Gleed Literary Award". National Post, 3 April 2001.Rhymes with UselessRaincoast BooksPull Gently, Tear HereInsomniac PressOxygenMcClelland & StewartA Song for Nettie JohnsonCoteau BooksSputnik DinerKnopf CanadaSimple RecipesLittle Brown & CompanyWhat's Left UsPolestar Book PublishersQuicksilverRaincoast BooksKingdom of MonkeysRaincoast BooksThe Broken Record TechniquePenguin CanadaSilent CruiseCounterpointDead GirlsMcClelland & StewartWhen X Equals MarylouArsenal Pulp PressThe Falling WomanVintage CanadaBlack Coffee NightInsomniac PressA Hard Witching & Other StoriesHarper Flamingo CanadaVeranda PeopleRaincoast BooksIn the Chambers of the SeaKillick PressWay Up: StoriesGoose Lane EditionsA Place So Foreign and 8 MoreFour Walls Eight WindowsConfidence: StoriesThomas Allen PublishersNatasha and Other StoriesHarper Flamingo CanadaSo BeautifulThe Porcupine's QuillEyehillGoose Lane EditionsOff CentreOberon PressHair HatPenguin CanadaLadykillerThomas Allen PublishersRust and BoneViking CanadaLimboTurnstone PressYesterday's PeopleBiblioasisMost WantedThe Porcupine's QuillIndigenous BeastsRaincoast BooksBloodletting and Miraculous CuresDoubledayThe Hour of Bad DecisionsCoteau BooksBaby Khaki's WingsPenguin CanadaThe Virgin SpyDouglas & McIntyrePardon Our MonstersEsplanade BooksLong After FathersCoteau BooksThe Year I Got ImpatientOolichan BooksSeven Openings of the HeadConundrum PressBoundary CountryThistledown PressThe Withdrawal MethodHouse of Anansi PressHalifax for EvidenceThe Porcupine's QuillOnceBiblioasisHappiness and other DisordersKey Porter BooksThe Butcher of PenetangCaitlin PressWax BoatsCaitlin PressVanishing and Other StoriesPenguin CanadaOverqualified (withdrawn)ECW PressGreedy Little EyesVintage CanadaMennonites Don't DanceThistledown PressLight LiftingBiblioasisCrispNeWest PressBats or SwallowsInvisible PublishingNot Anyone's AnythingFreehand BooksAnd Also SharksCormorant BooksStopping for StrangersVéhicule PressCopernicus AvenueCormorant BooksThis Will Be Difficult to ExplainHamish Hamilton CanadaBobcat and Other StoriesHamish HamiltonThe Iron BridgeGoose Lane EditionsBull HeadArsenal Pulp PressEther FrolicsSybertoothFloating Like the DeadMcClelland & StewartThe Secret Life of FissionOberon PressYou Haven't Changed a BitUniversity of Alberta PressA Recipe for Disaster & Other Unlikely Tales of LoveMother Tongue PublishingClear Skies, No Wind, 100% VisibilityHouse of AnansiJust PretendingCoteau BooksAmerican InnovationsHarperCollinsWallflowersHamish HamiltonChez l'ArabeHouse of AnansiCircusMcClelland and StewartHideout HotelCaitlin PressDaydreams of AngelsHarperCollins"Awards: Heather O’Neill wins 2015 Danuta Gleed Literary Award". Quill & Quire, 20 June 2016.What You NeedInvisible PublishingDebrisBiblioasisIn a Time of Drought and HungerOberon Press"Short-story award short list revealed". Winnipeg Free Press, 11 June 2016.Last WordsExile EditionsBad Things HappenBiblioasis"Halifax author Kris Bertin wins $10,000 Danuta Gleed Literary Award". Penticton Herald, 3 June 2017.Willem deKooning's PaintbrushHarperCollinsDouble DutchAstoriaThe Light That RemainsEnfield & WizentyTwelve Miles to MidnightBlack Moss PressAnnie Muktuk and Other StoriesUniversity of Alberta PressGlass BeadsThistledown Press"David Huebert among finalists for $10K Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first short story collection". CBC Books, 9 May 2018.Peninsula SinkingBiblioasisThe