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Crime Writers of Canada – Awards
716 Thicket Way, Ottawa ON K4A 3B5 Canada
Contact Ludvica Boota, Awards Manager, at
2023 Submission Rules for Published Works
(Click here for Unpublished Category Rules)
DEADLINE DECEMBER 15, 2022
The 2023 Awards are for books and short stories published in 2022. They presented annually by Crime Writers of Canada in the following categories:
Best Crime Novel, sponsored by Rakuten Kobo with a $1000 prize
Best Crime First Novel, sponsored by Melodie Campbell with a $1000 prize
The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada, sponsored by Charlotte Engel and Crime Writers of Canada for a $500 prize
The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery sponsored by Jane Doe with a $500 prize
Best Crime Novella, sponsored by Mystery Weekly with a $200 prize
Best Crime Short Story, sponsored by Mystery Weekly with a $300 prize
The Best French Language Crime Book
Best Juvenile/YA Crime Book
The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book sponsored by Simpson & Wellenreiter LLP (Hamilton) with a $300 prize
Best Unpublished Crime Novel manuscript written by an unpublished author sponsored by ECW Press with a $500 prize
The Awards are for CRIME WRITING which encompasses a wide range of subgenres. Crime writing includes capers, detective stories, espionage, mystery, police procedural, suspense, cozy, thrillers and crime-themed literary works, as well as fictional or factual accounts of real crimes. If you are not certain that your submission qualifies as a crime book or story, please contact us at
First publication; whether in English or French, in the preceding year (2022) by a Canadian citizen regardless of place of residence, or by a writer, regardless of nationality, who has been granted Permanent Resident status in Canada.
Note 1: The year of publication is determined solely by the copyright date of the book or the short story.
Note 2: If a work is co-authored, at least one of the authors must fulfill the citizenship/Permanent Resident requirement.
Note 3: If the work was originally published in a language other than English or French, the first English or French translation of the book is still eligible if:
this is translation is first published in the preceding year (2022); and
the author fulfills the above citizenship/residency requirement.
Translations from English to French or from French to English that have been previously published in the other official language are NOT ELIGIBLE.
New editions or revisions that are substantially the same (60% or greater) as the previously published version are NOT ELIGIBLE.
The book or story fits into the crime-writing genre (see above for our description of "crime genre").
The work must be available in print for purchase in Canada through a Canadian retailer's regular channels (bookstores, Chapters/Indigo online, Amazon.ca, etc.) Word count must be stipulated on the entry form.
EXCEPTION: Best Novella and Best Short Story Categories where special rules apply (see below).
PLEASE NOTE: A title can only be entered in one category and cannot be changed after submission.
Special criteria for the Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada category:
The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada is awarded to an author whose work is set in Canada. The award is in memory of Howard Engel, who was known for creating one of the first mystery series set in Canada and honours his contribution to the Canadian crime genre.
In addition to the general Published Category eligibility rules and criteria, the work must also meet the following special eligibility requirements for Best Crime Novel set in Canada:
The majority of the work (60% or greater) must be set in some part of Canada.
An author cannot win this category in more than two (2) consecutive years. E.g. an author who has won the award in two (2) consecutive years would not be eligible in year three (3).
Special criteria for The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery:
In addition to the general Published Category eligibility rules and criteria, the work must also meet the following special eligibility requirements for The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery:
Whodunit mystery fiction is a puzzle story; it starts with a murder (or crime) and emphasizes the solving of the crime. The protagonist's job is to discover who committed the crime and why.
Examples: Classic Golden Age style (Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes), Amateur Sleuth, Cozy, Private Eye, Police Procedural, Historical, Humorous, and Locked Room.
Special criteria for the Novella category:
The work must be published by a traditional publisher or in a recognized periodical. If self-published, novellas must be available in print through a Canadian retailer's regular channels (bookstores, Chapters/Indigo online, Amazon.ca, etc.) to be allowed. Word count must be stipulated on the entry form.
