Krzysztof Pelc wins the 2019 CBC Short Story Prize

Krzysztof Pelc has won the 2019 CBC Short Story Prize for his story Green Velvet.

As the grand prize winner, Pelc will receive $6,000 from theCanada Council for the Artsanda two-weekwriting residency at theBanff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

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Green Velvetwas selected by the jury comprised of writersEsiEdugyan,IainReidandLisa Moore.

"Told in clear, confident prose, Green Velvet is an elegant, beautifully-shaped story, lit with a wry humour that tilts unpredictably to melancholy. It's full of whimsy and insight," the jury said in a statement."The chesterfield around which the plot twists up the staircase, by rigid corners, tight spots and thresholds into this family's new life is, by turns, a symbol of hope and one of doubt that eats away from the inside. The voice perfectly captures the desire for belonging, and all the ways such a desire can go unexpectedly wrong."

• Read Green Velvet here

The other finalists for the 2019 prize were Nada Alic forThe Intruder, David Dupont forFor Pari, Menaka Raman-Wilms forBlack Coffeeand Meg Todd forGreen is the Colour of Calm.The finalists each received $1,000 from theCanada Council for the Artsand had their stories published onCBC Books.

• How Krzysztof Pelc wrote the story that won the 2019 CBC Short Story Prize

The jury also chose the shortlist. The longlistwas chosen by ateam ofwriters and editors from across Canada. There were more than 3,000 English-language submissions to the prize in 2019.

Jacques Lemaire is the winner of the French-language grand prize, le Prix de la nouvelle Radio-Canada, for his story Le ravin.

TheCBCLiterary Prizeshave been recognizing Canadian writers for 40 years. Past winners include Michael Ondaatje, Carol Shields, Michael Winter and Frances Itani.

• Check out the past CBC Literary Prizes winners

If you are interested in entering theCBC Literary Prizes, theCBC Poetry Prizeis now open. The deadline to submit your original, unpublished poetry is May 31, 2019.

The2020 CBC Short Story Prizewill open in September and the2020 CBC Nonfiction Prizewill open in January.

Listen toKrzysztof Pelcread Green Velvet

14:38Krzysztof Pelc reading Green Velvet

2019 CBC Short Story Prize winner Krzysztof Pelc reads his winning story, Green Velvet.