David Chariandy wins the $50K Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize

David Chariandy'snovel Brotheris the 2017 winner of the $50,000 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. The prize, given out annually since 1997, recognizes the best Canadian novel or short story collection of the year.

The other finalists were LeanneBetasamosakeSimpson for her collection of stories and poemsThis Accident of Being Lost,Carleigh Baker for the short story collection Bad Endings, Claire Cameron for the novel The Last Neanderthal and OmarEl Akkad for thenovel American War.You can learn more about this year's finalists below.

Both Baker and El Akkad were on CBC Books' 2017 Writers to Watch list.

• Writers' Trust of Canada reveals 2017 finalists for $10K Journey Prize for short fiction

Ajury comprised ofMichael Christie, Christy Ann Conlinand Tracey Lindbergchose the finalists from 141 titles submitted by publishers.

The prize moneyfor the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize has been doubled for 2017, with the winner receiving $50,000 up from $25,000 in previous years. $5,000 wentto each of the four remaining finalists.

The 2017 winner was announced at the Writers' Trust awards ceremony in Toronto on Nov. 14, 2017.

• Carol Off among finalists for $60K Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction

The 2016 winner was Yasuko Thanhfor her novelMysterious Fragrance of the Yellow Mountains.

Other past prize winners include Austin Clarke, Alice Munro, Lawrence Hill, Emma Donoghue and Andr Alexis.

Bad Endings by CarleighBaker

What it's about: In her debut short story collection, Bad Endings, Carleigh Baker explores failing relationships, challenging family dynamics and mental health.

• Why Carleigh Baker was lost until she wrote a short story collection

The Last Neanderthal by Claire Cameron

What it's about:The Last Neanderthal takes the reader on a journey through the stories of both a Neanderthal named Girl and a pregnant modern-day archaeologist named Rosamund Gale.

• Why The Last Neanderthal was the novel Claire Cameron had to write

Brother by David Chariandy

What it's about:Brothertakes us inside the lives of two brothers, the sons of Trinidadian immigrants.Their father has disappeared and their mother works double, sometimes triple shifts so her boys might fulfil the elusive promise of their adopted home.

• 20 works of Canadian fiction we're excited to read

American War by OmarEl Akkad

What it's about:Omar El Akkad's debut novelAmerican Warenvisions a future where government restrictions on fossil fuels have sparked a second Civil War in the U.S.

• How a bad day at work was the push Omar El Akkad needed to become an author

This Accident of Being Lost by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

What it's about:This Accident of Being Lostis a poignant collection of songs and stories inspired by LeanneBetasamosakeSimpson'sNishnaabeg storytelling roots.

• How turning to her Nishnaabeg roots helped Leanne Betasamosake Simpson overcome a creative challenge