Roddy Doyle to serve on Giller Prize jury
Irish author joins writer/publisher Anna Porter and satirist Gary Shteyngart to judge prestigious prize
Persuading best-selling Irish novelist and screenwriter Roddy Doyle to sit on this year’s Giller Prize jury — along with New York-based satirist Gary Shteyngart and Canadian writer and former book publisher Anna Porter — came down to the fortuitous alignment of schedules, says Elana Rabinovitch, director of the prestigious $50,000 literary prize and daughter of its founder, Jack Rabinovitch.
“Roddy has a real affection for Canadian writers,” the former journalist told the Star Monday, after the jury was announced. “And jury selection is a continuous process. We are always monitoring the schedules of writers we admire, looking for those who are in the public eye . . .
“But in the end it comes down to who’s available and who has time to do the work. With all three of this year’s jury members, the stars aligned.”
Jurors have already started reading some 140 titles submitted by more than 50 publishers from all across Canada, Rabinovitch said.
Long-listed titles will be announced Sept. 4, and a short list of six finalists Oct. 1. The Giller Prize gala presentation will be held Oct. 30.
Porter, who used to receive 10 manuscripts a day when she was one of Canada’s leading literary publishers, is looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m a fast reader . . . I had to be. And I remember the joy of finding a really good read among the manuscripts that used to pile up on my desk.
“It’s a great honour to be on the jury,” Porter added.