Kobo will sponsor the prize for best first novel at the 2017 Arthur Ellis Awards for Canadian crime writing, the Crime Writers of Canada has announced. The winning author will receive $1,000. Other awards with purses attached include the $500 Unhanged Arthur Award for best unpublished crime manuscript, sponsored by Dundurn Press, and the Lou Allin Memorial Best Crime Novella award, worth $250.

Submission for the 2017 awards are now open. Other categories include best crime novel‚ best crime short story‚ best French crime book‚ best children’s or YA crime book‚ best non-fiction crime book (fiction and non-fiction). A shortlist will be released on April 21‚ with winners announced at a gala in Toronto on May 26.