MONTREAL–Toronto author Nino Ricci has won a Governor General's Literary Award for his novel, The Origin of Species.

Globe and Mail columnist Christie Blatchford picked up the non-fiction prize for her book about Afghanistan.

Blatchford's colleague at the newspaper, John Ibbitson, received the children's literature prize for The Landing.

The winners receive $25,000.

Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean will present the awards during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Dec. 10.

It's the second time Ricci has received the Governor General's Award. The first was in 1990 for his debut novel, Lives of the Saints.