Every year, the BC and Yukon Book Prizes shine a spotlight on extraordinary writing from across our region, but the impact of these prizes extends far beyond the award gala. For shortlisted authors, recognition opens doors to new readers, new communities, and new opportunities to share their work and their voice. Loghan Paylor’s experience as a finalist for the Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes is a powerful example of what that impact looks like in practice. Below, Loghan reflects on their journey from shortlisted author to juror, and the ripple effects a single nomination can have on a writer’s career and on the communities they reach along the way.
Loghan speaking to students at Merritt Secondary School.
In 2025, I was honoured to have my debut novel, The Cure for Drowning https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/project/the-cure-for-drowning/shortlisted for the Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes. As a finalist, I had the opportunity to go on a week-long book tour through the BC interior and Okanagan alongside executive director Megan Cole and another finalist, children’s author Julie Wilkins. Throughout my time as a finalist, I delivered nearly a dozen writing workshops to high school students across BC, visited independent BC bookstores, interviewed on podcasts and CBC radio, spoke at an inCITE event at the Vancouver Public Library alongside the other finalist authors, and attended the award gala in the fall. Being shortlisted for this prize not only raised the profile of my novel and brought many opportunities for new publicity, but it also helped me meet many readers across the province who would otherwise not have heard of my work.
Being shortlisted meant that my novel was added to stand-out displays in indie bookstores, included in highlights and round-up lists on social media, and promoted through marketing campaigns designed to spotlight regional BC and Yukon authors. My publisher released a new printing of my novel with the BC and Yukon Book prizes sticker on the jacket, which meant that in turn more booksellers would merchandise it in Canadian, BC, and prize-categories in their stores. This also brought my book to the attention of libraries and book clubs looking to promote BC authors, which increased my readership and library demand for my book. I was also invited onto the “Writing the Coast” podcast with Megan Cole, and onto CBC’s “North by Northwest” to speak about my writing, my book and its themes.
The book tour was a wonderful experience. I spent a week travelling with Meg and Julie through the BC interior, visiting high school classrooms to teach writing workshops in Merritt, Kelowna, Golden, Revelstoke, Kimberly, Trail and other BC communities. We also did an author event in Kimberly in partnership with the local library. Throughout the tour, I met dozens of teachers, librarians, and learning support staff dedicated to bringing arts and literature to their students, as well as many young writers who were excited to ask me questions and talk about their own writing projects. I also visited several indie bookstores, signed books, and met with customers and readers. Since most of the major literary events in the province take place in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, it was clear to me that having Julie and I come to visit these smaller communities in-person was very meaningful to readers and students. Based on the connections I made during that tour, I returned to Golden in the fall to teach another workshop at the high school and do a visiting writer event with the Golden Library and Golden Pride Society. I also did a virtual classroom visit in Valemount, BC and am currently planning another event in Squamish in partnership with Julie Wilkins and the Squamish public library.
The Incite event in June 2025 was a unique opportunity to not only speak passionately and persuasively about my book and its “provoking” topic in front of a large, receptive audience but to also hear the other four finalists read aloud from their work and share their insights about what makes writing so “provoking.” This was only my second event at the Vancouver Public Library, but based partially on my participation that night, I was later approached and offered an opportunity to teach creative writing at VPL branches the following year. Being a part of the BC and Yukon Book prizes events prepared me for future events where I would be asked to speak publicly about my book and its themes, especially when it came to 2026 Canada Reads events with Tegan Quin and Billy-Ray Belcourt.
Students at Revelstoke Secondary School listen to a presentation from Loghan.
Now, as a juror for the Jim Deva Prize this year, I am delighted to have the opportunity to read so many books and discuss them with the other jurors. This role has made me appreciate not only the writing talent we have here in BC and the Yukon, but also the responsibility that comes with selecting a winner. Based on my time as a finalist, I know that choosing a shortlist means not only selecting a book that is well-written and fits the prize criteria, but also an author who will use the platform that comes with it responsibly and who will be actively engaged with the community and mentorship role that this position brings.
Loghan’s story is a reminder of what your support makes possible. A shortlisting is never just a line on a press release. It’s a book tour through the BC interior, a workshop that sparks a young writer’s confidence, a partnership with a local library, a door opened to new readers and new opportunities. None of this happens without the donors, sponsors, and community members who believe in the power of BC and Yukon storytelling. As we work to sustain and grow these prizes, we hope you’ll consider supporting our fundraising campaign so that more authors like Loghan can have the chance to share their work, build community across the province, and carry the responsibility, and joy, of representing BC and Yukon literature forward.