The Second Annual CBC Bookie Awards

Today we wrap up our interview series with the finalists for the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction. The prize winner will be announced at an evening event in Toronto on Monday, October 21, 2013.

The final writer we are speaking with is Graeme Smith. During the four years Graeme spent in Afghanistan covering the war for the Globe and Mail, he spent more time in the dangerous southern region of the country than any other reporter. His resulting book, The Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in Afghanistan (Knopf Canada) is a raw and uncensored account of the war, how it went wrong and what the experience was like for both Afghan citizens and the soldiers, journalists and humanitarians in the region. Graeme, who won an Emmy for his video series "Talking with the Taliban", has earned a reputation as a fearless correspondent who digs into corruption, foreign policy and social movements with equal insight.

Today Graeme speaks to us about finding burned flesh from suicide bombers stuck to his shoes, what needs to happen next in Afghanistan in the light of so many failed efforts and assembling a makeshift celebration for his Weston nomination.

The Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction honours the finest works of non-fiction published in Canada each year. The winner will receive $60,000. The Writers' Trust of Canada also creates teaching resources for senior high school educators based on the shortlisted titles.

Check out all of Open Book's interviews with finalists through our continuing Weston Words series and stay tuned for the announcement of the winner!