Ghosts, war, tenacity and a touch of footy can all be found on the 2020 Queensland Literary Awards shortlist announced today. A total of $238,500 in prize money is available to shortlisted writers across 11 categories that include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and published and unpublished work.
State Library of Queensland proudly manages the awards in collaboration with sponsors, industry partners and the writing community. Judges praised the depth of new and emerging talent on the Australian writing scene and lauded the “accessible and readable” books on this year’s shortlist. The winners’ announcement will be livestreamed on Facebook Live and State Library’s website from 7pm, Friday 4 September.
Public voting for The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year award closes at 5pm, Monday 17 August.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said,“Throughout COVID-19, Queenslanders have sought solace in books – peering back in time, exploring new worlds and discovering exciting new voices while in isolation. Appropriately, the 2020 Queensland Literary Awards shortlist is filled with compelling stories of determination and resilience, community and courage. On behalf of the Queensland Government, I’d like to congratulate all of this year’s finalists, and I look forward to announcing the winners next month.”
Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said, “The Queensland Literary Awards shine a light on a wide range of talent, from emerging to well-established writers. The Palaszczuk Government is committed to supporting the Queensland Literary Awards. Support includes prize money for the Queensland Premier’s Award for a work of State Significance and two Young Publishers and Writers Awards, along with joint funding for the Queensland Writers Fellowships, and matched funding across other award categories.”
State Librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald AM said, “State Library congratulates each and every writer who have made it on to the shortlist of these prestigious awards. Books and storytelling have never been more important; they provide comfort and context to our lives and bind us together in challenging times. Reading and writing are the cornerstones of what we do at State Library. We are grateful for the support of our partners – the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, The University of Queensland, Griffith University, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, University of Southern Queensland, The Courier-Mail, and Jenny Summerson and Ian and Susan Mackie of the Hocking Mackie Fund at the APS Foundation.”
The 2020 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards Shortlist included the following categories and winners:
Queensland Premier’s Award for a work of State Significance
- Heartland: How Rugby League Explains Queensland by Joe Gorman (UQP)
- Meet Me at Lennon’s by Melanie Myers (UQP)
- Stone Sky Gold Mountain by Mirandi Riwoe (UQP)
- Hearing Maud by Jessica White (UWA Publishing)
Queensland Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers Award
- Sara El Sayed
- Zenobia Frost
- Ellen Wengert
- Yen-Rong Wong
The University of Queensland Fiction Book Award
- Act of Grace by Anna Krien (Black Inc.)
- Stone Sky Gold Mountain by Mirandi Riwoe (UQP)
- The Returns by Philip Salom (Transit Lounge)
- The Adversary by Ronnie Scott (Penguin Random House)
- The Yield by Tara June Winch (Penguin Random House)
The University of Queensland Non-Fiction Book Award
- Bedlam at Botany Bay by James Dunk (NewSouth Publishing)
- Olive Cotton: A Life in Photography by Helen Ennis (HarperCollins)
- Friends and Rivals by Brenda Niall (Text Publishing)
- Truganini by Cassandra Pybus (Allen & Unwin)
- The Watermill by Arnold Zable (Text Publishing)
Griffith University Children’s Book Award
- Detention by Tristan Bancks (Penguin Random House)
- Winston and the Wondrous Wooba Gymnastics Club by Tamsin Janu (Omnibus Books)
- Fly by Jess McGeachin (Penguin Random House)
- Nop by Caroline Magerl (Walker Books)
- As Fast As I Can by Penny Tangey (UQP)
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