Canadian Authors Association

Writers Helping Writers Since 1921
Connecting, Supporting, and Celebrating Canadian Writers

CANADIAN AUTHORS 2026 SHORT FICTION ANTHOLOGY

#1 Best Seller in Canadian Short Stories on Amazon.ca!

Now available in paperback and ebook.

This anthology is both a celebration of new Canadian writing and a tribute to the legacy of Karen Madene Gansel (1944–2025), a beloved author and literary leader. In January 2026, we launched a new short fiction contest designed to honour the memory of past-chair Karen Gansel and create new short fiction embodying both the prompt image and the spirit of Canadiana. This collection features the three winning stories, the shortlisted finalists, and eleven other wonderful Canadiana short stories chosen via the same blind scoring technique as the contest itself.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit their stories to this year’s contest! It was clear that a great deal of effort went into every story we received. A big thank you also to our army of contest scrutineers; our judges, Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Terry Fallis, and Richard Stursberg; editor Dorothyanne Brown; and to Baxter House Editions, publisher of the anthology, for all the hard work that has gone into making this a reality.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 - REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 10
Canadian Author National Book Awards

6:00 – 10:00 pm ET

The Old Mill, 21 Old Mill Road, Etobicoke, ON.

An elegant evening to celebrate the Fred Kerner Award nominees and prize winner.

Your ticket includes a three-course buffet dinner and live presentations.

Easy access on TTC. Cash bar. Seats are limited.
Reserve a Seat at the Gala Dinner

Not able to attend in person? Join us online for a pre-announcement workshop during the dinner followed by the live Award Ceremony.

Join Online

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
The Thriving Author Series Workshop No. 3: Writing in a Series

Full CAA members attend for free!

Basic and Intermediate CAA members get the series for $40.

Non-members can purchase individual workshops or get the whole series and a Full Membership for $175.

All workshops are via Zoom and will be recorded. Missed the first workshop? No worries, you can always catch-up later!

What does an author need to thrive? In this series presented by author Melissa Addey, we look at five core pillars: mindset, publishing options, having lots of books, marketing them well, and having multiple income streams related to writing.

Suitable for all authors, from beginners to experienced.

We will primarily talk about fiction, but all of it also applies to nonfiction, children’s stories and poetry.

From Page to Policy

What CAA does to support Canadian literary arts and artists:

Mentorship That Matters: Support for emerging and mid-career writers through our workshops, Writers in Residence program, and more. Writers helping writers!
Representation and Rights: Advocacy that protects Canadian authors’ voices – from copyright to AI ethics.
National Connection: A coast-to-coast-to-coast literary community fostering collaboration, learning, and visibility.
Youth and Equity Programs: Building access for marginalized voices and developing the next generation of Canadian storytellers.
A Voice in Shaping Canada’s Literary Future: Every donor strengthens the national narrative by uplifting Canadian authors through policy advocacy, support, and more.

Your generosity can help the CAA build a robust network of chapters coast to coast, supplement operational costs that support volunteer contributions, increase memberships, and provide financial stability for the association.

What We Do

Advocate for the protection of rights and equitable treatment for writers.

Provide an online social networking community through our Circle. So platform
Help members promote their work through a members’ book catalogue, online directory, advertising opportunities, book fairs, readings, and workshops
Provide writers with up-to-date information on awards, contests, opportunities, calls for submissions and writing conferences and retreats via monthly national bulletins, branch newsletters, and the website.

Provide learning opportunities for writers at every stage through webinars, podcasts, and CanWrite!—our national conference.

Showcase Canada’s incredible literary talent through our literary awards, website, national bulletins, social media, and conference

Join Our Community

Join our lively community of Canadian Authors today to meet fellow writers from all across the country, enjoy members-only benefits such as promotional opportunities and entrance to our online community platform (a networking and socializing opportunity for members), learn about the craft and business of writing, and oh, so much more! Whether you’re newly hit by the writing bug, or already a well established professional, our new membership tier system gives you more options and control over your own membership.

Member Login

MEMBERS ONLY: Canadian Authors Online Community Platform

Login to your CAA Circle Community by clicking the button above. Click the “Continue with WordPress (WP-OAuth)” button and use your CAA email and password to login. Through this platform, Canadian Authors members can network and connect online, post upcoming events and publication news, attend weekly write-in sessions, and contact staff or the National Board. Get the most out of your membership by staying active in this CAA Members only online social community and, most importantly, enjoy!