Megan Gail Coles winner of 2014 BMO Winterset Award

Megan Gail Coleshas won the 2014 BMO Winterset Award for her book, EatingHabits of the Chronically Lonesome.

The award is the province's richest literary prize, at $10,000.

Coles, who is originally from Savage Cove on the Northern Peninsula, saidshe was honoured to receive therecognition so early in her career.

"I think it's really encouraging for emerging writers, because it's my first book. It gives people hope that you can have success with your first book," said Coles.

"It's also really encouraging for people writing in the short story genre, because sometimes short stories don't get the attention they deserve. So hopefully it will bolster other people and give them motivation to keep writing."

Coles is currently working on a trilogy ofplays examining resource exploitation in Newfoundland and Labrador, The Driftwood Trilogy: Falling Trees, BuildingHouses, and Wasting Paper.

The two other 2014 award finalists were Michael Crummey for Sweetland, and Alan Doyle for Where IBelong.

The awards, which celebrateexcellence in Newfoundland and Labrador writing, werepresented Thursday at a ceremony at Government House in St. John's.

Eating Habits of the Chronically Lonesome was one of 26 works by Newfoundland and Labradorauthors,either native-born or resident, that were submitted by publishers from across Canada. Books in any genre,published in 2014 were eligible.

I think it's really encouraging for emerging writers, because it's my first book. It gives people hope that you can have success with your first book.- Megan Gail Coles

The jury consisted of Mark Callanan, John Crosbieand Marie Wadden.

The BMO Winterset Award was established in 2000 by writer and journalist Richard Gwyn, in honour of his late wife, Sandra Fraser Gwyn.

Fraser Gwyn was a social historian and prize-winning author from St. John's.

The Wintersetawardis named after the historic house on Winter Avenue, where she grew up.