Special criteria for the Short Story category:
The work must be published by a traditional publisher or in a recognized periodical. Self-published short stories will not be accepted. Word count must be stipulated on the entry form. Authors can enter up to three short stories.
Special eligibility requirements for the Best First Novel category:
In addition to the above eligibility rules, an author entered in this category cannot have had any earlier novel of any kind published commercially:
in print, electronic/e-book, or self-published; whether
in Canada or any other country; whether
in any genre, including literary fiction; whether
under the author's given name or a pseudonym, and alone or jointly with another author
Note 1: A novel that has an ISBN (or ASIN) is considered to be published commercially.
Note 2: The author may be published in other formats (e.g., short stories, novella, non-fiction, plays/screenplays, poetry) and still be eligible to enter this category.
Note 3: If the author enters two books for consideration, only the first book published is eligible for Best First. The second book can be entered in the Best Novel category.
Entry Fees:
Non-Member Pricing
$45 per title for novels
$30 per title for the novella category
$20 per title for short stories ($50 for 3 short stories by the same author that are being entered or if an anthology then 3 short stories with multiple authors.)
$45 per title for all other books (French, Nonfiction, Juvenile)
25% Discount for CWC Members
$33.75 per title for novels
$22.50 per title for the novella category
$15 per title for short stories ($37.50 for 3 short stories by the same author that are being entered or if an anthology then 3 short stories with multiple authors.)
$33.75 per title for all other books (French, Nonfiction, Juvenile)
To receive the CWC member pricing:
Membership must be in good standing
Indicate on the form that you are a CWC member (price adjustments will not be made after submission)
NOTE: The discount pricing only applies to entries from individual members, not publisher members. However, individuals can submit their payment, form, and have their publishers submit three (3) copies of their books directly to CWC.
Please make out your cheque or money order in Canadian funds for the appropriate amount to Crime Writers of Canada. (See address below.)
Or you can pay online using the online entry form. (For multiple entries, please contact: for instructions.)
If you are sending your books through a third party (publisher, Amazon) please e-mail the Awards Manager
Entry fees that are not paid IN FULL will be disqualified.
If a category has fewer than six (6) submissions in a given year, all books or stories will be held over to be judged in the Awards of the following year.
Submissions must be postmarked, or courier dated no later than 15 December 2021.
For each submission please include:
Three (3) copies of each book title OR three (3) photocopies of novella if not published in print
Note: See below for short story submissions
An entry form for each title. If the books are being sent separately, please contact
A cheque or money order in Canadian funds, made out to Crime Writers of Canada OR online payment via the online form
Note: A title can only be entered in one category and cannot be changed after the submission, so check eligibility requirements on the CWC website before you select one of these categories on this form.
Please send your submission to:
Crime Writers of Canada Awards
716 Thicket Way
K4A 3B5 Canada
Note: CWC is unable to acknowledge receipt of material. A list of entries will available on our website in January.
NEW Special Submission criteria for Short Story category: PDF Entries
All entries are asked to be emailed in PDF format to the Awards Manager
Entrants must submit:
A PDF document of the short story
A PDF copy of the table of contents with the story title
Email your PDF submission to with the short story title and order number in the subject line.
If entering more than one short story, send one email with the order number and one of the short story titles in the subject line. In the body of the email, list the titles attached.
If paying by cheque, indicate in the body of the email that you are paying by cheque and include your submission form or online confirmation number if applicable.
The shortlists for all categories will be announced on Wednesday, 19 April 2023.
The winners will be announced at the CWC Awards Gala in Toronto on Thursday, 25 May 2023.
Details will be announced on the website: www.crimewriterscanada.com
2023 Submission Rules for the Awards
Les prix Crime Writers of Canada appel de soumissions 2023
Printable entry form (For those who prefer printed forms, and are paying by cheque.)