Martin West,Daniel Zomparelli andRhonda Ganz win 2018 ReLit Awards

Martin West,Daniel Zomparelli andRhonda Ganz have won the 2018 ReLit Awards.

The ReLit Awards honour the best Canadian books published by independent presses.

West won the novel category forLong Ride Yellow.

Long Ride Yellow is a novel about a dominatrix named Nonni who likes to seek out adventure and never pay for it. As her personal journey takes her deeper and deeper into this world, she gets caught up in increasingly dangerous situations. And when her collectors come calling, she ends up in her most dangerous situation yet.

West is a writer from Victoria. He is also the author of the novelCretecea & Other Stories from the Badlands.Long Ride Yellow is his first novel.

Daniel Zomparelliwon the short fiction category for Everything is Awful and You're a Terrible Person.

Everything is Awful and You're a Terrible Personis a short story collection, where each story is about a gay man looking for love in the 21st century. From social media to literal dreams, the stories explore the highs and lows of love, lust and heartbreak.

Zomparelli is a writer and editor from Vancouver. He is afounding editor of the poetry magazinePoetry Is Dead. He is also the author of the poetry collectionsDavie Street TranslationsandRom Com.

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Rhonda Ganzwon the poetry category for Frequent, Small Loads of Laundry.

Frequent, Small Loads of Laundry is a poetry collection that explores the intimate and surreal nature of domestic life.

Ganz is a graphic designer, artist and poet from Victoria.Frequent, Small Loads of Laundry isher first poetry collection.

The prize was first founded in 2000 byNewfoundlandfilmmaker and authorKenneth J. Harvey. 2017 marked the last year the prizes were previously awarded.

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The ReLit Awards are now being managed by Harvey's daughter, Katherine Alexandra Harvey.

To bring the awards up to date, the prizes will announce the shortlists and winners for 2018-2021 in April, with each week in the month being devoted to a single year.

Winners receive the ReLitRing, which consists of four dials that are inscribed with the alphabet. However, Harvey says financial donations are needed to ensure this tradition continues.

Next week, the 2019 shortlist and winners will be announced.

Past winners include Bill Gaston,Souvankham Thammavongsa, Lisa Moore, Ivan Coyote, Megan Gail Coles and Suzette Mayr.