Book People News: Patrick White Literary Award Winner, Voss Literary Prize Short List… and More!

Melbourne-based poet Jordie Albiston has been named the winner of the $20,000 Patrick White Literary Award 2019

Perpetual today announced Melbourne-based poet Jordie Albiston as the winner of the 2019 Patrick White Literary Award. The award recognises Jordie Albiston’s accomplishments and numerous collections of work as a poet. Doctor Albiston has published twelve poetry collections, and a handbook on poetic form.

Reflecting on the achievement, Doctor Albiston said: “It is one of the pleasures of my life to receive the Patrick White Literary Award. I am a full-time poet and my days are solitary. To be honoured like this in the public realm is an unexpected thrill, which will affect my work and myself for years to come.”

Doctor Albiston will receive $20,000 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Australian literature. The Patrick White Literary Award was established by Nobel Prize winning author Patrick White to advance Australian literature “by encouraging the writing of novels, short stories, poetry and plays for publication or performance”. For the past 45 years it has been awarded to an author who has made an ongoing contribution to Australian literature, but may not have received adequate recognition.

The Short List for the 2019 Voss Literary Prize has been announced

The Voss Literary Prize is dedicated to the memory of Vivian Robert de Vaux Voss (1930-1963), an historian and lover of literature who studied History and Latin at the University of Sydney and modern languages at the University of Rome. His will stipulated that a literary award be established to reward the best novel from the previous year. The executors of the estate have appointed the Australian University Heads of English, the peak body for the study of English at Australian Universities, to oversee and judge the award.

The 2019 short list:

• Robyn Cadwallader, Book of Colours
• Peter Cochrane, The Making of Martin Sparrow
• Trent Dalton, Boy Swallows Universe
• Gail Jones, The Death of Noah Glass
• Melissa Lucashenko, Too Much Lip
• Tim Winton, The Shepherd’s Hut

Nominate your Favourite Street Library for 2019

We love seeing Street Libraries popping up all around Australia.
Here is your chance to celebrate them by nominating a Street Library in your community. They will go into the draw to win amazing prizes from Etsy, Oxfam, and local shops around us.
Why not tell your family and friends to vote for their favourite Street Library?

Matilda Children’s Literature Prize

In search of the next great Australian story, HarperCollins Children’s Books Australia has announced the inaugural Matilda Children’s Literature Prize. The prize seeks to discover and share exciting new stories from this country’s best storytellers, whether emerging or established.

Entries are open to the Australian public for submission of manuscripts from middle grade fiction to young adult fiction with the winner receiving a publishing deal with a $10,000 advance against royalties.

HarperCollins is Australia’s oldest and original publisher, with a literary heritage dating back to Angus & Robertson, who started publishing in Sydney in 1888. The Matilda is named after Australia’s first bestselling author Banjo Paterson’s beloved song (and unofficial Australian anthem) Waltzing Matilda.

Entries open: 9.00am AEDT Tuesday 12 November 2019
Entries close: 5.00pm AEDT Sunday 26 January 2020
Shortlist announced: Tuesday 21 April 2020
Winners announced: Tuesday 12 May 2019

Entries are open now! For more information please visit…