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by: Canadian Press
Date: 10/4/2010 10:51:00 AM ET

TORONTO — Canadian author Tom Rachman had just returned from an exercise class in London, England, on Monday when he learned that his buzzy first novel, "The Imperfectionists," had made the long list for Canada's $50,000 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

He was "absolutely thrilled" with the news, he said, especially since he's been away from Canada for so long working abroad as a journalist -- an experience he drew on for the newsroom tales in "The Imperfectionists."

"Really, my formative kind of book-clubbing years were in my childhood in Vancouver and going to university in Toronto," Rachman said in a telephone interview.

"And so that I might be recognized -- even if I never get beyond the long list -- for such an amazing prize as this in Canada, it means a huge amount to me, especially since I've lived in a lot of other countries and I've been far from Canada for a long time.

"The fact that I might somehow still sort of retain a little part of that literary culture, it means a huge deal to me."

Rachman is in London writing a second novel as "The Imperfectionists" (Dial/Random House of Canada) becomes a global sensation with its series of interconnected short stories about the staff of a decaying English-language newspaper in Rome.

The New York Times gave the book a lavish front-page review in the spring, Brad Pitt has bought the production rights to the story and the title was on the Maclean's list of Top 10 fiction books all summer.

Rachman said he knew that his Canadian publishers had submitted "The Imperfectionists" for some prizes across the pond, but he wasn't sure which ones until his Vancouver-based father sent him an article that touted his book as a possible Giller Prize contender.

He sensed something was up when he got back from his workout on Monday and saw his phone filled with messages.

"When I saw that the area code was Toronto, I got a little bit excited and found that it was what I'd hoped which was that I appeared on the long list," he said.

"I'm really excited."

Other high-profile authors whose books made the Giller long list of 13 books are: Jane Urquhart for "Sanctuary Line" (McClelland & Stewart), David Bergen for "The Matter With Morris" (Phyllis Bruce Books/HarperCollins) and Douglas Coupland for "Player One" (House of Anansi Press).

Bergen won the Giller in 2005.

The prize jury -- made up of broadcaster Michael Enright, author Claire Messud and writer Ali Smith -- selected 13 titles out of 98 books submitted by 38 publishers.

Rachman said the competition on the short list is "incredible."

"My first look at it was just feeling: 'What an amazing bunch of writers to be included among."'

The jury called the long list "vibrant and exciting."

Rounding out the list is:

• Joan Thomas for "Curiosity" (McClelland & Stewart)
• Michael Helm for "Cities of Refuge" (McClelland & Stewart)
• Alexander MacLeod for "Light Lifting" (Biblioasis)
• Avner Mandelman for "The Debba" (Other Press/Random House of Canada)
• Sarah Selecky for "This Cake is for the Party" (Thomas Allen Publishers)
• Johanna Skibsrud for "The Sentimentalists" (Gaspereau Press)
• Cordelia Strube for "Lemon" (Coach House Books)
• Dianne Warren for "Cool Water" (Phyllis Bruce Books/HarperCollins)
• Kathleen Winter for "Annabel" (House of Anansi Press)

One noticeable oversight was Ontario-based author Emma Donoghue's "Room," which is making waves around the world and is on the short list for the Man Booker Prize for fiction.