A new $20,000 literary prize honouring the late Canadian author Andrew Pyper has been launched to recognise horror, thriller and speculative fiction writers, filling what organisers describe as a gap in the country’s awards landscape, per cbc.ca.
The Andrew Pyper Prize for Genre Fiction, administered by the Writers’ Trust of Canada, will be open to authors who have published at least three books in the horror, thriller or speculative fiction genres.
A fundraising campaign has secured enough money to sustain the award for seven years.
Pyper, often described as “Canada’s Stephen King,” died in January 2025 from complications related to cancer. He was 56. Known for novels including The Killing Circle and The Demonologist, he built a reputation for character-driven horror and thriller fiction over a prolific career.
The prize was conceived by fellow author Craig Davidson, a friend and regular poker partner of Pyper’s, who approached Pyper’s widow, Heidi, about six months after her husband’s death. She said she was closely involved in developing the award, which she believes reflects her late husband’s generosity towards other writers.
Heidi Pyper said her husband had often felt overlooked by Canada’s mainstream literary prizes despite his commercial success, and that no comparable genre award currently carries prize money. Existing honours such as the Bram Stoker Award, the Shirley Jackson Award and the International Thriller Writers Awards do not include a cash purse, making the new prize distinctive both nationally and, organisers say, potentially internationally.
The announcement coincides with the release of Pyper’s final novel, Driven, the third and last book published under his pseudonym, Mason Coile. Heidi Pyper said the timing gives added significance to both the book and the prize, describing them as ways her husband’s voice continues to be heard.
•Featured image: Heidi Pyper, left, is shown with her late husband, author Andrew Pyper/Submitted by Heidi Pyper