Toronto Author WINS 2025 Whistler Independent Book Award for fiction
Day of Epiphany, a haunting historical novel by Jerome J. Bourgault, sheds light on a dark Canadian chapter.
(Toronto, ON – November 2025) – Award-winning French-Canadian author Jerome J. Bourgault has won the 2025 Whistler Independent Book Award for fiction with his sophomore novel Day of Epiphany.
In the words of the judges, “Day of Epiphany accomplishes everything that brilliant, important literature is supposed to do: it is beautifully rendered; it brings its characters to light and life, with form and breadth; it informs; and it engages the reader’s empathy and their moral compass, orienting it towards both past and present injustice.”
A masterful blend of historical fiction and noir thriller, Day of Epiphany follows Sister Cassandra Lalonde as she confronts the combined forces of the Catholic Church, Quebec’s Union Nationale government, and psychiatric authorities to protect vulnerable children. This thrilling, emotionally resonant novel not only exposes a neglected chapter of Canadian history, but also explores themes of faith, authority, and moral agency.
The award was announced at the Whistler Writers Festival on October 31st. Founded by Stella Harvey in 2002, this annual event is held in Whistler, British Columbia, and welcomes 1,800+ guests every year. It is a multi-venue, multi-artist, multi-day event, showcasing authors who are local, regional and from across Canada. The event is being held in partnership with the Canadian Authors Association and The Whistler Writers Society.
About the Author:
Jerome J. Bourgault is a French-Canadian author and artist, born in Toronto and raised in Ottawa. His debut novel, The Perpetual Now, won the 2021 Best Indie Book Award for Science Fiction and the Eric Hoffer Award for Commercial Fiction, among other accolades. A self-confessed “science and history nerd”, he gravitates toward atmospheric and character-driven narratives that tackle issues of moral complexity, personal resilience and redemption. Jerome lives in Toronto with his family.
Publication Details:
- Publisher: FriesenPress (Oct 8, 2024)
- Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, e‑Book
- ISBN: 978-1-03-832249-4 (hc); 978-1-03-832248-7 (pb)
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Review copies are available upon request. The author is also available for interviews and appearances, particularly in the GTA.
EPK available here
Media Contact:
Dani Mogyoros
E: penandpinepr@gmail.com
T: 905-928-1990