Windsor novelist Heidi Jacobs wins Leacock award for humour writing
Windsor writer and librarian Heidi Jacobs is the winner of the 2020 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for her debut novel, Molly of the Mall: Literary Lass and Purveyor of Fine Footwear.
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Windsor writer and librarian Heidi Jacobs has been announced as the winner of the 2020 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal.
Jacobs’ novel, Molly of the Mall: Literary Lass and Purveyor of Fine Footwear, beat out 83 other books that were in the running for the prestigious award, which annually celebrates Canadian humour writing.
The award carries a monetary prize of $15,000.
Finalists for the award — and the ultimate winner — were chosen by the board of Stephen Leacock Associates.
Molly of the Mall, published by NeWest Press, is Jacobs’ debut novel.
The semi-autobiographical story is named for its heroine, Molly MacGregor — a university-age shoe-seller with writerly ambitions who searches for inspiration in her hometown of Edmonton.
Along with writing, Jacobs works as an English and history librarian at the University of Windsor’s Leddy Library.
She was born and raised in Edmonton, studied at the University of Alberta, and once worked at a shoe store.
Runners-up for this year’s Leacock award include Amy Spurway for her novel Crow and Drew Hayden Taylor for his play Cottagers and Indians. Both will receive a $3,000 prize.
Stephen Leacock Associates said there won’t be a gala event this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Jacobs and the two runners-up will be invited to join the 2021 award ceremony.
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