Get your copy of the 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.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29

CAA Toronto Chapter: Halloween Open Mic

7:00 pm ET

All are welcome to this free event via Zoom, but pre-registration is required.

On All Hallow’s Eve,
What strange tales we weave,
Take heed—it’s time for a read!

Join us for a spooky-themed open mic night this October. Whether you choose to share fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, a published piece or a work-in-progress, we’re excited to hear your words! All are welcome to attend, and we hope you’ll invite friends and family to enjoy a wonderful frightful time.

Reading spots are reserved for CAA–Toronto members, with one exception: as part of our continual outreach efforts, we’ll invite one non-member to read at each open mic.

We look forward to seeing you!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7

The Thriving Author Series Workshop No. 3: Writing in a Series

8:00 am PT | 9:00 am MT | 10:00 am CT | 11:00 am ET | 12:00 pm AT | 12:30 pm NT

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.

By empowering writers at every stage of their journey, the Canadian Authors Association is not just supporting fellow authors, we’re investing in a future where Canadian perspectives thrive, where storytelling fosters unity, and where new generations see themselves in the books they read.

One of the roles of the CAA is to fight for the rights of authors across Canada to make those contributions. We encourage you to take a few moments to listen to CAA Co-Chair Travis Croken argue for these rights at a recent session of the Parliamentary Committee on AI:

https://youtu.be/qsFpjuVwQAc

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