Jacob Maybe has made the 2018 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist for A Halo, Drifting.

The northern Ontario bush played host to Jacob Maybe's brightest childhood moments. "Utopia is a forest in the fall," he says. "Any place I can sit with a notebook and lose track of time while breathing the scent of leaves dissolving into soil... I'm trying to write stories that transport me to places like that." To do so, he employs the tools learned at Algoma University, plus those developed in conversations across the counter at his in-laws' outdoors shop. Jacob hopes his stories can help kindle his son's innate love for the wild.

Canine panegyric and addict confessional.

"I felt compelled to write an ode to our golden retriever. After being repeatedly accused of going above and beyond to make the final days of her life as enjoyable as possible, I needed to set the record straight: I owe her more than I could ever repay."

"Her fur is a golden swish in the water, an egg-shaped halo rolling through the northern Ontario creek. It's sublime, but sweetly funny too: that dog makes for such a chubby angel.

"Trainers describe pups like Shelby as 'highly food motivated.' We keep her healthy by running her through the bush and policing the treats she mooches from friends, family and customers at my in-law's shop."

The winner of the 2018 CBC Nonfiction Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, will have their story published on CBC Books and will have the opportunity to attend a writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their story published on CBC Books.