Doll's AlphabetCoach House BooksLife on MarsGoose Lane EditionsThat Time I Loved YouHarperCollins"Carrianne Leung wins $10,000 short fiction prize for 'That Time I Loved You'". CTV News, 1 June 2019.ZolitudeBiblioasisThat Tiny LifeHouse of AnansiThings Are Good NowHouse of Anansi"Debut short-fiction celebrated on Danuta Gleed shortlist". Quill & Quire, 9 May 2019.EyeGuernica EditionsFrying PlantainAstoriaRyan Porter, "Zalika Reid-Benta wins $10,000 Danuta Gleed Literary Award". Quill & Quire, 25 June 2020.WatermarkAstoriaDigBreakwater BooksLost BoysThistledown PressSamraweet Yohannes, "Zalika Reid-Benta & Christy Ann Conlin among finalists for $10K Danuta Gleed Literary Award". CBC Books, 6 May 2020.The Eater of DreamsThistledown PressWe Two AloneAstoriaVicky Qiao, "Jack Wang wins $10K Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first short story collection for We Two Alone". CBC Books, May 28, 2021.Dominoes at the CrossroadsEsplanade BooksHow to Pronounce KnifeMcClelland & StewartSeeking ShadeThe Porcupine's QuillYou Are Not What We ExpectedAstoria20.12m: A Short Story Collection of a Life Lived as a Road Allowance MétisGabriel Dumont Institute Press "Arnolda Dufour Bowes wins Danuta Gleed award for debut short-fiction collection". Quill & Quire, June 1, 2022.Home of the Floating LilyDundurn Press Night Watch: The Vet SuiteInvisible PublishingPersonal Attention RoleplayMetonymy Press "Silmy Abdullah & Meg Todd among finalists for $10K Danuta Gleed Literary Award". CBC Books, April 27, 2022.Exit StrategiesSignature Editions Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century Coach House Books Cassandra Drudi, "Kim Fu wins $10K Danuta Gleed Literary Award". Quill & Quire, May 25, 2023. Bad Thoughts Vintage Books Her First Palestinian House of Anansi Press All the Shining People House of Anansi Press Cassandra Drudi, "Rawi Hage, Kim Fu among 2022 Danuta Gleed Literary Award finalists". Quill & Quire, April 26, 2023. Stray Dogs Knopf Canada Cocktail Biblioasis Cassandra Drudi, "Lisa Alward wins 2023 Danuta Gleed Literary Award". Quill & Quire, June 12th, 2024. Her Body Among Animals Book*hug The Girl Who Cried Diamonds & Other Stories ECW Press The Private Apartments House of Anansi Press Cassandra Drudi, "Writers’ Union announces 2023 Danuta Gleed Literary Award shortlist". Quill & Quire, April 24th, 2024. Anecdotes Book*hug Code Noir Knopf Canada/Penguin Random House "Canisia Lubrin wins $10K Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best debut short story collection". CBC Books, June 10, 2025. Perfect Little Angels Arsenal Pulp Press Smoke Buckrider Books Coexistence Hamish Hamilton/Penguin Random House Cassandra Drudi, "Billy-Ray Belcourt, Canisia Lubrin among authors shortlisted for 2024 Danuta Gleed award". Quill & Quire, April 30, 2025. Death by a Thousand Cuts McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House A Song for Wildcats Rare Machines/Dundurn Press Cassandra Drudi, "Five writers shortlisted for 2025 Danuta Gleed Literary Award". Quill & Quire, May 7, 2026. Seeing You Home Signature Editions/Véhicule Press Good Victory Freehand Books The Cree Word for Love: Sâkihitowin HarperAvenue/Harpercollins Canada My Thievery of the People Baraka Books
1. Comeau's Overqualified was withdrawn as it was not his debut short fiction collection. He already self-published It’s Too Late to Say I’m Sorry in 2007.
References
External links