Roxanna, 2013, last trip to Chusovoy. 13 trips to Russia to unravel her story. This is her mother's childhood river, the Chusovoya.

Roxana Spicer Shortlisted for 2025 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize

2 weeks ago

2 minutes read

Rakuten Kobo has released the shortlists for the 2025 Emerging Writer Prize, recognizing standout books by first-time Canadian authors. With a focus on literary fiction, nonfiction, and, this year romance fiction. (The prize rotates its genre fiction category annually between mystery, romance, and speculative fiction.)

Each category winner receives a $10,000 cash prize and promotional support from Rakuten Kobo, offering not just recognition, but also a major career boost for new voices in Canadian literature. The judging panel for 2025 includes Sarah Weinman for nonfiction, Suzette Mayr for literary fiction, and bestselling author Chantel Guertin for romance fiction.

Among the nominees is our Roxana Spicer! (If you don’t know, Roxanna was born in Netherhill, Saskatchewan, and now lives in Toronto.) Her book has been making waves across the country, but her roots still run deep. “The hometown tour in Netherhill and Kindersley was the highlight of a very adrenaline fueled book promotion that took me across Canada last fall,” Roxana shared. “The biggest thrill: to look into a packed room and know every face has some kind of emotional connection to the book and my mother. I can’t even describe the emotional impact of that!”

Roxana is especially passionate about connecting with her Prairie people and younger generations. She’s available for Zoom book clubs and even virtual visits with high school students and teachers. “It’s important that the 4th generation grasp this history,” she says. “especially now.”

The winners of the 2025 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize will be announced on June 17 but if you would like to connect with Roxana at anytime to speak with students or at your book club, please email her at roxanaspicer@gmail.com

Nonfiction

The Nature of Our Cities:Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet by Nadina Galle (Mariner Books/HarperCollins)
Dear Da-Lê: A Father’s Memoir of the Vietnam War and the Iranian Revolution by Anh Duong (Douglas & McIntyre)
The Monster and the Mirror: Mental Illness, Magic, and the Stories We Tell by K.J. Aiello (ECW Press)
My Fighting Family: Borders and Bloodlines and the Battles That Made Us by Morgan Campbell (McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada)
Medicine Wheel for the Planet: A Journey toward Personal and Ecological Healing by Dr. Jennifer Grenz (Knopf Canada/Penguin Random House Canada)
The Traitor’s Daughter by Roxana Spicer (Viking/Penguin Random House Canada)