Australian Writing, Take a Bow

Prizes and Awards:

Boy Swallows Universe – And Wins Prize

Trent Dalton’s debut novel Boy Swallows Universe has won the 2019 MUD Literary Prize.

The prize, awarded to a debut literary novelist to support emerging writers in Australia, offers the winner a cash prize of $3000, as well as formal recognition at the Adelaide Writers’ Week.

Dalton was chosen as winner from a shortlist that also included:

• Flames by Robbie Arnott
• Dustfall by Michelle Johnston
• A Superior Spectre by Angela Meyer

For more information about the award, visit the website.

Oz Sci-Fi, Horror, Fantasy, Flying High

The finalists for the 2018 Aurealis Awards have been announced. These awards, established in 1995, recognise the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers. The awards are separated into fifteen categories: Best Science Fiction Novel, Best Fantasy Novel, Best Horror Novel, Best Graphic Novel/Illustrated Work, Best Children’s Fiction, Best Young Adult Novel, Best Collection, Best Anthology, Best Science Fiction Novella, Best Science Fiction Short Story, Best Fantasy Novella, Best Fantasy Short Story, Best Horror Novella, Best horror Short Story, and Best young Adult Short Story.

View the full shortlist here

A Fine Romance

The winners of the 2018 Australian Romance Readers Awards have been announced. Each year, the Australian Romance Readers Association hosts awards for the best romance books across a number of categories:

• Favourite paranormal romance
• Favourite sci-fi, fantasy, or futuristic romance
• Favourite historical romance
• Favourite short or category romance
• Favourite romantic suspense
• Favourite continuing romance series
• Favourite debut romance author of 2018
• Favourite 2018 romance that made me cry
• Favourite Australian romance of 2018

The winners were chosen by ARRA members, and announced at an awards dinner in Sydney on the 2nd of February.

To view the full list of winners, visit the website

Festivals and Events:

Tasmania Hosts Crime Writing Stars

21 February 2019

A new biennial festival to be held in Tasmania focused on crime fiction has announced the first guests for its inaugural program.

Taking place in Cygnet and locations around Tasmania’s Huon Valley over Halloween (between the 31st of October to the 3rd of November), the inaugural Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival will feature workshops and masterclasses for aspiring writers, a day long author meet-and-greet, and fun themed events such as a murder mystery dinner.

This year’s festival theme will be ‘Murder she wrote,’ celebrating past and present female authors of crime fiction. In light of the theme, well-known female crime authors, such as Tara Moss, Kerry Greenwood, and Sulari Gentill, will appear on a ‘Murder she wrote’ panel discussion, alongside additional guests.

Earlybird tickets and a detailed program will be available in April.

For more information, visit the festival website.

Picnic With Poets

The 30th Poets’ Picnic themed ‘Changes’ will be hosted this Wednesday the 26th of February.

The event is a celebration of poetry under the stars overlooking Sydney Harbour, and will feature an exciting line-up of established and exciting new poets, as well as live music, and outdoor games and activities.

For more information, visit the website

That’s it for the week. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for future bookish news bulletins. Happy reading!