Newfoundland author Shelly Kawaja wins BMO Winterset Award for The Raw Light of Morning

Shelly Kawaja, a Newfoundland-based author, recently won the BMO Winterset Award for her novel, The Raw Light of Morning. The annual award celebrates excellence in Newfoundland and Labrador writing, with a prize of $10,000 for the winner.

Kawaja’s novel is set in a small rural Newfoundland town in the 1930s, and follows the story of a young woman named Lillian. As the novel progresses, readers come to understand Lillian’s struggles as she navigates her complex family history and grapples with her own identity.

The awarding of the BMO Winterset Award is a major accomplishment for Kawaja, who has been writing fiction for over two decades. Her previous works have included short stories and novels, as well as a collection of poetry.

Kawaja’s win was celebrated by the Newfoundland and Labrador community, who praised the novel for its exploration of identity, family, and the beauty of the province. The novel was also highly praised by the jury, which included acclaimed authors such as Anita Lahey and Lisa Moore.

In a statement, Kawaja thanked the jury for selecting her novel as the winner. “I am deeply honoured to receive this award, and to be recognized in this way. I am so grateful to the jury for their thoughtful consideration of The Raw Light of Morning,” she said.

Kawaja’s novel is a testament to the importance of literature in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is a work of art that tackles the complexity of identity and family in a beautiful and moving way. With the BMO Winterset Award, Shelly Kawaja has proven that her work is worthy of recognition and celebration.