Vancouver author Jane Eaton Hamilton wins CBC Short Story Prize

A Vancouver writer has won a national literary competition.

Vancouver author Jane Eaton Hamilton has won the English-language 2014 CBC Short Story Prize for her short story "Smiley", about a South African youth struggling with gender identity and an attraction to a girl.

The jury, composed of Helen Humphreys, Colin McAdam and Kathleen Winter, chose Hamilton's story from 3,200 entries.

Hamilton, who is the author of seven books and won the CBC Short Story Prize in 2003, will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and her story will be published in enRoute magazine's April issue. She will also receive a two-week residency at the Banff Centre.

Two of the four runners-up are also B.C.–based:

• Annie Reid of Vancouver, BC for "Longshot"
• Alix Hawley of Kelowna, BC for "Jumbo"
• Laura Legge of Toronto, ON for "Tukisiviit?"
• Trent Lewin of Waterloo, ON for "Saad Steps Out"

Each writer will receive $1,000 and their stories are published on the Canada Writes website.

Meanwhile, Montreal's Sarah Desrosiers won the French-language award, Prix de nouvelle Radio-Canada, for her story "Un Entrefilet".