Giller Prize founder Jack Rabinovitch, left, watches as a tearful Johanna Skibsrud accepts the award in 2010. (Aaron Vincent Elkaim/Canadian Press)

For the first time in Giller Prize history, readers are going to have a say in a title that gets nominated.

CBC Books is hosting a Readers' Choice contest that allows anyone to nominate any Canadian book published between Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011 for the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize. The online debate is sure to be hot and heavy, with stats posted to keep everyone up to date with how his or her favourite book is doing. Each person gets only one nomination, but it's a chance to point out an undiscovered gem to other readers.

The Giller Prize is known for uncovering unusual books, including the 2010 winner The Sentimentalist by Johanna Skibsrud. Last year's long list included popular author Douglas Coupland, who had long been overlooked for literary awards glory, little-known writer Sarah Selecky for her short story collection This Cake Is For The Party and the crime novel The Debba by Avner Mandelman.

CBC will broadcast the gala announcing the winner of the $50,000 Giller Prize on Nov. 8. In the meantime, nominations for Readers' Choice will be accepted until Aug. 28, so read quickly.

-- Susan Noakes