The Eileen Kernaghan Award (EKA)

The Eileen Kernaghan Award (EKA) celebrates excellence in speculative short fiction and poetry.

The EKA is dedicated to supporting speculative writers from British Columbia and the West Coast, and to showcasing distinctive voices influenced by the sensibilities of the region.

Created to honour the legacy of Eileen Kernaghan and her contributions to the field, the award recognizes work that explores the strange, the lyrical, and the unknown.

Recipients of this juried award will have created stories and poems that unsettle, enchant, and endure, work that blurs the line between the real and the unreal, and carries a sense of wonder, darkness, or transformation. It seeks writing that lingers: bold, atmospheric, and unafraid to cross boundaries.

Open to Canadian speculative writers living in British Columbia whose primary body of work is connected to the region.

Eligibility—Connection to the Region


A writer’s primary body of work is considered connected to British Columbia if it reflects a sustained engagement with the region.

This may include, but is not limited to:

  • Work set in British Columbia or the West Coast

  • Recurring themes, landscapes, or cultural contexts drawn from the region

  • Ongoing publication or participation in BC-based speculative literary communities

This criterion is intended to be inclusive rather than restrictive. If you’re not sure, submit your work

Publication Requirement

Submissions for the Eileen Kernaghan Award must be previously published.
This includes work published independently, in small press, or in literary magazines.

How to Submit

📧 Send your submission to:
eileenkernaghanaward@gmail.com

Subject line:EKA Submission – [Your Name] – [Category]

Additional Notes

Short Fiction

  • Maximum: 7,500 words

  • Standard manuscript format preferred (.doc, .docx, or PDF)

Poetry

  • Up to 5 poems per submission

  • Maximum: 50 lines per poem

  • One submission per category per entrant

  • The Eileen Kernaghan Award is privately funded. As it develops, we may welcome community support through donations, crowdfunding initiatives, and grant funding.

Submission Details

Please include:

  • Your name

  • Category (short fiction or poetry)

  • A brief bio (50–100 words)

  • Publication details (where and when the work first appeared)