Sara Tilley wins Winterset Award

Sara Tilley is this year's BMO Winterset Award winner for her novel, Duke.

Tilley, a native of St. John's, spent much of her childhood in rural parts of Newfoundland, Labrador and the Northwest Territories.

In addition to novels, Tilley writes poetry and plays. She is also the founder of feminist theatre company, She Said Yes!

The Winterset Award, designed to encourage and promote excellence in writing, is handed out each year.

It was established to honour the memory of Sandra Fraser Gwyn, an award-winning social historian and fierce advocator of Newfoundland and Labrador culture.

One prize of $12,500 and two prizes of $3,000 are awarded to outstanding Newfoundland and Labrador authors.

Leslie Vryenhoek and Stan Dragland were the two finalists competing with Tilley.